19 minutes ago, Yesindiedee said:

I have worked very hard to make the install process simple for the user. Just like games I would install myself, mine offers an installer which guides the user to install the prototype and ensures system dependencies are met. This brings the setup to a single .exe file that can be easily distributed and downloaded.

Considering that your down loaders will be indie gamers, there is no need to pack the dependencies in the installer.

Instead have links to to dependencies on your page. This is how most indie developers work and is what people are use to.

You can use zip files if the game isn't that large. Installers are less trusted. You should result to a installer when your raw game is >500mb. Purchasing a trusted installer also helps.

Don't let your game try to download anything unless it's a online game.

That's the best I can think of the top of my head. Look around and see how other developers are doing it.

Just now, Yesindiedee said:

do you think it comes down to anxiety surrounding single file exe downloads?

Definitely. Most people will immediately discard any .exe that is just downloaded on it's own. Placing that same exe into a zip makes things more trusted.

It's because most virus and malware is a single exe. People have learned to fear it.

2 minutes ago, Yesindiedee said:

Does money = trust?

No.

Reputation = trust.

The installers you buy have a reputation. There are some installers that also have free versions.

You don't need money, you should just not copy the file sharing system that malware and virus use.

17 minutes ago, Yesindiedee said:

have become dependant on a reliance with middle men.

making a zip file doesn't need a middle man. You can make them yourself and the unpatented ones can be un-zipped by most computers. Or use a free zip system.

17 minutes ago, Yesindiedee said:

If this is true it appears that single developers have lost power

More like we have the power to use 3rd parties. Malware and virus developers work on there own out of legal concerns.

17 minutes ago, Yesindiedee said:

How could we get that power back without money being involved?

It depends on what you mean by money. Time = money.

If you had time you could make a way to distribute files. Build it's reputation and resolve the problem. That is what these installers mostly are, there even exists a view that don't reduce file size.

17 minutes ago, Yesindiedee said:

Scenario: I want to release code: I submit it for code review, I get sent a part of someone else's code to review and mine in turn is split and sent to other people submitting code for review. Once all parts of my code have been reviewed I get some sort of trusted status that the community can push as a recognised standard? No money involved, everybody equal?

You need to build or arrange the system, then you need to maintain it.

Nothing that takes work is free, because taking the time to do it is going to cost you.

It was me first being suspicious!

There were 2 things at play here though

1. I didn't realise the itch was not your game (never underestimate the stupidity of your audience  )
2. You released no screenshots or video of your game, no tech requirements

Aside from warnings about unsigned software, as far as this kind of thing, it is all about reputation as the others say. The more screenshots / video / explanations / feedback you have, the more trust you get. With none of these, no one wants to risk their windows installation getting hosed.

This is particularly a problem with windows imo as the OS is hopeless at installation / uninstallation issues, so things are more likely to get borked. So zip files are better than install files, no registry hosing, you can see what you are getting / dependencies etc.

On a related note I've found I'm testing shedloads more software now I'm on linux and can sandbox windows stuff in WINE. A virtual machine would probably be good too. Also I'm testing plenty android stuff .. painless install / uninstall etc.

1 hour ago, Yesindiedee said:

If the game development community saw value in this kind of system for creating trusted status for code, they would give their time for free to develop the system, Open Source. Then a system would be in place that would support the community as equals, irrespective of their finances.

I don't see that happening. Some individuals might be interested in working on something like that, but I don't think there's a unified, monolithic "game development community" in the sense that you mean and most people expect to get paid for their time - especially if they're indies and/or have families to feed. Game development is a business, after all. The people making stuff for release in their free time (probably a minority of developers due to the way most employee-studio contracts work) are generally doing it as a hobby and would rather work on their own game ideas than something comparatively boring and annoying to support like installation software. The "community" isn't just going to get together and collectively make something for free.

If you want this badly enough, then perhaps you should start the ball rolling yourself and try to get people interested in it.