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Adding free games to my Library?

A topic by Michael C. Neel created Jan 19, 2016 Views: 7,572 Replies: 6
Viewing posts 1 to 4
(+2)

I'm just now catching up on the awesome itch app and making sure my stuff works. I'm sure there are many planned features to come (right now I don't see a way to even search games from the app and it links out to the website for game details) but I'm stuck trying to add a game that's free to my Library so I can manage the install from the app. Am I just missing the button or is it not there? I realize I can make a collection and add games there but that doesn't put it in my library and that's probably not an intuitive experience for a user.

Thanks,
Mike

Currently I believe the flow is based around user collections.

In my experience the easiest thing to do is to set up a collection of any games you want to play through the website. Then within the app you can open that collection and install/play any games you want.

(+7)

The problem with just adding free games to a collection, is that if a game is free for a limited time, you can't grab it for your library to play later, or even get updates.

You can just download it to your computer at that moment, or your screwed.

I mean, if that's itch's policy, fine. But at least add a disclaimer to free games like "You must donate at least X dollars to add this game to your library."

Until then, I'll consider it a missing feature / bug.

Admin(+8)

We're rolling out a feature that will let you own a game that goes on sale for 100% off.

It's unlikely we'll change how free games work now though, since many people want to make their game paid later, and do not want everyone who has downloaded it to own it. Maybe in the future if we add even more fine grained access control there could be an option there.

(1 edit)

Thanks.

On your second answer - Lot's of developers label early development games as Demo/Beta/Free and then make a "full version" if they plan on selling them later. I'm sure they'll start doing that if you guys announce it in advance. But I also understand if you still don't want to.

Can you confirm however that donating to a free game adds it to your library, or does that only work with PWYW games?

Admin(+4)

Donating to a game will make you "own" it, regardless of what the price is set to in the future. So if you see a free game you don't want to lose you could technically donate the minimum (50 cents). We might change this in the future, but we'll never take away any games you may have claimed.

(The only exception to this is individually priced files, those will require a donation amount above the minimum)

More information here: What happens when you convert a free game to paid

(+8)

Would appreciate a feature that let's you "own" free games (so you can see them in your collection) and when they become paid versions, you could maybe grey them out and be like "If you want to continue owning this game, please pay its price to support the developer."