*This thread will serve as the official version of the Forum Rules. In the event of any differences between rules posted here or found elsewhere, these rules will take priority. The Head Moderator will make changes on an ongoing basis to these rules. If you adhere to the general rule of "don't be a jerk", you will generally be on the side with most of these rules.

1. MODERATION ON VGCHARTZ - The Mod Team uses a Progressive System as a basic guideline for moderating users. This means that repeats of similar offenses will often result in harsher penalties, starting with a PM and working up *Note: In extreme cases, the Progressive System can be ignored at the Head Moderators' discretion.

1. Any level of progression when it comes to ban length may be skipped in especially heinous/serious cases.
2. In the same way, moderators may be more lenient when issuing a moderation, due to a myriad of reasons (usually participating in the forums for a period without breaking rules). This leniency is at the discretion of The Mod Team.
3. Administrators and Head Moderators reserve the right to permanently ban your account at any time if they feel you are a poor fit for the community, or a threat to the site. *Note - Requested Permabans may only be granted on a case-by-case basis. If you request one, and have it granted, you cannot return to VGChartz with that account. A new one would be required to re-join.
4. Do not post these issues in the forums, outside of Moderator-Sanctioned threads, or on the moderator’s wall. Doing so may result in moderation action against you.
5. If you are banned and cannot log in, you may contact The Mod Team via email: vgchartzmods@gmail.com. This is accessible to every moderator and provides the fastest way to get your issue heard and addressed.
6. Reporting Content - If you think a thread or post needs moderator attention, then you can let us know by clicking the Report button and telling us what the problem is in a respectful manner. This means profanity is prohibited in reports. If things need to go further, send a PM to any of our moderators. Naturally, we do not read every post in every thread, so we appreciate a helpful heads-up from readers when something inappropriate is going on. Also, try not report the same post more than once.

2. NEW USERS - Because new users have not yet shown a commitment to civil discourse, moderators will look more harshly upon them (and upon prolific rule-breakers) rather than established users with relatively clear moderation histories. If you are a long-time member of the site, it is easy to tell the difference between a light-hearted, humorous post, and Flaming or Trolling. This distinction is far less clear when you are new, so we advise caution. This does not mean that the rules do not apply to established members.

• New accounts (either in activity - less than 200 posts) or time (less than 3 months of participation) that only offer Flaming, Spamming, Trolling, or NSFW posts will suffer harsher moderation and can be permanently banned immediately. You are subject to moderation for breaking any of the Forum Rules in addition to anything in the Terms of Use.

Note* If a Head Moderator or Site Administrator deems your username to be inappropriate, they may permanently disable your account. You are free to create a new account with a more appropriate name.

3. ALTERNATE IDs/MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS - Creating multiple accounts will result in the new accounts being permanently disabled and a ban to the original account.

1. When you are banned, you are expected to serve the ban. Creating new accounts to dodge a ban will result in the lengthening of the original ban and, in extreme repeated instances, a permanent ban for all accounts (both present and in the future). Relatives or others sharing the same IP may have separate accounts, but any bans imposed on one may be imposed on the other in order to prevent ban dodging.
2. If you would like to make a new account for a "fresh start", new name (must be an appropriate name, see Rule 7), etc., let a Moderator know so that they can ban the old account (after an account is switched, we will not allow you to return to your old account). Keep in mind that your entire Moderation History will be moved to your new account.
3. Sharing your account password with any other user will result in a permanent ban for that account.

4. THREAD CREATION - Thread titles and content must be descriptive and on topic. Content-less threads and those who break the following rules can and will be locked. Repeat offenders may be moderated at the discretion of The Mod Team.

Elimination Threads, Official Threads, Poster-Above-You Threads, and Voting Threads require moderator approval. If you do not have it, the thread will be locked, and if you are a repeat offender, you will be moderated. Note that an approved thread may still be locked by a Head Moderator.

A) Thread Titles:

1. Need to accurately describe the subject content
2. Should not use deceptive hooks to lure people in
3. Should not be used to pose simple questions
4. Should use full names rather than abbreviations (StarCraft instead of SC. Star Control 2 instead of SC2. Soul Calibur 3 instead of SC3. SimCity 4 instead of SC4)
5. Should use proper capitalization (no CAPS), grammar, and spelling
6. Try not to use profanity, though each case will be reviewed on its own
7. RUMORS: Only create threads based on credible rumors. Do not come up with rumors of your own as a means to jump-start a thread, particularly about a potential game release or company/property buyout. Even if there is some chance that your rumor could come true.
8. BANNED SITES/SOURCES: OneAngryGamer, Dealer Gaming, and DSOGaming. Any threads or topics that use these sources will be locked and repeat offenders may find themselves moderated. 

B) Thread Content:

Copy/Pasting full transcriptions of articles is strictly prohibited. Instead, you may paste specific sections of the article that pertain to the subject of your thread, along with your own commentary related to that article.

1. Likewise, your thread should never only be a link to the story/article/video/etc. You must include your own commentary.
2. Threads cannot be aimed at moderators or users, particularly to call them out or insult them. If you want to talk to a user, send them a Private Message/Wall Post. Posts that are clearly a reply or a response to a thread should be just that, a post. Threads should not be a response or a retaliation to another thread. Keep related discussion in the appropriate topic.
3. Engage the thread. Don’t simply create a topic and not post again. Add some of your own thoughts and views. Moderators can lock and moderate you should this be ignored and if you are a frequent offender.
4. Moderators may edit the content of your thread (including your thread title) if they deem it necessary to do so. If thread content is edited, please do not remove or change these edits without asking the moderator who issued them (via PM).

5. WORK-SAFE CONTENT - Some suggestive content is allowed, within limits, but it must be clearly marked before the image appears. Any content of this kind needs to go in NSFW Discussion, with no exceptions. If your topic contains any NSFW material, this should be clearly indicated in the title. We aren't trying to stop you from having fun, but people of all ages view this site, as well as people at work, so please keep your content appropriate and clearly marked. Pornographic or egregiously NSFW content (exposed genitalia, bared buttocks, and/or female nipple/areola) is never allowed anywhere on the site (including links to said content), and the posting of such content will be treated as a very serious offense. All judgments on work-safe content will be at the discretion of The Mod Team. Your avatar and signature must also be work-safe.

6. SUBSTANCE - Content is king for all posts and threads (for more rules on thread creation, see Rule 3). Some tips to keep you and your posts out of trouble:

1. Do not say that item A sucks, or that item B is better than item C. Give reasons why, and provide evidence (articles, screenshots, technical information, even opinion etc.).
2. Avoid "In Before The Lock" (IBTL) posts.
3. Do not post spoilers unless you have CLEARLY marked them (such as using a spoiler tag). Deliberately spoiling a relatively new (think: 3-6 month timeline) game story or movie will result in a particularly harsh punishment.  Either a permaban or long break from the site (60 days for the first offense). Mods will use discretion depending on the situation, but an obvious act of ruining things for others will be treated accordingly.
4. Some profanity is understandable but try not to overdo it. VGC is a place for people of all ages, so just be mindful.
5. Signatures - Must not be excessively long. GIFs contained within signatures must not exceed 1.5MB and 270 pixels in height. Like avatars, signatures cannot contain graphic violence or sexual/NSFW content and must also be free from flashing lights and other discomfort-inducing GIFs. Quotes in signatures are subject to the approval of the quoted member. You must remove a quote of a member from your signature if they ask you to do so. Every rule applying to posts also applies to signatures. All content in a signature is subject to Moderator approval. 
6. Try to type in full words and sentences. Put a space after punctuation and capitalize the start of sentences. You're not writing a text message, and you are not in any hurry. It is very easy to tell the difference between a non-native speaker (who is more than welcome here) and somebody who is simply not making any effort to be coherent. 
7. Do not post links to or requests for copyrighted content - Posting links to, or requests for, copyrighted content can and will result in a ban. Copyrighted material includes, but is not limited to: copies of games, ROMs of console games (not including wholly from scratch creations, subject to any licenses said creations may have), and leaked versions of not-yet-released games, even ones that will be freely available in the future. Feel free to discuss piracy in general, but don't use the forums as a means of sharing pirated content.

7. SPAMMING - Spam, which is multiple replies in a row without any substance and replies that have nothing to do with the topic at hand, is not allowed.

1. Necro-bumping (Namely posting in a non-Official/Moderator approved thread 30 days after the most recent post) will be treated as a form of Spamming if the post has no valid reason for being posted, or treated as a form of Flaming/Trolling if the post in question is malicious in its intent. If you are unsure if a necrobump is appropriate, check with a moderator.
2. Backseat Moderating in the forums will also be treated as Spamming, as it will derail the topic and conversation of the thread. You are not a moderator, so if you do feel like a user is breaking the rules, report them and move on. Let The Mod Team handle it (examples of Backseat Moderating include statements like, "Reported." "You should be banned for that." "I give you a week tops." "I've been banned for less.")
3. Thread Duplication - Threads may be consolidated if they are not sufficiently distinct from other active threads. To help avoid having your thread locked, always review the thread titles on the' Hot Topics' page of gamrConnect before posting. If you are going to post a subject that is like that of an ongoing discussion, take great care to ensure that your thread topic and post body both clearly show how your thread differs from the others out there. In rare cases, if two threads on a topic are created around the same time, the one with the clearest title and most constructive content will remain open, the other will be locked. Even if the latter was created first.
4. Repeating Ideas/Views - Even if it's well defended, repeating your opinion multiple times is Spamming. Make your point and move on to the next idea or point. Reactionary GIF images are okay so long as they are used sparingly.

8. TROLLING - Posts or signatures slamming a platform without basis - be it a specific console, macs, windows, or anything similar - will not be tolerated. This applies to specific games as well as consoles.

1. Explain and justify your opinions. If you have nothing reasonable and/or relevant to add to a topic, then don't post at all
2. The forums are here for all gamers. Unless you're in a thread specifically geared towards platform or game comparison/discussion, keep your anti-platform/game comments to yourself. There is a difference between reasonable argument, and Trolling.
3. You have the right to express your opinion, if it is relevant, justified, and presented in a civil manner. If you want to discuss something other than the thread topic, make your own thread.
4. You cannot create threads, posts, signatures, etc. just to bait people of a specific fan group. Bait threads will be locked, and you will be moderated for them. If you spend a lot of time making hit-and-run negative threads or posts about a specific platform, you will also be moderated at the discretion of the moderators
5. Any user has the right to request that you stop contacting them for any reason (be it in a PM, on their personal wall, or in the forums). If you continue to contact them, you will most likely find yourself moderated. Respect their wishes and move on.

9. FLAMING - Attacking other users for any reason is never acceptable. Simply put, attack the post and not the poster.

You should avoid:

1. Calling people names, such as fanboy, idiot, salty, troll, etc, etc... Also, avoid offensive racial, religious, or sexual terms and slurs.
2. Accusing users of dishonesty without proper justification (a past post or web link/tweet are examples of justifications)
3. Disparaging, insulting, or baiting comments about users who are not participating in the thread.
4. Making highly offensive comments about people outside the site (though greater leniency will be shown for comments about non-members).
5. Inciting abuse or harassment - of anyone. This includes attempting to discredit any user based on their preferences.
6. Similarly, avoid discussing the user who created the thread in a negative, insulting, or accusatory fashion, rather than discussing the thread topic itself. If you feel a topic is baiting, trolling or rule-breaking, report it.
7. Taunting banned members, in threads, on walls, or anywhere else, about their ban.
8. All the previous rules apply to the forums as well as every other venue of this website. That includes User Walls, Personal Messages, Game Walls, etc.

Moderators will look at overt discrimination very harshly. Blatant forms of racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other sort of hatred towards a group of people(s) will not be tolerated and will be met with firm moderation. This is a place for any and every type of person, so try to avoid generalizing any group. 

10. STAFF AND WEBSITE ABUSE - This is any unnecessary attacks or insults on Staff Members concerning Site Duties or attacking the site itself.

1. Do not attack Staff. If there is a problem with anything done on (or to) VGChartz, we can have someone look at it. Some critiquing is okay (such as suggestions for site databases/fixes), but that's the extent of it. Do not post about moderator decisions on the forum, articles or on walls. Instead, PM a moderator if you have any feedback. No bullying or continuous badgering will be allowed. This includes PMs, thread posts, wall posts, and any other Staff related conversation. A Head Moderator or Site Administrator can act against you should this be ignored or violated.
2. Do not attack the Website. Reasonable debate based on facts is acceptable, but repeated attacks and negative comments about the website will not be tolerated. People are here to discuss games and sales and doing nothing but attacking the site is disruptive to those who are trying to participate in a discussion. As with Staff, this also applies to PMs, thread posts, wall posts, and any other Site-related conversation.

*THREATS OR ACTS OF RETALIATION/REVENGE ON ANY STAFF MEMBER (SUCH AS BLACKMAIL, HACKING, OR ANY TYPE OF POTENTIAL VIOLENCE) WILL BE MET WITH THE HARSHEST PENALTIES. We are happy to give controversial situations another look but will not tolerate any threats whatsoever. Violating this will result in a Permanent Ban from the Site by a Head Moderator or Site Administrator. No exceptions to this.

Note that this is not intended to be an exhaustive list of everything that a user can be punished for. It is a general guideline to the level of conduct we expect from users. Please also read the Terms of Use which governs general site conduct and legal obligations of both VGChartz Ltd and you as a user.