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Latest Humble Bundle Comes With Uplink Source Code

Posted by Soulskill on from the linux-still-in-the-lead dept.

SharkLaser writes "The latest Humble Bundle comes with four great indie games from Introversion. Included in the pack are Uplink, Darwinia, DEFCON and Multiwinia. Bonus games include Aquaria, Crayon Physics Deluxe and the recently added Dungeons of Dredmor. Introversion also showcases some of their prototypes, like Subversion City Generator which demonstrates procedural generation of complex city environments, and Voxel Tech Demo for showing destroyable environments using voxel technology. Hackers and open source programmers around the world should also celebrate — Introversion will release source code for their games Darwinia, Multiwinia, DEFCON, and most importantly, Uplink, the legendary hacking simulation that is one of a kind."

96 comments

  1. The License by ilovepi · · Score: 5, Informative

    While it's definitely cool that the Bundle now comes with the code for these game, make sure you read the license for publication of any finished product; while it's understandable that Introversion would want people to pay for the software, the license requires that a developer contact Introversion if they make a port, and they don't allow porting to a multitude of consumer devices (anything nintendo, sony, or microsoft makes) even if the end-user is required to buy the media required to play the game (such that they would need to purchase the full PC version.) So keep this in mind before making a PSP version (like someone did with the Aquaria source released in the first Humble Bundle.) As a modding platform and possibly as a learning tool, providing the source is very nice of Introversion. So, for the most part, kudos to them.

    1. Re:The License by Luke+Wilson · · Score: 5, Informative

      License linked from humble bundle: http://www.introversion.co.uk/uplink/developer/license.html

    2. Re:The License by ArcRiley · · Score: 0, Troll

      There's a big difference between "source code available" and FOSS.

      The only thing they've really allowed here is for volunteer developers to contribute to their proprietary product. Gee, thanks.

    3. Re:The License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      That's because one of the previous humble bundles included a source code release, and it was ported to iOS and sold by another team as though they'd made it.
      http://www.destructoid.com/lugaru-shamelessly-resold-without-consent-on-itunes-193156.phtml

    4. Re:The License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      which was completely illegal, since the data/art was not GPL, so no excuse for not licencing it with something a little more open. At least make it possible to distribute the code (not the art) freely so that a git repository can be made.

    5. Re:The License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Because, you know, you had every right to expect to do whatever the hell you wanted with it?

      They've done something many companies never, ever do, which is impressive bearing in mind Multiwinia is three or so years old on the PC.

      Members of the Introversion forums have always hoped for the source codes, because without them games like Uplink are very had to mod and experiment with. They generally weren't programmed with modability in mind. This move most likely wasn't intended so you could do whatever the hell with it you want, it was probably intended to help fans who are itching to mod the games with home made content.

    6. Re:The License by bonch · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's a big difference between "source code available" and FOSS.

      Good thing nobody is claiming this is "FOSS."

    7. Re:The License by CmdrPony · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, I like that I can modify the game the way I like, including all gameplay elements. And just look at the code to see how it's done. Most companies don't offer this. No one here is claiming it's FOSS. They've given source to it, which most companies don't do. The Introversion guys are also quite nice, so if you have some plans (ie., release your own version and such), just contact them and work it out. They just don't want to get screwed over.

    8. Re:The License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, the license on this release looks the same as the one on the original Uplink source release in 2003.

    9. Re:The License by CmdrPony · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There is SVN and developer wiki and forum access to everyone who has bought humble bundle (and for previous developers). It's yours for whatever amount you choose to pay.

      No other company goes that far. Almost no one releases sources for their games. And honestly, after reading this crying, I can't really blame them. No matter how much they try to please geeks, they always rant about how it's not exactly something they want, how they don't want to pay for it (even if that's $1) and how it's not on their favorite repo. They even have Linux versions of their games, which is a common rant topic here on slashdot. But now that it doesn't fit, you still have to rant about something just for the hell of it.

      Even sometimes, be thankful for something good.

    10. Re:The License by shish · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even sometimes, be thankful for something good

      It's possible to be thankful *and* point out possible improvements

      --
      I mod down anyone who says "I will be modded down for this", regardless of the rest of their comment
    11. Re:The License by RulerOf · · Score: 1

      The only thing they've really allowed here is for volunteer developers to contribute to their proprietary product. Gee, thanks.

      I like the idea. I can't even begin to list how many games would benefit greatly from something like this....

      ...Projects like GHost++, which is a full client/server implementation for Warcraft III, enables the game to take advantage of current, high-bandwidth internet connections and provides administrative control over what was designed to be a "head-to-head" protocol. It is one of the few things that let popular mods, like DotA, grow to what they are today.

      It was painstakingly built through years of reverse engineering and tweaking. Source code access, or even official documentation, would have made it a hell of a lot easier, I'm sure.

      --
      Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
    12. Re:The License by Ginger+Unicorn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      A handful of people noisily whinging on internet forums are not usually representative of the general population. People don't usually feel the urge to rant about how content or satisfied they are.

      --
      (1.21 gigawatts) / (88 miles per hour) = 30 757 874 newtons
    13. Re:The License by X0563511 · · Score: 1

      A handful of people noisily whinging on internet forums are not usually representative of the general population. People don't usually feel the urge to rant about how content or satisfied they are.

      whine. whine whine whine. NOT WHING.

      </whine>

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    14. Re:The License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Whinge, actually. It's British.

    15. Re:The License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the nerviest part of this is *INTROVERSIONPROMISED TO RELEASE IT AS OPEN SOURCE like *OVER TEN YEARS AGO*, this was a few years before they got 'published', stating that like 4-5 years was plenty to what was needed and how open source was important to them. I really wish I'd kept a copy of their website to prove it, but it used to be up in the FAQ regarding the eventual release and the talk that's been going on for just that long about creating a Multi-player version of it (a few attempts of which were made, but all of which AFAIK died out eventually, or weren't cross platform.). Point being: Introversion lost my sales when they pulled back on that promise and stated that 'publishing contracts preclude us from doing that now, but BTW you can pay us another 100 dollars and sign an NDA and we'll give you the source code.' Yeah, fsck that. They just ripped their game design off an old BBS hacking game to begin with. Hell their music was all old 'demoscene' mods. I questioned how many of them they actually properly licensed and how many they 'appropriated' and only licensed later when they got a publishing contract. But that latter bit is just me being cynical, the rest is me trying to remind people who were early adopters what our initial expectations were from introversion, who has long since stopped being an 'indie' game manufacturer.

    16. Re:The License by tjwhaynes · · Score: 4, Informative

      whine. whine whine whine. NOT WHING.

      </whine>

      Actually, the root of whinging is whinge and if you haven't spent time in the British Isles, you probably don't recognise the term.

      From the freedictionary.com
      whinge (hwnj, wnj)
      intr.v. whinged, whinging, whinges Chiefly British
      To complain or protest, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
      [Dialectal alteration of Middle English whinsen, from Old English hwinsian.]
      whinger n.
      whingingly adv.

      --
      Anything I post is strictly my own thoughts and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the opinions of IBM.
    17. Re:The License by ZXDunny · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but it was a great game, you have to admit. I bought it once before, and now I've bought it again. Wonderful game, love it to bits! And now the source is available they've really gained some (more) good reputation from fans.

      --
      10 PRINT "SCUNTHORPE"(2 TO 5): GO TO 10
    18. Re:The License by Picass0 · · Score: 2

      >> "Because, you know, you had every right to expect to do whatever the hell you wanted with it?"

      If someone gives you a horse you don't expect fine print saying you can't ride it.

      It is implied when someone announces they are opening code that they are doing so because they are allowing the public to create new projects based on that code.

    19. Re:The License by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      That's because one of the previous humble bundles included a source code release, and it was ported to iOS and sold by another team as though they'd made it.

      It's even worse than that. That game was also pirated to the Mac App Store!

      http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/02/03/1335213/pirated-app-sold-on-mac-app-store

    20. Re:The License by SharkLaser · · Score: 1

      It is implied when someone announces they are opening code that they are doing so because they are allowing the public to create new projects based on that code.

      Really? Even GPL disagrees with that "here's the code, do whatever you want with it".

    21. Re:The License by LordLimecat · · Score: 1

      If someone gives you a horse you don't expect fine print saying you can't ride it.

      Thats good, Ill remember never to give you a gift since you apparently cant be gracious about receiving them.

    22. Re:The License by LordLimecat · · Score: 1

      Do you do that at christmas or birthday parties? Im sure it would go over really well, you should try that-- "yea, this gift is good, but you know what would have been really nice?"

    23. Re:The License by aztracker1 · · Score: 1

      Okay, remind me to never let you use my car... since that implies you can use it for hookers and blow.

      --
      Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info
    24. Re:The License by X0563511 · · Score: 1

      Well. You learn something 'new' every day.

      Thanks for correcting me, I had no idea!

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    25. Re:The License by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      That's why I always check things out before I bust on someone for being wrong.

      Of course, there are still tons of opportunities to point out real mistakes. :-)

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    26. Re:The License by jgoemat · · Score: 1

      If someone gives you a horse you dont't expect fine print saying you can't ride it.

      I've been told people shouldn't look them in the mouth...

  2. Woo! Uplink! by Bovius · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I know that admitting this means I have to turn in my Obscure Indie Game Enthusiast card, but I didn't know about Uplink until yesterday when I bought the newest Humble Bundle. Played it some today. Still amazed that they made the idea work at all, and that it's actually quite a bit of fun.

    We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Introversion for their pioneering work in indie games. I know that their games have a particular flair that doesn't appeal to everyone, but *that's the whole point* of indie games; with enough independent developers, you eventually get something quirky and awesome that fits your particular tastes.

    1. Re:Woo! Uplink! by DaveAtWorkAnnoyingly · · Score: 2

      To be honest, playing Uplink just for the soundtrack makes it totally worth it! The music is available on their website (at least, it was, I'm sure you can get it somewhere).

    2. Re:Woo! Uplink! by Mathinker · · Score: 1

      I've been a big supporter of the Humble Bundles (anyone willing to give me native games for Linux gets my attention), but kind of "ran out of steam" (no pun intended) and gave the Voxatron one a pass.

      At the beginning, just the marketing concept was enough to "sell" a bundle for me. But now I actually look at the games and decide if I feel that it's worth my while.

    3. Re:Woo! Uplink! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Still amazed that they made the idea work at all, and that it's actually quite a bit of fun.

      This.

      Business models based on data theft and/or vandalism for hire, chained anonymizing proxies with various levels of logging capabilities (or compromise :), SWATting opponents by (by faking records to send law enforcement after them), anonymizing bank transfers through the use of expendable proxy accounts, and you did all your hacking by renting a hardware platform of RAM/CPU/disk that existed (and was configured) through the cloud. And shadowy organizations whose agendas only become apparent when it's probably too late to change the color of your hat.

      The game - written in 2001 - was set in 2010, which turned out to be just one year away from commercial botnets, Anonymous, Wikileaks, the Lulzsec-vs-Sony-howling-thru-the-wires world tour, and the rise of EC3 and other cloud virtualization/hosting services.

      And the soundtrack, which someone else mentioned. They completely nailed the look-and-feel of all those goofy hacker movies of the 90s, while being not only fun, but downright prescient.

    4. Re:Woo! Uplink! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's part of the Bonus CD, available on their website. (It's module music - as in XM and S3M - so make sure your media player supports that.)

    5. Re:Woo! Uplink! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      IMHO, the Voxatron bundle was worth it just for The Binding of Isaac. A very fun and hard game with a ton of content. Highly recommended.
      I passed on the Frozen Synapse bundle simply because I already had many of the games included (Frozen Synapse, SpaceChem , Trine :)

    6. Re:Woo! Uplink! by DaveAtWorkAnnoyingly · · Score: 0

      Ah yeah, that's where I got it from. Was so long ago. Quality stuff though :-)

    7. Re:Woo! Uplink! by Rysc · · Score: 1

      I'm just waiting for the follow-up Uplink MMO. The only thing the game was missing was real people on the other end. Imagine if they added the (eventual) ability to buy and build your own network and required you to learn to defend it.

      Please, Introversion, please?

      --
      I want my Cowboyneal
    8. Re:Woo! Uplink! by Baloroth · · Score: 1

      Probably not gonna happen. They are too busy coming up with clever new games.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    9. Re:Woo! Uplink! by X0563511 · · Score: 1

      Totally the kind of game I hate to play, so that's entirely subjective.

      Same with me for the Frozen Synapse bundle though... though I went and paid for them again just for all the linux versions.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    10. Re:Woo! Uplink! by X0563511 · · Score: 1

      Already released.

      It's called the Real World. ... watch out, I hear getting banned sucks something serious!

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    11. Re:Woo! Uplink! by SharkLaser · · Score: 1

      There's Slavehack. It's a bit different, but really fun too and you're competing against other players.

    12. Re:Woo! Uplink! by trdrstv · · Score: 1

      I've been a big supporter of the Humble Bundles (anyone willing to give me native games for Linux gets my attention), but kind of "ran out of steam" (no pun intended) and gave the Voxatron one a pass.

      At the beginning, just the marketing concept was enough to "sell" a bundle for me. But now I actually look at the games and decide if I feel that it's worth my while.

      Even if they release new bundles every 2 weeks I will continue to support them. At the very minimum I'll throw in $1 and give it all to charity then evaluate the games themselves and if they are worth more. If they are then I'll kick some more in, but if not then it's another $1 for charity.

  3. DoD by ShakaUVM · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Roguelike Dungeons of Dredmor, if you haven't played it yet, is worth the price of admission. Play it on hardcore mode for a very old-school Nethack experience. (You die, you die. Start over.)

    It's a bit biased in favor of wizards, but it has an overall very interesting class generation system and challenging gameplay.

    Plus, it's funny. Actually funny. But with good core mechanics beneath it all.

    1. Re:DoD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have to AC because I modded you up, but this man is right. I paid $20 for the Humble Bundle. Dungeons of Dredmor alone more than makes up for the price I paid (bear in mind I already owned Uplink and Defcon). I'll have to play more by the developer, if they've made more.

    2. Re:DoD by Nrrqshrr · · Score: 1

      That's the whole point! It's stupidly out of place and just plain silly, but that's why it's just so unique.

    3. Re:DoD by FlyveHest · · Score: 1

      It is a funny game, absolutely, but I must admit that the same-ness of the mobs and dungeons got boring after 20 or so hours of playing. (And, I still enjoy NetHacking from time to time)

      But the game is well worth the admission, no doubt about that.

  4. Available since 2003 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You've been able to buy the Uplink Source code for years, the Uplink Developer CD.

    1. Re:Available since 2003 by SJ2000 · · Score: 2

      Uplink Developer CD and it's non-FOSS license with instructions on how to compile using MS Visual C++ 6.0 so what's different about this 'new' release?

    2. Re:Available since 2003 by riT-k0MA · · Score: 1

      That may be so, but I went for the digital-download-only version when I purchased Uplink a few months(years? Time flies.) ago. I didn't get the developer cd. So now I'm buying the Humble Indie Bundle just for the source.

    3. Re:Available since 2003 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It never came with it, it was separate. You can buy it here

    4. Re:Available since 2003 by riT-k0MA · · Score: 1

      Thank you.

    5. Re:Available since 2003 by Luke+Wilson · · Score: 1

      The Darwinia and Multiwinia code has also been available (for a price): http://store.introversion.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=66 , but this is the first I'm aware of the DEFCON code being released.

    6. Re:Available since 2003 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As if you'd actually want it. I've looked at it myself and talked to a few other developers in the Uplink community who wanted to use it to do some sweeping mods, and they finally decided it'd be easier to rewrite the whole thing from the ground up. The code is a wreck. I get a little twitchy thinking there's anyone out there who might look at Uplink's source code and think that's how they should write their indie game.

  5. News or an advert? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is this news, or is this just an advert for the Humble Bundle?

    1. Re:News or an advert? by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Is this news, or is this just an advert for the Humble Bundle?

      Well obviously it is an advert. It is not particularly newsworthy, because - let's face it - how many of us here are going to do anything with the source code for a game that most of us had not heard of until this bundle. That is not to say that it is a bad thing to advertise the bundle, as it is for charity after all.

      That said, I'm afraid I am getting a bit bundled out. This is the seventh Humble Bundle since May last year. Add to that the similar bundles that have sprung up (eg. Indie Royale which isn't for charity and does a different bundle every few weeks) and it seems less like an event and more like a perpetual sale.

      The biggest problem is that I find myself second guessing my purchases of indie software via the normal distribution methods because I wonder whether I will be seeing the title in a bundle in the near future. Should I pre-order Trine 2, or wait for the inevitable virtual giveaway one of these bundles?

      Will the excess of bundles mean that developers lose more profitable sales? Or do these bundles help by getting indie titles into the hands of people who would normally buy mainstream games, and so not really diminish their usual audience?

    2. Re:News or an advert? by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      advert.

      but humble bundle is like charity man!

      (it's still an advert if it's charity or not.. and the humble bundle comes so often it's not really an event even..)

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    3. Re:News or an advert? by Barefoot+Monkey · · Score: 1

      Maybe - or it could be that the submitter is trying to raise awareness of the source code in hopes of seeing more mods appear for Uplink.

    4. Re:News or an advert? by bonch · · Score: 1

      This trend in the comments to label anything listed on the front page that is for sale anywhere as an "advert" is amusing. Even more amusing is the implication that this a journalistic news site and not just a link aggregator.

    5. Re:News or an advert? by SharkLaser · · Score: 4, Interesting

      No it's not an advert. Well, I'm not directly benefiting from it anyway (except if I get to play some good mods people will make because they saw it!). And after getting called shill thousands of (I can remember at least Microsoft, Steam, [surprisingly] Red Hat, Spotify, Logitech..), this kind of thinking on slashdot gets really old. There's always someone pointing out how this person must be a shill (or that the story is an advert) because he said he likes something.

    6. Re:News or an advert? by migla · · Score: 1

      advert.

      but humble bundle is like charity man!

      Exactly.

      While, marketing an advertising is bad in general - satans spawn, filling the world with bile and garbage, as Bill Hicks characterizes it - unfortunately a good charity should probably play the evil game, none the less.

      For example, when Amnesty International does TV ad campaigns they get much more donations. It's stupid and sad, as making ads costs a lot, so it should technically be possible to transfer funds from those who want to contribute to those who need them without marketing, but that's just the way it works in this system - marketing creates demand.

      In cases like Amnesty, the ends justify the means. Or do they?

      --
      Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
    7. Re:News or an advert? by migla · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Note to self: Do not forget to close tags or click the fucking preview button.

      --
      Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
    8. Re:News or an advert? by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 1

      Your criticism of my post is well deserved. It does appear that I am judging you and your story, but that was not the intention. I neglected to put something in my message that I had in mind when I hit the reply button. Unfortunately I got sidetracked with the other part about there being too many bundles, and it got omitted.

      I do not think that you are a shill. (I wouldn't call anyone that word, for the same reasons that you give.) I do not think that you were wrong to post the story.

      However, I do believe that this story is an advertisement; it's just not a paid advertisement. (That was the missing bit.) If you look at the definition of advertisement, it can mean "the action of making generally known; a calling to the attention of the public". That seems to be exactly what is happening here. It is true that this definition could be extended to virtually any story, but I think that it is fair to limit it to those that talk about a product for sale.

      I do stand by my statement that this isn't really newsworthy, especially because it is not the first time that they have released the source code for Humble Bundle games. I also stand by my assertion that it was not a "bad thing to advertise the bundle, as it is for charity after all", although the charity part was a bit flippant. Announcing products on Slashdot (even products from Microsoft and Apple) is reasonable because this is the kind of news that is interesting to nerds.

      Anyway, I apologise for any implication that you had a vested interest in the Humble Bundle or that money may have changed hands for the story. I am sure that this was what the original Anonymous Coward meant, but it had been my intention to counter it by agreeing, but to a different definition of the word "advert".

    9. Re:News or an advert? by flimflammer · · Score: 1

      Just on point about Trine 2, I doubt it will make it into a bundle. It may technically still be an Indie company but Frozenbyte struck a deal with real game publisher Atlus regarding Trine 2. I wager that may limit their ability to jump into bed with the Bundle again for that particular game.

    10. Re:News or an advert? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Somehow you manage to come off angry every time you try to explain yourself. I think what you were trying to argue is that people have seen a lot of this issue and it has been thoroughly discussed on /.. It is like the nuclear threads and bitcoin threads. They have all become the same thing over and over and really not worth reading when the big thing with /. is the comments. I can easily get my uncommented news elsewhere.

    11. Re:News or an advert? by Zaphod+The+42nd · · Score: 1

      a game that most of us had not heard of until this bundle.

      Its UPLINK.
      This is /.
      Maybe you haven't heard of it, that's fine. But don't make assumptions.
      Uplink has always been THE ONLY halfway decent hacking game. Hell, it came out in 2001! Uplink is a classic of PC gaming.

      --
      GCS/MU/P d- s:- a-- C++++$ UL++ P+ L++ E+ W++ N o K- w--- O M+ V- PS+++ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5- X R++ tv+ b++ DI++ D++ G+ e++ h-
    12. Re:News or an advert? by blahplusplus · · Score: 2

      "Will the excess of bundles mean that developers lose more profitable sales? Or do these bundles help by getting indie titles into the hands of people who would normally buy mainstream games, and so not really diminish their usual audience?"

      Considering the state of the game industry with heavy handed DRM, the fact that you get a games SOURCE CODE which you can modify/update/change is downright RADICAL in an age of corporate feudalism and creeping fascism. One only has to look at SOPA to see this.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

      Whether or not you get tired of the bundles these are people we should want around and to keep in business. More money = they have more money to invest in making their games better. While not all games on the bundle are good, it's not like gamers have many options for DRM free gaming AND being respected as a gamer and enthusiast (getting the source). So that 10 years down the line on windows 12 the game you bought can stilll be played with some coder just updating the code without any stupid emulation.

      Think about all the hoops we have to go through to run old classic games - needing emulators, etc, etc. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if customers actually got to OWN what they bought from entertainment software vendors?

      I have never agreed with software licensing without any ownership stakes for customers and ability to get souce-code after the sales window of said softwareespecially FOR games. Licensing is one of those big bullshit lies greedy corporatized and indoctrinated bastards believe in and we've seen what that kind of mentality does to our rights and freedoms in society.

  6. Neuromancer by RenHoek · · Score: 1

    Although I liked playing Uplink, the quote "Uplink, the legendary hacking simulation that is one of its kind." is a bit hyperbolic. Does nobody remember the game Neuromancer (PC/C64) which is I believe one of the first and best hacking games till date?

    1. Re:Neuromancer by Tom · · Score: 1

      Uplink is actually a lot closer to the old C64 game Hacker than to Neuromancer. Especially given that Uplink has a really cool beginning where for a second you are not sure if it's a game.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    2. Re:Neuromancer by artor3 · · Score: 1

      I remember Neuromancer, and while it was fun, I finished it off in a single evening. I recall it being short and linear, though the bit where you get some antagonist arrested by plugging his SSN and other info into an existing warrant in the police network was pretty entertaining and not too obvious. The battles against the AI, however, weren't so interesting. I haven't played Uplink yet (I downloaded it from Home of the Underdogs what seems like a lifetime ago, but never got around to playing it). Maybe it will have the same failing.

      Also, if you're counting Neuromancer as a hacking game, then credit should also go to the Sega version of Shadowrun. It came out much later, but was also much deeper, and included randomly generated missions for extra replayability.

    3. Re:Neuromancer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have very vague recollections of a hacking game on the ZX Spectrum - it started at a command screen, and the manual contained a phone number which you "dialled" to get started and then it opened up from there. But I'm damned if I can remember what it was called - anyone know?

    4. Re:Neuromancer by oh-dark-thirty · · Score: 1

      In addition to those old classics, there's the modern-day "Hacker Evolution" series from exosyphen, which are also pretty well done. Uplink is the only game in this bundle I don't already have, so I'm on the fence about purchasing.

    5. Re:Neuromancer by Baloroth · · Score: 1

      Uplink is freelance style, so it is neither linear nor short. Does get a tiny bit repetitive, but that is it.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
  7. Love Introversion :-) by DaveAtWorkAnnoyingly · · Score: 3

    I've been a long term fan of Introversion since 2002, I even went to their Darwinia launch party at their house, which was awesome. I was so stoked about the Humble IV Bundle that even though I had bought the games twice in the past (disc and steam) I had to buy this too, both to support IV and also Humble (backed by the same people who backed Google so probably don't need that much support!).

    Regards the source. That has been available for about 6 years now on the Uplink dev disc. This costs about £20. I haven't looked into the restrictions on using it but as the previous poster recommends, contact them before doing anything that might piss them off. They're really nice guys and deserve support for making what are, really enjoyable games. Uplink was in the PC Zone top 50 games, and in LXF's top 20 games for scaring the sh1t out of you.

    Hopefully this /.'ing will bake the bundle sell even more. It was at about $510,000 last night, so will be interesting to see how it goes up after this.

    1. Re:Love Introversion :-) by riT-k0MA · · Score: 1

      Actually it costs £30/€34,50/$45.
      see this. (thank you AC)

  8. Not to mention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not to mention "hacker", which I played on an Atari 800, but was probably available on others.

  9. Happy! by boxxertrumps · · Score: 1

    Bought.

  10. DRM not advertised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Two games in the suite actually require product activation. I was disappointed to find this out, as this was what started me on my migration from Microsoft, oh so long ago.

    The two games in question are: Multiwinia and DEFCON.

    So don't plan on enjoying these games sans-DRM.

    1. Re:DRM not advertised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Oh come on! Having to use a cd-key has NOTHING to do with DRM! It is a quite valid method to verify you actually bought the game so you can use their matchmaking servers. It would be unfair for such a small studio to be forced with the burden of increased costs due to extra traffic by non-paying users. Plus, both games are multiplayer oriented, which explains the reason behind the keys.

      Go on and read CmdrPony's post (#38212004). I think it's valid for you too.

    2. Re:DRM not advertised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      HIB specifically advertise "DRM free" as the 4th major value proposition of their advertising.

      I cannot play unless I validate with their server. How is this not DRM!?!

      You don't find this out until after the purchase, so the point of my comment is to forewarn others who may be considering a purchase, and allowing them to make an informed decision - something that the current copy on the HIB site will not allow them to do.

      Either don't advertise DRM free, or don't offer your DRM'd product for HIB.

      Won't somebody think of the studio!?

    3. Re:DRM not advertised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Because it ONLY tries to validate if you're online, and then offers multiplayer in a seamless way. When offline, it will validate the cdkey locally. The online check is just a different method, just like it happened during the late 90's with Half-Life and Quake 3 Arena.

      Plus, DRM usually binds the key/install with a specific system or account, and that surely doesn't happen here. So, please refrain from crying wolf, feel free to discard the tinfoil hat and enjoy the games.

    4. Re:DRM not advertised... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      WAAAH! I have to trivially enter a CD key to play online. OH THE HORROR!!! THE HORROR!!!!! Either way, a CD key is not DRM.

    5. Re:DRM not advertised... by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 2

      It actually does talk about this. Clicking on that info icon, the circle with an i in it, right next to the DRM-free statement pops up a dialog that has this statement in it:

      Your download page also includes multiplayer keys for Multiwinia and DEFCON, for online access.

      It's your own fault for not finding this out before you buy, dumb dumb.

    6. Re:DRM not advertised... by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      Actually, it is, but it's the kind that:

      a.) Works.
      b.) Isn't a burden.
      c.) Doesn't deprive people of what they paid for for stupid and unfair reasons.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  11. Most importantly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not entirely certain how "Uplink" qualifies as the most important source code here. While I've gladly wasted hours playing it, and it is a pretty legendary game, it's essentially a glorified text adventure. Not sure if there's really anything innovative about the code, it's more the higher-level design that was cool. Not that I've looked at the code yet, but I would expect that this release pales in comparison to something like Doom source code. At least Darwinia has a physics engine of some sort, I'm assuming.

  12. Thanks for the heads up! by xirtam_work · · Score: 1

    I'm glad that this 'advert' got posted to Slashdot. I wouldn't have been aware of it otherwise and have now given $10 to get these games for my Mac. I used to have Darwinia ages ago, but I think it was just the demo. I've been aware of the other games for some time and will play them when I get around to it. Time to post a link on Facebook and inform my friends as well.

  13. Re:Which license, bitches? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is some proprietary vanity license. Certainly not free software. So, hardly newsworthy.

  14. High Average by hipp5 · · Score: 0

    I'm amazed at the high average donation this time around. IIRC the last few Humble Bundles I bought into had an average of around $2. At the time of writing the average on this bundle is $3.98. I guess these games offer pretty good value.

    1. Re:High Average by rdwulfe · · Score: 1

      I'm amazed at the high average donation this time around. IIRC the last few Humble Bundles I bought into had an average of around $2. At the time of writing the average on this bundle is $3.98. I guess these games offer pretty good value.

      Depends on when you buy it in the bundle's lifecycle, too. I know the average for the last Bundle I bought (before this one) was like 4 or 5 when I purchased it. I was glad to drop 10 bucks on it at the time. This one? I had Uplink already, on disk. I'll GLADLY buy it again, get all the other things, and so on. And I got source code? Well freaking awesome. I'd say these Bundles are awesome. They're cheap enough I don't even blink, and they quite often offer much more than one would expect.

      I got the one with Baird, Revenge of the Titans, etc in it before this. Just a tonne of fun. I don't play the games every day, but they scratch an itch when I feel like toying with them.

    2. Re:High Average by hipp5 · · Score: 1

      I just re-read my post and realized that it looks like I am suggesting this average is not deserved. I am not. I think it's great to see averages and I was just pointing out that this seems to be the case here.

    3. Re:High Average by ElderKorean · · Score: 2

      I'm amazed at the high average donation this time around. IIRC the last few Humble Bundles I bought into had an average of around $2. At the time of writing the average on this bundle is $3.98. I guess these games offer pretty good value.

      The higher average price might also be - if you pay more then the (at payment time) average price paid then you get another two games (and so then the average goes up slightly)

      The average now is $4.06

  15. soundtrack by theultramage · · Score: 2

    I actually examined their music.dat (zip file), investigated the .uni file format, and even found one standalone player that could play those. But I didn't like that, so I checked the strings inside the music files, grabbed the author name, and googled. Karsten Koch: The Blue Valley (main theme, I like this one the most).

    1. Re:soundtrack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is unfortunately no longer available, the link leads to a 404...

  16. Just bought... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just bought this package... gave $200. $50 to charity, $20 to Humble, and the rest to developers! Introversion Software is awesome and I totally support everything they do!

  17. How to use with multiple Monitors? by allo · · Score: 1

    both in fullscreen AND in windowed mode the window spans over both monitors, making the game unusable. can i somehow set which resolution to be used in windowed mode or something like this?