The lights are on
I signed up, just to see the forums vapid and barren. That's when the new GI came around. But what I noticed around the transition from the old to the new got me thinking as to why the sudden massive influx of users began attending an otherwise run-of-the-mill video game site. This got me to wondering about a broad categorization of people who attend the site by their intents while being here.
The first category, obviously, is people who came here to discuss video games with an able community. Faithful GI readers who wanted to just be a part of the community. The second category, however, is a bit more convoluted and discerning the two by ostensible means a bit tricky. Let me give you a few clues as to the intent of the second category.
A ranking system was implemented. A blog system that titillates users with prospects of appearing in the GI magazine via means of their outstanding blog articles. Lastly, staff that many view as quasi-celebrities, observing them. If you didn't figure it out yet, it's a hierarchy of sorts. A chance to prove you're the bestest gamer out there and the most smartest for a shot to be a part of the GI team.
This breeds a lot of pretense and not a will to make the community better and more active, rather, a way to bring a dead forum back to life and competition to get GI staff's attention with blog wars. Ingenious methodology to say the least. I can honestly say that thanks to that particular facet of the site, I've yet to hold a pleasant conversation with someone here in my months of being here as opposed to a stern, formal debate over which testicle Link would have removed if he had to choose.
So, all of this got me to thinking. Why do you attend the GI forums? Lover of games who just wants to congregate with sharers of their passion, or generic user #273292873 who longs for a spot in a GI editorial?
Also, I am fully aware this topic will offend some people, so be sure to teach me a lesson by rating the blog one star. And for those of you who aren't totally hopeless, yes, that's an attempt at reverse psychology. By preemptively acknowledging your puerile stab at demoralizing me, the impact is mitigated. So nyeh. :3
I love gaming, indulging in the communities opinions, and writing. I can see what you're saying to an extent, but quite frankly I have to disagree with the direction you believe this leads the sites community.
I have seen plenty of intelligent, yet fun, engaging conversations taking place on this site. In fact, this is something I have witnessed here more so than other online gaming communities, as most are littered with 1337 speak kids who have no real, constructive input to add to conversations other than 'so and so sucks' and the like.
i have to agree with Disillumination too, i just a few minutes ago left a pretty decent comment(in my opinion) on one of the my most favorite interesting/fun/engaging conversations i've ever been in.. while at the same time 15 minutes before that i was looking up rumors about various consoles and even before that i was answering somebodies questions about their PS3 AAAAAAND the day before that i had a very exact question of mines answered in a very quick, accurate, direct way....
this site is obviously worth being on for it's variety in what you can say, and have said to you BUT mainly for the quality of the discussions..
this isn't just a site full of immature fanboys insulting one another....
it is actually a pretty good site to meet decent people and have meaningful and not so meaningful(but important nonetheless) conversations.
My point wasn't that the community was bad. My point was the main driving point to keeping the community from being victim to "leetspeak kids" is the prospect of being noticed by the staff.
I agree this site has a lot of people who are capable of giving very valid input, but from what I've seen, a sizable chunk of the community also does this for a shot at impressing somebody.
I've attended many, many gaming sites in my day. This is why I find it difficult to believe that with such little stringency, the community can fall in line so immaculately.
Even if they're attempting to impress the staff, I fail to see how this is a negative aspect. I highly doubt the GI staff will fall victim to baseless ass kissing. Past that I only seeing it upping the ante of conversations and people contributing useful perspectives in a way more constructive than they may otherwise respond.
It's negative because in some cases you can almost taste the synthesis.
In addition, it may just be my personal preference, but I enjoy feeling like I'm talking to individuals who want to discuss something without ulterior motives, lol.
Again, no doubt plenty of people here want to talk about games and get involved. But there's that other handful that I can't help but feel like doesn't give a *** about what you have to say. :P
This is true, and I can understand that. However, the human race being what it is you're going to find that anywhere you go, no matter what you're discussing. Just because someone is trying to advance or 'rank up' in a community or in this case catch the attention of those that put the community together; it doesn't mean that they don't care about what others have to say. This may be the case for some, but again anywhere you go inhabited by humans demonstrating typical human behavior you will witness this =p.
I was a member of the old site, but I 'll admit, I wasn't much of a poster. I would let my opinions be known on a certain subject and then I'd go back to doing my own thing.
The reason I joined GIO in the first place was because I felt it was a place that I would be able to talk to people about video games I liked, disliked, etc. But as you said, the old forums were basically lifeless. This change, though, brought on a plethora of members that are seemingly intelligent. People I can have a nice chat with about certain things. But this change aldo brought on a lot of children that are only here to make a joke of everything. Now, I'm 17, so I am still technically a child and I guarentee you there's times when I act like one, too (heck, if you go look at my recent comments, you'll see what I mean). But what I don't like are illiterate kids coming on and ruining a perfectly fine topic of conversation when they try to talk about something they haven't a clue about.
I don't mind having fun on these Forums at all. In fact, I prefer it. I just think it would be nice if some of the members on this site would grow up a bit. :)
(Sorry for any typo's. My iPhone is a bit hard to use.)
Aye. I attend several sites that are more immature than mature. Between this and them, I've experienced both extremes. Though it's impossible to find a perfect balance, the only perfection that can be found in a stern or relaxed community is in retrospect to a previous community.
I come here and appreciate the more mature aspect, but am deterred by the stringency of some members and how rigid/pretentious they can appear. Then I go to the more loosely-wound site and appreciate the fun and humor there, but wish serious topics could be made and/or taken seriously.
Again, the reason I point this is out about the community is because I noticed it too heavily not to speak my mind about it. In retrospect of the old site, the new one with the offered incentives just makes the activity and niceties seem very synthetic and insincere.
As a veteran from the old forums, I would say I fall in the first category. I love talking about video games and the gaming industry, heck I confess to sometimes spending more time talking about them than I do actually playing them. I just like the community here, it's more serious than most but we still know how to have fun.
Interesting post Vermanibus. I honestly wasn't even aware that the site here and the magazine synched up in regards to publishing peoples blog posts (note to self- must edit out swear words! ;D). In all seriousness, I've never been as involved in a forum as I am here and I'm continually astounded by the insight and opinion of my fellow forumers. I think they've got a great little site here and it's allowed me to meet some very cool new people, even made a few new friends in the process and ignited a sweet upcoming project that me and 5 others have on the go. So yeah, I love it here. I never did visit the old site so I have nothing to guage the differences with but as far as video game websites go, I'd be hard-pressed to find a better one than this.
I'm pretty new to the site, but I can see what you're talking about. I have seen several instances where it seems like people want their 'big break' into the video game industry, so they're trying to network. It's also funny because I see people post stupid, pointless comments/guides/etc. as an attempt to get their points up either for the reasons you said, or just because it's a challenge, like achievement points on XBox live or something. Right or wrong, I'm not going to say.
Personally, I think there is a large percentage of people who came here for the same reasons I did: To keep up with what's going on in the video game world, to share cool new ideas and opinions on everything from games catering to those with disabilities to new video game concepts. You have to give them some credit, I haven't seen the amount of wildly asinine, highly offensive commentary that a lot of other sites geared towards gamers have.
i do it cus im baked most of the time and love me some vidja games....oh and writers are funny,so it works out in the end.....
I think the site here attracts a more 'mature' gamer (if not chronologically, at least verbally) because the magazine is a more maturely written work. I don't read any other mags because they insist on appealing to a lesser intellect.. As a 37 year old gamer, the last thing I want to read is garbage geared at titilating 14-17 year olds.
Well I been getting the GI magazine since 2006 but I never thought about a website. But when I found out about the new GI website starting. I thought I would hop on the bandwagon since I love the magazine. So I think of myself as a loyal GI member. As to being in the magazine, I think everyone would like to be in there somehow even if it is the the intent of everyone.
Plus I have been making more gaming friends here and I personally like meeting people and having someone to talk about what I like.
Very nice point you have going here Vermanibus.
If I fell into a category, I would fall into the latter of loving video games and wants to discuss about them in a meaningful manner.
In my opinion though, from what I have seen throughout this whole gaming community, I have to say that it is one of the better ones. There are so many posts, discussions, threads, and groups that are active in putting out their opinions, points of view, and generates a better community by doing so. From what I have seen so far within the GI.com community, there are so many good and valid points in discussions about games and other topics than there is pointless posts and "Javelin-Glitching" the system.
I'm still new to the GI.com Forums, but I'm not new to forums in general. This is a great website to me because there is so much input that goes into so many of the conversations held on these forums, and these come up with valid points instead of posting nonsense, granted that some users want to get noticed by the GI staff, but it is their right to try to do so, correct? As the saying goes "The Pursuit of Happiness", and if want to work hard an pursue to try to become recognized by the GI staff, they should do so, this will seem to benefit them and the community as a whole because, if they want to get recognized, they try to bring up valid topics and posts along the way, thus making better conversations on the GI forums, and maybe GI will look twice before overlooking the user.
At no means at all was this supposed to chastise you opinion, because you blog brought up valid points across the board, but just my opinion on how I perceive the Game Informer online forums, and I believe that it is one of the best websites because of my listed reasons.
~Saka
I used to come here because we would have stimulating conversations involving many different points of view. Now it's just force of habit. There are still things I like about this place- don't get me wrong, but a lot of the old people are noticably missing.
i come here because there are way too many fanboys who talk way too much junk on Gamespot. IMO, they have a better layout, but the conversation is much better here.
but in all seriousness, i love the conversation on this site. its great to engage in a meaningfull conversation about video games without someone trolling on your opinions, and trying to make their opinions seem like its fact. ive been to far too many gaming sites where all the conversation is immature banter, and its really hard to find a stimulating subject. i like to discuss my experiences in gaming, and i like to help those who need help with certain games. i want to be able to express my passion for a certain series while also being objective about its flaws without someone screaming fanboy. most of all, i like the community aspect of GIO, in that everyone has conflicting ideas and opinions, and we can engage in meaningful, stimulating, and even fun conversations. i could care less about getting my ideas to the GI staff. they do a great job doing what they do, and thats it. i do my own thing