After using Shareware Tracker to submit CustomBar (http://www.custombar.net) to a great many sites, I found myself with quite a few 4 and 5 star "awards". Of course each reward includes the "honor" of displaying an award button that just happens to link back to the site that has awarded this award.

I've noticed that on most of these sites way too many listed programs have earned 1st or 2nd place ratings. Clearly shareware sites have an incentive to give out as many of these as possible, since it results in more links and more traffic being generated to their site.

So are these awards worth putting up on an awards page? Are there only specific sites that are worth putting up? Is there a danger to having too many award buttons?

I don't think there is much "danger", but it's not too relevant either. Most download sites seem to give only 4s or 5s and I guess customers get used to it and just don't pay attention.

As far as I've seen, absolutely everything gets these awards, yes. Even the most horrendous rubbish. They have no credibility at all.

I agree with Anthony. The awards have absolutely zero credibility and only make me laugh. They're completely worthless. In fact, they're less than worthless, they're... poopie!

As a customer, I'm impressed by a product with lots of awards.

I'm convinced there is not much credibility of these awards... but with that being said, I use the handful of 5/5 awards as fillers on the Werlin webpage.

As a customer, if I saw a site with awards and another without, I would probably go for the one with awards. (If theyre selling similar products, of course ;) ) A lot of customers dont pay attention to the detail of the awards, they just look at them and think that this must be a good product. Having said that, if you have lots, it does seem that a) your just adding them to the site, without actually being awarded it or b) the "value" of the other awards may decrease because it may be easy to get awards. I'd say to only put a few awards, from the top sites rather than lots. Just my opinion :)

Sure, they're handed out like sweeties, but in the same way that you don't expect your customers to be as tech-savvy as you are, you probably shouldn't expect your customers to be as cynical as the poor guy who has to write the games. A bunch of 5 star logos is extremely unlikely to dissuade anyone from buying your game, and while it's also unlikely to persuade someone, I imagine it's a little nudge in the right direction for a few people.

I don't use their images, but I put links on the product page to each high scoring award site. I think it helps to round out the sales pitch...

I personally wouldn't bother to post awards from most of the sites. As someone mentioned, the more you have the more they dilute in value. I would put awards from sites like Tucows, CNET, maybe a few review sites if you got reviews. My own site isn't a good example though, since I didn't put any awards on it yet. :) But I've been meaning to put that 5 cows award there for a while. :D

In addition, most of the award emails tell you that you can advertise on their site for $30 or $60 bucks. I always felt it was just a method (and not a bad one) for the sites to push their advertising packages and get more links back to their site. I can't really blame em...but we never use the awards (or the ad packages).

Reviews are a different story tho...
-Scorpio

Hi Scorpio... I own the game MicroMan's Crazy Computers, I don't remember downloading it from your site though.

Are you the creator of the brilliant game? or do you just publish it?

A couple of years ago I received a free shaware compilation CD from a magazine, here in England, I could have sworn there was a Microman game on that too, but not as polished as Crazy Computers. I am right to think this? or have I got it wrong?

Hi Scorpio... I own the game MicroMan's Crazy Computers, I don't remember downloading it from your site though.

Yes, I originally created MicroMan way back in 1991 under Windows 3.1. For some reason the game has a (small) cult following so I made some minor enhancements in 1995 and again in 1999 (I think).

When we started HipSoft, we thought it would be fun to do a more substantial remake which we called "Crazy Computers".

It's an oldie but a goodie. Glad you enjoyed it. :)
-Scorpio

I remember that game! It's a classic. What a small world. :)

Did you do the voices as well? I still remember "You will die!" after all these years.

is it still on the internet? I would love to get a hold of the old girl.

I remember that game! It's a classic. What a small world. :)

Did you do the voices as well? I still remember "You will die!" after all these years.
LOL...yes I did...I got a little carried away with whatever sound editing program I was using. The original version had myself and my girlfriend (at the time) saying the name of the powerups...it seemed like a good idea at the time (but it wasn't :)

is it still on the internet? I would love to get a hold of the old girl.
The name of the installer exe is: MICRO1S.EXE
Looks like you can get it at:
http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?500000005733

Have fun, :)
-Scorpio

Oo, ex-girlfriend voiceover.