Please see - http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=1553&start=0#end

As far as the news is concerned, I just like to read the headlines and if they pique my interest, I'll click the link and read it.  I'd say an N4G type setup would be great.  I just scan the headlines and see if anything grabs my interest.  I'll read the first few and maybe check out the comments (always good for a stupid laugh) and move on.

I like the "most active threads" at the bottom.  When I log on, I scroll straight to the bottom to see what has been posted recently.

An interesting twist on the threads might be to have two columns -- most active on right and on the left, any thread I've posted in and/or subscribed to so that I can keep track of the threads I'm interested in. 

I can't post using the pseudo word text thingy that comes up.  

This is using Safari on a MacBook Pro.   Tiger. 

 To post this I have gone into Windows on Parallels, run Firefox.  

 I've no idea if it's my software or the sites.  But at least have a button for plain text posting.    Or something.  

I would really like a quick reply fonction. Faster. Simple. Oh and I have no idea why, but I can't make a photo album.

A search function on forums? Pardon my ignorance if this has been mentioned already.

 Agreed on the stories/news sections.  I never took the time to figure out the difference anyway so I see dropping the stories to the forums and just have a breaking news section to be a great idea.  Also, I do like the idea of a panel with threads posted in listed.  I would like them sorted so that they show which ones have replies as the primary sort and which has the newest as the secondary sort.  It might make sense for a person that posts a lot to be able to expand the list to see all posts that have replies if there are more than 10.

A rep system seems to work on some boards to keep things somewhat civil.  Trolls will be trolls and nothing will stop that, but average posters become better posters and good ones become great when they feel there is a reputation at stake for posting garbage.  That may be a lot to code and the benefit very little, though.

I'd like to see vg chartz become more of a forum to support all platforms.  Maybe it woud be worth expanding on the "descriptions" part explaining what each of the forums are for -- i.e.  The sales form is for discussing local, regional, and worldwide console and handheld hardware and software sales.   I know it sounds trivial, but a relatively decent title so newer folks know what they are looking for would be helpful.

Also, some stickies further describing what each form is for along with the posting rules would be nice as well.

Also, a one-click to the forums would be nice.  I know you have a "community" button, then go forum, but why not just click a forum button and go straight there?

All in all, you have a great site and it is the primary place I go to read stuff that is sales-related.  There is no reason why sales-related can't include upcoming games, hardware rumors, peripherals and other fringe stuff. 

What I would like is a list of upcoming title in the US, Europe and possibly Japan.

 Maybe also a rumours and speculation section

I would like the same features for all the regions of the world. Things like totals, console comparisons and so forth. Or perhaps allow us to download the raw data so we can create our own charts and graphs.

As far as the forum goes, a search function would be extremely useful so the same arguments don't get retreaded over and over. 

Skimmed the other responses, apologies if any of this is repeated

I more or less like the forum.  Aside from the below complaints (the first one is actually bugging me precisely as I type this), the only forum funtion I've *ever* seen that beats this place is a forum that had an arcade of Flash games, where users high-scores were posted for bragging rights.  But that's an extra.

The forum needs:

1) plain text reply boxes... various aspects of the auto-formatting get really annoying (REALLY annoying)

2) a universal Mod PM box, so that in the off-chance no mod is online, whoever logs on next will get the message and we don't have to take a crap-shoot as to who that will be. 

3) a way for individual posts to be flagged (as abusive/offensive/flaming/etc) by users, so Mods can see precisely how many users have issues with a particular post.  Obviously, they wouldn't rely on how many flags a post gets to decide what action to take, but simply how much attention a particular issue needs.


 Charts:

1) "compare consoles" charts for more than just Japan... if possible, the ability to compare more than two consoles, and the ability to compare consoles from different regions (say Japanese Saturn sales vs. American N64 sales)


My suggestion for the news section: give everybody the ability to post a news item, but have every item sit as "inactive" until a "News Mod" comes by to activate it.  Inactive posts are visible, but cannot be responded to or voted on.  The News Mod would obviously only activate the posts that feel professional, and out of those, the top-voted ones get to the front page.  Only active posts are capable of front-pagination, and after seven days, an active post reverts to "inactive" status, and leaves front page.

For the news's own page, I'd suggest a layout more like actual news websites: the frontpage articles are all, well, on the front page, and on the sidebar there are sections for, say, "sales," "games," "industry," or whatever.  Posters would have to choose the most appropriate section for their article to go into when they post it.  This way, the news section is easier to navigate, and articles that aren't on the front page are easier to find.