Forum Changes + Other Matters [June 2011]

[NeoSanity]

From today, we're announcing changes to both the forum structure as well as the ban system as well as a number of advisories and rule modifications.

Forum Structure Changes:
Multiplayer Meetup Forum: From today, will be shut down and the threads distributed to the appropriate forum. Due to inactivity and the way other forums are used, the multiplayer meet-up forum is redundant.
Game Exchange Forum: From August 1 will be shut down and the threads archived. All traders will be able to resolve trades until the end of July, however from today no new trades will be accepted.
The game exchange forum has been the source of many problems in the past and it is seen as no longer worthwhile to continue to efforts to constantly police the trades, in many instances of malicious activity it's only served to damage PALGN's reputation more than anything else.
Mobile Forum: A new forum, the Mobile forum will be created to deal with everything mobile, from games and apps to plans and handsets and Apple verses Android fanboyism.
This in addition to a number of small name/description changes will occur from today.

Ban Changes:
Effective Immediately, the formal ban structure that PALGN has used in the past will the scrapped. In it's place is a flexible ban system in which ban lengths are at the discretion of the moderation team and will be decided based on the situation and past bans. Any disputes with this can be sent to Bans@palgn.com.au for review, it is the responsibility of the individual and not PALGN to initiate this process and any review can either enforce the current ban, lessen a ban, remove the ban (and issue a warning if warranted) or increase a ban.
Rules still apply for ban evasion and any abuse, spam or misuse of the review system will also result in a permanent ban.

Warnings:
Along with bans, the warning system will be changed from a strict 3 strikes and your out system to one where warnings are issued and recorded as per situation. Users may now be banned for as little as two warnings or as many as five depending on the severity of a situation and will be used in situations where any ban is deemed too severe as a punishment.

Signature Limits:
The moderator team has noted a number of users breaking the signature limit for PALGN, as a reminder the limits are:

File Size Maximum: 40KB (Per image)
Dimensions Maximum: 550x110 pixels (As a combination of all images in a signature).
Two lines of text + full sized image (More if you don't).

Users have until Monday 27th June 2011 to rectify this. As a change to the way this matter is handled, a warning will still be issued to anyone breaking these limits. However on top of this the moderation/administrative team now reserve the right to completely remove your signature if it breaks signature guidelines.
As a note, swearing is not tolerated on PALGN and anyone caught with expletives in their signature will have their signature removed and a warning issued.

Generalised Threads (Mega-Threads):
Moderators over the coming weeks will look at ways of locking or splitting threads which are simply a generalisation of any discussion to do with a fairly popular topic. We encourage that users move away from these threads and create new threads to do with a specific topic rather than continuing these threads. Again, rules still apply for creating trivial/spam threads.

Posted Images or Videos:
Firstly, as a courtesy to other users, use discretion when posting large images anywhere on the forums and be mindful that not all users have widescreen displays on these forums. While not a rule, excessively large images may be changed into a link. However as a guide any image over 1000 pixels wide should be linked rather than directly posted.
Secondly, with expletives in videos. The moderation and administrative teams will remove any media that contains swearing or is deemed unsuitable for PG13+ audiences. Users caught doing this will also receive a warning for this.

Final Note:
The spam situation appears to have improved considerably in the last couple of weeks and we'd like to thank you guys for prompt reporting of any spam on the site.

[Shadow Wave]

So where would one go now if they'd like to give away a free 48 hour xbox live code or something?
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http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-7wrp-49-en.html Cheap Games!

[Fetidchimp]

make a code giveaway thread in the m$ forum?

probably should announce the game exchange death to the game exchange as a lot of them don't read the rest of the forum.
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[ZeroX03]

No more Game Exchange?!?! Dammit.
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b+2,1 mindgames

[grim-one]

I guess I can get rid of my Greasemonkey filter for the Exchange forum soon. I hope this doesn't stop the flow of new blood into the forum.
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[BurnZ]

I was thinking about the signature size...

Can we expand on the height by 20 more pixels?



Please sir, spare some pixels?
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R.I.P. DEJA VU - 21/08/2010
R.I.P. Tanya - 16/04/2011

[Sin Ogaris]

[JmiYeo]

On the topic of signatures,
Is there a feature not to display signatures when I read the forums? Not against ppl having them, but to me, its a waste of space and serves no purpose.
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「貧乳はステータスだ！希少価値だ！」 - 泉 こなた

[cosmoh]

really disappointing to see the game exchange go. more then 70% of my ps3 collection has been purchased off there, it was my number one source for games, it's sad to see it being axed. granted i have suffered a few bites on the GE in the past so it's understandable.

[kartanym]

You do realise by shutting down the game exchange, there may be a large increase of sale threads within the official forums of each platform. Would it be fair to suggest a private forum for long time users? I'm sure there are many of us here that have used the system for a long time that would make use of it.

I'd also suggest Klev's Game Share be moved if it's still in use, if Klev wants it to be.

Otherwise, smart moves all round. As much as losing the game exchange is sad, it should reduce the amount of new users signing on just for that purpose.

[Scrav]

I'm liking the changes. Hopefully it all works out good in the end. I understand some users won't be happy with Game Exchange forum going, but they had to see this was going to happen sooner or later.

[Karai Pantsu]

RE: Sig limit...

Personally, I'd like to see the max height reduced if anything. Huge banners under peoples posts give me the irrits, looks tacky IMO. (oh yes I have been guilty of this, I don't deny it)
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[BurnZ]

Well then...

No Smarties rice for you!
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R.I.P. DEJA VU - 21/08/2010
R.I.P. Tanya - 16/04/2011

[FalconDude]

Game traders can always come over and use this forum.
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Trade Games Here

[Fetidchimp]

ahh the old error occurred forum
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[theory]

[crescent fresh]

[Fetidchimp]

or you could use ad blocker and just block the annoying ones you come across...i just tried it then, works fine...
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[mrcool37]

Looks like TheAnswer and Blast Hardbody need to find another job...

[Appel]

[crescent fresh]

[Esposch]

[IISpacebreakII]

You guys can't make the Game Exchange exclusive to members with 6 months of activity and a certain number of posts? Anyone who misbehaves can get banned from that forum or something?

Its just I'm sure there's a better way around this, its one of PALGNs best assets.

[Vervain]

As sad as I am to see the Game Exchange go, I'm not surprised by it's leaving. With the number of issues and scammers popping up in the last year or two, it was only a matter of time before it got cut.
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[Pagan's Mind]