Bubble Update

We have made some adjustments to the bubble system based on the data we have collected since we launched the new N4G. We have reduced the voting power from users with normal and low trust rank and increased the voting power from users with high trust rank.

More info at the blog post.

[Joule]

Cool

[rroded]

more like high popularity rank

tho cheers for the update glad ta see your still working on improving teh site.

edit "You cannot see your own trust rank and a low trust rank will not prevent you from using the site"
so if the mods/admin like ya expect ta b a bub master? n will high trust make it so u can close comments by callin em spam or whatever? Just hope ya dont play favs n keep it honest dusty...

[GWAVE]

Nothing will change. It means 1 and 2 bubble users will stay that way, and 3+ bubble users will stay that way.

Yeah, that totally makes sense, because people totally DON'T bubble down simply by looking at your username. /s

[Winter47th]

Glad to see the site's moving forward.

[pork_chop_express]

does that mean bubbling actually works now!?

The only bubble addition removal since the update has been done by moderators, if you dont get on with them personally you end up being persecuted.

It used to be a democracy.

<if u agree test it with GWAVE^ bubble him up>

[sunnygrg]

This is a nice change but what about the stupid hate articles posted everyday on N4G. Are the mods going to step in in a swift manner and take it down before people give the site any more hits? What about news and videos that are obviously fake and slowed down to the fanboys' liking?

N4G is a big website and the staffs need to step it up and keep pace.

[bioshock1221]

@GWAVE well maybe if you made more intelligent comments you would be one of those 3 plus bubble users. Instead of all those fanboy comments you make on what seems every Xbox 360 article and what you say is not true I had 2 bubbles and now have 5. It's okay to have a different opinion but at least make sure it's intelligent and not some dumb fanboy comment.

[TheTeam06]

It's not always that simple. Many people around here know how to read posts on here that don't mean any harm at all and turn it into a bubble-popping parade.

Here, you have to speak your mind in the most non-emotional way possible. For example, if I had a really strong dislike for BioShock 2, the result could go good or sour. It depends on how many BioShock 2 supporters are in that thread at the time.

[Why o why]

If you have a disagreement with somebody like 'Odion' He might just ask his mod mates to do him a favour...Its not impossible is it. Most of the mods seem to have a pc/360 preference. No transparency means you have to be careful who you have a disagreement with because of their 'weighing' seems like metacritic to me. Mods should be made visible. Also replies to 'tickets' should be better than any lazy BS circular reasoning...IE 'don't troll and you won't have comments marked as trolling'...what type of crap is that??? Dont make jokes that might offend the sensitive because they will mark it as trolling when really its just that their feelings/ego got hurt.

[poindat]

I don't like it coming down to mods having larger authority over our bubbles. I mean, let's look at it: most people complain of the rampant fanboyism on this site, and that in a large way has contributed to needing this rehaul of the bubble system. However, the problem is a lot deeper than just the end users; many mods, of whom I will not name names, DO have a visible and strong inclination to one side of the fence or another and a couple are outright fanboys.

I know it sounds like I'm being one of those people who yell 'fanboy!!!" at every little thing, but honestly, if you watch the moderators you will soon see patterns emerging and that it is more or less true.

We, the end users, need to be moderating the moderators for fairness, or nothing will ever have a chance to change. (Or it would have been a lot easier if better and stricter choices were made on who is promoted to moderator and who isn't, but that obviously hasn't and won't happen)

[SilentNegotiator]

Well, I'm satisfied, I suppose. MOST of the logic-less trolls are down to one and everyone else higher.

I'd still like to see the open zone return so trolls can be banished to it and I'd like to see one-bubblers have their comments "hidden" like they were long ago.

[Why o why]

I had 5 bubbles just like everybody else who had a reset now my one comment has resulted in a bubble loss. So one honest comment that upsets a mod results in a bubble loss...*golf clap* cheers for proving my point ¬_¬

[pustulio]

I just have to say thanks for the bubbles guys.

[Max Power]

I think it is a step in the right direction, but only time will tell how well it works.

[MiloGarret]

What's this trust rank you speak of?

[AndrewRyan]

The more bubbles, the more trust you have. Atleast that is what I believe.

[ChozenWoan]

I think it's based on your CRank which can be found on your profile page.

[MicroSony4Life]

have all the high trust rank. Its a fact that if you want bubbles all you have to say is TEH PS3 IS THE BEST.

[gamesR4fun]

how much weight your approves cary if your at 1 prob normal or low if its 2 or more its a high trust rate or so im guessing
tho i used ta have 9 bubs n 2 points for an approve i now only have 5bubs n one approve. guess they dont trust me anymore... :(

[JD_Shadow]

C'mon, let's not start stuff like that. It's highly unnecessary. That's really a FORM of trolling: making PS3 fanboys angry that you generalize the site as a PS3 fanboy haven to get a reaction from those that say things different, and then you can take their bubbles for something that you are guilty of to start it.

Seriously, it's things like that that are part of the PROBLEM, and what we're trying to avoid.

[Ocelot525]

the only thing I want is that a reply is mandatory when you disagree. This will improve the quality of comments dramatically. Now people are disagreeing about things they don't know anything about.

Last time I got 4 disagrees when I stated that oblivion PS3 installs when playing. THIS IS A FACT, I HAVE OBLIVION ON THE PS3.

In the court system, the quality of the sentences improved when the jury had to give arguments. Dunno how courts work in the USA, but in europe the jury has to do that now.

[MiloGarret]

"in europe the jury has to do that now"

Jesus Christ, specify, don't generalize like that, there's no common judicial system for all matters in place in Europe.

Just saying.

[Ocelot525]

It's a EU law, it was on the news some 5 months ago.

and FYI I'm belgian, i live 100 kms from the EU parlement, I know my shit about the EU

[steve30x]

I agree. I am after getting disagreed with when there is nothing to disagree with so I would love if it was mandatory to leave at least five words for the reason to disagree otherwise its not possible to disagree. Making it so that its only one , two or three words for the disagree wouldnt work because people would leave something stupid as a comment.

[Whoooop]

Problem is that trolls will just write a period (.) or something and hit disagree.

So I think agress/disagrees with mandatory reply is not worth the hassle.

[ChozenWoan]

Explanations are usually non essential as the other person is usually responding to the whole or the major point of your comment. Having to respond to each agree/disagree would simply eat up everyone's bubbles and result in more problems as people would demand more bubbles.

The agree/disagree comments are one of my favorite things about N4G. It allows the community to express itself quickly to a comment without having to fill out a bunch of formal replies.

Besides, agrees/disagrees have no bearing on the bubble system and is the simplest whys for people to say "hey I agree with what you said" or vise versa.

Ohh and there are a few "Disagree Fairies" who do so just to see you get all worked up. They are cheap thrill seekers who are lower than trolls, so please don't feed them. Feeding them makes them grow up into trolls, kinda like feeding Gizmo after midnight.

Edit:
and thus I'm out of bubbles, first time I've used more than 3 in a looooong time.

[Ocelot525]

@Whoooop
we will report the comments with . as spam, or more likey: trolling.

the staff can ban these accounts with the help of the sql query I have written some comments below

". comments" can also be deleted program wise:
if comment.text.trim().equals(&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;quot;.") then
comment.IsSpam = true
end if

now the N4G staff can copypaste it

edit: due to a fault in the programming of N4G(oh the irony lol) I can't write double apostrophe . double apostrophe, it is replaced by the code of the apostrophe XML entity

don't forget about my application N4G ;)

[MiloGarret]

Living close means nothing. Inform yourself, trust me, I know more about these things than you do.

There are certain procedural rules applicable to all EU Member States, but what you mention does not form part of that framework. It should be quite obvious concidering the vast amount of different courts present within the Member States that no general all-encompassing rule is applicable concerning these matters.

Ah, why bother? You're probably just some kid from Belgium who doesn't understand the first thing about how courts actually work...

[CoxMulder]

I hate to say this, but Milo Garret is right.. ;)

[SmokeyMcBear]

you guys actually care whether a person agrees or disagrees with you... too funny

[JD_Shadow]

It's annoying to have so many people agreeing on something that's obviously a troll comment, or disagree with something that's been proven fact which someone would just have to use the Google to find out that it is true.

If we're not supposed to care about the agrees and disagrees that we get, then what's the point of HAVING the system to begin with?

[TheHater]

I am more concern how they are going to fix all the Flamebait crap that is posted ever hour on this site. Hate to see a website ruin by all this flamebait crap from blogs looking for hits

[Hellsvacancy]

I only want 2 bubbles, thats not alot 2-ask 4, i dont think im all that bad when it comes to commentin, sure i can b an ass BUT thats only coz of sum comments/articles i c on N4G, they bring it out of me

Edit, Also, i bring news 2 the table aswell, its not like im a free loader

JUST GIMME 2 and id b happy

:-)

[SmokeyMcBear]

you gotta earn them

[writersblock]

But yeah, I'll give him a bubble
I think everyone should at least have 2 for the sake of discussion. With one you can only post once and then regardless of how people reply or if you have a valid point, you can say nothing back

2, expect no more unless you're making proper points and not fanboy comments

[Odion]

Smokey best response ever!

[Why o why]

Odion, can you please explain just why ive lost a bubble for 1 comment.. Im not saying you're the culprit even though i used you as an example i just want to know...It seems more members agreed than disagreed and my comment, as of now, hasn't been marked as 'trolling' so how can it be gone already *smiley face* ??

[Pennywise]

Flawed or not, Hopefully everyone on both sides just starts post more productive comments. I'm done with flaming the trolls. I will utilize my ignore list and not ever click SHOW MESSAGE!!! haha

[n4gno]

People simply answering with facts to the biggest trolls are also with 1 bubble, because the xfanboyz are clicking on disagree and bubble down, no matter you are saying, the same way they don't want real articles to get approved (and the opposite for stupid ones from ridiculous fanboyz blogs, if they are bashing sony, games, etc).

[Dorwrath]

I don't see it changing much, maybe, we can hope.

[Karooo]

nice

[Steve_Urkel]

So many bubbles, its hard to believe I'm really on N4G.

Did I dooo that?

[Omega Zues]

oh man that had me rolling.

[whothedog]

DIE TROLLS! Mwahahahahahaha

[morventhus]

i agree death to trolls!!! however id laugh if you were a troll and you said that XD

[Bellcross]

Hope it keeps the troll level down.

[T9X69]

I always thought the bubble system was stupid anyway, it just encourages people to make another account when they hit 1 bubble, or make another account to troll because they start with more bubbles.

EDIT: No I honestly don't care, if I did I would have made another account with a similar name so I have more than one bubble.

[Bellcross]

Are you speaking from experience? just asking *looks at your bubble*

[ChozenWoan]

for once I agree 100% with T9X69. 8o

Is it 2012 already? lol

[LunaticBrandon]

I was shocked when I saw 5 bubbles.

[mushroomwig]

Same here, it was a happy shock though.

The site is so much better than it used to be, the only thing it's missing out on are more moderators.

[Yi-Long]

... so for me the 'shock' was more of a negative one ... ;)

Anyway, I stayed in bed and cried for a few days, but now I'm ok again.

[LordMarius]

Eh I give it a few days before people join my level again

Also this is discrimination

Edit: Stop giving me agrees and give me bubbles, I feel out of place, like if I am force to sit in the back of the bus, can you see N4G, make me your Rosa Parks

[Shadow Flare]

LOL, i think realistically your situation is a bit different to Rosa Parks lol. But i'll give you a bubble for being funny. Enjoy the front seat Rosa

[SmokeyMcBear]

to bubble or not to bubble.. that is the question

[Xx Ziyad xX]

im back to 5 Bubble , thank god

[MrLife]

Finally, in my older account I have like 2 bubbles cause PS3 fanboys didn't like me

[PS3-247]

And we still don't like you. LOL I'm just joking. Here is a free bubble.

[TheFaggot_]

DUDE I LOVE YOU IT'S ME MRLIFE HAVE A BUBBLE

[Otheros00]

And somehow you're back down to 3 bubbles. It hasn't even been 24 hrs yet.

[writersblock]

Abuse of the bubble system

[KILLERAPP]

Mkay...

[gamingisnotacrime]

is that for the rumor voting?

[THC CELL]

Nice

[Capdastaro]

"There are over 6000 news comments posted each day, so it is not possible for us to monitor everything that is being said. Stay within the posting guidelines and this will never be a problem anyway."

There is no freedom of speech laws online... You troll you get silenced full stop.

Come on N4G lets get Gestapo on their asses

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

This makes me happy!

Thank you for listening to us, mods! You guys rock!

[ChozenWoan]

*looks around at everyone having 5 bubs*

Ok maybe sucking up works...
... thanks LeonSKennedy4Life for your great work and dedication.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I'm not sucking up. Lol. I just wanted to thank them.

[TheFaggot_]

HELL YEAH GUYS, I'M BACK! IN YOUR FACE

[Otheros00]

Just for that I'm gonna take your bubble.
j/k
Edit:You are back to 2 bubbles already?!

[skip2mylou]

immature dude

[dizzleK]

So what changes besides ps3 fanboys having even more bubbles now?

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

^_^

Love you too, dizzleK!!!

[Studio-YaMi]

doing something about it,and hoping for more :)

good job

[STONEY4]

I just noticed that all of us 4-bubble people have 5 now :D

[Mahr]

feels good man

[Otheros00]

So that's why people's bubble count just went up. I thought there was a malfunction with the severs why peoples bubble count just mysteriously went up to 5.
It's good they are trying to fix the problems on this site.

[J@D]

Hopefully this wont get out of hand like the trolls and spammers get worse on every popular discussion, man I hate those >.>

[-Mezzo-]

How to know one's Trust Rank.

[steve30x]

Maybe ask two if they know Ones Trusted Rank.

[BannedForNineYears]

Whaaaaaaaat?! I can comment more than 2 times now?! OMG! o.o
Awesome.

[Shnazzyone]

finally a way to diminish the effect of accounts created for the purpose of malicious voting.

[ShOtCall3r33]

cool

[zoks310]

Thank you.

[DeeZee]

Sounds awesome!

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

Okay cool. Good job Dusty and Cat and N4g staff. Hopefully we'll have less spammers, less trolls, and more good discussions on the front page.

[AllroundGamer]

well i had 8 bubbles on the old N4G, then i was degraded to 3 and now i have 5... not that i would leave so many comments anyway, but you could give me back my hard earned 8 bubbles, because i want to have a bigger e-penus than the others :DD ;)

[Jdash24]

I agree, I had 9 bubbles before the update, I earned them damnit! It's very difficult to accumulate that much when you hardly ever comment xD

[SmokeyMcBear]

or you can get on the mods good graces... mmmm... magic

[AllroundGamer]

or you could give some bonus bubbles ( 8 would be enough :) ) to those super loyal N4G users like i am - joined 01 Sep 2006 (lol i'm here longer than the mod :D )

[SmokeyMcBear]

I was here before my join date, but I never commented, just lurked waiting to get a ps3

[games4fun]

At least they tried something, to be honest controlling online forums/people's opinoins is probably a never ending situation with no real absolute solution.

I would rather have had a blogs news section though.

Anyway i find that most the conversations usually only involve one to three comments at least for me. I try to say everything i want in the least ammount of comments.

[Ps3isSsTheBeStt]

Vegeta

[Mwaan]

I want to see everyone's trust rank.

[SmokeyMcBear]

i just set yours to super duper low... :)

[Otheros00]

Are you a mod? If you are i have another question to ask. What ever happened to the guy with the Bungie account?

[SmokeyMcBear]

I believe that it was banned for having duplicate accounts.

[slyrunner]

I still say we should see the people who disagree with our statements if we gain enough points

[Dorwrath]

Take the agree/disagree thing out completely. People getting bent out of shape over this. if u take the agree/disagree out of the equation then if some disagrees or agrees with you they are forced to comment or shut up.

To many people here have delusions of grandeur and this agree/disagree/bubble thing makes them feel bigger than they actually are.

Get rid of it.

[slyrunner]

Strongly agree, people can backup what they say, instead of disagreeing because they have the power to do so

[turok]

So will this stop comments from troll users like GreenRingOfLife or do we still have to live with that?

[Vip3r]

Good. It's about time the ranking system was sorted out.

[Dramscus]

yay

[pantatkaula]

Do I have 5 bubbles too?

Edit: :D

[Blazing_Crabs]

SO MANY BUBBLES WHAT CAN I DO WITH THEM

*Foams at mouth*

[CoxMulder]

Well, you could stop writing in caps.. Plenty of opportunity to get your point across now.

bubs for the chuckle though. :)

[Odion]

I can haz sume bubbles?

[Arnon]

http://i236.photobucket.com...

[Whoooop]

@ Ocelot

I get you, but I don't know if N4G founders would want to ban somebody because he/she didn't want to actually write why they disagreed.

Founders also understand that a big part of the traffic in this site is composed of trolls/fanboys who love to come here and release their cyber scream.

By removing all ways for trolls to do anything, you will slowly reduce site traffic... No site traffic = no revenue.

Unless... N4G founders want to turn this site to one similar to GAF. Not that it's a bad idea, but N4G's backbone is not the forums, it's the back and forth in the mainsite. Turning this site into what you want will take too much time and traffic could take a big hit.

Just saying

[ifhd]

good

[ChickeyCantor]

"e have reduced the voting power from users with normal and low trust rank and increased the voting power from users with high trust rank. "

Doesn't matter what system they put up, even this concerns me.
I mean going by bias of who loves what, some people are voted up easily due the same interest or mentality they share.
This means even the douchiest of them douchedbags who stealth troll can have many bubbles. Which could damage the stability more.
But then again, you can't really controll these things can you.

5 bubbles seem oldschool though, way better than the sad 3 ones xD