Last time around, I jumped at the opportunity to get the Humble Indie Bundle. This time, I took a moment to consider what I was getting. And then I remembered: this isn't about getting.
My hesitation was driven by the fact that I already had three of the games in question, two (Machinarium and Osmos) from a different indie bundle on Steam, and I've had Braid on XBox just about since it came out. So in an absolute sense, I was only getting two games. But the thing about the Humble Bundle is that it's more than just games. Sure you get 5 sweet games, but you also get the chance to distribute your donation however you want, split between the developers and two worthy causes.
Let's talk about Child's Play. You may have heard of it. They collect donations, games, and systems to provide hospitalized children with video games. Does this help them get better? I don't know if there's any scientific evidence of that. Does it take their minds off of being in a foreign place with tubes sticking out of them, scared and feeling like crap? You're damn right it does. It always does the trick for me when I'm sick, and I'm a grown-ass man.
So what about the EFF? They're a very different kind of group. They are a legal foundation, pushing to defend public rights as the digital age raises more questions about privacy, ownership, and free speech. Net Neutrality? They can get behind that.
Finally, since I'm not all about saving children and making the world a better place, there's the Indie part of the Humble Indie Bundle. These games are made by independent game developers, small shops that dream of making better games. I've got one of those, and at least up in the Boston area, whenever you see Indies in need, you help, because that will probably be you next time.
Should you care about this? Maybe, maybe not. But if you're looking to buy someone some games this holiday season, there are a lot more reasons to check out the Humble Indie Bundle 2 than going down to the local Best Buy.
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