I'm just a average general user that happens to also be a PS3 owner.
I've been using this site for quite a while with not much need to post as I've been generally happy with the site.
BUT.
The recent changes have pretty much made it so that I don't even want to come to the site anymore. I have no problem with you wanting to make the site your primary source of income and to innovate it with the changes. But.. The recent changes have made this site pretty much more of a hassle then enjoyable experience. There are two main issues.. Although I could name more, the others are more opinion/preference then functionality.
- Advertisements have getting worse and worse over a long timeframe. I understand it's a source of income, but when you use a advert company that allows IE hyjacks and tricks people in paying for false advertisement. I loose a lot of respect.
- First there was a string adverts that tried to install IE hijacks, thankfully Advast caught them and blocked the installs for me.
- Now there is a popup that completely disables the site unless you pay some random unrelated site a VIP fee?
- And there is a bottom up popup that completely distorts the website to an unstable state.
- New design. Again, I don't mind change. But I think it's a little overboard this time and doesn't take any care to compatibility.
- The new site no longer works with the PS3 web browser. And the parts that do take forever to load due to the overly complexity of it.
- The new site even has issues with the latest IE browser.
I'm sure I will get flamed by the loyal fans, but if you (Brett) wants this to be your bread and butter, you have to understand that your site needs to feel inviting and easy to use to the general public. A overly complex site that hijacks PCs and scams people out of money seems to me to be bad practice that will turn more users away (like me) then what you gain on bad adverts.
I used to recommend your site to everyone. But now I tell everyone not to go here anymore until things change.
/rant