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Linux Tycoon – The Linux Distro Building Game

Today I am announcing a new game.  An important game.  An awesome game.

Linux Tycoon.

The idea is simple: You design and manage your own distribution of Linux and compete against other Distro's.

Here's a sample of just a few of the exciting things you'll be doing while playing Linux Tycoon:

  1. Analyzing and selecting software packages.
  2. Fixing Bugs.
  3. Managing volunteers and paid staff.
  4. Keeping the total size (in MB) of your Distro at a reasonable level.
  5. And so much more!

Seriously though.  It is fun.  (It is a game, after all.  You don't actually fix bugs yourself.)

Basically take all the fun parts of building your own Linux Distro... and take out all the work.  Bam! Instant entertainment!

Linux Tycoon will be released on Friday, March 30th (that's this Friday) for $5.

DRM free and available for Linux, Windows and Mac.  (That's right... for the first time ever, Mac and Windows users can enter the world of Linux Distro-building!  We're building bridges here, people!)

Check back right here on Friday for the mega-launch (which is like a normal game launch only more "mega") of Linux Tycoon.

In the mean-time, you can always check out my other game: "2299 : THE GAME".  Which is an old-school adventure game that really is nothing at all like Linux Tycoon.

Update!

Did I say Friday, March 30th?  What I meant to say was "early in the morning on Monday, April 2nd".  :)

The game itself is play-tested and ready to go with the "Bryan Lunduke Stamp Of Approval"... except for 3 things that are kinda-sorta important:

  1. An icon.
  2. Tested packages and installers.
  3. And the web page.

Work, on all three, is underway... but won't be ready in the next few hours.  So Monday morning it is!

I recommend that everyone use your final "Linux Tycoon-free weekend" to do a Costco run and stock up on hot pockets, muffins and vitamin water.

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31 Responses to “Linux Tycoon – The Linux Distro Building Game”

  1. TheDaftRick says:

    Sounds cool.
    Please make Chakra’s fake name: Cha-Kah-Rah-Kah-Rah

  2. Daniel Clem says:

    Hey, could you please make this particular game open source?? I would gladly pay 10 dollars for an open source distro builder game.

    Even 20 if it made real distros and took all the hard work and programing out of making any kind of distro (user could really choose debian, suse, ubuntu, arch, ect) And would aid in bug fixing as well. Much like Illumination brings Programming to non programmers. Just a thought. :-)

    God Bless ya Bryan,
    Dan

  3. Kaworus_lover says:

    Two questions –

    1) Is the game going to be “Hardcore” (like a SimCity) or “Not so Hardcore” (like GameDev Story)?

    2) Will the game be netbook friendly?

  4. Daniel Clem says:

    Ok brain farted on that one lol since illumination is 50 normally, than the Distro builder, (real one, not game one) would proportionaly be at least that much. Maybe more depending on the amount of work it would require from you. But would still pay it as I suck at programming and distro administration at this point of my Life. lol

  5. Bryan says:

    Definitely in the “Not so Hardcore” camp. In many ways it’s a bit more complex than GameDev Story, but it is very much that sort of game.

    Definitely netbook friendly.

  6. Stephen Martin says:

    You oughta called it “Lunix” instead of Linux. It’s linux * lunduke. :p

  7. Mim says:

    As I’m tied to an iOS device until I get my Vivaldi, any chance of an iOS release?

  8. MaTachi says:

    Sounds like an awesome game concept. :P

  9. Bill says:

    Shouldn’t be called GNU/Linux Tycoon? I sense negativity in the freedom dimension.

    Just kiddin. Can’t wait to play! =^)

  10. Chris says:

    What RMS don’t realise is that GNU is a bad name and GNU/Linux is a really bad name. Linux just sound awesome.
    I will buy this game :)

  11. Mathias says:

    Sounds like a cool game! Can’t wait to see some more screenshots, I have no to play a game like that!

  12. Jesse says:

    Sounds great, I’ll definitely pick this up. :)

    I hope this game includes serious moral choices, such as how to walk the fine line between being a religious zealot and a windows software shop (ie FSF vs RedHat) :D

  13. lightonflux says:

    Are there any plans for the Ubuntu-Software-Center?

  14. Zane says:

    Can “Bryan tore your hopes, dreams, and distro to shreds on LAS with a grumpy review.” be the equivalent of “dying of dysentery” in the game? (jk, I love LAS.)

  15. Chris says:

    So it is Friday, March 30th now… were is the game?

  16. Jimmy the Jew says:

    Constantly refreshing this page.

  17. Beidl says:

    Waiting…..

  18. Chris says:

    Bryan why wont you let me tell you to shut up and take my money?

  19. Bryan says:

    Check the “Update” above.

    Chris: I promise to allow you to give me your money on Monday. :)

  20. Jimmy the Jew says:

    Good thing I didn’t call in sick for the weekend yet.

  21. Chris says:

    But Bryyyan we don’t have Costco or hot pockets in Sweden. How am I suppose to prepare myself :P

  22. Barnabyh says:

    LooooniX !

  23. Linux Tycoon: Design and Manage Your Own Distribution | PHP World says:

    [...] Lunduke has his little digits in a variety of projects. He is the talent and driving force behind the Illumination Software Creator. He has authored other games as well as Sci-Fi comic strips 2299 and Road-Sign Hank. He has even written a programing language. Perhaps Lunduke is best known as one of the founders and personalities of Linux Action Show. So, it’s with this modest amount of credibility that he has announced his new game: Linux Tycoon. [...]

  24. meldrian says:

    Free weekend – Check
    Energydrink – Check
    Pizza & hotpockets – Check
    5 bucks – Check
    Linux Tycoon – …

    You ruined my weekend buddy :-)
    I‛ll stay here until monday and wait.

  25. Juega a diseñar y mantener tu propia distro con Linux Tycoon says:

    [...] Más información en la pagina web de Lunduke [...]

  26. zerothis says:

    $10 for GPL

  27. Episode 025 : Sunday Morning Linux Review says:

    [...] lately, with the service reportedly on the verge of launching in the first or second week of April Linux Tycoon – The Linux Distro Building Game The idea is simple: You design and manage your own distribution of Linux and compete against other [...]

  28. M J says:

    I would like to file a bug.

    Distros named Fedora should NEVER get a good review on the Linux Action Show.

  29. Lassi says:

    Best tycoon ever!
    Played two hours, drank six beers and it’s still awesome :-)

    There’s some pretty good suggestions in the forums for the game… can’t wait the next version!

  30. LINUX TYCOON a Distro simulator for some great fun | Unixmen says:

    [...] Linux Tycoon, is a new genre of Linux games that gives gamers a great new simulation game to explore. Here is why the game is going to top gaming charts for a long time to come. First of all, this game is developed by Byran Duke a self-styled independent developer who uses graphics skillfully for high-impact gaming and storytelling. Currently, only the beta version is available. [...]

  31. Desmo says:

    What’s min. system req. to run this game?