But so when you purchase a bundle such as "Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality" what exatly does it do? I mean if it gives you a zip file then the game/s aren't addet to you're steam account, right? This would be the first bundle I buy so please explain yourself as simply as possible. thx
Correct, they are NOT added to your steam account.
You get access to a page with hundreds of download links. When you "download" a bundle game that adds it to your library. You can do that at any time, you don't have to do it now. Then it will list the actual files - you typically download each one as a zip file depending on if you want Windows/Mac OS/etc, unzip and run the game yourself.
If you wish you can also download the itch.io App, https://itch.io/app, which once you have added the game to your library (the initial "Download" button on the bundle download page) the game will appear in the app. It kind of acts like a very simple Steam application and can show your library, manage downloads, automatically download updates, and run the games. Its very basic, but does the job. I'd certainly recommend using the app, but "collections" to organise the games within the app take a bit of getting used to how they work (its not very easy/good).
Yes, that is currently the case. I don't think they (or anyone) expected it to be as popular as it is, and they are no doubt spending a lot of their time in just keeping the servers running (which is very impressive in itself! slow at times, but still going) and so they haven't done much to help with sorting and searching such an unprecedented large bundle yet. It will come. That's one reason why I helped the community by creating my spreadsheet.
They do say they are working on it on the bundle download page:
Note: Projects in this bundle are hidden in your library by default untill you first access them in order to avoid flooding your library. You can return to this page at any time to access any projects you wish to show in your library.
Note: We will be updating this page soon, we know it's difficult to navigate so many games. We know you want a button to add show everything in your library. No need to reach out. Any new games added to the bundle will automatically show up here. Thanks!
Oh, I've just re-read your original message, perhaps I should confirm there is a difference between the initial "download" button and actually downloading the files. Its a very badly worded button in my opinion. You have to click on the first "download" button on the download list to add it to your library; you don't need to download the actual file, and it doesn't download a file - it provides a list of available files on the next page. e.g. you might might not use those, and use the itch.io app instead.
It would be far better if that first button was called "Add to library", not "download". Would save so much confusion!!
I mean this in to be constructive, Itch.io needs to run QA passes before site changes. A somewhat hidden in plain sight aspect of the current issue is the precise way in which the site construction lowers usability in the list. I speak of mainly the "download" buttons themselves. Let us count they ways they are broken from a user perspective:
- As you have already pointed out they do not download, only loading a second download page, rather confusingly. It isn't clear at all why the download links aren't provided from the previous screen at all as the "Download Page" provides no special functions that couldn't be embedded in the listing as it is currently formatted (including OS/alt selection).
- No notice is provided indicating library functionality at all. Whether the game is currently/was added to the library or not, making that aspect completely opaque. Even looking at the library itself there is no clear indication how it is separate from the other lists or how to manage it.
- The "download" buttons from the list are not links. This might seem trivial but it is not. Aside from the accessibility question regarding that sort of button, most computer users do not enjoy going back and fourth from a giant list to secondary pages and with tabbed browsing I would guess most savvy users would open the download links in a separate tab if they could. I literally ended up duplicating the page several times to work around it.
- The *actual* download links are also not links. I understand the attempt to prevent batch downloading, and wonder how successful it is, punishing the end users. The download connections are already time sensitive and authenticated, you only need to restrict simultaneous downloads to prevent bulk download congestion. I'll note that most Linux users expect a downloads to be command line accessible.