I have a feeling someone has a lot of explaining to do.

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black hole sun for president!
My Homepage -http://www.xenodesigns.com/stealth

Indeed. If things are shaping up to be what they look like, then this site really is going down the gurgler.
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Use InterBrowse. The browsing solution for old and new PCs alike.
angelfire.com/rings/zeroshift/InterBrowse.zip

Posted on RC a few minutes ago, here it is for y'alls benefit and consideration. I edited it some after reading what Minesweeper said.

I'd rather see a book of GameFAQs reviews than FAQs. Reviews are better for casual reading than FAQs, so it could be kind of a coffee table book for the gaming geek elite, and I'd rather get a royalty check from having a review of mine in a book and having it unavailable on GF than one of my FAQs.

With reviews, it's easier to showcase the writing talent of the GameFAQs elite and make the book more economical at the same time. Best of all, it would show that beyond all the day-zero tripe and 400-word "LOOK AT ME MOMMY I WROTE A REVIEW"-type stuff, there are talented people who choose to improve the craft and take it to the next level.

The line between good and bad reviewing is more defined than the one between good and bad FAQing. With few exceptions, there is no right or wrong way to do a FAQ at any level of writing, whereas with reviewers you can tell the ones who know what they're doing from the ones who don't even at a casual glance.

Or, make books for both parties. That would be awesome too. The main thing I'm worried about is that people's content being used in the book will nullify the reason the FAQs were written in the first place (that is, as free help to anyone with a reasonable Internet connection).
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All they need is a touchdown - Brian Sulpher, on the Yankees being down 9-3 against Boston

Second the book could be used for some non commercial means like showing investors or banks for loan proposals or teaching preschoolers to read.

"Af-ter yoo j-jump the buh... buh... buil-ding, yoo musd kill the bo-boss wif all yoor guns."

>>;;; Yeah...

What I don't get, CJayC, is why you plan to do this. =( Is this your idea? CNET's? The Government's? A soccer mum's? Whoever's idea it is, why is it happening, anyway?
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zomg i r green ranger lololololl morphin time loololololomg green

There is really going to be a FAQ book? GASP!
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The Ohio State: We are so much better than you. o_0
Currently playing: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN)

Y'know, for some reason, I just can't help but think that Ceej is being sarcastic and that everyone's taking him seriously. But that's just me, clinging onto the past.
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Come to Darkseed, Board 10502! Come to Hunter, Board 24445!
May the Yami Shinjiketto rise again. *Is Yami Shuryou* -Canadian-

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

In response to Bass0r's post, this is at least partially CNET's idea. My emails said that this is a joint project between CNET and GameFAQs.

Also, as for a reason as to why this book is being made, here's what I think the reason is. This book could be like an avertisement for this site. People who've never heard of GameFAQs could see the book in a bookstore, browse through it, and say "Hey, this is a pretty cool game book." Then, they'll notice the source of the writings (www.gamefaqs.com), and they'll go, "Wow! You mean there's even more guides here? Awesome!" They will then go check out this place.

On one hand, they could get pissed off when they find out they were being charged $20 or so for what they could have gotten here for free, and leave. On the other hand, they could get over it, keep coming back to the site for all of their gaming needs, and Ceej will make more money over their additional patronage.
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CRP # : 6165 | FAQs: 31 | KB : 3771KB

Whether or not you realise it Minesweeper, you have just summed up what is now wrong with this site.

Before, it used to be able helping people. Making money was necessary, yes, to keep it going. It had a heart, and was well-loved by many. All GameFAQs cares about now is making money. If this "good idea" truly goes through, then the only thing it is doing is digging a grave for the integrity GameFAQs once had.

Feel free to prove me wrong. In all sincerity, I hope you can.
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Use InterBrowse. The browsing solution for old and new PCs alike.
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In CNET's defense, if I paid 2.2 million dollars for three sites, I would use those sites to make myself as much money for myself as I could. The site layout, more aggressive advertising, and sponsored polls and such are no accident. CNET made a huge investment for this site, and they're looking to gain as much in return from a financial standpoint. That isn't stupid; on the contrary, it's correct business strategy.

Besides, there isn't exactly anything that we can do about it, what with us browsing the site for free, not to mention voluntarily writing for the site for free.
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Winner of the Spring 2004 'Best. Game. Ever.' Contest
**Board 8 User of the Year 2004** ~^SCC GOD^~

Feel free to prove me wrong. In all sincerity, I hope you can.

You aren't wrong, but it isn't CJayC's fault at all. If you had a business that was barely breathing and were suddenly offered an astronomical sum of money for the business (let's assume that the 2.2 million is evenly split and that CJayC got 700k, ballpark), you would do the exact same thing.

I mean honestly, would you take the money, or allow your business to go under? It isn't exactly a choice.

As for what's wrong with this site, I blame it all on CNET. I severely doubt that CJayC alone came up with most of the changes that this site has gone through just because he felt like it. As I said in my previous post, CNET is looking for a return on their investment. It sucks for us, but hey, what can you do?

In the end, this site's roots are the free FAQs. So long as that remains in tact, I'll deal with everything else. Honestly, a couple of extra advertisements easily blocked by Firefox is a small price to pay to get access to free FAQs. As for this book being such a bad idea, we know nothing outside of what has been mentioned in this topic. And if it is truly a waste of time and/or a simple experiment, then CJayC's time is the only time being wasted, not ours. More power to him.
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Winner of the Spring 2004 'Best. Game. Ever.' Contest
**Board 8 User of the Year 2004** ~^SCC GOD^~

Non of us are blaming CJayC, IMO he doesnt have much say in what happens here anymore
But it DOES prove that the site itself is turning into a corporate craphole...
And supposing some of these guys are right, what if he makes the "premium" FAQs (IE those sold in the book) Unaccessable on the site? We could end up eith a sample of an FAQ and a message "Buy the book to read on" or something...

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¯`'~-.,_,.-~'`¯`'~We Walk ¯`'~-.,_,.-~'`¯`'~
_,.-~'`¯`'~-.,_,.-the Boards_,.-~'`¯`'~-.,_,.-

I think that some of the flak that this site is getting is sort of unwarranted. I've been frequent visitor for, oh, 5 years or so (so I'm most likely still a youngun by the measure of quite a few people here), and I can't say that I've noticed that much of a change in accessibility, which is really the most important thing. I've bookmarked the What's New lists and my Active Message List, so really, the only slightly unfavourable thing that's changed in the scope of my observation is that rather unobtrusive ad bar on the right hand side of the screen. Heck, when I'm browsing in w3m I can't even *see* those ads. The only time it really makes me gag is when a whole series of US army ads appear, but that's another story...

The only time one might really get a bad taste in one's mouth is when visiting the home page, mostly because it's such a muddle of things all vying to get your attention (and most of them are completely unworthy of that attention). But, that's hardly a requirement for getting to most of the content on the site.

I am certainly NOT a fan of corporate conglomeratism or ad-spamming, but it seems to me that, so far, GameFAQs has managed to a decent job transcending that, considering its current associations (associations that were almost certainly required to keep this place running).
As long as I don't have to wait for 10 seconds staring at some advertising splash screen before getting access to a piece of content, I think I'll be happy with what's here (minus the recent increase in totally incomprehensible reviews, but again, that's another issue...)

Anyways, I'm not trying to engage in any nut-swinging or otherwise related behaviour... I'm just trying to offer a potentially different outlook here.

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~ONE~CRYPTIC~REASON~FOR LIFE~MURDER~
http://www.student.math.uwaterloo.ca/~mddibern

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Feel free to prove me wrong. In all sincerity, I hope you can.

Content is regularly posted to the site and it's still free.

There, you're proven wrong. As long as content is regularly posted and free to view, any outside ventures--for monetary gain or not--don't change the heart of GameFAQs. Even if CJayC himself pimped the book on the streets, the heart of GameFAQs still remains in providing free, user-generated content to the world. Pretending otherwise is to devalue the contributions of the FAQ writers who keep sending guides.

No one's work is being sold or distributed without their permission. No one is being deprived of being able to view the guides. If anything, the book would only increase accessibility of FAQs to the world (although in my opinion, only by a small amount).
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"With the removal of experience points, players no longer have any incentive to kill monsters." : Ashley Winchester on Castlevania

Typical CJayC, post in a topic and never come back to it, even as some of the most important contributors to this site question what's happening. Meanwhile, he concocts some idea for a book while his site still has glitches from a year ago.
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[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

I actually think this is a good idea. The site's traffic has slowed in recent years (as compared to the massive growth of '01 and '02). We are also beginning to lack decent FAQ writers. Hopefully, the book brings in new users (and users with writing talent) to give this site a much needed revival.

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The Ohio State: We are so much better than you. o_0
Currently playing: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN)

From: ashy the second | Posted: 11/1/2004 10:46:22 AM | Message Detail
Typical CJayC, post in a topic and never come back to it, even as some of the most important contributors to this site question what's happening. Meanwhile, he concocts some idea for a book while his site still has glitches from a year ago.

From my e-mail conversations with CjayC, I get the feeling the book is CNET's idea... It also seems like he had little say in the matter.

But there's really no harm in it anyway, the FAQs will still be on the site, for free.

If CNET wants to throw their money away, why should we care?
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XBL Tag: xua
XBL Games: PGR2, DOA:U, KUF, & Crimson Skies

Meh. I'm not too interested, 'cause I have nothing of worth - in FAQs or Reviews - that would even be lucky enough to grace the cutting room floor. If Jeff wants to do a "Best Of" book, then let 'em do it...I don't really see the problem is. It is, more or less, the exact opposite of what most anyone does - a teaser that you have to pay for, while the bulk content is free. If you're skilled enough as a writer to make a good impression, something that Mr. Veasey and CNET wishes to use as exemplifications of this site, then what do you have to complain for?
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"No matter how hard you shine it, crap is still crap." ~Me

Nope, haven't gotten an email about it.
I guess that should tell me something.
Ah well, life goes on.

Vegita, I think rather it is a book for the most popular games and then he looks at the best authors that have written for those games, instead of a 'Best of' book.
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Goku- Look Vegeta! People popcorn!
Vegeta- Ah! What is he on?!

Woah, I spare a bit time to visit this and this is what I find? Bleh.
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Early to rise, early to bed makes a man healthy wealthy and dead.

So which writers are involved in this project?
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Rowdy Ryan Rider... Main Event Radio 10:30AM-12PM Sunday Mornings WWW.CJLO.COM CHECK IT OUT!

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

?
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Come to Darkseed, Board 10502! Come to Hunter, Board 24445!
May the Yami Shinjiketto rise again. *Is Yami Shuryou* -Canadian-

Joni got it. This isn't a book to showcase GameFAQs talent, or help out the community. It's a book containing excerpts from guides that were written for popular games.

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Eat a Double Western Burger at Carl's Jr.; die happy.
::Elite Rogue:: {//=|RDoN|=\\}

Nonetheless, this topic has even peaked MY curiosity. I read up to CJayC's post; I'm going to work on my secret FAQ for a while and then come back to read the rest of the topic.

-Spike
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Nothing strengthens authority as much as silence.
In America sex is an obsession, in other parts of the world it is a fact.

I talked to Jeff recently, here's the deal with the book:

A handful of recent releases (perhaps in the last few months, up to a year?) will be covered in the book. The authors of GOOD FAQs for those specific games may be contacted regarding its usage in the "Book". If they agree, then the author would get $500 and their FAQ would be put in the book.

Now here's the part I think is throwing some of you off - you're NOT giving up your copyright by doing this! That was one of my main questions to Jeff and he said they only want the rights to publish it in this book, NOTHING ELSE. You're still free to post it on whatever websites you choose. The only stipulation, according to him, is that you can't publish that same FAQ in another magazine or what have you (makes sense, I think).

Seriously, some of you are really jumping the gun on hating this thing. I have my own speculation of it, and personally, if I was asked, I would take it. Hell, wouldn't any of you take an easy $500, and added exposure to your writing talent, just for allowing your FAQ to be printed in a book, too?

Sorry, but it just makes me laugh to see people threatening to remove their work all because of this. Sorry to burst that bubble, but a script editing FAQ is _not_ a major loss to the site. There are still 50,000(?) other contributors out there willing to jump into your spot.

But anyway, it would be wise for everyone not to jump the gun so soon, at least until we see this thing materialize. I highly doubt it'll be something where if a FAQ is in the book, we can't read it here for free. THAT would be worth complaining over, not the fact a book is being considered, period. I really thought some of you would be a bit more excited given the prospect of making good money off one (or more?) of your FAQs... Give it time.

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Devin Morgan | CRP #3579
Prolific Writers' Ranking Page: http://www.accentral.net/list.php

Haha. I'm completely with Devin on this.

There have maybe been five FAQ writers who have gotten their work published elsewhere and gotten money off it. Chances are, this opportunity will not come up for you again. Go for it, kiddies.
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Randomize()
Una noche de locura interminable | Y.T.S.W.R

I should probably start working on my guides now. Two years on one, and it's only ten percent finished...
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`'`':;-;,._:;`'`';:_.;~ArkticNight~;._:;'`'`;:_.,;-;:'`'`

Hm...what about soon to be released games? I might have a chance at that if he's allowing guides for HL2 and/or MGS3.
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The truth, as always, will be far stranger.

Oh, you actually get commission for doing this? That's OK then, and Devin's post explained everything... guess I should sleep more and read posts more too.
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Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.
If quizzes are quizzical, then what are tests?

Gah, now I want to write FAQs for popular games!
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Early to rise, early to bed makes a man healthy wealthy and dead.

hmmm... still going to write old stuff in my own writing time and let IGN take care of me on newer works.
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Stop taking my money Pac-Man!

I think it's rediculous that someone would threaten to remove their guides over this. Honestly, I'd jump on this opportunity too if given the chance. I remember IGN gave me a very decent sum of money for my Golden Sun guide and they even contracted me to do a couple little things for them since they apparently liked my work. Is that selling out? Hell no, that's more exposure and a little opportunity to do something I love for a site I frequent.
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Your friendly neighborhood Jester
(¯`·.¸jê§têr gµ¥ "ßøK ©hø¥" äKà £-ßûrnå §pôttiêøttiëDøÞä£I§©iðû§¸.·´¯)

I'll buy the book when it comes out.
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Rowdy Ryan Rider... Main Event Radio 10:30AM-12PM Sunday Mornings WWW.CJLO.COM CHECK IT OUT!

$ 500 for getting one of your FAQ's published? Holy moly! Oh wait, I bet there's a catch: it only applies to US residents!

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|¯ |¯| |¯) |¯) |¯| |\ |
|_ |_| |¯\ |_) |_| | \| 440

Most likely, Corbon.

But these rules aren't Ceej's choice, IIRC, they're U.S. laws enforced by the CNet peoples.
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Push button to turn on. Play with button to drive wild...
For once the portals are open, who shall shut them upon the rising tide?

So, would games made in 1989 be considered "recent"?

v_v
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The Ohio State: We are so much better than you. o_0
Currently playing: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GCN)

Seeing as a fair few writers here weren't born when they were released, I'd say no.
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Push button to turn on. Play with button to drive wild...
For once the portals are open, who shall shut them upon the rising tide?

About the US only thing, I would say that it may be allowed to outside residents as outsiders are doing a job for them so there is something in it for GameFAQs/CNet, whereas with Bounties and Awards they are dishing out money for effectively no reason (well an award).

If you get me. >_>
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Crazyreyn | Y.T.W.S.R. | FAQs: 1738KB (37) | CRP: 27600 |
FAQ ASCII site - http://www.sakuragames.0catch.com/

Crazy
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When I posted this, I was listening to: Nothing
Sweet like Tropicana

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NY00100: england,that's america without a lueser in the white house.

I wonder what kind of information will be in this book.
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Devin posted?

Welcome back, yo.
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Winner of the Spring 2004 'Best. Game. Ever.' Contest
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