Dear members and users of N4G, we have once again made an upgrade to the site, and this time it is the quite overdue update to the comment section. Yes believe it or not N4G will finally turn into a community of intelligent and educated gamers talking peacefully about games and the industry. Ok, something tells me over-promising and under-delivering doesn’t go too well these days, so I will be more humble and say that the N4G team will from today do our best to improve the current situation in the comment area.
The reason that the comment area has been left as good as unmoderated is that we have been focusing on the main function of the site, keeping the site updated with news. We have been adding some more staff lately, as you probably have noticed we now also update news in the weekends, which I know many of you have been asking about. We are still working on many more upgrades to the site regarding the game news, but for now lets get back to today’s update.
I have lately spent some time looking at other popular game sites and their comment sections and forums, and do you know what I discovered? They all pretty much suffer from the same problems that this site does, flamewars, pointless comments and immature language. Well I kind of knew this already but it made me wonder if there was a way I could set up a new type of comment system that would at least reduce the problem without having our moderators threatening to ban people that “break the rules.”
The problem isn’t that most people on game sites are immature or stupid (ok some are but hear me out), it is just that they don’t give a damn because they don’t have to. Invite the same people to a real world forum and they suddenly speak sense and talk respectfully to other gamers even though they don’t agree with them. More importantly in real world forums people don’t have unlimited chances to speak, so when you get the word you better say something interesting or people will just not be interested to hear you out next time.
This is also the philosophy behind the new comment system that is now live on the site.
Each member is given 5 speech bubbles that will be visible on all posts. A member with 5 speech bubbles is allowed to post a maximum of 5 comments per news article. As comments are made the speech bubbles will turn yellow, representing how many comments a member has made per news post. Members who post comments of low quality will risk having their comment limit reduced, while members who receive positive feedback from other members and makes useful and interesting comments will be granted more speech bubbles. This way I hope more people will put more thought behind their comments since they only have a certain number of turns to speak.
Things that will raise your comment limit
- Provide relevant and useful info related to the news posts
- Give constructive and intelligent feedback/criticism/comments to the news post
- Debate with other members in a mature and tasteful manner
- A good sense of humor
Things that will lower your comment limit
- Offensive language and personal attacks on other members
- Pointless comments like the classic “I am first” post
- Extreme Fanboyism
- Bad sense of humor
- Immature language
- Immature screen names (You can edit your screen name through your CP if you feel you have made a mistake when signing up as XboxRoxPS3Sucks)
- Posting with celebrity names (unless you are that person)
- Using forum language like LOL and ROTFL and similar
- Making up “funny” names for consoles like PayStation 3 and CrapBox 360, seriously these jokes are so old so please save your self the humiliation.
- Posting lies and made up facts.
- Posting with all CAPS or using more than one exclamation mark.
- Using Avatars with pics of people having sex , yes you know who you are.
Remember the comment section is not a message board. It is not meant for endless discussion between a few members who basically are just repeating themselves over and over again. The comment section is a forum where you can comment and post your opinion or info relevant to the news. Well it is of course ok to have small civilized discussions about the news, but you get the point. We will add a full blown message board to the site later this year so the ones of you who likes to engage in long 1000+ posts discussions can soon do that too. Point is that the comments you post to the news gets read by tens of thousands of people each day, and they do prefer you post something worth reading instead 500 posts of Xbox rocks PS3 sucks…
Opinions about our site upgrades will be divided as always but hopefully most of you will welcome this change. All of you will get a fresh start from today and keep in mind that you are not stuck with 5 speech bubbles. Prove yourself with good/interesting comments and you could have 10 speech bubbles before the end of the month. After all this is not so far from playing video games where you have to collect these heart containers , so most of you should feel right at home.
Cheers,
Dusty,
Update:
To clarify one thing that might not have been explained properly in my original post. When you vote for somebody with the “Let him/her speak link” or report a member for “spam/offensive” the upgrade or down grade does not happen in real time. All reports will be reviewed by our staff who will decide if this member does deserve to have more speech bubble containers or not. Also any upgrade or downgrade is not permanent. Members who break away from their bad posting habits may regain the lost speech bubble containers, and vice versa.
Update 2 : Some are wondering why we don’t want people to use internet language like “LOL” on the site. Well the reason is that this type of language is unprofessional, it kills creativity and some people do not know what these things stand for. The comment area is not a message board or chat room so keep your language clean and easy to read.
From the article: -- "The PS3 hasn't performed as well as expected. In fact, since E3 last year, not much has actually gone Sony's way. There was the removal of features, loss of exclusives, extreme price and severe supply constraint… and that's just leading up to the launch. Once November 17th rolled around, there were people camping outside of Best Buy to get PS3s so that they could scalp them on eBay for extreme prices, and that worked for a while. Then buyers got sick of paying for a system with one semi-desirable game, a blu-ray player with questionable usefulness and a really bad PS2 emulator. They're not the only one. Gabe Newell, Co-founder and Managing Director of Valve Software, had this to say about the PS3:
"The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels. I think it's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers wanted and what developers wanted. I'd say, even at this late date, they should cancel it and do a 'do over.' Just say, 'This was a horrible disaster and we're sorry and we're going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it.'"
Even after all that, it's still possible for the PS3 to turn it all around. With that in mind, I decided to try and figure out a way for the PS3 to make a solid recovery, so I started sending emails and making calls. I talked to N'Gai Croal of Newsweek, Chris Baker of Wired and several others in my quest to see what could change and bring Sony back from this black hole of negative buzz. Here's what we came up with." --
It was one person who called PS3 a disaster,heard of someones opinion.Don't make it true.
What alternate dimension do you live in? Must be that 4th demention Sony keeps talking abuot.
If somone means all the people who won`t buy one and took it back because it sucks. Thats a lot of somONES
the end of ps3? REALLY? it's been said before, but here it is again. The system has only been out for a couple of months, and hasn't done that well, why does everyone assume that it is doomed? No one can really predict what will happen later, maybe the price will drop. People should stop bickering all the time about the same thing, just shut up and watch. If a year from now, the sales haven't picked up, fine. But until then nothing is determined.
snowball effect...
when consumers hear that PS3 isn't selling they start to think, "well hey what if it fails??". Than that continues to catch on and so on. But still PS3 failing is quite possible but I don't see it happening.
I don't want to get rid of sony because of the competition they'll bring with PS4.
My favorite quote:
"The 4th dimension really IS time, because Sony keeps telling people that the system is only going to start delivering at some distant point in the future."
The official story: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation." -- Microsoft rep. As for Capcom...see below
What we heard: It's no secret that Microsoft wants to break into the Japanese game market--badly. When the Xbox 360 launched in late 2005, it allocated a third of its launch stock to the island nation--where half of it gathered dust on store shelves while bored shopkeepers stood by picking their noses.
Microsoft has also tried the software approach, hiring Japanese game-design legends such as Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and Space Channel mastermind Tetsuya Mizuguchi to make Xbox 360 exclusives. Unfortunately, the latter's first effort, Ninety-Nine Nights, fizzled on both sides of the Pacific. However, the former's debut, Blue Dragon, fared as well as an Xbox 360 game can in Japan, given the platform's limited base. It sold more than 80,000 units in its first four days on the Japanese market last fall.
Still, Microsoft hasn't spent tens of millions in Japan to eke out modest hits. So the fact that it might opt to acquire a major Japanese publisher seems perfectly plausible, given its near-bottomless bank account. Thus was spawned this week's top rumor, which had Microsoft buying Capcom, the developer-publisher behind the Resident Evil series, outright.
Sure, it makes sense. Capcom has made two critically acclaimed Xbox 360 games, Dead Rising and Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. (Look for the latter's review on GameSpot later today.) And Microsoft is flush with cash--$35 billion in reserves as of last summer, according to Reuters. So why not drop a relatively small chunk of change to take on Sony and Nintendo on their home turf?
However, plausibility does not equal reality. And in this case, the reality is that, for the time being, Microsoft is not buying Capcom. Apparently this latest orgy of speculation is an ancient rumor, resurrected by a Japanese blog promising a "On January 11th in game industry large announcement," according to a clunky Babel Fish translation. That, in turn, prompted a huge forum thread on the new Gaming Age forums, the Star Wars cantina of game gossip, which led to another post on the EvilAvatar forums, a top virtual water cooler for the overexcited gamer. Then came RSS feeds, rampant content poaching and...well, you do the math.
While Microsoft quickly raised its boilerplate defense shields (Q: "Is the world flat?" A: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."), Capcom was more forthcoming. "It's a 3-year-old rumor, most likely refueled by our recent spate of 360 titles," a rep told GameSpot.
Bogus or not bogus?: BOGUS. "No soup for you! You come back, one year!"
Ok!, ok!, i use to think MS saying "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation" meant is was a for sure thing, then i changed my mind untill the truth about the third 360 SKU came out with some truth to it; "point being" i'm back on the "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation" as meaning yes bandwagon. MS's says "NO" when not true and " Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation" when mostly true.
My sister works for MS and she would say "your right" but we will see is MS gets Capcom
I think its just a bad idea in general for MS/Sony/Nintendo to buy third party developers. Now, it isn't a bad idea for the big corps as they eliminate competition and increase their own profits, but it isn't good for the gaming community. For the first time since Sony has taken dominance, there is a real consule war going on. For us gamers we're going to see great games coming out on both sides to try to win us over. Multiply that with the fact for increased game production and developers spending money and time wisely to win our wallets instead of just shoving out another Bionicle Lego game. Regardless of what consule you support, this battle is great for gamers because we're gona get some kick a** games, and that's what we all what. If MS/Sony/Nintendo every dominate like the later two have done in the past, we'll miss out on creativity. Capcom has shown they support MS, so I'm hoping MS just stays content with the games they are getting from them (It's not like they're bad games) so Capcom can still make games for the PS3 and Wii.
" but it isn't good for the gaming community" I would agree if Japan would not be so bias against microsoft. What did Sony had to do to get exclusive titles like Metal Gear and Final Fantansy? Nothing, since kojima and square are considered Sony fanboys. Japanese developers do not want to make games for the 360; probably with the valid point that there arent enough consoles to turn a profit. well, if microsoft owns their @$$e$ than, they wouldn't have to worry about it. It's ok for Sony to get all this exclusive content and, "It is good for the industry", but it is not ok for microsoft to do the same. Microsoft have to beg and give lots of incentives and money for Japanese developers to make games for the 360, something that Sony has the luxury of not having to do. Why should microsoft continue to give money to developer instead of buying them? A company like microsoft which suffers of so much bias and hate has to do what they have to do to survive. I say buy their @$$e$. and once they own the IPs fired the entire staff! Just kidding. lol
But I think taking steps with games like Blue Dragon will improve their position. I think Japanese gamers are really keen on history, and Sony and Nintendo has delivered for them. If MS continues to give the market the games they're looking for they'll gain ground.
I know what you're saying about Konami and Square-Enix, but they're not owned by Sony, even if they're practically in bed with them. I'm sure they'll start developing for the 360 if it keeps gaining a wide audience here in America.
Again, it makes sense for MS to buy the IPs, but I really wish they didn't. I want the competition to drive the video game market, not the MS or Sony stock.
Here is the list of the latest review scores from Famitsu.
The complete list:
Motorstorm (PS3, Sony): 8 / 8 / 8 / 6 - (30/40)
Sonic The Hedgehog (PS3, Sega): 8 / 7 / 7 / 7 - (29/40)
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (Xbox 360, Capcom): 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 - (36/40)
Sonic The Hedgehog (Xbox 360, Sega): 8 / 7 / 7 / 8 - (30/40)
Seiken Densetsu 4 (PS2, Square Enix): 7 / 8 / 8 / 7 - (30/40)
Madden NFL 07 (PS2, EA): 7 / 8 / 7 / 5 - (27/40)
Monster 4X4: World Circuit (Wii, Ubisoft): 7 / 6 / 7 / 8 - (28/40)
A Ressha de Ikou HX (Xbox 360, Artdink): 7 / 6 / 7 / 7 - (27/40)
Metal Gear Portable Ops (PSP, Konami): 9 / 10 / 9 / 9 - (37/40)
Tales of The World: Radiant Mythology (PSP, Bandai Namco): 8 / 7 / 8 / 7 - (30/40)
Nounai Aesthe: IQ Suppli DS (NDS, Spike): 7 / 7 / 6 / 6 - (26/40)
Heisei Kyouiku Iinkai DS (NDS, Bandai Namco): 6 / 9 / 7 / 6 - (28/40)
Need for Speed Carbon (PS2, EA): 8 / 8 / 7 / 7 - (30/40)
Need for Speed Carbon (PS3/Xbox 360, EA): 9 / 9 / 8 / 8 - (34/40)
Need for Speed Carbon (Wii, EA): 8 / 7 / 6 / 7 - (28/40)
Need for Speed Carbon (PSP, EA): 8 / 8 / 7 / 8 - (31/40)
School Love! (PS2, Views): 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 - (24/40)
Intelligent License 2 (PSP, Now Production): 7 / 9 / 7 / 8 - (31/40)
NBA Live 07 (PSP, EA): 7 / 8 / 7 / 7 - (29/40)
Hamster to Kurasou (NDS, Interchannel): 6 / 6 / 5 / 5 - (22/40)
The most important rating is that Lost Plant scored a full 6 points higher than Motorstorm. That is so huge. Sony has really been pushing Motorstorm as a reason to buy a PS3.
Yeah, 30/40 for Motorstorm is definitely not good news. That is like a 75/100 here. 75 for Motorstorm?? The last time I checked, when a game got a 75 rating that meant it sucked. I thought this was supposed to be the killer app that sold more consoles. You don't sell consoles with 75 scores. Lost Planet got the equivalent of a 90.
Motorstorm is sooo awesome, NOT. I guess it doesn't look or play well like all of the other PS3 games.
Does anybody know how they score the games and in which order for catagories, e.g sound , graphics
There are 4 people reviewing the game and each scoring the game out of 10. The 4 scores get added together to givea total out of 40. Hope that helps. :)
Thank you very much N4G nice job very well done.I been waiting for this update i know this will happen nice job.
I hope it works
Man this blows, everyone clearely has fun flamming, why did you have to ruin it!
Man this blows, everyone clearely has fun flamming, why did you have to ruin it!
"Posting under fake celeb names"
Biscuits.