The main thing I want is for their to be hub like thing for multi-platform games, so you can see combined sales, then individual pages can be linked from there. Otherwise the most important thing is to increase accuracy.

How about making the site more 'flash'.

I mean, like using 'web 2.0' features, so that on the main page when another user logs in, that 'users' section along the bottom of the page could automatically update. Doing the same thing with the threads and news updates would also be cool.

Instead of having the three seperate top 5 boxes on the front page; have one. With the user being able to flick through them with handy little arrows. When the user clicks on a title, the rest of the information moves out of the way for more information on the selected title. A sales graph, and a link to the games database entry.

Get some kind of cross-advertsing contract going on with GameRankings or MetaCritic, to show the average press score. This could make the fanboy-infected scores seem like credible (which they are), so you could then alter the rating system so that users have to earn the right to rate games. This could be done using some kind of levelling system and/or rep system for the users. (Say level 5, or + 50 rep from other users). Also, changing the system so that the user has to either click '+' or '-' instead of selecting a score would also level out the system much more.

Of course, these are just suggestions. And i only suggest that you look into these if you have the time or the patience. However, these things would just be several cherries on an already bootilicious belgium bun.

How do I always seem to miss these posts, /sigh, I need to check this part of the forum more.

First to answer your question, the site is about numbers first and then the forums. I think the people on the forums have been instrumental in getting the VGChartz name out there and giving it a legitimate face when before it was defamed almost immediately upon mention. A lot of this work has been supported by the numbers themselves increasing in quality and this relationship between numbers and discussion is why the site is where it is today.

As for the future of the site I think the obvious things are continuing to improve numbers, continuing to improve site performance, and adding in methods to stop spammers/trolls.

I agree with everyone else here -- sales and data come first.

I think everyone should consider how hard it must be to continue to improve accuracy. I'm SURE Ioi is beating his head brutally against a wall at this point. It can't be easy to keep adding new sources, save the larger chains coming to him and offering their sales information openly -- which isn't going to happen, because they can take that data and SELL it to the NPD.

In short, I assume that coming up with reliable, consistent, large scale data samples for free is tough. Really tough. I bet it's hard going, Ioi, but keep trying! We all appreciate it!

do everything you think will help the site just no ads in between pages, you know like the ones in gamestop. Just seeing pictures I get a ad popping up in my face...or even just trying to see the main page I gotta click a "continue to gamestop" button above a huge annoying ad

end said: do everything you think will help the site just no ads in between pages, you know like the ones in gamestop. Just seeing pictures I get a ad popping up in my face...or even just trying to see the main page I gotta click a "continue to gamestop" button above a huge annoying ad

 well ads in between pages are probably pretty effective to be honest.

iconeternal said: @ioi congrats on the 5mill, keep up the good work. I know I am new to the site, but it does seem like the industry knowledge, certinally in terms of each companies positioning, of the community here is pretty much umsurpased. How about using this to create vgchartz pradictions. Allow individuals to estimate sales for week, month, year then combine to create a community estimation. Factor in the 90% rule to discount some of the more.... 'optamistic'... estimates. It would be interesting to see how close we as a community could get. My guess would actually be rather close. This could then also be combined with individual product sales, longevity estimates, market positioning etc. Just think how nice it would be when our estimates began to gain more credability than some of the proffesionals.

What you described pretty much sums up the prediction league that used to run... except you seem to be hinting at integrating it better with the actual numbers, which I think is an excellent idea. I think bringing back the prediction league would be nice, except we should have a wider choice of games to predict for, and there to be no obligation to do them all [so only predict the ones you feel comfortable with] And then have some way of integrating the community prediction with the sales... Possibly a table with the real sales in one column, everyones predictions in another column, and your own predictions in a third column. And the hardware predictions could be shown on ths actual sales pages too [in the same table as hardware weekly/total]

The kudos/trust system is great!


That would be a welcomed addition here at vgchatrz, also when are you going to fix the PRO EVO ps3 numbers ? Please

I agree with everything cept:

- A "kudos" / "trust" or similar system for the forum / community whereby users gain points based on number of posts, votes from other users, number of temp bans and so on. Gives other users an idea of how to trust others and gives mods an indication of previous behaviour if a dispute arises

Then Sokui would rule us all!!!

I think for now the best think to work on would be credibility and reputation. Maybe including a commentary with the release of the week's numbers.

Also I think the site could benefit from a bit of transparency, not giving away sources or extrapolation techniques but statements on number correcting or if you don't have enough data on a title so it cannot be tracked properly. When the site is mentioned there are often a number of detractors, so going some way to quiet their arguements would be a big step.

It's always good to see vgchartz featured or quoted in newspapers, perhaps contacts could be built and the site could gain more recognition that way, I'm sure that would be a good way of building a reputation.