The one mentioned in this article for example, looked like a basic Flash game. So as an outsider to this indie gaming world, I can understand why they might have superficially rejected it - it's probably a great game if you give it a chance.
Just thought that someone should point this out because the comments have so far been the opposite.
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.
"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.
The theme probably puts some people off, but the underlying mechanics are perfectly judged.
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.
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.
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.
Binding of Isaac is a flash game, and is anything but basic (one of the best games of 2011, for all its technical issues).
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.
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.