Downloading the name.

from WinCustomize Forums
I've been around for a while, and the first thing i notice is that people are downloading walls because of the author. (or my walls just sux )
For example, if there is a citizen around here, and he uploads a really awesome wall, people are gonna download it, and it has something about 2000 downloads.
BUT, if a well known person uploads a wall, (like treetog, adni18, ds-custom, (SORRY, Your walls are great!) that isn't as nice as the wall of the citizen, people will download it 5000 times.

This means 1: I have a verry bad taste, or 2: people download walls becouse of the name.
So all the people, please don't look to the name, and download some stuff of newbies, it makes them feeeel goooood!

(when i uploaded my first wall (R.E.D.) https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=8&SkinID=4957
it did suck, but because people downloaded it over 1000 times, i was going on with making walls, and the result isn't to bad i think.

hm, strange post..
12,077 views 46 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yep, you're right on the mark there, Styl Skinner.
I noticed this a year or two back, with regards to skins, and it's rather irritating that some really good artists get passed over, because people prefer to 'hero worship' instead. (Not that the 'heroes' aren't worthy of it, because they certainly are)

But also remember Styl, that downloads are unimportant. If you're creating work just to upload, then you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Create just for yourself, and don't let anyone tell you that your work is bad/good, that's all for you to decide.

Anyhoo, don't let the situation discourage you, keep at it.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Listen to Hippy............. if downloads were my gauge to continue skinning or not, I would have stopped long ago.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Downloads is just my way to keep me motivated.
It gives such a HUGE rush if you see that a wall, or a cursor xp is downloaded over 9000 times, it makes me feel good.
It gives me the id that I made 9000 people happy. If it was only for a minute, i had 9000 minutes of joy braught in the world.
HEHE, Vote styl for president
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with your basic sentiments, Styl. I feel the same way about it.

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can see why you might get a little upset, but remember it's nothing that you can control, so just let it pass. You'll get there one of these days.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I mean about the downloads thing, the hero worship I can understand and I don't have a problem with that!

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That was meant for Stylskinner.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I realize that, you know how these replies can get crossed so it seems like the (well you know what I mean).

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
the other thing to notice is that a lot of the high download walls are accessories to skin suites for different apps. It seems the walls that get the highest downloads get them so people can match the wall with their skinned apps. Those of use that make only walls without a theme get less notice at times. But that is normal. I notice that when valhala makes a nextstart skin with one of my walls as the background it suddenly gets a ton of downloads...ironic isn't it
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, the majority of sections are skinnables, so I figure the average person that downloads a wallpaper probably got there through a skinner's "view authors skins". That would lead one to believe the most visible skinners are the most visible wallpaper artists as well.

This, like everything, is about advertising. Wallpapers are moderated, skins are not. You have a better chance of spreading a link to your gallery around if you upload a lot of skins. People click the link, they see your wallpapers. Add the 'Top Authors' and 'Top Downloads' links to that, and you end up with a lot of visiblility for the best skinners. Seems logical to me.

But really, I don't think it is all that bad. The people with their names most visible worked really hard, and popularity is their reward. A bad artist couldn't have gotten there in the first place. Kind of Darwinian.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
bakerstreet, skins are also moderated and some have been rejected. I agree with the rest of your assessment.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can see why you might get a little upset, but remember it's nothing that you can control, so just let it pass. You'll get there one of these days.



by Sir WOM -

Uhm, i didn't mean myself with this
I think that my walls and cursors gets enough downloads, they aren't soooo very nice or something, it was just something that crosses my mind when i was going to the wall section.
And yes, if there is a whole skin to the wall, people downloads them more, but that isn't always the case with ds-custom or adni, however i am not saying their walls a not good.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can see why you might get a little upset, but remember it's nothing that you can control, so just let it pass. You'll get there one of these days.



by Sir WOM -

Uhm, i didn't mean myself with this
I think that my walls and cursors gets enough downloads, they aren't soooo very nice or something, it was just something that crosses my mind when i was going to the wall section.
And yes, if there is a whole skin to the wall, people downloads them more, but that isn't always the case with ds-custom or adni, however i am not saying their walls a not good.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WOM: I meant moderated for quality. Skins and themes aren't moderated for quality are they?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
bakerstreet, don't know what you would call it, but they do get rejected because they do not meet WC's standard. So I guess that would be quality.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, that sold me, I've got to get cracking and learn to make WB skins! Oh boy, something new to tackle! *gulp* Do you hear that giant sucking sound? That's the sound of my future, because that's how bad my first skin submissions are gonna suck if they even get accepted.

Powered by SkinBrowser!
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why would you upload a skin if you think it sucks?
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To look what other people say about it, and for suggestions.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, it meaby is, but that isn't used very much.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh don't get me wrong! I'd work very hard and truthfully, I'd want to think it looked and behaved well first before uploading but sometimes what "I may think" and what everyone else "thinks or likes" are two different stories.
I'd try my best but beginners are notorious for making newbie mistakes and I'm no different.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
-AND furder-more()

Uh, I solemnly swear not to upload anything that I personally think sucks! I was just trying to be humbly self-effacing.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
as far as I know skins get rejected if they are obscene or just too much an advert for a site. It could be a very nice skin but it is Britney Spears in a bathing suit. It gets rejected. I have definaitly seen some skins (DX, WindowBlinds, and so on) that where totally crappy but they worked and were not abscene so up they went... they got a 1 or a 3 as far as a rating but it still went up.