In a previous thread I've been getting great feedback on my shareware games website at http://www.aggressivegames.com .

The only suggestions that confuse me are about the shortcomings of the top bar of my website. The suggestions themselves are specific, but they open up a whole can of worms to wonder about:

What information should my top bar display?

What buttons should be on it?

Should it be bright, so it dominates the page, or more subtle, so it isn't the first thing looked at?

Should some of my current buttons be moved to a footer (my layout isn't really set up for a sidebar) way down at the bottom of the page?

Very generally speaking, how do you feel the top of the webpage should be?

Thanks!

P.S. Please let me know if breaking this issue out into its own thread is somehow inappropriate.

Well, there are two main things that bug me:

1. the top bar, which look quite nicely, doesn't represent the main things in your site. when i expected to find stuff like "Support", "About us", "buy now" i found things that should appear as a subcatgories. DX download should be a minor in your support page, also privacy. when i first look at "privacy" it actually gives me a bad impression.

2. why put boxes as images? why not images that appear on the boxes? you are trying to attract the attention of potential costumers, then why make it harder for them to see what game is it and how well it is? the first thing when i see a box I think "it must be on stores" and also, "what game is it? its hard to tell because the image on the box isnt so clear".

I think you should better browse at common shareware businesses like popcap or others to see whats common to put on a navbar and maybe get some ideas.

I think people make those fake box shots because they really would like to see their game come out in a nice, shiny big box. I know I would. But with the market the way it is, I wouldn't touch retail with a 10 foot pole. Sad really. I guess fake box shots is a kind of consolation?