itch.io

yeah, trying to figure out the ins and outs of every permutation of something can be a bit much. that is why brick and mortar stores handle the display and sales of products they sell. i think the solution with how selling goes on the internet is down to customer feedback. hopefully the info helps.

got it. you can't get it through the app, but you can get it online. the app only shows the downloads and not the link:

originally i was able to select if i wanted to download the linux version, so maybe the very first time will show the key (probably not). so maybe telling people where the key is in that first sentence would be a good idea (on the itch.io website downloads screen).

are you talking about:
"Please note: After purchase, please redeem the game key - it's a special link to create your game account, which is necessary to log in in-game."
or:
"Vintage Story is an uncompromising wilderness survival sandbox game inspired by lovecraftian horror themes."

neither says where. i even got an email that said this:

"Download and install instructions from Tyron:

Please download and install as normal, then request the key that is supplied with the purchase, this should supply you with a unique link that let's you create your game account."

they keep talking about a key that i get with the game. where is it? is it coming through the post office? heck i can even log into the homepage where i now know i could have gotten the game cheaper, but that doesn't seem to help at all. in order to go the the "client area" i need the same log in info that need for the game, which is a bit of a catch 22. maybe the directions should read: 'go to the web page and create an account, and don't use any services to create an account' but if you are going that far why not: 'go to the website and buy the game direct and save money, you have to create an account there anyway.' that assumes that creating an account on the website there is what is needed and not some other place to create a game account.

where do i go to make an account to play the thing i paid for? seems pretty retarded if you ask me.

yep using desktop app. downloaded new version of itch and it works just fine now. no need to launch from file explorer to get it to work.

it doesn't launch from the launch button at all now. i took a look at the files downloaded and it downloads the webversion now so all one has to do is go to the files and open the index.html (default main file for website for those that don't know). i didn't look at the files it downloded before so i can't really help out with why it worked before and not now. it wasn't a matter of not including the files (as in all files) as the images (jpegs) were visible when 'doing research' about the tape, though it looks like their was audio file issues (maybe not inlcuded or in a different location, their could even be a translation issue between software which uses incorrect file paths due to name compressions).

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hzzJZNVcuRZknTt_giTbBgV4mUN2WXFg

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10eT5Hi9ZBK1yOCMBOCvOElmZ0u0sRV93

here are a couple of error messages. as you can see i am playing via itchio. i have selected 'instal' from itch (which sometimes just has you play via itch's browser, which uses your default browser, chrome in my case, though this changes based on how you set it up). i use windows 7 professional. the error messages don't always last, they will go away on their own (i can't keep them open to grab info off of them).

error messages at just about every turn.

same here, heard it was on itch so i figured i'd install through itch, but no beuno.

gog doesn't really sell games that are steam only games like humble bundle. if you buy a game on gog you don't need steam to play it. they do have a program in which you might be able to get a free key for steam games that you own to get them on gog and bypass steam altogether. their isn't much going the other way (buying on gog then getting a steam key to play on steam).

if you pay attention to the icons on humble bundle you will see a steam icon for games that you either need steam to play or get both a steam key and a humble download.

i get your apprehension, not a huge fan of steam either, though it is a nice platform with some strong points in favor of it. ultimately using it give the customer more choices probably shouldn't be discouraged.