Pay What You Want For Two Copies Of Sleep Is Death
May 14, 2010 6:00 AM | Eric Caoili
On the heels of the pay-what-you-want Humble Indie Bundle, indie developer Jason Rohrer has launched a similar "Name Your Price" promotion for his two-player storytelling game Sleep Is Death. He's charging a minimum of $1.75 to cover payment processing fees and bandwidth costs, but because it's a two-player game, he's selling it with two copies.
After your payment is received, you'll receive an email with an access link for two people to download one of several DRM-free versions (Windows, Mac, Full Source Code Bundle, and several resource packs). You will also be able to download all future updates for Sleep Is Death.
The game has already sold some 4,000 copies as of April 30th -- 2,600 of which were $9 preorders and the remaining priced at $14 apiece, making the developer $43,000 so far. While that's only a fraction of what most major titles sell/make, Rohrer said he's pleased with those numbers, as he keeps all the profit instead of receiving just a cut.
"It's not like I'm giving thirty percent to Microsoft or Sony," said Rohrer in an interview with Charge Shot. "I'm happy. Me and my family can live for another two or three years on the money that came in from Sleep is Death."
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7 Comments
Where is the developer from? I couldn't live 1 year on $43,000 (after Uncle Sam took his share).
wrong | May 14, 2010 9:45 AM
I believe there was an interview with him on A Life Well Wasted that was talking about how Rohrer lives in a rural area where he built his own house, produces food, and the like.
Matt | May 14, 2010 3:02 PM
As one of the Charge Shot folk who interviewed him, it sounds like Rohrer has since moved from rural New York to somewhere out west - I think Colorado.
But he does try to keep his standard of living down for various reasons.
craig | May 14, 2010 10:59 PM
When I lived on my own in Oakland, California, I could easily have lived for three or four years on that. $650/mo for rent; another $50 for utilities; maybe another $200 for food. And that was in a major urban area. And I wasn't making a point about my lifestyle; I was just doing my thing.
The dude here, he and his family deliberately live on a subsistence level. They try to use as few resources as possible. You know what you're doing with that, and you live out in the sticks, and it should be plenty simple to live off a hunk of money like that.
wubble zubble | May 15, 2010 2:55 AM
I would wait because this Week Givewhatyouwant.com goes online. A new Shopping Portal with the Princip of Humble Indie Bundle and Sleep is Death will be part of this. So you can get more Games and this game, too. Other Games are Azteka, Mini One Racing asf.
jochen | May 17, 2010 11:21 AM
Sorry, Name is givewhateveryouwant.com
jocken | May 17, 2010 11:27 AM
about this jochen and his givewhateveryouwant read here: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/givewhateveryouwant_com_indie_games_casual_games_asf/_/5
be carefull | May 21, 2010 5:08 AM