I've been waiting for my asset to be indexed for more than a month now. It's my first ever release and a paid one too, so I'm not expecting it to be a quick process.
I plan to do a major update devlog every month if I'm able to, so I wonder if I do a major update. which will require changing the file and updating the page. Will I need to return to the back of the indexing queue?
Every time you make a change to the page (whether it's just a typo or a complete overhaul) or to your files, your project will be reviewed by the algorithm. If the algorithm decides that your project should be reviewed by a human, your project will be deindexed until a staff member reviews it.
I understand that many people rely on being discovered within the Itch ecosystem, but since you have no control over when or if you'll be indexed, the best advice is not to count on it. Promote your project and updates by yourself. You can do this on this forum, on the Discord server, or in related communities. Even if your page isn't indexed, it's still possible to use it and buy your projects if people have the link.
I understand. But in my case I think it's different because for a new seller it's already going to be reviewed by a staff. So I'm probably on an indexing queue somewhere.
I just want to know that if I do a major update. Do I reset to the back of the line and then wait another month? And if I do update every month, do I keep resetting the indexing queue indefinitely?
As has been discussed several times in the forum, any change (not just a major one) can move you back in the queue.
Even so, you should consider that we don't have official information on how the list works. Therefore, I can't guarantee that making that update will actually get you to the bottom of the list. The administrator has mentioned that the order isn't solely based on date; other factors influence it, such as the traffic you generate. However, exactly what those factors are and how they influence the ranking is a staff secret.
What I can tell you is that it doesn't matter whether you wait to be indexed or not. The moment you make a change to your project, you run the risk of being deindexed and having to wait for a new review. So, waiting to be indexed before making the update doesn't guarantee anything. For this reason, I always recommend not relying on being indexed and focusing on your users and promoting yourself.
I get what you're saying. I get that when I make change I'll need to reindex again. But Is it really doesn't matter if I wait or not? Especially for a first time seller?
From my understanding. If I've already been Indexed before, then I can get the algorithm to reindexed me. Which is faster than manual review, so I may see a period of time before my monthly update that I'm Indexed
But If I keep resetting to the back of the manual reviewing queue. Wouldn't that keep me from ever being Indexed?
If I'm already an established seller I don't think I'll have any a concern with this topic. I guess my concern boils down to "will a new seller ever see the faster automatic review from an algorthm If they never been manually review before (and may never will because they keep resetting the queue themself via frequent updates)?"
Sorry If my question is not clear or worded weirdly. I'm not an English speaker D:
Just to clarify, the algorithm never indexes your game. As far as we understand, by default your game should be indexed, but the algorithm determines (for some reason) that your project needs to be reviewed manually, so it deindexes the project until a staff member reviews it and reindexes it manually.
But Is it really doesn't matter if I wait or not? Especially for a first time seller?
I couldn't tell you.
What you're saying makes sense. If you wait for your game to be indexed and then update it, the algorithm might determine that your update doesn't require a review.
The problem is, there's no guarantee the algorithm won't flag you again when you update.
On the other hand, if you update before the manual review, the game might fall back in the review queue, but we also can't be sure how much additional time that might cost.
That's the dilemma.
Unfortunately, the only person who could answer that question with certainty is the admin.I am not sure why you plan on updating an asset monthly.
If you create a game, updated ressources are bad. Worst case, you deployed the game to players, an asset changes and the updated asset breaks the game somehow. Or it does no longer fit together with other assets.
You talk about "major" update. Major means, that it is not some insignificant update. It is crucial new features and not just a planned regular update. But that's my opinion. I think the term major update is used far too frivolous on Itch.
That's what I meant: if you update a static tile, that's all good and well. But the people that already downloaded it an put it in a game, might have used for a static purpose. If you exchange that static tile with an animate one, you might break design - if the developer propagates the update into the game.
Putting additional things into a pack should not be a problem.
