No, this isn't an article about "fanboys" in the comments.  Nor is it about some of the articles posted to that site.  This is about the realization that N4G is much more about getting more traffic, and therefore more money, than it is about developing a community.  This is quite sad, as I like to visit their site and see the news articles posted there, many of which do end up being discussions on this site.  Let me tell you about my dealings with N4G.

Well, a week ago I decided to create an account on there so I could comment on some articles.  They also have contests that run every now and then to win nice prizes, like a PS4/Xbox One.  Well, I commented once and was instantly permabanned.  No, I didn't say anything vulgar or bash another user.  I was told later, after being unbanned by a mod, that they allow a sitebot to handle the users and that it is programmed to be harsher on new accounts to fight spam.  I was instructed to contact them if it happens, again.  Well, 3 comments later and I was permabanned, yet again.  The sitebot told me I was a spammer, lol.  Keep in mind, these were 3 seperate posts, on 3 seperate articles.

Now, I was a little pissed when it happened again after only about 20-25 mins.  But, I figured no big deal, I'll just contact the site and a mod can unban me.  WRONG!  I sent  two messages to them, each on a seperate day, leaving my account name and email.  After almost a week, and I'm still permabanned.  Like I said, it's obvious that they care so little about what goes on in the comments section, hence the use of a bot instead of real people, and much more on the traffic each article brings them.  I think I'm going to be staying away from that site, now.  If there is an article that interests me, I'll look at the original source and/or wait for it to be posted on here.

In closing, I have really just come to realize why I like VGC so much.  The numbers are great to use as a reference, even if they are inaccurate at times (but hey, they adjust them when they need to.)  But mainly, it has a good community, with actual humans as mods (at least I think they are human ).  Sure, it may take them a little while to get rid of spammers, but I'll gladly take that over being instantly permabanned from a site for being a possible spammer after one comment.

So 11 people do better than a robot? Go people!

Yes I can. 

I would qoute them, but I can't log in, anymore.  And I'm definitely not going to go through all of the articles trying to remember which ones I commented on.  The only one I can really remember was on an Infamous article and all I said is I can't wait to platinum the game, like I did the previous two.  You'll just have to trust me on this one.  I've never been banned from VGC, so I know how to stay within the boundaries of the rules.  And what I said on N4G wasn't disparaging towards anybody, just commenting on the article.  So it wouldn't have gotten me banned on here or there.  It's as the mod told me, I was banned for being a "spammer."  Something he said their sitebot does often to new accounts.

Also, the last comment I tried to make didn't even make it onto the site, as when I went to post it it told me "your comment appears to be spam."  I tried refreshing the page, rewording my post (not that there was anything wrong in there to begin with), and posting it, again.  That's when I was notified I was permabanned.

Lol, yep.  At least when Cyberdyne takes over, we can find refuge in VGC.

Damn, VGC should really do something about spammers. Reported.

NNOOOOO!!  I'm a real boy!  I swear!  BTW, did you know my uncle just made $5,000 this month by going to this site?  I didn't believe him when he told me, not until I saw the cash myself.

Interesting... I'll see about becoming a local distributor, but I expect bigger profits than that.

Lol.  And is it just my computer or is this thread not showing up in the hot topics of the main page?  I see it when I click on forums.  CONSPIRACY!!

Of course it doesn't. Inspired by new XBox policies, your topics now automatically appear in the special spammers-only section of VGC and can only be viewed by other spammers. I hope you enjoy quality postings by Nintentacle.