Tux Games

Tux Games was one of the first still active online Linux game retailers, founded on 1 January 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
Private
IndustryRetail
Founded2000
HeadquartersNottingham, UK
Key people
Michael Simms, (2001 - 2012)
Clive Crous (2012 - Present)
Websitehttp://www.tuxgames.com (defunct)

Tux Games, being one of the oldest retailers, was one of the few places still selling Loki Software stock.[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 31 January 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]

As of December 2015 the website no longer appears to be hosting Linux software, and is instead offering online gambling. The whois record indicates registration in Great Britain. The page footer indicates association with a "Peter Adams", and mentions neither Simms nor Crous.

See also

References
  1. Linux Game Publishing Blog, LGP History pt 1: How LGP came to be Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Loki Stock LinuxGames, 28 January 2002
  3. TuxGames Out of SMAC; Low on Others LinuxGames, 18 March 2003
  4. Retail Linux RTCW at Tux Games LinuxGames, 21 January 2002
  5. Doom 3 Pre-Order at Tux Games LinuxGames, 31 August 2002
  6. TuxGames Offering Computers LinuxGames, 19 December 2006
  7. Donation System at Tux Games LinuxGames, 19 July 2001
  8. Loki Repository from Tux Games and Holarse LinuxGames 25 September 2007
  9. New Loki Games Repository Emerges Phoronix, 25 September 2007 (Article by Michael Larabel)
  10. Tux Games Statistics LinuxGames 14 December 2002
  11. More Tux Games Sales Info LinuxGames, 23 April 2003
  12. Overall Best Sellers TuxGames, Retrieved on 16 March 2011
  13. Source for Retail Linux Games? LinuxGames, 22 July 2004
  14. Linux Game Publishing...the return? GamingOnLinux, 31 January 2012 (Article by TheBoss)
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