The Humble Indie Bundle is Back

The Humble Indie Bundle is back, with five new games and another sweet “pay what you want” sale that lets you divvie up your cash between the developers and two very worthy charities.

You’re probably familiar with the Humble Indie Bundle concept but here’s the lowdown in case you’ve somehow managed to miss it. You take five hot indie videogames, put them all together in one big, DRM-free bundle and then let people decide how much they want to pay for it and where the money goes – to the developers, Child’s Play or the Electronic Frontier Foundation – in whatever proportions they like. It’s an awesome idea that’s so far raised over $1 million for charity, and now a new bundle is in the pipe and ready to rock.

The Humble Indie Bundle 3 features Crayon Physics Deluxe, Cogs, VVVVVV, And Yet It Moves and Hammerfight, five hot indie releases that would normally go for about 50 bucks as separate purchases. And in case that wasn’t awesome enough, all games in the bundle are cross-platform, with native support for Linux and OSX as well as Windows, and can be installed through Steam and Desura.

Some of the games have been updated for the bundle as well. Hammerfight includes a new “survivor mode,” VVVVVV has a new map editor and bonus level designed by Notch and And Yet It Moves features new achievements and bonus content.

But some things haven’t changed, specifically that Windows users are a bunch of tightwads. At last check, Team Windows had made in the neighborhood of two-thirds of total Humble Bundle 3 payments but is running a distant third in per-unit payouts. Linux users have so far paid an average of $10.45 per bundle, Mac users are running in second at $5.41 and Windows users are bringing up the rear with a paltry $3.48. For five games, guys? Come on.

Sharp-eyed readers may notice that this is actually the fourth Humble Bundle to be released, but this is the third Humble Indie Bundle because the actual third bundle was the Humble Frozenbyte Bundle. Or something like that. Who cares, it’s a great deal! Go throw money at it! [Especially you Windows types. Jeez.]