itch.io

Just a note: this isn't an error with the indexing system, nor is it a glitch.

When a game isn't indexed, it’s because the system has deliberately flagged your account or game as suspicious; it won't index it until a staff member reviews it.

The problem is that the staff lacks the manpower to handle all these reviews, so it’s becoming increasingly common to see wait times of several weeks or even a couple of months (I’ve seen various posts mentioning two-month waits). It’s not just about a staff member hitting the "index" button; they need the time to thoroughly review your game and account to verify that there are no issues.

On a personal note, looking at your page, I see images that suggest adult content. I understand you’re doing it as a parody—and perhaps that’s why you don’t consider it adult content—but there are a couple of images that would be considered inappropriate if viewed at work or on public transport.

I mention this because if the staff member reviewing your project sees that you haven't applied an NSFW tag, they might consider it a violation of Itch's Terms of Service, which would result in your content not being indexed.

Go to user settings and  uncheck "Show content marked as adult in search & browse"
https://itch.io/user/settings

If, even after doing that, a game with NSFW content still appears, it means the developer is not tagging their game correctly; in that case, the best course of action is to use the link at the bottom of the game page to report it to the staff.

The problem is that many detection methods rely on heuristics that don't actually determine whether a program is dangerous; instead, they flag patterns common to many viruses while overlooking the fact that legitimate software uses those same patterns.

As I understand it, PyInstaller runs a loading routine to execute the Python code—a process that appears suspicious to various antivirus programs—and rather than verifying whether it is actually a virus, they simply raise an alarm.

The standard procedure is to report the false positive to the companies responsible for the detection (likely Microsoft in this case). They usually conduct a more detailed review, and once they confirm it is a false positive, they add it to a whitelist so that future updates won't flag it as a virus.

It looks like a false positive.

From what I can see, it’s built with Python and likely uses PyInstaller, which is frequently flagged as a virus by mistake.

I uploaded it to Jotti, and here are the results:

https://virusscan.jotti.org/en-US/filescanjob/n3at2zot0z

However, three of the detections are for "Gen:Variant.Yogi.31291"—which is typically a false positive associated with PyInstaller—and two of the remaining three simply flag it as "suspicious." So, it is most likely a false positive.

Still, it’s always best to be cautious; if you have any doubts, it’s better not to run it, or to run it via the Itch app, which includes a sandbox mode that offers a bit of extra protection when playing games.

Your question wasn't entirely clear to me.

Do you want to know the equivalent of 5 dollars in each country, or are you suggesting that Itch implement regional pricing like Steam does?

Itch doesn't have regional pricing, and it doesn't seem likely that they will implement it.

A good starting point, if you want to know the equivalent price, would be to use the regional prices suggested by Steam; a quick Google search turns up an interesting Reddit post that compares various prices against average incomes:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1noigrx/how_regional_prices_compare_to_a...

Honestly, it’s not bad—especially considering you say you have hardly any animation experience.

The issue I see is that it doesn't feel natural; for instance, the hand movement looks forced rather than appearing as a reaction to the motion.

I’d recommend looking up tutorials on cartoon animation; they’ll serve as a good foundation.

I don't know what R34 is (Rule 34?), but Itch is a self-publishing platform; as long as you comply with the law and Itch's rules, you can publish your project—it doesn't matter if it contains adult content.

If you found a game that violates the law or goes against Itch's rules, the best thing to do is use the link at the bottom of that game's page to report it to the staff.

There is nothing strange or bad about it; CTR does not have a direct relationship with the number of downloads. It is simply a ratio of clicks to impressions and is neither good nor bad on its own—to determine whether a CTR is good or bad, you must analyze it within a specific context.

A quick note: the files you upload must have different names; if they share the same name, Itch will overwrite the existing one when you upload it.

For example:

game_html.zip -> for the web version

game_win.zip -> for the downloadable version.

Just to clarify, I don't doubt what you're saying.

What I do question is whether the issue lies with the Itch servers (for the reasons I explained earlier). It’s most likely that there’s an error in one of the steps—perhaps during the build and push process, or maybe a caching issue when running the game.

Have you tried running the local version of your game (the same one you're pushing) to verify that it is up to date?

Do you use the automatic or manual versioning method when pushing?

Have you checked the version Itch reports via the dashboard or API to confirm it matches the one you're uploading?

EDIT: When you perform a push, you also have the option to preview it so you can see what changes will be made. This can be useful for verifying exactly what is going to change.

It depends.

Generally, trying to make something realistic—just for the sake of realism—is a bad idea, because it often ends up being boring or uninteresting.

It is a different story when you have a clear objective for your game and realism is part of that ultimate goal.

For instance, if you are creating an Apollo Guidance Computer simulator, the people playing it will likely be looking for realism (though, admittedly, I doubt it would be a very popular game).

Another example would be a pinball simulator; again, players of that genre look for a simulation that faithfully replicates a real table.

On the other hand, there are pinball games that completely disregard real-world physics yet are still very fun.

So, whether or not to aim for realism depends on your game's objective. If adding realism conflicts with your goal or fails to add anything of interest for your players, it is better to leave it out; conversely, if it will make your game more entertaining, then you should certainly include it.

I have several games with web versions, and whenever I’ve updated them, the update is reflected instantly on Itch.

In all my years on Itch, yours is the first and only case I’ve heard of involving this specific problem.

For that reason—and I’ll say it again—I’m almost certain the issue is on your end; however, years of working in IT have taught me that no matter how sure you are about something, it’s always best to double-check.

Add a text element to the game that displays the version number so you can quickly tell which version you’re playing. Make sure you’re uploading to the correct channel and that you aren’t playing a version stored in a local cache on your machine.

If, after testing and ruling out all potential issues on your end, the problem persists, your best bet is to contact support with all the relevant technical details—because if it turns out to be an Itch-side error, it would be a significant one.

I suspect that, somewhere along the line, a cache is causing you to play an older version of your game.

No. It's instantaneous; the error must be on your end.

As far as I recall, whether or not your jam appears in search results has no bearing on the rest of the jam's functionality.

On Itch, search results have always been limited to a small number; the search function is intended to help you find a specific game when you already know its name.

If you want to explore, it is best to use tags.

For example, if you search for "horror," Itch will return the first few games with names similar to "horror," but if you search using the "horror" tag, you can explore the nearly 100,000 games associated with that tag.

Example:

Search (or name search)
https://itch.io/search?type=games&q=terror

TAG search :
https://itch.io/games/tag-horror

This forum is answered by the community and is not a way to contact support.

You should contact support via email or report the game (there is a link at the bottom); I also recommend providing evidence to back up your report, as a new account with no proof could be viewed as an attempt to take down a legitimate page (yes, those things happen too).

It depends on how you look at it.

The short answer is no. If your game has adult content and accepts payments, then it won't be indexed (unless you lie about the tags, but if you're caught, they'll deindex your account).

Games with NSFW content that don't violate the rules (of either Itch or PayPal) can still receive money, such as donations or sales through PayPal, but they won't be indexed on Itch.

I'll say it again, the best thing to do is contact Payoneer support since they handle those payments and will give you accurate and up-to-date information. Any information you get here will be from third parties and may be incorrect or outdated.

In my personal experience, Payoneer was free six years ago, but now they charge an annual maintenance fee. I'm not sure what additional benefits or fees they still charge beyond that maintenance fee, which is why it's best to contact them directly.

https://www.payoneer.com/pricing/

Where can I see all Payoneer fees and charges before confirming a transaction?

A general overview of common fees is provided in the pricing section above. For full details specific to your account, you can review the Fees section inside your Payoneer account, which shows the applicable pricing for your region and account type.

Itch doesn't charge you for the transfer; normally the fee will be charged by the receiving platform, and it's best to ask them directly, as it usually depends on the country and currency you use.

https://www.payoneer.com/pricing/

Regardless of the country, if you use "Collected by itch.io," you must withdraw the money to a PayPal or Payoneer account.

Stripe is only available if you use "Direct to You."

Bank transfer is not an option for everyday transactions, and the admin has clarified that they only make bank transfers in specific situations, such as for charity, where a large sum of money needs to be transferred only once.

I have several games created with Pygame and exported to the web.

As others have mentioned, Python is a high-level language, designed to be easy to use, but it's not hardware-optimized like some other languages, and Pygame, depending on your game's resolution, requires a lot of CPU cycles.

You can optimize by vectorizing, using parallel processing, or leveraging GPU acceleration, but all of these tend to cause problems with Pygbag. So, the truth is, not every game programmed in Pygame is playable on the web.

In my experience, the same game that runs at 165 FPS on the desktop version will drop to 30 or 20 FPS on the web version,  If you're going to use Pygbag, it's best if your game has a low resolution or is a slow-paced game, like an interactive fiction game.

- Typically, installers require elevated privileges, which is often a security red flag.

- With platforms like Steam or GOG having launchers, many players don't want to or don't know how to deal with installers and will prefer not to use them.

- An installer game isn't compatible with the Itch launcher, and if you want to bring your game to Steam in the future, it can't be an installer.

These days, it's not advisable to distribute your game as an installer unless absolutely necessary.

If you still need to do it, Inno Setup was one of the best options; if not  the best option I used. But it's been easily over a decade since I've done anything that needs to be distributed as an installer.

As far as I remember, it has always been there, but I have the impression that due to bots and scams that became very recurrent a few months ago, Itch modified the algorithm that detects suspicious movements and the number of false positives has increased.

It's in the documentation and has been repeated in many posts on this forum.:

Validation will take place after you open your first payout request.

https://itch.io/docs/creators/payments#tax-interview

Once you complete the interview, you can start selling on Itch. When you request your first withdrawal, Itch validates your interview (which costs $3 and is deducted from your first withdrawal).

When you post here you are asking the community to help you, this is not a direct line of communication to site admins (that is support).

To ensure that you request is tied to your account and prioritized appropriately, please contact us using the email address you have connected to your account. If you still need to make a topic about a Support Request, you must include your ticket ID with your message.

I've been developing games as a hobby for decades. I've tried various engines and different approaches, from creating games directly using DirectX, to building games in assembly language, to making small games with Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, and some very small and obscure engines like OpenBOR.

Personally, I agree with you; IDEs like VS Code are usually more convenient to use, but it depends on what you want to achieve. Creating a stable and optimal framework to run your game typically takes time and requires knowledge, so I only recommend it to people who specifically want to learn that aspect of game development.

The advantage of an engine is that it usually saves you that part of the work and allows people to jump straight into developing their game instead of getting bogged down in technical details.

Lately, due to time constraints, I've been using Python and VS Code, and most of what I have now on Itch is built that way.

Itch is a place for independent developers, and you'll find all sorts. People who use Unity, Godot, Unreal, and so on. And also many people who don't use any engine at all.

The more generic and universal your files are, the more people they'll reach. If you want to package them for a specific engine, then you should see it as an extra, not your primary way of distributing your assets.

When you post here you are asking the community to help you, this is not a direct line of communication to site admins (that is support).

To ensure that you request is tied to your account and prioritized appropriately, please contact us using the email address you have connected to your account. If you still need to make a topic about a Support Request, you must include your ticket ID with your message.

You didn't specify what error you're getting or if the error only occurs with this game or any Itch content.

Sometimes, ISPs in certain countries have issues with Itch servers. Try downloading with a VPN.

From what I can see, it's a paid game, but you didn't mention that. If you bought it and can't download it, you should try contacting support and requesting a refund.

Hi, I don't think the moderator can handle this, as it sounds more like something the staff should look into.

The best thing to do is contact Itch support, since this forum is answered by the community and the moderator isn't a staff member, but a volunteer moderator from the community.

When you post here you are asking the community to help you, this is not a direct line of communication to site admins (that is support).

I'm going to be very honest. Living independently usually requires many more hours and energy than an office job. The mistake many people make is thinking they'll develop a fun hobby and that it will turn into money. When you really want to earn money, that hobby usually becomes a job, and a more demanding one at that.

I don't know what country you live in, but generally, if you're self-employed and you don't want to work one week, no one is going to cover those hours. That's money you'll lose, it's that simple. And when you have to force yourself to work and meet goals and deadlines, you lose a lot of the fun.

Some people have no problem with that and are happy doing what they do, but it depends on the person. In my experience, if you have to ask around, chances are you're not that type.

If you really want me to tell you something... So, you should know that video games are an ultra-saturated market, full of people like you (and with the arrival of AI, the number of independent developers has skyrocketed) who are creating their games with the intention of making a living from it. The harsh reality is that for every success story, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of failures.

As others have mentioned, it's a lottery. But you're young and you have time to try.

Hi.

When you post here you are asking the community to help you, this is not a direct line of communication to site admins (that is support).

The problem is that no one in the community can give you an answer; you have to deal with those kinds of restrictions through support, and the problem is that support can take anywhere from a few hours to weeks.

Okay, let's take this step by step.

This forum is answered by the community, not the staff. I'm clarifying this because you won't find any official answers here, and no one can tell you exactly why your game is in quarantine.

The rules stipulate that if you still request support, you must include your support ticket number (which you haven't done). This way, the moderator might bring that ticket to the staff's attention.

As far as we know, Itch has an algorithm that determines if a game or creator is considered high-risk and their projects should be reviewed by a staff member. The same applies to quarantine. Your project, for some reason (or combination of reasons), has been automatically quarantined, and until it's manually reviewed by a staff member, you won't be released from quarantine.

--How long does it take the staff to resolve this issue?
It varies greatly. In some cases, it takes a few hours, in others weeks, and I've even seen cases that have taken months. There are cases that have never been resolved, and I personally suspect that the staff has decided that the game or creator shouldn't be indexed. The problem is, there's never any communication clarifying this. Personally, if you try contacting support and months go by without your game being indexed, it's best to assume that for some reason you're not eligible for indexing.

-- But the rules say...
I'll tell you what I've seen over the years I've been participating in Itch, and I'll explain, based on my experience, how Itch works. Many others agree that it would be good to rewrite the rules to make Itch's operation clearer.

-- What can I do?
Contact support and be patient. From what I've seen, they're usually willing to help, but unfortunately, the staff is very small and they're often very busy, so they rarely respond beyond what's absolutely necessary.

here:
https://itch.io/board/580406/ideas-feedback

But, you are not the first one with this request. 

Please do not create topics asking how long it will take for support to reply to you. Different questions may take different amount of time to respond, typically we will respond within a 1-3 days but it may take longer depending on the type of issue. If you haven't already, search for existing topics or check to FAQ to ensure that your question has not been answered elsewhere. To ensure that you request is tied to your account and prioritized appropriately, please contact us using the email address you have connected to your account. If you still need to make a topic about a Support Request, you must include your ticket ID with your message.

Unfortunately, it's not currently possible to selectively "ignore" or "hide" content on Itch (you can hide an entire tag or hide all NSFW content, but Itch doesn't give you many other options).

I solved it using a function that looked at the neighbors and assigned a different tile depending on the neighborhood value.

This image is from a game I was preparing for a game jam, but I didn't manage to finish it and therefore didn't present it. Logically, it generates an ASCII map where a "logically" wall is transformed into a different graphic tile depending on whether or not it has "floor" surrounding it.