Update #76 - "Development News and the Team at Work"

Not offering refunds is unquestionably a way to screw things up. It doesn't matter how small the quantity of MAC/Linux users who haven't got any other platform is, if they can't play the game because of such a cancellation they should get their money back at least. This is not a case of "I don't like how the game is, so I want a refund", it's a more serious matter, especially because they did offer refund for the cancelled Vita version, why not this time? It's still "a platform" of sorts so why do just those (again, no matter how few) people have to be screwed with a version of the game they can't play?

Add me to the list of people pissed off that the Linux build was canceled. What exactly does it mean that you're having middleware problems? Did you not check if the middleware was compatible before you started using it? I backed the INITIAL kickstarter where Linux support was listed, so there's no way that in the last 3+ years you didn't know that you were supposed to be supporting the platform during development and choosing of your middleware platforms.

And on top of all that, you're refusing to give my money back? You're failing to provide the product I kickstarted and still keeping the money? I hope all companies involved get blocked from Kickstarter for any future products at least...

I think that a part of the issue might be that there wasn't a way beforehand to have users specifically select the Mac/Linux versions. In our surveys, the choices are only as "Steam" or "GoG" for PC. So if they want to go through with refunds, they would (to my knowledge) need to offer it to everyone who has one of those two selected, which I imagine is a pretty huge number considering almost everyone who would be for multiple copies and has a PC would pick one of those as a secondary choice.

This would come out to mean they would receive a lot more refund/partial refund requests than...the affected backers.

I know Linux is a small and not a very popular platform for gaming (although it's been improving greatly, thanks Valve and others).

That's exactly why I used to back campaigns promising "Linux support". To improve the viability of Linux as a free and open gaming platform.
But nowadays I know better, to some developers kickstater promises are nothing more than empty words.

Thankfully there are developers with integrity, fully intending to support Linux(and other platforms) as promised.
Others at least deliver broken ports, or delay for years but eventually come through.
Or in the worst case, at least offer refunds when they give up.

Sadly this project is now in neither of those categories.
I'm most disappointed for my money going to such developer.

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I feel like the publisher is trying to release bad news with some strategy in mind and may have known about Vita and Mac / Linux sooner than when it was announced to us. Who knows for sure though, as there must be a lot that happens behind the scenes, and efforts made to fix or plan on addressing the bad news stuff before they announce it.

Look guys, it's not a good time right now to expect answers about how and why this exactly happening with Mac & Linux. You have brought your points to the right place, and I promise you that 505 will read them. When the new years vacations are done, give them a little time to address your questions on this.

I find it a bit odd that Unreal 4 Engine can't simply export a port to these systems. I kinda thought that was the big thing about game engines like that and Unity. That they can port more easily as long as the hardware can perform. I don't expect UE4 can magically make Bloodstained compile and work on a smart phone, but I would expect the engine to be able to get stuff to Linux. What do I know though, as Mac isn't known for first releases of games for a reason. Not to poop all over Mac, but I don't exactly see gaming rigs for Macs and games launching the same day for both. Maybe it's because I just am not part of that world though.

Anyways, give 505 time to answer the details about how this happened. They didn't give a detailed behind the scenes story of how it all went down with Vita though.

On the topic of refunds, don't expect them. Kickstarters tell ya up front there is risk and that once your money is in, it's in. Sure, refunds are possible, but I think anyone who expects a refund is just not seeing the reality of how that money is already budgeted. When you back a Kickstarter you aren't purchasing a product or making a pre-order. You are giving a creator a chance to make their project a reality.

I'm also not happy about the cancellation of the Linux/Mac version of the game. I don't own any other (modern) gaming console, except a Vita. I'm a Linux user myself (I don't own a Windows license) and was ecstatic when they announced a Linux/Mac version of the game. I was especially looking forward to having a physical Linux playable version of the game on my shelf. This is the very reason I backed the physical special edition tier in the first place.

Their cancellation of a obsolete console I can understand, putting resources in something like that would not earn itself back. But we aren't talking about a console or operating system that no one will use in the near future. We are talking about Linux and Mac, people will continue to use these operating systems for the foreseeable future. To just plainly drop those and not offer a refund is inexcusable in my eyes.

They could have decide to delay the Linux and Mac versions of the game until they solved their middelware problems. I mean if Rocket League, Team Fortress 2, Bioshock and many other games can run on Linux, Mac and Windows then so should Bloodstained, given enough time. Thus their unilateral decision to just cancel these platforms this late in production without offering people refunds, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This could have been one of those cases where they could have asked the backer for their opinion before making a decision.

Until now I agreed or could at least understand their reasoning behind their decisions. But this decision I have to firmly disagree with and I don't understand why they have decided this and why they are handling it (in my opinion) so poorly.

I would like to conclude that I still love how this game is turning out. It saddens me that my first post here has to be such a negative one. I love Iga's Castlevania games, I own a physical copy of most of them, I loved that mini-game from Inti Creates and I'm still looking forward to playing this game, eventually. Its just to bad that I now have to ether buy a DRM riddled console or a Windows license to do so. I hope they reconsider their decision if enough people let their complaints be known.

turbor it sounds like promises were made with good intentions but a failure to deliver on such a promise. I hope it wasn't done out of ignorance or expecting it to be easy. I really hope Linux and Mac users get a better technical answer about what roadblocks were hit and why. I hate speculating myself when I know so little of what has gone on.

0z You have the right attitude about this bad news. It sucks for people in your position, but I'm glad you aren't tossing the whole game aside in anger.

Alright, I'm gonna stop butting in now unless I'm needed. Welcome to the new people. Sorry it was bad news that brought ya here. I hope you stick around as part of this great community.