Overview

What is the GameSpot Unions FAQ?

The GameSpot Unions FAQ includes concise answers to frequently asked questions about every aspect of GameSpot Unions. It will be updated whenever necessary, either to address new types of questions or to explain new types of features.

For the latest on GameSpot Unions, please visit the GameSpot Unions Forum.

What are GameSpot Unions?

GameSpot Unions are community-run, community-governed content-driven Web sites covering a variety of topics, whose goal is to help inform, entertain, and connect the community. GameSpot makes it easy for members of its community to set up and operate Unions. So if you've ever wanted to make your voice heard online but haven't wanted to go through the trouble and expense of setting up your own domain, GameSpot Unions are for you.

To start your own Union, visit this page. To browse existing unions, visit the GameSpot Union Directory.

What are some viable topics for a Union?

Unions cover pretty much any topic, although Union content must be compliant with GameSpot's Terms of Service. If you're trying to organize a competitive team or clan for your favorite online game, GameSpot Unions are a great way for all of you to keep in touch. Or, if you're a hardcore fan of a particular game or series of games, Unions are your one-stop fan site kit. Of course, Unions aren't just for games; if you're passionate about one of your hobbies or other interests, chances are it would make for a good Union.

Setup

Who is eligible to create a Union?

Setting up a Union is fun, fast, and free. However, certain restrictions do apply. Prospective Union leaders must:

• not currently be the leaders of any Union
• not have been leaders of any Unions in the past 30 days
• be GameSpot Complete members
• be at least level 6 or higher on GameSpot.

They must also get at least four other individuals from the community to form the Union with them. These individuals are considered the Union's charter members and become the Union's officers. Prospective charter members must:

• not have helped form another Union in the past 30 days
• be GameSpot Complete members
• be at least level 3 or higher on GameSpot.

I'm not eligible to create a Union, but I want in. Any suggestions?

If your level isn't high enough to form a Union, you may opt to join our premium service, GameSpot Complete, at which point you can start a Union right away. Alternately, you may hold out until you reach a sufficient level; you level up on GameSpot from regularly using the site and its various services. Or, if your status is high enough but you don't know many people in the community who could be your charter members, then visit the GameSpot Unions Forum and introduce yourself! This forum is ideal both for prospective Union leaders and for those looking to get involved with Unions without putting in a leader's level of commitment.

Why can't everybody create a Union?

The rules limiting who can form a Union are in place in order to encourage a reasonably high standard of quality for Unions. While Unions are a self-governed and largely self-regulated network of Web sites, they're still part of GameSpot, and as such, we have an interest in their success.

Why should I create a Union?

If you're compelled to speak your mind about a certain topic, Unions are for you. They give you the power to run your own Web site, and they also provide you with a built-in audience thanks to the size of the GameSpot community. You'll be able to communicate with other like-minded people, meet new friends, and build an establishment online. You'll also be able to earn special status symbols within the context of the GameSpot community, such as unique emblems for your Union.

Where can people find my Union?

Union leaders will be required to enter in a short name for their Union, which will define its location on the Internet. Your audience will be able to reach Unions from one of four different ways:

• Direct Link: People will be able to put in a direct link to a Union in their browsers, and they'll be able to follow other hard-coded links to a Union. The URL structure for Unions is: http://Unions.gamespot.com/[Unionshortname]
• GameSpot Community Page: The GameSpot Community Page features links to top Unions as well as to a complete directory of all Unions.
• Union Directory: The Union Directory allows users to browse Unions by category, as well as browse through the newest Unions (established in the last 15 days).
• From GameSpot gamespaces: Officially sanctioned or GameSpot-endorsed Unions may be pointed to prominently from GameSpot's pages pertaining to specific game titles. Any Unions relevant to specific game titles may also be promoted from the context of GameSpot gamespaces.

Membership & Maintenance

As a Union leader, what exactly can I do?

As a Union leader, you're free to fully customize your very own Union, such as by giving it a unique name and banner. You'll also be able to post updates and articles to your Union's home page, moderate your Union's very own message board, promote (and demote) officers and recruits, and set a variety of preferences.

What's the chain of command within a Union?

Any registered user of GameSpot is eligible to participate in Unions, and anyone on the Internet can read them. There are three classes of status within a Union.

• Leader: The founder of a Union automatically becomes its leader. The leader has administrative access over the Union and may determine access levels for other Union members. The leader may transfer leadership status to one of his officers.
• Officer: Before a Union is formed, its charter must be signed by at least four or as many as eight individuals selected by the prospective Union leader. These charter members become the Union's officers, and by default, they have access to contribute to the Union's content, as well as other abilities. The Union leader may elect to grant officers more or less power, including the ability to appoint additional officers.
• Recruit: A member of a Union is called a recruit. Recruits may have limited status and abilities within a Union, but they gain whatever benefit there is to be found in being affiliated with that Union. A Union may have an unlimited number of recruits. Depending on the Union leader's preferences, recruitment to a Union may either by automated or by application.

Additionally, any registered user of GameSpot may post comments on a Union's articles, and he or she may post on the Union's forum.

What's my Union's level all about?

Every Union has a level, and every Union starts at level 1. The Union's level increases from Union activity, so the more active a Union is, the faster its level will increase. In general, Unions with a higher level will be promoted more prominently within the GameSpot Community than Unions with a lower level. A Union's level isn't strictly a measure of a Union's quality, but it's suggestive of the Union's size and veterancy.

How much time do I need to commit to contributing to a Union? I don't want to do a bad job.

Unions are what you make of them. There are no restrictions on how much or how little effort you need to put in to make them worthwhile for their audiences. While some Union leaders and officers are likely to be very dedicated, and they may update with news and articles multiple times a day, others will update much less frequently. Know that if a Union remains completely inactive for an extended period of time, it may be disbanded. However, if you can commit to updating your Union at least on a weekly or monthly basis, then you'll remain in good standing. From that point, the more frequently you update, the more popular your Union will likely become. But your Union's growth and popularity won't necessarily be what motivates you.

Can I be a member of as many Unions as I want?

No, there's a limit to how many Unions you can affiliate yourself with: 30. So, for example, if you're the leader of your own Union, and you're an officer of another Union, you'd still have room to join 28 additional Unions in some capacity--either as an officer or as a recruit. If you reach the 30-Union limit, you'd need to quit out of one or more Unions before enlisting with any additional Unions.

Emblems

How can my Union earn more emblems?

Each emblem is unique, and no Union will ever be able to have them all. Unions will naturally earn emblems as they grow older and achieve certain statuses, so we advise Union leaders to focus on making their Unions the best they can be, as the emblems will roll in naturally. For the most part, emblems are merely status symbols and carry no significance apart from what their descriptions suggest. However, there are a couple of exceptions...

What's the significance of the "Officially Sanctioned" emblem?

Certain Unions may become officially sanctioned by a sponsor that is unaffiliated with GameSpot, but which has a controlling interest in content pertaining to specific subjects. For example, a game publisher may wish to use a GameSpot Union as a community hub for one of its titles. Most Unions are implicitly unofficial in nature, but in some cases, you may see Unions that are operated by those with an official affiliation to whichever subject the Union pertains to. Such Unions will be demarcated with an emblem to signify their official status.

What's the significance of the "GameSpot Endorsed" emblem?

Certain Unions may become endorsed by GameSpot through a mutual agreement between GameSpot and the Union leader. Among other things, such an endorsement will ensure that the Union in question always receives top billing among all similar Unions. In fact, GameSpot-endorsed Unions will have their content featured about as prominently as any standard GameSpot-produced content. Please note that the opportunity will always be initiated by GameSpot, so if you're a Union leader, please do not solicit for an endorsement. If your goal is to become GameSpot-endorsed, then you should simply do your best to create a great Union pertaining to a gaming-related topic for which there isn't already a GameSpot-endorsed Union.

Issues, Suggestions, & Works-in-Progress

I'm having a problem with my Union that isn't covered in this FAQ. What can I do?

If you think you're experiencing a bug or a glitch, please report your problem as specifically as possible in the GameSpot Technical Support Forum.

I have a suggestion for how to make Unions better.

Please feel free to bring up any Union-related suggestions or feature requests in the Site Enhancements forum. Alternatively, you may post your ideas in the GameSpot Unions Forum so that you can gather advice and feedback from Union leaders and officers. We patrol both of these forums regularly and are committed to continuing to improve Unions, along with the rest of GameSpot.

What can I expect from Unions in the future?

We will continue to grow and expand the Unions feature set in the months to come. Expect to see new features and functionality that will expand the scope of what Unions are capable of and what Union membership allows. Image hosting and aggregated updates from and for Union members are two of the main Union-related feature additions presently in the works.