Installer or Zip ?

Candle · 02-10-2005, 09:32 PM

When you download a game to play do you prefer an Installer for the game or do you just like to unzip a folder and click the exe to start the game ?

Intrepid Homoludens · 02-10-2005, 09:42 PM

What's the unique advantage of each?

rio · 02-10-2005, 09:52 PM

I don't really care that much.

Candle · 02-10-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

What's the unique advantage of each?

Pro
Well if you know about zips you can just unzip it run it from the folder and if you don't like it you delete the folder and thats it .
Con
But if it has lots of files that need to go here and there you may not know where they go .
Pro
Install installs everything in it's place , if you don't like it you click the uninstall link and poof it is gone .
Con
Some installers like to leave files and folders on your drive and don't clean up like they should but that depends on the installer program they programmer uses .

Erkki · 02-10-2005, 11:08 PM

Zip for something that keeps all files in a single folder is enough for me. But if it needs some more complex setup (env. variables, registry keys), I'd prefer it has an installer, even if I know where to put things.

DustCropper · 02-11-2005, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erkki

Zip for something that keeps all files in a single folder is enough for me. But if it needs some more complex setup (env. variables, registry keys), I'd prefer it has an installer, even if I know where to put things.

Ditto.

Fairygdmther · 02-11-2005, 03:15 AM

I like it when there are both. The zip files are smaller to load, and then a click on the installer makes the game ready to use.

A recently released game for PC was ported from the MAC's - Alida - and didn't have either. The game required you to make an Alida folder, then a subfolder, and copy from the 5 CD's into the subfolder. This is not exactly rocket science, but there was a big ruckus about this in other forums, and some actually refused to buy the game because of this, even though explicit directions were posted in the forums. Some people had literally never ever copied a file by themselves!

FGM

Candle · 02-11-2005, 03:20 AM

I'm listening , I see both ways and hope to work something that will please everyone .
I think copying all the files from the cd to a folder is just plain dumb .
No reason to make someone do that .. one little bat file would done all of that .

Wormsie · 02-11-2005, 04:54 AM

I voted yes, because an installer is more Pro.

Toefur · 02-11-2005, 06:00 AM

I myself don't care, but if one were to distribute a game an installer would be a much more logical choice, I believe.

Firstly it does add a level of professionalism, and secondly: most people don't know much about computers. When they buy a game, they put the CD in and click either, "Next, Next, Finish" or something along those lines, a lot of people don't even know what a .zip is, let alone how to access it and what to do with it.

Candle · 02-11-2005, 06:06 AM

I see a lot of computers that have all their downloads sitting on the desktop where they install them from and not a folder . lol

Fairygdmther · 02-11-2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candle

I see a lot of computers that have all their downloads sitting on the desktop where they install them from and not a folder . lol

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH! That makes me crazy! This is my desktop:

All my icons are in the folder "desktop" - I hate it when you have to switch from your current screen format to, say 640 X 480, or even 800 X 600, and all your icons move around. With only a few to worry about, they stay where they belong.

FGM

Huz · 02-11-2005, 11:18 AM

Definitely an installer - I'm generally quite anal about making sure my computer is clean and tidy (with everything filed away in its place, including Start Menu items) - but even I can't be arsed fiddling around with zip files. Give me an installer with configurable options (whether and where to create Start Menu shortcuts, the option to change the installation folder, etc) and I'm happy!

100ja a.k.a. mr_mitja · 02-11-2005, 05:16 PM

Well, I voted the zip option, but then again I wasn't really thinking about the rest of the community. I just don't like adding yet another notch too my insanely full registry...

Candle · 02-11-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100ja a.k.a. mr_mitja

Well, I voted the zip option, but then again I wasn't really thinking about the rest of the community. I just don't like adding yet another notch too my insanely full registry...

I can see that reason , I feel the same way when I look at all the stuff leftover in mine .
When I do games I never touch the registry..
If I need something to be like in the registry. I'll do a ini file so if uninstalled the ini file can be deleted with the rest .
I do know how to remove from the registry. too.

But ini file works better for me .

100ja a.k.a. mr_mitja · 02-12-2005, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candle

If I need something to be like in the registry. I'll do a ini file so if uninstalled the ini file can be deleted with the rest .
I do know how to remove from the registry. too.

But ini file works better for me .

Wow, couldn't agree with you more.

BoyToy · 02-13-2005, 05:56 PM

I like your desktop, FGM. Mine used to look like that too (even less icons).
I managed to keep it nice and clean quite a while... (About a year or so.)
But once I started to put some documents on the desktop (so that I'd not forget about them) it started to get a mess - although, initially, the plan was to just have them there temporarily.

BIG MISTAKE

Swordmaster · 02-14-2005, 12:33 AM

Disk images! Mount disk image, drag and drop the program to your Applications folder and it's done.

View Poll Results: Installer or Not .
Yes	9	56.25%
No	7	43.75%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

02-10-2005, 09:32 PM	#1
Candle Psycho Game Maker Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 208	Installer or Zip ? When you download a game to play do you prefer an Installer for the game or do you just like to unzip a folder and click the exe to start the game ? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Enjoy today as Yesterday is gone and Tomorrow may never come! My Web site Deveron Murder Mystery Game Mikes Room

02-10-2005, 09:42 PM	#2
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	What's the unique advantage of each? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

02-10-2005, 09:52 PM	#3
rio Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 271	I don't really care that much. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Joe Blessing Underground Writer Adventure Gamers Underground

02-10-2005, 11:08 PM	#5
Erkki Umbilicus Mundi Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Stonia Posts: 1,266	Zip for something that keeps all files in a single folder is enough for me. But if it needs some more complex setup (env. variables, registry keys), I'd prefer it has an installer, even if I know where to put things. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________

02-11-2005, 03:15 AM	#7
Fairygdmther Magic Wand Waver Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 3,142	I like it when there are both. The zip files are smaller to load, and then a click on the installer makes the game ready to use. A recently released game for PC was ported from the MAC's - Alida - and didn't have either. The game required you to make an Alida folder, then a subfolder, and copy from the 5 CD's into the subfolder. This is not exactly rocket science, but there was a big ruckus about this in other forums, and some actually refused to buy the game because of this, even though explicit directions were posted in the forums. Some people had literally never ever copied a file by themselves! FGM Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson

02-11-2005, 03:20 AM	#8
Candle Psycho Game Maker Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 208	I'm listening , I see both ways and hope to work something that will please everyone . I think copying all the files from the cd to a folder is just plain dumb . No reason to make someone do that .. one little bat file would done all of that . Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Enjoy today as Yesterday is gone and Tomorrow may never come! My Web site Deveron Murder Mystery Game Mikes Room

02-11-2005, 04:54 AM	#9
Wormsie Doctor Watson Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 4,736	I voted yes, because an installer is more Pro. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Don't worry, I'm a doctor.

02-11-2005, 06:00 AM	#10
Toefur More slaw!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Downunderverse Posts: 584	I myself don't care, but if one were to distribute a game an installer would be a much more logical choice, I believe. Firstly it does add a level of professionalism, and secondly: most people don't know much about computers. When they buy a game, they put the CD in and click either, "Next, Next, Finish" or something along those lines, a lot of people don't even know what a .zip is, let alone how to access it and what to do with it. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Tex Murphy is back! - Kickstarter project now accepting your support!

02-11-2005, 06:06 AM	#11
Candle Psycho Game Maker Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 208	I see a lot of computers that have all their downloads sitting on the desktop where they install them from and not a folder . lol Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Enjoy today as Yesterday is gone and Tomorrow may never come! My Web site Deveron Murder Mystery Game Mikes Room

02-11-2005, 11:18 AM	#13
Huz Kersal Massive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,430	Definitely an installer - I'm generally quite anal about making sure my computer is clean and tidy (with everything filed away in its place, including Start Menu items) - but even I can't be arsed fiddling around with zip files. Give me an installer with configurable options (whether and where to create Start Menu shortcuts, the option to change the installation folder, etc) and I'm happy! Share Share this post on Twitter

02-11-2005, 05:16 PM	#14
100ja a.k.a. mr_mitja pain is love Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 1,348	Well, I voted the zip option, but then again I wasn't really thinking about the rest of the community. I just don't like adding yet another notch too my insanely full registry... Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ A woman drove me to drink and I didn't even have the decency to thank her. - W.C. Fields There are more old drunks then old doctors. - Willie Nelson by_100ja

02-13-2005, 05:56 PM	#17
BoyToy furryyellowthing Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 748	I like your desktop, FGM. Mine used to look like that too (even less icons). I managed to keep it nice and clean quite a while... (About a year or so.) But once I started to put some documents on the desktop (so that I'd not forget about them) it started to get a mess - although, initially, the plan was to just have them there temporarily. BIG MISTAKE Share Share this post on Twitter

02-14-2005, 12:33 AM	#18
Swordmaster comfortably numb Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Helsinki Posts: 541	Disk images! Mount disk image, drag and drop the program to your Applications folder and it's done. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying I'm right.

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