The lights are on
Welcome to Game Informer Online! This is a collective guide made by members of the GIO community to help newcomers learn the ropes around the site.
If you are new and need clarification on anything, please contact any of the following Moderators. Click on any name below to go to their profile page and click the "Start Conversation" link to ask a question. Please be patient, not everyone will be available at all times:
Using the forums
The part of the website you will probably use the most is the forums. This is where you can discuss not only everything related to video games but other subjects such as movies, TV shows, music, and sports. 1) Please post in the correct sectionThere is a section for everything, so it is best to read the descriptions so you are sure your post is in the right place. Take a look at the pictures below in case you don’t understand.
As you can see there is a section for everything so make sure you use post in the proper section. One of the most common mistakes made by new users is posting video game related topics, in the off topic board. This tends to be confusing, but Off Topic in a gaming site means well not for games. Please post video games in the gaming sections and Off Topic for things not involving video games. So please make sure you know what board you are posting in before making your post.
2) The Search Bar
Now that you know about the different sections, it’s time to get to the actual posting. The first thing you should always do is search the forums before making a new thread. The search bar in the upper right corner of the website is what you should use to do this. It is used for searching up groups, topics, forums, users, and other stuff.
If you can’t find a thread for what you want, then it is ok to make a new thread. Just remember to make it in the right section.
3) Posting
Now lets discuss how to post and what to post on the forums.
This is advanced reply which is a prefered reply for the forums as there are a lot more options for posting here. Lets go into these options.
We can post images, videos, and links in our posts here on GIO. To learn how to do this, just watch the video below.
Here are some additional helpful hints about posting:1. Please use the edit button
If you want or need to change something in your original post, please use the edit button to do so, instead of posting more than once in a row. That's referred to as "double posting" (or triple posting, depending on how many times you do it) and is something people do not like to see.
2. Please don't post in all capital letters
POSTING IN ALL CAPS LIKE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE WANNA READ. So please don’t do it.
User Profiles, Guides, Reviews and Blogs
1) Member Profiles
Every member on GIO has a profile; within your profile you can share information about yourself, such as your favorite games, movies, music, books, and other information you find worth sharing. You can also check out recent activity, your blogs, and comments from other users. You can edit it by clicking on the blue bar that says "edit profile" remember to click "save profile" when done! If you would like to leave a comment on a user's profile click "Submit Comment" as shown below.
Below is a hero image. The far right corner image (circled in red) shows the ability to change it anytime. Note that you have to have your cursor on the hero image in order for the image circled to show. Remember the image has to be saved onto your computer so don't just copy and paste!
That is the length of what a hero image can be.
Conversations
If you have something to share you wouldn’t want others to read then don’t use the comment section. You can use the conversation section.
To start a conversation, go to a user’s profile and click on what is shown below, some users may require you to add them as a friend before you can start a conversation. You can change your own setting for this in a section I will get to in a bit. The image shown below is where you go to start a conversation.
SettingsTo change any of your settings, it’s a pretty simple process. Just click on settings in the upper left corner and you will be able to find everything you need.
Below is a video showing how to set up your signature.
2) BlogsYou can blog about generally anything and everything. Want to talk about your hands on demo? Done. Wanna talk about top tens? Done. Want to talk about your fav video games? Done! This is the place for users who want to talk, but don't want to brought down by the posting sections and duplicate threads. This is one of the best features of GIO. To create a blog simply go to your profile and follow the steps in the images below,
Click on blog
Then click on post blog
The requirements of posting images, links, and videos in blogs are the same as posting in the forums.
3) Guides
A user Guide is basically a user giving tips and his/her knowledge of a game to other GIO users. You must use this search box...
To post a guide. Not all games are listed usually leading to frustration, but you'll have to deal with it. You can always blog about it if you want to.
4) Reviews
User Reviews are of course reviews of games. To review go to the top right corner (you must be in a GI review of the game to do this) and click "Write a review about this game."
Now you can give it a score, why you rated it, what you liked about the game, and what you didn't like about the game.
Please do not write a review of a game not in release. Please blog about it if you want to talk about a pre-release game.
User Levels, Rankings and Groups
Here’s where you’ll start. New users have access to our forums and groups, just by registering. Have something to say about a news story or feature? Post about it in our comments section. Better yet, write about it on your own Game Informer blog.
When you become a Bronze-level user, your blog will automatically be added to our user blog page, making it easy for millions of users to check out what you have to say. You’ll also be able to share your game knowledge through game guides.
Silver users can interact with the community in even more ways, whether through user polls or individually created groups.
Only the most dedicated users will hit Gold status, but it’s worth it. Those veterans will be able to access exclusive Elite forums.
After linking your Game Informer Magazine subscription information with your Game Informer Online account, you’ll immediately be able to access magazine content that you won’t be able to get anywhere else, including interviews, video features and more. Speaking of video, subscribers will be able to download hi-res video files directly from our site. And as a special thanks, subscribers’ blogs appear on the front page of our blog section right from the start.
So you think you’re a know it all? We’ll be the judge. The Game Informer staff will be on the lookout for users that display a strong level of knowledge about certain games or game series’. Users can become experts by creating comprehensive game guides, answering questions and leaving knowledgeable comments. These expert users are all hand-picked and will receive a special label when they post. Experts are expected to be courteous, positive members of the Game Informer community.
If you want to score Contributor Level status, you’ll have to earn it. We’re constantly looking out for users who have the most insightful comments or consistently interesting blog posts. Those hand-picked contributors will get access to special forums and groups, and their contributions could appear front and center alongside the Game Informer staff.
Do you work on games? If so, let us know. We’ll hook you up with the Developer Level
These are the status's a GIO user can have directly tied to the points system
15
Level
Points Required
50000
These are the groupings of well groups. Groups can involve, Anime, your favorite console, game, movie, sport, writing, and site feedback. Once a silver member you can create your own group (remember don't make a group about something thats already been made). Groups are for the users pleasure and are perfect for discussing one topic.
Groups:
This pretty much covers all the basics to using Game Informer Online. Follow these steps and your time here will be much more enjoyable.
Special thanks to Smackey, Blade, NakedSnake and Jpow11