Is the use of an Installer such a big deal?

[DaFool]

Interesting bit of conversation:

I don't know much about English game but, is that any other reason for making an installer except to make it looks more professional?

Well probably your friends are computer expert - I too prefer a zip, but that's not what the majority of people expect, in particular casual players. Take a look around all the game demos, 99% of them are distributed as installer. "Some" people might have trouble with unpacking the zip, and so on, and you definitely don't want that since can cost you some sales

yeah I noticed the English game demos are mostly using installer, while Japanese VN not (usually doujin VN do not use installer, if it's not a hard copy). Thank you for the advice :3.

I noticed that Go Go Nippon despite being a fully-customized-for-English game, came as a zip file, with an .exe inside with DRM! So it isn't just DLsite doujin games that use the zip.

I personally also prefer plain zips so I can file all my VN-type games in one folder and not clutter my Program Files. Since the game I am making is going to be quite hardcore in execution I'm contemplating whether to forego an installer as well.

Of course it's easy to make an installer with the free options out there. But at the same time it feels kinda pointless, especially if you can be more efficient making a universal zip.

What do people think? Would you look down on a commercial game that didn't come with an installer, especially something that's proudly DRM-free?

[papillon]

People who belong to game-making forums are generally a lot more competent in computer use than the 'average' customer

[Camille]

I'm used to using my Mac and most Mac programs don't bother with installers. I just download something from the App Store or it comes in a .zip file that I extract. Personally I don't think installers are necessary for that reason, but there are a lot of non-tech-savvy people who would be totally lost without an installer, I think.

[jack_norton]

Making a game installer is so simple that really you should do it. Why limit your potential market for such a simple thing? (yes there are still people who don't know how to use .zip)
For mac is different, and I use .zip on it without problems.

[Chu-3]

I just realized that this thread is full of the quotes of my former posts and I feel so LOL.

Like what I said, I don't know much about English game. I have my circle acc in DLSite, and in the DRM explanation, they said that they will add the DRM to the zip file, not the exe. I don't know if it's a part of their system or what. And since they add the explanation like "DRM might sometime cause error in several computers", I chose to not use that service.

Again, in Japanese VN, based on the ones I've played, seems there's a way of thinking that digital product is a zip, while hard copy uses installer. I asked some other Japanese doujin circles, and they also said same. Even there is hard-copy (I forget the title) that doesn't use installer. I know this from my Japanese friend that bought it. Seems it was an original product of Animate (Japanese doujin shop) and the game is voiced by many famous Voice Actors.

I guess it's up to you to make your game in single zip or an installer. There's always advantage and disadvantage of it. For me I'll leave the game in zip for now and look for the responses... my internet speed is pretty slow and uploading is really a hard work for me... (I might consider to use installer for next product.)

[Samu-kun]

I don't like installers, mostly because the installers I've generally seen have always tried to sneak unwanted software into my computer unless I was paying attention and I unchecked the box where it says "Install [name of adware here]"

[sake-bento]

I personally prefer using a .ZIP, and if the download count on any of my threads is an indication, most people on LSF feel the same way. However, most casual players prefer an installer. It makes a game easier to find (for them) if it's in their start menu, and not in some random folder that they happened to be in when they downloaded it. Also, since Windows allows you to explore a .ZIP file the same way you'd explore a folder, a lot of players try to run the game from inside the .zip without realizing that they have to unzip it. In the end, it's best to give people options. If you pick only one or the other, you will be alienating people.

[LVUER]

I prefer ZIP files, simply because installer will make some registry and other things in my PC. If like I remove the files without properly uninstalling them, it could cause a problem.

That, and like the others have said above.

But I guess big games that span across multiple DVD and as big as 5+GBs couldn't use simple ZIP files... or it can?

[Alera]

I personally like installers, though yes- they may seem a bit pointless.

Still- they're the easier solution for people that have lil experience with computers. I know a lot such people who even have never heard of .zip files. O.o So it's very simple for them to just start the installer and click "ok,next,next,install,done,play"

Might seem unnecessary for us, but not for most.

And if you want to have all your games in one folder then...you know you can specify that during the install, right? Just one additional click, I don't think it's such a huge problem.

*Just a note: I'm not against and don't mind .zip files myself.*

[AxemRed]

But I guess big games that span across multiple DVD and as big as 5+GBs couldn't use simple ZIP files... or it can?

Technically possible, but your unzip program would need multispan/ZIP64 support.



I really annoys me when installers require admin privileges for no discernible reason... at least .zip can't mess with my system files.

[Mirage]

I prefer zip for the same reason stated above. I don't like to install every little games I downloaded to my computers. I don't treat games as software. I treat them as files, and when they appeared in the list of software installed, I feel very irritated. ~___~

Thus far, I've only gotten 1 person who didn't know how to unzip. But then my games are made in flash, you can play the demo online, so I don't know if having no installer will affect sales or not.

[Lumen_Astrum]

I prefer .zips.
For the reason my dad sets me to limited all the time and I can't download games if it's in an installer... XD

Plus, it's easier for me to back-up when the time comes.
I don't have to go all the way to the darn "Program Files" folder just to get the games I wanted to back-up. -_-

[Funnyguts]

From the perspective of a Linux user, seeing something labeled tar.bz tends to be a warning sign that you're about to compile source code. While that's not the case with Ren'py games, giving the user a proper .deb or .rpm to use would mean that the game will actually appear in the user's app menu and can quickly be found with a semantic launcher (which everyone should use, these things are fantastic), and will properly install to /usr/games instead of awkwardly cluttering the Downloads folder or making the user create a 'games' folder to hold everything in.

[Dharma Fish]

From the perspective of a Linux user, seeing something labeled tar.bz tends to be a warning sign that you're about to compile source code. While that's not the case with Ren'py games, giving the user a proper .deb or .rpm to use would mean that the game will actually appear in the user's app menu and can quickly be found with a semantic launcher (which everyone should use, these things are fantastic), and will properly install to /usr/games instead of awkwardly cluttering the Downloads folder or making the user create a 'games' folder to hold everything in.

I use Ubuntu Linux and while I'm not going to avoid playing a Ren'Py game just because it's .tar.bz I'll second this statement. .deb would be way more user friendly and it would be nice for my VNs to show up in my games menu automatically.

[VenusEclipse]

I like zip files but a lot of people don't deal with these often.

I've had emails about people not being able to open the VN, end up redownloading the VN, and getting frustrated.

The main reason they can't open the game is because they don't know how to unzip the game. You end up explaining to them how to do it.

It's not like I mind explaining it but it takes a few days to exchange the emails.
It'll be more frustrating if this happens in a commercial game though.