I don't think that's the problem here. The problem the developers of the game have seems to be the fact that Canonical is claiming "the authors of Binding of Issac [sic] declined to make their game available" when the truth is they are the one who rejected the game. Put it plainly, they lied. To me personally, it felt like Canonical is trying to appear "open", while in fact they are controlling their own store's content, just like everyone else.

No, that's not quite right.

They initially rejected the game. Once it got popular, Canonical wanted to put it in, but because of the earlier rejection and the SMB stuff, Ed declined.

So their statement was technically correct, but without knowing the full context was misleading.

That's still not quite right. Edmund's full comment was:

"they are just trying to save face. they rejected isaac a while ago because its content "wasnt a good fit for the Ubuntu store" then changed their tune once they found out how popular it was and that it was a part of the HIB."

Ubuntu have had some kind of arrangement with the HIB for a while where they offer as many of the HIB games for download as possible through the Ubuntu Software Center, and HIB purchasers don't have to pay again for them. What presumably changed wasn't the popularity of the game but the fact that it was part of HIB7. I can't imagine Ubuntu expected it to be a massive seller for them, given that the unauthorized SMB apparently sold all of 77 copies.

Binding of Isaac was originally written in flash (I think it's since been re-implemented) but don't let that put you off: it's a polished piece of gaming perfection.

The theme probably puts some people off, but the underlying mechanics are perfectly judged.

> I think it's since been re-implemented

Nope, it is being reimplemented/rebooted and should be released flashless in 2013, but the current version remains flash-based:

> Edmund McMillen has confirmed that he is working on a remake of the game slated for release in 2013. He states that the primary purpose of the remake will be to take it out of Flash, and use a new engine to help limit the bugs with the game. It will feature completely re-balanced items and enemies, as well as redrawn graphics, possible local co-op support, new items, new enemies, and console support. It was announced that it will come with 2 Player Local Co-Op and will be called The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth.

Actually you don't, according to david pitkin it's the lack of age restriction in the ubuntu store that cause this game to be rejected.

Here's the quote:

Hi Edmund, let's figure the confusion out as soon as possible. There were some crossed wires with the Humble Indie Bundle 5 launch and Super Meat Boy plus the lack of age restrictions in the Ubuntu App Store for Issac but nothing more I thought : (

David Pitkin,Director of Consumer Applications at Canonical.

Binding of Isaac is a fantastic game. The theme may be a bit strange and the graphics aren't anything special (though I do feel the graphics suit the gameplay), but the gameplay is top notch. In fact, I bought this bundle specifically for the Binding of Isaac DLC.

Machinarium was a flash game too and yet it is still a great game. Being a flash game doesn't necessarily mean the game is not any good. I do understand what you mean though - if it looks like a basic flash game, then perhaps its as shallow as the masses of flash games you can find on the web, but in this case its simply not the case.

Well, there are problems with BoI that occur specifically because it is a Flash game. (Thus the rewrite mentioned elsewhere.)

> The one mentioned in this article for example, looked like a basic Flash game.

Binding of Isaac is a flash game, and is anything but basic (one of the best games of 2011, for all its technical issues).

I don't understand the hate for flash games. As a general purpose Ad Content creation platform, I absolutely hate flash, but when it comes down to games there are hundreds of open source engines, thousands of books on game development on the platform and hundreds of thousands of tutorials all over the internet.

It's a popular game platform that works really well for game developers with more of an artistic background than our traditional systems or web developer (and art is arguable more important than code in a successful video game). As a web developer I don't hate Linux kernel hackers for the tools and platforms they use, and there's no reason I should hate on the tools and platforms game developers use either. It's an entirely different field.

The Binding of Isaac devs have talked at some length about the issues they've faced with making a decent sized game in Flash. This isn't just outsides tearing down something that they don't understand. There are real technical problems with making a full game in Flash.

I blame the THQ bundle. Seriously, all that awesome for just a $1 minimum. After that all these previously amazing indie games just look like flash toys.

The THQ bundle was but an attempt to boost the stock value of the company by showing people had interest in the games before filing for bankruptcy.

It was real real sub par in comparison of other bundles, it was crippled by being windows only and steam only on linux, it had no bonus content and didn't feature anything fresh. Also developers of those games mostly didn't see a dime of this.

Bankruptcy? What does Humble Bundles financial situation look like?

Err, THQ is going bankrupt, not HI.

That was the only humble bundle I didn't buy. I do not agree with your conclusion at all.

They are still amazing though. especially Dungeon Defenders with its DLCs. :)

Which sadly happens to be buggy under linux

well, that sucks. I can't even get it to run on my Mint install, but I think my problem was my graphic card driver,

I gave it several chances and it's a terrible game, it does a great job of annoying the player.

Judging by it's popularity despite the lack of any kind of advertising campaign, I'd say it caters to a kind of player that isn't you, not that it's a terrible game. (Disclaimer: BoI is my favorite game of 2011)