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Cactus offers tech support to pirates

Published on 29th October 2012 by David Hing

Ultra-violent ultra-80s Hotline Miami was released last week and has been received well by critics.

Hotline Miami creator Jonatan 'Cactus' Soderstrom has been spotted offering technical advice to pirates of his game.

Soderstrom found a torrent of Hotline Miami on The Pirate Bay and responded to comments complaining about bugs that would crash the game. Soderstrom not only recommended ways to work round these bugs, but also requested that someone updates the torrent when the first patch for the game is released.

'I don't really want people to pirate Hotline Miami, but I understand if they do,' said Soderstrom. 'I defintiely want people to experience the game the way it's meant to be experienced. No matter how they got a hold of it.'

Top-down 2D shooter Hotline Miami was developed by Soderstrom and Dennis Wedin and was released last week when it quickly rose to enter Steam's top 10 sellers list.

Soderstrom has built a reputation for being a prolific creator of games and previously gave a talk at GDC 2009 titled "The Four Hour Game Design" detailing his methods. His games regularly turn up at art festivals and another critically acclaimed title of his is vertical shump Clean Asia! which won an award at the 2008 Independent Games Festival.

Last month, McPixel creator Sos Sosowski earned his game a spot on The Pirate Bay's Promo Bay section by thanking pirates of the surreal point-and-click adventure mini-game compilation for their interest through posting a selection of gift codes for the title on the torrent site.

6 Comments

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Roskoken 29th October 2012, 10:10

Damned decent of him

Griffter 29th October 2012, 10:20

just like valve, i will not pirate from him and valve, cos i know they are doing their best for me. unlike EA ala MoH: Warfighter... they complain pirates pirate cos they want to, but never look that ppl are just so upset and tired of being taken for a ride by companies releasing unfinished or **** games promising one thing, and giving another.

pirating is still wrong tho, but maybe companies should increase their love for games and their buyers of them before just complaining.

mi1ez 29th October 2012, 12:02

How refreshing! Someone who believes more in the art of what they are creating than the money!

deathtaker27 29th October 2012, 12:39

I will probably buy this game out of respect to the guy, just I will end up never playing it

Anfield 29th October 2012, 15:56

<- now considers buying the game

enciem 29th October 2012, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anfield
<- now considers buying the game

I'm with you man. The simplest gesture of opening a line of communication is an awesome idea, love the posting of download codes as well. It's a refreshing way of acknowledging respect as a path to increasing sales. Much more sensible than the head in the sand method, the strongly worded letter, or indeed the disapprovingly tutting strategy.

I also like the point of just wanting people to see what you made in the best possible light.