Here's a fascinating article I just read about 5-star software awards:

http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/08/16/the-software-awards-scam/

Very interesting. Beward when you see shareware and tons of awards listed for it, from unknown websites. Look for awards from known, respected reviewers, not trashy download sites. (MacWorld, Inside Mac Games, etc.)

I keep forgetting that it's not necessarily common sense that information is only as good as its source. ;)

Still, that was a funny read. I had never considered that download sites would use awards for free advertising, but it is both brilliant and sleazy. I'm also surprised that it works; I'd think they'd lose all credibility after awarding five stars to anything and everything for months if not years.

Thanks for the link. ;D

Where's midnight mansion on that 5 star thing, Vern?  ;) ;)  ;) :D

Don't worry, one of your games will get up there. Maybe more popular then WoW.

Well, I'm happy with the MacWorld 4-star rating, and the InsideMacGames rating Midnight Mansion got too, since those are real, and meaningful.

BTW, here's one website (with some fairly good games) that proudly displays the download site awards:

http://www.300ad.com/crystal_cave_gold.php

I'm pretty sure they're all of the useless type. It sure *looks* good though. If I didn't know better (and I didn't when I first saw pages like these), I'd have thought "Wow, this game must be pretty good."

Hey Vern,

Is Crystal_cave really good? I have see many squares and the diamonds. I don't know, but is this an another version a Tetris game?  :-/

Or more bubble shoter???