Tux Games
| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Nottingham, UK |
Key people |
Michael Simms, (2001 - 2012) Clive Crous (2012 - Present) |
| Website | http://www.tuxgames.com |
Tux Games was one of the first still active online Linux game retailers, founded on January 1, 2000 by Michael Simms, who would later also found Linux Game Publishing. It was originally created in response to Simms being unable to order a version of Loki Software's port of Civilization: Call to Power from any British reseller.[1]
Tux Games, being one of the oldest retailers, is one of the few places still selling Loki Software stock, although their availability is still variable.[2][3] It also offered the unique service of selling Linux boxed copies of many games whose ports otherwise require the presence of a Windows boxed version, such as with several id Software products.[4] Doing this had the advantage of guaranteeing it is counted as a Linux sale.[5]
In addition to its services as a games seller, Tux Games has attempted to branch out into other areas, such as selling gaming oriented computer systems,[6] and attempting to open a Donation Center for free software projects.[7] In the end neither of these appear to have been successful. Its decision of hosting old Loki Software demos has been met with praise however.[8][9]
Tux Games received many requests for sales statistics,[10] which prompted Simms to add a sales information chart to the main website.[11] The current top five overall sellers are Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Tribes 2, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Neverwinter Nights, and Majesty Gold.[12]
In recent years Tux Games has gained some competition from other similarly focused retailers, such as Fun4Tux and Wupra, both retailers based in continental Europe. It is also competing with the online digital distribution services Gameolith and Desura. It has also been occasionally criticized for poor order handling.[13]
On January 31, 2012 after over a decade with the company, Michael Simms announced he was stepping down as CEO and handing over control to Clive Crous.[14]
See also
References
- ↑ Linux Game Publishing Blog, LGP History pt 1: How LGP came to be
- ↑ Loki Stock LinuxGames, January 28, 2002
- ↑ TuxGames Out of SMAC; Low on Others LinuxGames, March 18, 2003
- ↑ Retail Linux RTCW at Tux Games LinuxGames, January 21, 2002
- ↑ Doom 3 Pre-Order at Tux Games LinuxGames, August 31, 2002
- ↑ TuxGames Offering Computers LinuxGames, December 19, 2006
- ↑ Donation System at Tux Games LinuxGames, July 19th, 2001
- ↑ Loki Repository from Tux Games and Holarse LinuxGames September 25, 2007
- ↑ New Loki Games Repository Emerges Phoronix, September 25, 2007 (Article by Michael Larabel)
- ↑ Tux Games Statistics LinuxGames December 14, 2002
- ↑ More Tux Games Sales Info LinuxGames, April 23, 2003
- ↑ Overall Best Sellers TuxGames, Retrieved on March 16, 2011
- ↑ Source for Retail Linux Games? LinuxGames, July 22, 2004
- ↑ Linux Game Publishing...the return? GamingOnLinux, January 31, 2012 (Article by Liam Dawe)