itch.io
Web and SaaS
game storefront
SHOW HN2013
155points
75comments
#114of 1,739 in 2013
Top 7%of 2013 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
12 positive, 20 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 10 critical, out of 44 comments about the project. Thread score +0.06.
Idea: 7 for, 6 againstDesign: 4 for, 2 againstPricing: 0 for, 2 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Clean, nice-looking site and layout
From 3 comments
Nice looking site! I'm a professional programmer just getting started with indie game development (it's so much fun!). The biggest thing I want out of a game hosting site apart…
nwhitehead on HNI really like this. I do want to see a directory though. Just a little detail I really like the way you show how much money will go to each party involved in the sale:…
basicallydan on HNThe video is a real eye-catcher, nicely done!
lucb1e on HN
Pay-what-you-want model useful for small developers
From 2 comments
I and a small team at my university are a month or two away from shipping our game. I think that we will highly consider using this site! The minimum price payment scheme is…
gamegoblin on HNAgreed, to me it seems that something like this has the potential to become the "Bandcamp for games." Steam, even with Greenlight, is intended to host a curated selection of…
ANTSANTS on HN
Good alternative to Steam for no-DRM distribution
From 2 comments
1. itch.io uses PayPal. Assuming you trust them, there is nothing to worry about. 2. itch.io provides the same mechanism. You are paying for the game, not the single download. 3.…
abcrawf on HNFrom a consumer point of view it isn't a game distribution service (at least I don't think so.) I make a game and I tell some friends about it or post about it on my blog and…
alanfalcon on HN
Objections
No game directory or discovery for buyers
From 3 comments
Why no directory? I uploaded a game to this when it was advertised on gamedev.net Only subsequently did I realised this site does no marketing, or even a directory on the front…
tlarkworthy on HNwhat are tags? Are there plans for in-itch discovery? As a buyer, the front page doesn't really help me at all. as a seller, I can see the use case. Maybe integration with online…
MichaelGlass on HNIs there an ability to upload a demo of the game? Will there be some kind of discovery system for buyers?
jiggy2011 on HN
Too many existing game distribution services
From 2 comments
What is your use case for why this has a reason to exist, in a market that all ready feels over-saturated (Steam/Desura/GOG, etc)
TylerE on HNThose are things that might be compelling to the content creators, but I'm not seeing much that's compelling to consumers. (And I'm not convinced that there isn't already another…
binarycrusader on HN
Minimum price and fees confusing
From 2 comments
Just for fun, I tried to pay $0.00 for X-Moon. I got a fun message that said: "Name your own price to get download access to X-Moon. There is no minimum price, pay what you want.…
km3k on HNIf he could afford it, it would probably be best to either drop the fees altogether for prices of <= $1, so free games can honor their price, or otherwise set the minimum price…
Mahn on HN
PayPal not available in some countries
From 1 comment
This looks good, but one of the things that could stop us from using it, is Paypal, we can't withdraw money from Paypal where we are located.
braco_alva on HN
Requests
Add a directory or game discovery
From 3 comments
I really like this. I do want to see a directory though. Just a little detail I really like the way you show how much money will go to each party involved in the sale:…
basicallydan on HNwhat are tags? Are there plans for in-itch discovery? As a buyer, the front page doesn't really help me at all. as a seller, I can see the use case. Maybe integration with online…
MichaelGlass on HNWhy no directory? I uploaded a game to this when it was advertised on gamedev.net Only subsequently did I realised this site does no marketing, or even a directory on the front…
tlarkworthy on HN
Support browser games
From 2 comments
I like it, and went to create a page for one of my games (free, but I'd like a nice landing page), however you only support downloadable games. I guess it makes sense to begin…
lucaspiller on HNPretty easy to support nearly everything if you just use an iframe and ask for a fixed width/height. Kongregate rebate does this for HTML5 and Unity games to great effect.
namuol on HN
Support Bitcoin payments
From 1 comment
You should accept Bitcoins, this could solve the issue of Paypal and foreign countries.
sodafountan on HN
Allow non-game uploads like OSX apps
From 1 comment
Why confine this to games? I think the layout and format of the site is great, but I dont see anything about it that necessitates that particular vertical. Why can't I use this…
jmduke on HN
Questions
How the wildcard subdomain with underscore works
From 1 comment
How does the underscore in the hostname work? I thought that they weren't allowed[1]. Just a non-compliant DNS server + a protocol that is flexible enough to allow it? Is it not…
pyre on HN
Why it is only for games and how it differs from Steam and Desura
From 2 comments
What is your use case for why this has a reason to exist, in a market that all ready feels over-saturated (Steam/Desura/GOG, etc)
TylerE on HNSteam has Greenlight now, so you don't have to be "vetted" by Valve anymore. There are many other services already though that provide similar functionality, such as indie game…
binarycrusader on HN
Whether demos can be uploaded
From 1 comment
Is there an ability to upload a demo of the game? Will there be some kind of discovery system for buyers?
jiggy2011 on HN
Alternatives named
Steam
From 1 comment
What is your use case for why this has a reason to exist, in a market that all ready feels over-saturated (Steam/Desura/GOG, etc)
TylerE on HN
Desura
From 2 comments
Not sure about Desura/GOG, but Steam has a vetting process. If you're not a game developer with a following, or if your first game doesn't meet their standards, you can't get…
hbien on HNDesura has nearly zero barrier to entry, provided your game actually works: http://www.moddb.com/tutorials/publishing-on-desura
CrazedGeek on HN
Indie Game Stand
From 1 comment
Greenlight is still a vetting process, just with a different mechanism. Suggesting that anyone can just get their game on Steam is flat out wrong. Really well made and polished…
alanfalcon on HN
Indievania
From 1 comment
I'm an indie game dev who has used Indievania for a previous release -- it's same kind of PayPal-powered setup, only they ask customers to tip them at time of purchase instead of…
leafygreens on HN
GOG
From 1 comment
What is your use case for why this has a reason to exist, in a market that all ready feels over-saturated (Steam/Desura/GOG, etc)
TylerE on HN