1 - You can still put all the dll files in the game folder without having the installer.
2 - Not being able to copy the game to the desktop and try it and then deleting it is very annoying.
3 - It creates folders on the Start Menu that you have to delete after using
4 - It creates icons on the desktop that you have to delete after using the game
5 - Most of the times the uninstall process fails on some computers.
6 - If the uninstall process fails, for some people means having the name of your game on your add/remove programs for ever.
7 - Most of the time everything would seem to go smoothly. You uninstall the game and it autodestructs almost as perfect as if you didn't use an installer. But it actualy LEAVES the info on the registry, adding to your computer slowdown over the years until you format.
8 - It 245% most clicks to just start playing the game. And my time is valuable.
9 - It's a harassment
10 - It makes circy cry
11 - When you uninstall the game, it deletes de dlls from system32 that OTHER klik games still use, so basicaly when you uninstall one klik game, you uninstall all klik games.
12 - Many times i see a good game, but i can't really be arsed to test it and risk all the errors that a posible bad installer could generate on my computer.
13 - You can never trust installers
14 - No one really wants to keep your games on the program files folder.
15 - Everyone puts all the MMF games on a MMF folder on their desktop, so they can be deleted easely.
16 - If you want to delete the game, you cant just right click on it and delete it, you have to go to add/remove programs.. wich is very far away.
17 - Maybe you don't want to trust an installer made by who knows who.. that has unknown access to all the system folders of your computers
18 - It's bad enough that you're clicking on exes all the time, leave alone letting it copy files everywhere- adding to the risk
19 - I really really don't like these installers, seriously
20 - why would anyone go through the trouble of making an installer anyway? isn't it easyer to just hand me the game ffs???
21 - If you really care about the people you distrubute your game, don't try to pretend you are a game company.. installers are something to be avoided, it's not an advantage. Consoles are better becasue you just put the game and start playing, right? why would you make an installer for a 2 mb game huh?
22 - If you really want to save disk space, zip your file. Everyone knows how to unzip a file, we aren't old ladies who need to just double click on something and if that doesnt work we are DEAD.
So there.. those are all the reasons of why you shouldnt use installers imo
I can't be bothered reading all that but creating desktop items you have to delete? Depends if the creator ticks a little box telling it to do that. Fail on some computers? Really? I've never had a problem.
How about some counter reasons? Have you ever released a game that was popular outside of clicking circles? With people who don't have .dll files showing and are using Windows own zip folders rather than winzip/winrar? I've had countless emails from folk asking "why do I get a dmc2.cox error?". because they didn't bloody copy all the files over, or are trying to play games in the zip folders.
Plus installers can save non-clikers a lot of hassle. Such as bass.dll. I noticed that Cave Jumper installed bass.dll into the system folder. Cheers guys! Things like that are brilliant. reduces problems for other folk. always good.
big games, loads of external files and folders (aka, loads of potential to go wrong) probably need installers. small, 1 exe and 1 dll games; no.
2- Installer places a shortcut. one click and the game is running
3- Uninstaller deletes this
4- Uninstaller deletes this
5- Wot? Never had trouble. I had trouble with zipped crap though ...
6- Wot? Never had trouble. I had trouble with zipped crap though ...
7- What registry entries please? Installers doesnīt create registry entries by default. Just the normal ones like a folder and a shortcut would do anyway. They just add exra values when you explicit tell them to.
8- Ah yes, math. One click at the shortcut to start a game is still one click. Whereīs 245% here?
9- It is not.
10- But not me
11- Not true.
12- Not true.
13- But you can trust people to manually start things, eh?
14- Yeah, totally useless. Who needs program files directory anyway. By the way, the user can always choose another destination for installing ...
15- Hello Mister Everyone, nice to meet you. You are a rare species, are you?
16- Nope: start/my game/uninstaller
17- And so does a zip file which may contain crap.
18- What risk please? installer is thought to install ...
19- Agreed, but no argument.
20- Always think of the dumbest user. It is easy to click at install. It is one click at the desktop shortcut to start the game. And itīs one click to uninstall. Which is ways easier than creating a folder open a zipfile and sort all this stuff. And ways more comfortable than searching through, handling and deleting dozens of folders at the desktop.
21- totally disagree.
22- An installer is nothing else than a zipfile with more comfort. It automatically unzips and installs your stuff.
My two cents: Zip files are crap when you want to distribute your game. Use an installer instead. It is ways more comfortable for the user. And is much more professional.
I think nearly everyone dislikes installers, because they can create a lot of hassle when theres no need to.
What I do if I really want to play a game with an installer, is:
1) Install the game (boo!) into C:\Games\NameOfGame\
2) Then I copy the folder C:\Games\NameOfGame\ and put it onto the desktop
3) Then I uninstall the game from the add/remove programs list (or the uninstall.exe file) and it will remove all the rubbish that it has put on your start menu and stuff and also the C:\Games\NameOfGame\ directory.
4) Then I delete the uninstall.exe file from the copied folder (seeing as it'd not work anymore) and then run the game! Then eventually chuck it into the folder with all the other klik games ive downloaded!
Well. There isn't really 22 reasons. Only 3 or 4.. i was just trying to be funny .
Jimmi: Hey, give at least a zip version for klikkers, right?
Tiles:
Hey man.. I'm just saying, for me it's way faster to use zip files.
If you think installers fool me into thinking the game is "professional", you've got another thing coming.
"OMG INSTALLERS LOOK MORE PROFFESSIONAL" is bullshit. Of course non-clickers would rather have a (for them) easy to use installer, but the average click game doesn't need one. It just annoys people when they have to go through the whole process of installing a small click game. It doesn't make you look more proffessional, it makes you look like an idiot who thinks you're proffessional.
If you ask me, normal click games should just be zipped. Bigger click games should allow users to choose, zip or installer. It's logical, easy, and everyone stays happy that way. Yes?
yeah lol. It's not like i download your installer and double click and i orgasm as everything is done automaticaly..
If anything i get nervous of what will happen after i let it copy unknown files all over my windows folders
Aren't the extensions compiled into the exe? At least if you have them in the runtime folder when you build it. I don't think you have to include extensions unless the application is open source.
+ Some add icons to desktop (I'm not sure if Install creator lets you choose this?)
+ Adds menus and icons under your "All programs" area
+ Adds more stuff to "Add/Remove programs" under control panel
And I download about 5 klik games every week (that's around how many are submitted here every week now ) - so I prefer a zip file. I know the above points are little things, but when you download lots of klik games with installers then they'd get annoying for me. Some prefer zip, some prefer installer - just a matter of opinion really.
I provide graphics in zipfiles. And i provide games that comes with an installer. Now guess where the trouble makers came and come from. Mails from users having trouble with zipfiles: lots of them. Even after i put up the various solutions in my FAQ. Mails from users having trouble with installers: none.
Sure, using an installer is no guarantee that the content is good. But it shows that the creator is a bit more experienced and doesnīt simply use a zipfile. You have to know what you are doing though.
At least when your game gets onto a cover cd you need an installer. I have never seen a zipfile at a cover cd. Thatīs what i meant with professional ...
Installers are fucking stupid. They have no redeeming qualities for anything that isn't going to be used so often that it needs a damn shortcut. I don't want click games on my desktop, let alone my damn registry, and forcing me to use installers/uninstallers to do things I should be able to do with a context menu 'extract' or the delete key is an insult.
You want to keep your files together? Use an extractor. Maybe NSIS as long as you don't use a hard gay script.
But it shows that the creator is a bit more experienced and doesnīt simply use a zipfile.
That's bull. Seeing a klik game that uses the clickteam installer screams 'NOOOOOB' to me. It's becoming more and more common for commercial software to be available in archives or extractors rather than installers unless it's absolutely necessary.