Hi Leafo and Everyone!
Firstly, thank you for seeking our opinions on this matter.
The current situation is indeed interesting, with a significant number of applicants, likely due to the bundle allowing submissions for both games and assets. Both are broad and diverse categories individually, and the allure of the announcement itself is undeniable. Who wouldn't want to be a part of such an opportunity?
Here are my thoughts in a (coco)nutshell:
(TLDR Warning! :P)
In essence, there are two main categories:
1., The entertainment category, providing users with an "instant" experience (e.g., games),
2., And the creative category, from which further creations can emerge (e.g., assets).
If the decision were mine to make, and I had to make it now, here's how I would approach it:
I would definitely create at least one standalone game bundle and one asset bundle, in line with the original idea.
The game bundle is likely to be more popular because everyone enjoys entertainment, preferably cheap and available instantly.
Games
Given the large number of entries and the limited time, I would curate a high-quality package that primarily includes outstanding, quality items. It should be attractive and generate interest among people. I believe the diverse genres and styles are not a problem as long as they fall under a central theme or can be grouped together based on some guiding principle. In fact, this approach can capture a broader audience's interest, offering significant value for a small amount. Creating many separate bundles based on the same type of game or asset would require a lot of time and effort, especially now.
Assets
For the game asset package, I would also aim for diversity while ensuring quality. Graphics and audio content, everything useful for content creation, should be included. Depending on the internal tools available on the itch.io platform, I would categorically filter items based on popularity, ratings, downloads, feedback, collections, etc., making the process more manageable. Starting with a focus on games first and then introducing an asset bundle later could save time (I only submitted assets for the sale).
In my personal experience, both as a creator and a buyer, a price range of $10-20 is entirely reasonable, and going beyond may not attract much demand. The AI revolution has significantly changed the game asset market, allowing everyone to create their content. In a previous participation in a Humble Bundle (audio assets), the average purchase price was around $20, even though the total value of the bundle was close to $1000, starting with around 50 packages. While I don't know the total number of games/assets in this itch.io bundle, I agree that overwhelming the user with too much content is not advisable, as it becomes unmanageable. Also, since this is not a charity project, it influences people's attitudes towards the bundle.
Among the previous comments, I mostly align with JUSTCAMH.
I would provide an opportunity for smaller creators/projects on another occasion due to the current nature of the situation.
I hope my thoughts were helpful in some way. Thank you for reading! :)