There should be a way to download embedded games, to play offline with ScummVM, from pages where the authors unilaterally decided not to make them available. Seems to be a growing trend.
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Well, since I did say "there should be a way", I appreciate the reply. Now I know there's a way.
I still don't think it's a good idea for the designers not to make an offline version available, and I'm certainly not going to download an application exclusively for the privilege...
...but you addressed exactly what I said, and provided me with a possible solution. Much obliged.
FWIW: using the itch.io program downloads the AGS data but no interpreter, so unless I use ScummVM or something it's still not possible to play the game. So that's two applications I have to use to play the game offline.
Just an FYI; just stating facts. I personally have ScummVM, so it's fine. It's just interesting to expose how the developer can choose to do one thing, which is make it available for download, and it's one thing they have to do and all the users for the platform have access to the files in a standard way; or the the developer can choose not to do it, and then every user who wants to have it is inconvenienced.
Meh. I've used up enough energy on this one. It's working now, but I do not appreciate having to go through such hoops to play it offline unnecessarily, so I'll just delete it and pass on it.
I guess, as the developer of this game, I'll chime in here. I believe all of my other games are available for download. There are two reasons this one isn't:
1. The game downloadable game I made right before this one was flagged as "suspicious" by itch.io and quarantined for a week, which ruined my game launch. Online games don't get quarantied, I think, and I didn't want to deal with the stress of that again.
2. The game was made in a rush for a game jam, and at the time was extremely buggy. It still is buggy. And it's easier to bug fix online games on my end than to upload multiple new versions, especially a Mac version.
Thank you for playing!
"Thank you for playing!"
I won't be, just FYI. I decided to try the itch.io app to download the game (I do not play games online), and the downloaded files don't run by themselves, I need ScummVM. As it happens, I do have ScummVM, but there are only so many hoops I'm willing to go through to play something, and I've hit my limit.
Of the two reasons you gave, one was related to a frustrating event that happened but is over now; and the other is an admission of bugginess - you are essentially saying "the game is still buggy and I'll still fix it so I won't make if available for download because it's tricker to fix if I distribute it like that". Fine; if it's THAT buggy, it's best not to waste time on it anyway. Because, from what you're saying, if you'd reached a point where you'd stopped tinkering, you'd have made it available. Incidently, I notice that the last update was exactly one year ago today.
By all means mange your creations as you see fit. This is merely feedback. Consider that for every person who gives you feedback like this, there are a number of people who feel the same way but just don't bother to say anything. Accessibility and availability are key things. It's one thing which you can do or not do; and a plurality of players (the people who, well, are to play the game you made) who are affected. Even if it's only two players being inconvenienced, that still more than the one person who is inconvenienced by putting the game available offline. I hope this has been useful to you.