890°

AMAA N4G Admin Christopher [N4G Forums]

Christopher writes: "Hello N4G!

So, I've been wanting to do this for a while but didn't know how I'd do it. Since the beta site is still in beta and bubbles are still a thing (yes, bubbles will go away when the beta site becomes the main site), I have to rely on the forums. And, I figured I'd do it now since there was a Blog that I had to fail for one reason, but otherwise brought up a lot of issues/concerns people may have with the site and would like answers to.

So, I've opened a thread on the forums where you can ask me questions. Yes, I know, it involves signing up for an account there, but for the time being I've removed our usual registration process where I approve each account so you can register freely to ask questions. Please note that there are some ground rules there for this AMA.

So, if you have a question you want answered or just want to see some answers to other people's questions, please check out the thread.

Thank you!"

Read Full Story >>
n4g.freeforums.net
TheColbertinator3002d ago

Forums? Only trolls and WildArmed live there :P

Maddens Raiders3002d ago

Forums?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

By the way please don't go to the stupid Beta it's fine the way it is, but who am I? Bye.

UltimateMaster3001d ago

Yeah, it's perfect the way it is. We don't really need to change it.

naruga3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

i liked the bubble system ..it gave some moderator-like jurisdictions to all users...if someone has not bad aims and is not the mastermind of a team to purposely abuse or harass someone, it is a fair system generally....to the new site they could add smthing analogous except agree/disagree system, that as a user you can a give an mini medal (which will be attached to the comment) for smthing insightful or a mini negative "medal" for smhting extremely negative or disagreeable

OB1Biker3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

It's not a fair system at all. I can't count how many times people lose bubbles for ridiculous reasons while it favours clans giving bubbles for just siding with one or the other side of the so called console war in a given post
@naruga
Yea about what you edited I really think agree / disagree is the thing they should keep and even enhanced actually. I think it's an easy way to express oneself as many don't have time to comment and reply on and on. It would be interesting to be able to see who agrees and who disagree and make it clear it actually a means of expression and not a way to dismiss another member.

naruga3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

@OB1Biker i know what you r saying but read the edited comment to comprehend better what i mean ...

ninsigma3002d ago

I would rather see a hybrid system. Remove the bubbles for everyone but based on moderator judgement, if someone keeps willingly troll comments sections for the sake of starting a flame war, then apply the bubble system to them, the same way it works now. Only way that would work is by moderator judgement and not user decided.

As someone who doesn't come on here to troll and generally just wants to discuss the things about gaming, I don't like having my voice limited to a finite number of bubbles. I also don't write extreme comments to start arguments in which case I generally don't get bubbled up. So I'm stuck with what I have.

For my own commenting I'm glad about the bubbles being removed but I am also aware that opens a large problem with trolls. Stronger ban hammer is what's needed.

OoglyBoogly3002d ago Show
naruga3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

^^to be honest i dont accept the term troll (there is no official academic term as troll) ..you can call some opinions edgy, humorous , sarcastic, flame-starters call them whatever you want but after the invention of the obnoxious term of troll, now you cant have a proper comment with humor ,sarcasm or negative critic awithout being immediately flagged as trolling ...the "medal" system i said before which will resemble the bubble system for extreme opinions (which must also be heard) and will be as pointer for moderators is a lot fairer and democratic imo

rainslacker3002d ago

The bubble system is mostly good in theory, but in practice it just doesn't work. Way too much politics involved, and it can allow different segments of the community to become to prevalent while drowning out the smaller segments.

Worst part about it is when you finally get into a good discussion after having 100's of boring comments, it ends because most people use their bubbles making those one off replies to people where 99% of the time there are no replies anyways.

Some sort of up/down vote system would be good to keep a bubble like system, where people can speak indefinitely so long as they don't troll, but that would probably be a pain to moderate, since the mods would have to make the final verdict to make it actually equitable.

As it is, it just means the mods can moderate individual users, with hopefully users being able to report potentially trolling comments....which I feel at times is abused with the bubble system.

There's no real way to have completely unlimited discussion(if people even wanted to bother with it before moving onto the next big topic around here) without strong moderation, and moderation seems to be a dirty word nowadays that people equate to censorship...which it isn't if it's done fairly and properly.

antz11043002d ago

Lol no it wasn't, it showed how terribly biased this site can be either way. Bubble system did more harm then good.

showtimefolks3001d ago

the bubble system is broken and needs to go away. most times people who are Neutral lose bubbles while siding with one console or fanbase gets your more bubbles

thekhurg3001d ago

The bubble system can be abused too easily. People can lose them just because a group of people disagree with whatever they have to say.

Yes, they help keep pretty much all of the trolls in check, but they also punish people for having an opinion that differs from a larger group.

Hopefully moderation on the forums will be a lot tighter and the troll accounts will simply be closed.

BEASELY3001d ago (Edited 3001d ago )

I had 10 bubble 2 weeks ago. I posted 2 comments in one of those warzone articles where people seemingly get their comments removed for little to no reason, and am now down to 5 bubbles.

I did nothing wrong at all.

This system doesn't make sense. I'm not sure if I was mistaken as another user, but my comments were super neutral and weren't attacking anybody.

kreate3001d ago

one day i woke up and went from 10 bubbles to 6 bubbles.. i dont even think i made any comments during that time. what's up with that? this was like 5 days ago or so.

3001d ago
3001d ago
3001d ago
ninsigma3001d ago

@create and kobra
Think that happened to a lot of people. When there was lots of work being done on the site everyone got bumped up to 10 then anyone who originally had 6 or below was brought back down to 6.

kreate3000d ago (Edited 3000d ago )

"Think that happened to a lot of people. When there was lots of work being done on the site everyone got bumped up to 10 then anyone who originally had 6 or below was brought back down to 6"

oh ic. yea i had 6 bubbles before than got bumped to 10. than went back to 6. and now im back to 10. and lets stop there plz.

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 3000d ago
AuToFiRE3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

That hurts lol

TheColbertinator3002d ago

Canadians don't have feelings,Auto

AuToFiRE3002d ago

@Col

We have feelings, we just get them checked out for free.

TheColbertinator3002d ago

@Autofire

Nothing is free. You still pay taxes,chief. Even if you people live in igloos and go ice fishing for sustenance.

AuToFiRE3001d ago

@Col

More free than yours, plus basic income, free post secondary, legal prostitution and hot hoes. Canadia is paradise

TheColbertinator3001d ago

@AutoFire

I'm fine in a country where I don't club baby seals for sport,thanks.

AuToFiRE2997d ago

@Col

Those baby seals want to party too, you know.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2997d ago
Fin_The_Human3002d ago

Beta site is OK but only if your on tablet but not so great on phones since the screen is small...the old site accommodates for phones better.

Also the older site looks more professional and sits better when you're at work and someone walks across your PC... Looks like you are researching something instead of looking at the big screens of the article.

You guys should have like a work mode where it only shows the heading of the article and no pictures.

Christopher3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

On the beta site home page you can modify how it looks.

To the left of the "All Stories" drop down right below the header you will see three icons.

The first one puts it in full grid mode. Probably not something you want.

The second one puts it in the default view mode. More like what we have on the old site currently.

The third one, the downward arrow icons, will pop out a panel that allows you to modify it more. You might be interested in the 'Links' view option, which shrinks all images and shows mostly text on the page.

These viewing settings are currently stored in a cookie on your PC but eventually the plan is for them to be saved by account, so they will show as you want wherever you login.

@below: You should be able to like any other Web site.

DefenderOfDoom23002d ago

So i am guessing you can log into the N4g beta site using my PS4?

nX3002d ago (Edited 3002d ago )

I like the link view, it's really clean and perfect for situations at work or with slow internet (in a subway for example).
I hope you can optimize it even further though as it's still a bit "choppy". My suggestion would be to remove all these Techspy articles at the bottom for this view, or at least their images.

rainslacker3002d ago

I actually prefer the old site layout. I find it easier to read and follow threads. I wouldn't mind some of the sort functions for comments on the old style site, and maybe some of the ways it gets stories up, but the new site has some issues which I feel need to be addressed...like being able to jump to your comment in an article from the comments tab in one's profile...since if it's in one of the collapsed sections of the replies, it won't do that.

That being said, I'll have to try out the layouts tab. The new layout has kept me mostly off the new site. Thanks Chris.:)

Fin_The_Human3002d ago

Thanks Chris...the Link layout work perfect.

Also you guys should consider bringing back open zone...the bubble system here is flawed if your an XBox fan.

3002d ago Replies(1)
TheCatsMeow3002d ago

Oh that's yeah cool beans nice

nix3002d ago

I hope mobile site of n4g doesn't change. It's perfect right now. I use it 85% of the time.

Show all comments (74)
90°

15 Great Games Where Every Minute of the Experience Feels Earned

GB: "We take a look at 15 amazing games that had the perfect length."

Read Full Story >>
gamingbolt.com
4d ago
coolbeans4d ago

Pretty good list. Botany Manor would be the newest addition that encapsulates that title.

400°

Anyone else not blown away with graphics these days? Me neither

Talal writes: "I'm talking about having that rush of excitement - that feeling you get when you know you've just made a memory for a lifetime."

Read Full Story >>
videogamer.com
OptimusDK7d ago

There are different games. Some have gamplay at it highest priority, some have the story, some have the replay value and choices... There are a lot of different game experiences.

It is laughable that just now graphics does not have anything to do with that experiene. We have had many games of that type over time. This is just the one that have come closest to feel like playing an actual movie. Just look the the Digital foundry walkthrough it is a masterpiece in that perspective and hence wrth trying. But yes do not do it for the gameplay - but that was never the goal of this experience.

GamerRN7d ago

It's because it's on Xbox. When Xbox has amazing graphics, they don't matter. When PlayStation does, it's a game changer!

Lightning777d ago

Pretty much my thoughts. They were technical marvel's on PS and still are. The moment Xbox puts out a graphically intense game is doesn't matter suddenly.

4 years ago this month would the UE5 tech demo debut with the girl flying (tech demo said it was only possible on PS5 because of the SSD. Glad to finally see it in its glory.

fr0sty7d ago

FFS, gaming journalism has really gone downhill. At least hire people with a basic grasp of grammar... "Me neither" means the exact opposite of what the "author" is trying to say. That's like saying "I could care less"... lol.

S2Killinit7d ago

Maybe because the gameplay being dull allowed it to have the amazing graphics and people are not as impressed by graphics alone anymore? I mean there is a lot of sites saying the story and the gameplay are lackluster. So what are we supposed to enjoy then? Cgi graphics are beautiful but since they arent interactive, they dont impress me as much as they used to. Thats an extreme example, but you get my drift.

Terry_B6d ago

When Playstation (Sony) does it..its usually a great game and not a cinematic experience..or at least something new at the time..like Until Dawn back in 2015.

1Victor6d ago

@gamer:” It's because it's on Xbox. When Xbox has amazing graphics, they don't matter. When PlayStation does, it's a game changer!”

The game looks as good as any other PlayStation game in my eyes why can’t you and the other hardcore Xbox be happy about it and drag PlayStation into every conversation and force PlayStation hardcore to look into the game and find flaw that most games have in one way or another.
@light: “ 4 years ago this month would the UE5 tech demo debut with the girl flying (tech demo said it was only possible on PS5 because of the SSD. ”
Yes at that time it was only possible on PlayStation SSD how ignorant of you to think that after 4 years the technology wouldn’t evolved and move to a industry standard 🤦🏿I wish your mentality wasn’t so naive and narrow to post stuff like that 😩 in a year or 2 a new game will come out that might look better, it’s the nature of the industry.

Now that the distraction is gone I feel that is a good thing that the graphics in games are starting to hit the rooftop and hopefully the developers will put more thoughts into story and gameplay mechanics than just the next shiny oily skin of old.

Reaper22_6d ago

So true. Not surprised by all the negativity. It's a really good game and looks better than any game I've ever seen. GOTY nominee for sure. Like I said before, sony screwed up big time by not purchasing Ninja Theory.

Asplundh6d ago

Pretty much. It's like how the Switch and Steam controller using haptic feedback in their controllers wasn't a big deal but then Sony did it and it was then a "game changer".

fr0sty6d ago

The game runs at as low as 21fps... That isn't much to brag about no matter how good it looks.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 6d ago
MajorLazer6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

We've had graphical gamechangers before, such as Crysis but those games still had gameplay to compliment it. Hellblade pretty much has none, and only achieved such graphics through being incredibly linear and having very small, closed off environments where very little is happening.

Vx_6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

GFX does not mean anything if the game is boring. It is simple like that and these major companies need to understand this simple concept.

Games are like your lady, she may be beautiful to look at for a while but then it gets boring if her character isn't interesting and fun to be with.

7d ago Replies(7)
Kneetos7d ago

Mario kart 8 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sonic18817d ago

Horizon forbidden West has great graphics and great gameplay

GamerRN7d ago

Yeah but graphics don't matter, remember?

anast6d ago

@RN

I've been pretty consistent in saying that we need both.

GamerRN5d ago

So until dawn, too human, or whatever those series of games were... Graphic masterpieces it garbage with no gameplay?

VincentVanBro7d ago

I agree and I actually think Forbidden West looks better than Hellblade 2. I easily prefer looking at it at least.

Sonic18816d ago

It does look better in my opinion as well. I don't know why it looks better but there's something about the Decima engine or that guerrilla games is using tricks that we don't know of

Abear216d ago

Can you fly a mount under water in Hellblade 2? I think not! One of the best moments this Gen

Show all comments (111)
90°

Two Decades Later, the Original Splinter Cell is Still a Masterpiece

They don't make games like this anymore.

Read Full Story >>
gamingbolt.com
vgvill15d ago

Too dated in my book. The AI is way too unpredictable to be acceptable today. It's definitely a game of its time.

Jingsing15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Agreed with those sentiments. The quality of the CPU controlled characters make or break a stealth game and they are pretty poor in all the Splinter Cell games by today's standard. This is what led me to playing Spies vs Mercs all the time in later games just to get a better stealth experience from a real person. Arguably Sony are making better stealth games albeit not Tom Clancy stuff.

TheProfessional15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

You should stick with fortnite or one of the countless bloodborne style games then. What a joke.

rlow115d ago

I had a good time with the game. It is a product of its time. But when it came out it was a must have game for a lot of people. I wish Ubisoft would make another game in the series or at least a reboot.

vgvill15d ago

They are making a remake, I think. I loved the original game when it was released, but I tried to play it again in recent years and just couldn't get on with it. The same with the older Hitman games.

PrecursorOrb15d ago

Yeah chaos theory still holds up though I gotta say. If you’re a fan of the series I highly suggest you go back to that one. Ubi has said they are remaking sc for “modern audiences”. I don’t have a lot of faith for the future of that company

Chocoburger15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Due to the lack of modern stealth games, and me constantly playing the MGS series, I've been looking for alternative stealth games to play, and went back and re-played the SC series recently. I wouldn't call SC1 or SC:PT masterpieces, there are AI issues, they're very much trial-and-error games, and that can lead to a lot of frustration. I also found the stories in this series to be boring, uninteresting, and just sloppily told. Cinematics are also of poor quality for both in-game scenes and CG cut-scenes, the soundtrack didn't leave any impression on me either.

Chaos Theory is better, but there was still a lot of room for improvement, and Double Agent (old gen ver.) was a sloppy mess that ended up a regression from CT. But still, at least they tried back then, these days Ubi-junk doesn't even try to make good games!

HvNzSoul6d ago

Everyone needs to quit with all of the unnessacery Ubi-hate. SC Conviction and Blacklist are both still good games.

HvNzSoul6d ago

Everyone needs to quit with all of the unnecessary Ubi-hate. SC Conviction and Blacklist are both still good games, they just weren't 100% focused on stealth with Conviction and they remedied that in Blacklist. The only thing they have released recently that I was disappointed with was Watch Dogs Legion, and Skull & Bones. Everyone seems to be salty about the misleading trailer for the original Watch Dogs and The Division. Which are also, both good games, and actually Watch Dogs seems like it was ahead of its time even with all the trailer drama (having gone back and played recently, can say the game didnt deserve all the flak). Yeah the misleading E3 trailer that had better graphics than release is understandable to a very small degree, when most Teaser Trailers, or Game Demo's only have that portion of the game developed so they use the highest quality assets of w/e they have being showed, or what they are showing was made purely for the showing, allowing for extra polish . As to the gripes about minor game design changes, or cut features upon a games release just goes to show how unknowledgeable most gamers are in terms of how game development works or to even understand what what the hell a WIP, let alone titles still in early development.

Good games from Ubi since 2014 (Year that SC Blacklist Released) include:

Watch Dogs 1 & 2
The Division 1 & 2 (Although I had a hard time getting into The Division 2 at first)
R6 Siege
Ghost Recon Wildlands & Breakpoint
Immortals Fenyx Rising
AC Origins, Odyssey, MIrage (Haven't finished Valhalla games too damn long)
Far Cry Primal, and 5 (6 also has a length issue)
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora
Prince Of Persia The Lost Crown

Haven't played a couple of titles those being For Honor (played at launch but didn't honestly give it an actual go), The Crew, R6 Extraction and at the time of writing this xDefiant.

Even if you absolutely hated any of the above titles, they aren't inherently bad games, they're just good, but not always top quality either.

I say give Ubi credit where credit is due, they at least fix games post launch if they start out rough, Breakpoint is an excellent example this and is such an enjoyable experience now compared to it's launch.