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IGN Customer ServicePlease try a FAQ first to help solve your problem:
IGN Insider & Billing FAQAbout1. What is IGN Insider?2. What am I paying for when I subscribe to IGN Insider? Subscribing3. How do I become an IGN Insider?4. Do I have to create new username/account when subscribing to IGN Insider? 5. Can I change my IGN Insider username? 6. I'm not in the United States, why do I have to choose a state? Payment7. What are my payment options?8. My credit card isn't being accepted. 9. Is my credit card information safe? 10. Who do I make my check or money order payable to? 11. What address do I send my check, cash or money order to? 12. I sent in my payment through the mail, how come I'm not subscribed yet? 13. I paid for Insider via PayPal, why I'm not subscribed? Insider Features & Maintenance14. How do I use my Insider subscription?15. How will I know what items require an Insider subscription? 16. How can I update my billing info? 17. How do I get rid of the ads interfering with my beloved IGN content? 18. I forgot my username/password and I no longer have access to my email address where my password gets sent. 19. How to I adjust the term of my subscription (i.e. go from monthly to annual)? 20. How do I renew my IGN Insider subscription? 21. I have a sponsored subscription and want to renew my membership. What should I do? 22. What is the renewal price? 23. I thought I only signed up for one month/year, why was I renewed? 24. How do I cancel my subscription? 25. Can I get a refund if I cancel my subscription? 26. I can't log in, why not? Founders' Club + IGN Insider27. Now that I have upgraded to GameSpy Founders? Club, what is going to happen to my IGN Insider Account?28. What username do I use when accessing IGN Insider? 29. What username do I use when accessing FilePlanet, Arcade and other services on GameSpy? 30. Who will be billing me now? 31. Who should I contact if I need Technical Support for Founders? Club? Miscellaneous32. If I purchase a gift subscription for someone, will their account automatically renew and will I get charged again?33. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. What is IGN Insider?IGN Insider is a premium subscription service available only to IGN Insider and Founders' Club + IGN Insider subscribers.We have created the IGN Insider subscription program to offer our current users even more features and exclusive content, and to ensure IGN continues to publish the amount of game reviews and previews, news, interviews, guides and codes that our users demand well into the future. 2. What am I paying for when I subscribe to IGN Insider?To see what you're getting by being an IGN Insider, visit our benefits page.3. How do I become an IGN Insider?It's easy! You'll be need to complete our simple subscription process. Just click here to get started!4. Do I have to create new username/account when subscribing to IGN Insider?No, not at all. Especially if you want to keep your unique name & all your settings and data, like posts, email, etc. you should use the same username when subscribing to IGN Insider. Just make sure to enter this username in the field that reads, "Already Registered? Log in here:" when signing up for Insider. On the other hand, if you want to create a different account to start anew, the option is given during the subscription process.5. Can I change my IGN Insider username?If you are currently subscribed to IGN Insider, neither you nor IGN can change your username. However, if you are not yet subscribed to IGN Insider, you can register a new username and use it to activate your subscription to IGN Insider. Simply click here to register.6. I'm not in the United States, why do I have to choose a state?If you do not reside in the United States, please choose the blank or null options in the state drop down menu (it's the first option) and fill in the rest of your address information in the open text fields provided.7. What are my payment options?Monthly, quarterly and annual subscriptions to IGN Insider can be paid using a credit card issued by American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA. You may also pay using a debit card if the card has a MasterCard or VISA logo on its face.Annual subscriptions can be paid via PayPal. We also accept payment for annual subscriptions using a check, money order or cash (U.S. dollars only). If paying with cash, payment must be sent via certified mail. Please note: Monthly and quarterly subscriptions can not be paid for using PayPal, check, money order or cash. 8. My credit card isn't being accepted.First, please make sure you're using one the cards that IGN accepts. Subscriptions to IGN Insider can be paid using a credit card issued by American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA. You may also pay using a debit card if the card has a MasterCard or VISA logo on its face. If you get an error after clicking the Confirmation button, make sure to make the necessary changes (errors are highlighted in red). For instance, if your card gets declined because the billing address does not match, you'll need to input the billing address that you have on file with your credit card provider. Also, make sure that you're entering a valid expiration date. For your security our system is set to decline charges that don't have an exact address match or an expiration date that has passed.9. Is my credit card information safe?IGN takes security very seriously and can assure you the privacy of your financial and personal information, as outlined in the Privacy Policy. Our secure pages are denoted by "https" in the URL of the page you are entering credit card information. If you are not comfortable giving out your credit card info online, there are alternative payment options for IGN Insider. Annual subscriptions can be paid via PayPal. We also accept payment for annual subscriptions using a check, money order or cash (U.S. dollars only). If paying with cash, payment must be sent via certified mail. To select these options, in Step 1 of the subscription process, make sure to click on the link next to "other payment options".Please note: Monthly and quarterly subscriptions cannot be paid for using PayPal, check, money order or cash. Also, trials aren't allowed when paying with these methods. 10. Who do I make my check or money order payable to?Check and money orders should be made payable to: IGN Insider11. What address do I send my check, cash or money order to?When paying via cash, check or money order, please send payment via certified mail to:IGN Insider Subscription Payment ProcessingRemember to include your IGN username to ensure proper handling of your payment. 12. I sent in my payment through the mail, how come I'm not subscribed yet?Please be aware that when you send your Insider payment through the mail, processing may take up to three weeks. If you sent your payment to us more than three weeks ago, we recommend that you check with your local post office to track its delivery. Remember, if you selected the cash option, we recommended during the subscription process to send it via certified mail. Otherwise, there will be no way to track it. If you sent a check or money order, and it's been more than three weeks, please contact us and provide the check/money order number, the financial institution, the name & address on the check, and the username you wrote on the check. Unfortunately, we cannot activate your subscription until we receive payment.13. I paid for Insider via PayPal, why am I'm not subscribed?The delay in activation of your IGN Insider subscription might be the result of payment via PayPal's eCheck option. When paying in this manner, PayPal requires the eCheck clear their bank before they notify us of completed payment. If this applies to your situation, then you will be subscribed to IGN Insider once the payment has cleared with Paypal.14. How do I use my Insider subscription?The simplest way to start accessing Insider content and features is logging in with your Insider account when you begin. From this point, all features, articles, files, media will be unlocked to you. Otherwise, if you aren't logged in with your Insider account and you try to access an Insider feature, article, or file, you will be prompted to sign up for Insider or log in with your Insider account.15. How will I know what items require an Insider subscription?All Insider items, such as exclusive articles, guides, codes, movies, downloads, that require a subscription to Insider will be marked by the IGN Insider icon, .
Otherwise, when trying to accessing Insider content, and you are not subscribed or are not
logged in with your Insider account, you will be prompted with an Insider Only
screen. Also visit our benefits
page for more info.
16. How can I update my billing info?If you would like to change the credit card information and/or billing info on your account, you must log into MyIGN and make the appropriate changes. In order to do so, please follow these steps:Log into IGN.com, then:
17. How do I get rid of the ads interfering with my beloved IGN content?One of the benefits of being subscribed to IGN Insider is the ability to surf the site faster without full-page ads and interruptions. To do so:Log into IGN.com, then:
*Occasionally IGN's advertising clients perform surveys that appear in a pop up window. These surveys cannot by disabled. 18. I forgot my username/password and I no longer have access to my email address where my password gets sent.Because we can only send login info to the address that was registered in our system, you'll need to provide verifiable information about your subscription. Contact us and include the following:
19. How to I adjust the term of my subscription (i.e. go from monthly to annual)?If you would like to change the term of your subscription you must log into MyIGN and make the appropriate changes.Log into IGN.com, then:
20. How do I renew my IGN Insider subscription?If you paid by credit or debit card, there is nothing you need to do to have your IGN Insider subscription renewed. Rather than expiring, your IGN Insider subscription will automatically renew for the period you originally subscribed for.If you paid via PayPal, you should allow your IGN Insider subscription to expire. Upon expiration you will be able to subscribe again via PayPal. If you paid via cash, check or money order, please send payment via certified mail to: IGN Insider Subscription Payment ProcessingRemember to include your IGN username to ensure proper handling of your payment. 21. I have a sponsored subscription and want to renew my membership. What should I do?We will send you an email before your membership expires. Just click on the link in that email and follow the instructions. If you deleted that email, simply subscribe once your subscription expires.22. What is the renewal price?Your subscription will automatically renew at the current rate. If you originally subscribed at a rate lower than what is current, you will be charged the current rate.23. I thought I only signed up for one month/year, why was I renewed?Auto-renewal is mentioned during the subscription process and is discussed in the User Agreement you accepted when you signed up to become an IGN Insider. Please make sure to read the User Agreement. If you do not want to have your subscription automatically renewed you must log into MyIGN and make the appropriate changes.24. How do I cancel my subscription?If you wish to cancel your Insider membership, you'll need to log into MyIGN and make the appropriate changes. To do so, please follow these steps:Log into IGN.com, then:
25. Can I get a refund if I cancel my subscription?All fees, charges and sales are final. Once charged to your credit card, the payments are nonrefundable. Only in cases of demonstrated fraud will these payments be refunded.The full Agreement can be found at http://corp.ign.com/user_agreement.html. 26. I can't log in, why not?Here are some common issues:
27. Now that I have upgraded to GameSpy Founders? Club, what is going to happen to my IGN Insider Account?Your existing IGN Insider account will be cancelled but you will be able to access Insider as usual because IGN Insider is now part of Founders? Club.28. What username do I use when accessing IGN Insider?You will continue to use your IGN username and password to access Insider.29. What username do I use when accessing FilePlanet, GameSpy Arcade and other services on GameSpy?To access GameSpy features and services, you will use your GameSpyID email address and password.30. Who will be billing me now?Your billing information has been transferred to GameSpy and hence will be billed by GameSpy Industries on your credit card.31. Who should I contact if I need Support for Founders? Club?For any customer service questions, please visit our Support Center. Subscribers receive PRIORITY support!32. If I purchase a gift subscription for someone, will their account automatically renew and will I get charged again?Gift subscriptions do not automatically renew, as they are set to expire at the end of the purchased term. Although it appears that a gift subscription adoptee may cosmetically adjust the setting to autorenewal, we can assure the cardholder they won't be automatically be charged again. If the adoptee wants to resubscribe to Insider, they'll either have to provide their own billing information in their billing profile or start the gift subscription process over.33. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here and if you haven't done so already, we suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the "Contact the Editors" link at the bottom. For feedback on Insider content, use the Insider feedback form. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.Account Maintenance FAQ1. How do I register a free account with IGN?2. Are there any character limitations for usernames? 3. When registering why do I have to choose a state since I don't live in the U.S.? 4. I forgot my username and/or password, how do I retrieve them? 5. I can't access or receive email at my old email address. How do I obtain my password? 6. Can I login from any computer? 7. How do I update my email address? 8. How do I change my password? 9. After logging in, why do I keep getting a screen to update my email address? 10. Is it possible to change my username? 11. How do I remove my information from IGN? 12. How do I make changes to newsletters/announcements I receive from IGN? 13. When I try to unsubscribe, my email address doesn't correspond to any accounts in the system. 14. I have more questions, where can I go? 1.How do I register a free account with IGN?Visit the Registration page to create an account.2. Are there any character limitations for usernames?You may use alphabetic and numeric characters as well as the dot, dash, and underscore characters in your username, but keep in mind that usernames that have a dash in the front will not have access to an email account. This is due to limitations set forth by the email provider.3. When registering why do I have to choose a state since I don't live in the U.S.?If you don't live in the U.S. and come across the state pull down menu during registration, please choose the blank option, which is the first item in the menu. Then fill in the rest of your address information in the open text fields provided and that should allow you to complete registration.4. I forgot my username and/or password, how do I retrieve them?Please visit our password retrieval page. Just enter the email address you originally used when signing up with IGN and your username and password will be sent there. That should help you get right back in.5. I can't access or receive email at my old email address. How do I obtain my password?Unfortunately, IGN cannot send login information to an e-mail address different than the one registered by the user, unless IGN can verify the user's identity. Please contact us and provide as much account info as possible. If you're an IGN Insider, you'll need to provide the following billing information:
6. Can I login from any computer?Yes, you may login using your username/password anywhere. If you access your account on a public computer, once you're finished remember to logout of your account for security reasons. The logout link is located under your username on the left navigational bar on the main page.7. How do I update my email address?If you would like to change the email address of your account you must log into MyIGN and make the appropriate changes. In order to do so, please follow these steps:Log into IGN.com, then:
8. How do I change my password?If you would like to change the password for your subscription you must log into MyIGN and make the appropriate changes. In order to do so, please follow these steps:Log into IGN.com, then:
9. After logging in, why do I keep getting a screen to update my email address?If you encounter this popup screen, it's because the email address you provided is either inaccurate or has been bouncing our messages. Please follow these steps to update your email address:
10. Is it possible to change my username?It is not possible to change your username. The only way to acquire a different username is to register another account with the desired name if it is available. If you are currently subscribed to IGN Insider, we recommend you continue using your current username until the subscription expires. Please note that your old IGN data (i.e. board posts, user lists, email, etc.) cannot transfer to the new account.11. How do I remove my information from IGN?To deactivate your free membership, which includes access to the Boards and Email, please contact us directly to request account removal. For deactivating the auto renewal feature on your IGN Insider subscription, please visit the Insider FAQ.12. How do I make changes to newsletters/announcements I receive from IGN?To manually update your preferences, please follow these steps:
13. When I try to unsubscribe, my email address doesn't correspond to any accounts in the system.If the email address doesn't correspond to any accounts in our database, please make sure you're entering the address contained in the header of the newsletter. If the problem persists, please contact us so we may further look into your inquiry.14. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may Contact Us.IGN User Pages FAQ1. What are User Pages?2. How do I create my own IGN user page? 3. What is the special IGN markup? 4. Do I have to provide all the information you ask for in my user profile? 5. How do I enter a picture in my profile? 6. How big can the picture in my profile be? 7. How do I switch between edit and display mode? 8. How do I add games to my wishlist? 9. How do I add games to my game collection? 10. What are those statistics at the bottom of my collection? 11. What does the ranking mean in my wishlist? 12. How does the rating system work in my game collection? What is the best score? 13. What does it mean to "watch" a game? 14. How do I know if I'm watching a game or not? 15. How do I add or remove the "watch game" feature? 16. What are the "notes" fields in my wishlist and game collection, and how do they work? 17. I want to share my user page with my friends and family. What url do I send them to? 18. What is the difference between public and hidden modes? 19. How do I keep my wishlist and game collection from being seen by other IGN visitors? 20. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. What are User Pages?User Pages are a new IGN community feature. They consist of 3 customizable pages. Your Profile, Wishlist, and Game Collection. On these pages, enter information about you, about the games you want, and about the games you've already got. More than just a simple list of your games, you can write notes about individual games, sign up to receive email information about individual game titles you're especially interested in, access game resources for your games right from your collection list, buy games in your wishlist or that you see in other people's collections, and more. As a registered user, you are automatically able to create a User Page. User Pages are a great way to show off to the IGN community, and learn more about other gamers.2. How do I create my own IGN user page?Creating your own IGN user page is easy. When logged in as an IGN registered user or IGN Insider, just go to http://users.ign.com/my/sb?action=aboutMe. The My Profile, My Wishlist, and My Collection tabs make up the User Pages. Only information entered on these three tabs will appear in the User Pages. After you agree to the terms and conditions you can starting entering any of the information in your profile that you wish to provide. Remember, none of the information is required, so you can share as much or as little as you want. Don't forget to save once you provide all your information. Then, to populate your Wishlist and Game Collection, click the "Edit Yours" link at the top or bottom of the page, and begin adding games to your lists.3. What is the special IGN markup?IGN markup allows you to add formatting to your bio. Formatting includes bold, italics, colored text and much more. Visit IGN Markup for a full list of formatting and instructions on how to use them.4. Do I have to provide all the information you ask for in my user profile?No, none of the information in your profile is required, so you can share as much or as little as you want.5. How do I enter a picture in my profile?To enter a picture into your user profile, simply provide us with the url of the picture you want to use. When your user page is viewed, IGN will pull the picture from the url you specified in your profile.6. How big can the picture in my profile be?You should limit your picture to no bigger than 300x300 and 32kb. Remember that if the file size is too large it will make your page slow to load.7. How do I switch between edit and display mode?At the upper and lower right side of your user pages, you'll see "edit yours" and "display". To switch to edit mode, just click "edit yours". Switch to display mode by clicking "display". Note: you cannot edit another user's pages.8. How do I add games to my wishlist?To add a game to your wishlist, click the "wishlist" tab. Use the "search" on the bottom of this page to search IGN's huge database of games to choose which games you want like to own. When you find a game you want to add to your wishlist, click on the check-box to the right of the game information. You can select multiple games from your search results to add to your Wishlist at the same time. Click "add selected games." Now you'll be able to write notes about this game and watch for any updates IGN publishes. Repeat this process to add as many games as you want.9. How do I add games to my game collection?To add a game to your game collection, click the "game collection" tab. Use the "search" on the bottom of this page to search IGN's huge database of games to select the games you already own. When you find a game you want to add to your game collection, click the check-box to the right of the game information. You can select multiple games from your search results to add to your Wishlist at the same time. Click "add selected games." Now you'll be able to rate the game, write notes about it and watch for any updates IGN publishes. Repeat this process to add all the games you own.10. What are those statistics at the bottom of my collection?At the bottom of the Game Collection list, you'll see statistics that we've generated based upon what games are listed in the collection. You'll see your collection broken down by platform, how your scores of games compare to our IGN editors, and more. Check out other people's stats, and see how you compare!11. What does the ranking mean in my wishlist?When you rank the games in your wishlist, you are listing the games in order of what you want most. A ranking of 1 means this is your top pick as the next game you plan to buy or ask for as a gift.12. How does the rating system work in my game collection? What is the best score?Our rating system works on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best possible score a game can receive. You can use decimals, up to the tenths place (ex: 8.2 is ok, 8.23 is not).13. What does it mean to "watch" a game?When you're watching a game it means you will receive email updates anytime IGN publishes new information about the game(s) you're watching. Email updates may include new previews, reviews, strategy guides, codes and other articles.14. How do I know if I'm watching a game or not?You'll see an eye icon next to the game(s) you're watching.15. How do I add or remove the "watch game" feature?To add or remove a game watch, while in edit mode, select the check-box next to the game you want to add/remove from watch. Select "stop watching" or "start watching" in the pull-down list at the top or bottom of the list, and click "OK." You may also change your "watch" options if you select "edit" in the pull-down list, using the edit screen.16. What are the "notes" fields in my wishlist and game collection, and how do they work?The public and private notes fields are your space to say something about the individual games in your collection and wishlist. Private notes are just for you and no one else can see them. You can also post public notes about your games for the IGN Community -- write a review, share a victory, pass on a tip, or rant! Here's how: Write or copy the full text of your public note in the large text field (500 characters max, please). Give your public note a title (75 characters max). That note title will be displayed under the game title in the Wishlist and Game Collection, and will link to a pop-window with the full text of the note. Insiders, you can also use IGN Markup to change the look of your text.17. I want to share my user page with my friends and family. What url do I send them to?You can send friends and family to http://users.ign.com/about/YOURUSERNAME (where "YOUR USERNAME" is your actual IGN username) to see your personal IGN user page. From there they'll be able to navigate your user page (in display mode only) to see your profile, wishlist and your game collection. This can be an excellent tool to share with your wishlist with your family or compare game collections with your friends. You can also simply use the "email" button at the top of the wishlist page. You can also send the URL for your wishlist or game collection separately. The URL for your wishlist is http://users.ign.com/wishlist/YOURUSERNAME. The URL for your game collection is http://users.ign.com/collection/YOURUSERNAME.18. What is the difference between public and hidden modes?Public mode allows all IGN visitors to view your wishlist and/or game collection. Hidden mode means you are the only person able to view your wishlist and/or game collection. Note: visitors to your site are only able to see your user page in display mode, they are not able to edit your user page.19. How do I keep my wishlist and game collection from being seen by other IGN visitors?To keep your wishlist or game collection from being seen by other IGN visitors, you must edit each tab individually. While on the wishlist tab in edit mode, look to the bottom left of the page to find whether your wishlist is currently public or hidden. To change to hidden from public, just click "hide it". If your wishlist is currently hidden and you want to make it public, click "make public". Use this same process to change your game collection.20. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your User Pages feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the "Contact the Editors" link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.GameStats FAQ1. What is Gamestats and where can I learn more about it?2. What's the difference between registering with Gamestats and registering with IGN? 3. Will I have to register another username if I'm already registered with IGN? 4. What does registration cover? 5. How do I register? 6. How do I make changes to email alerts I receive from GameStats? 7. Where can I submit game info (reviews/previews) that's not currently listed on GameStats? 8. How do I contact the editors of GameStats? 9. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. What is Gamestats and where can I learn more about it?We hope that Gamestats will become your new daily source of gaming information. Instead of adding another voice to an already crowded market of game sites and magazines, GameStats is focused squarely on providing the most objective view on games, both released and unreleased. To do this, GameStats assembles articles from around the web, allows gamers to weigh in with their opinions, and lets you access daily popularity statistics for thousands of games.To learn more about GameStats, especially to learn about the Popularity Gauge and how our ratings are evaluated, visit our About page. 2. What's the difference between registering with GameStats and registering with IGN?The GameStats community tools are operated by IGN, meaning your data is stored securely on IGN's servers. If you are already a registered member of the IGN network, you are all set to access any and all of the features on GameStats. Also, by registering a new account with GameStats, you are essentially registering with IGN and thus, you have access to IGN's basic services and content. Furthermore, GameStats membership is free.3. Will I have to register another username if I'm already registered with IGN?No, your IGN account gives you access to any and all of the features on GameStats.4. What does registration cover?Registration to GameStats allows you to submit articles, write reader reviews, rate games in your collection, create a wishlist, and receive email alerts for your favorite games.By registering with GameStats, you also get access to IGN's services that require a username...newsletters, user pages, IGN Mail, and sweepstakes, for example. Your membership also gives you the ability to post on the IGN Vault Network message boards and on the Free IGN Boards. For additional features that come with your IGN membership, please take a tour of IGN. 5. How do I register?Visit the Registration page to create an account. You may use alphabetic and numeric characters as well as the dot, dash, and underscore characters in your username, but keep in mind that usernames that have a dash in the front will not have access to an email account. This is due to limitations set forth by the email provider. Additionally, for users that live outside the U.S., please choose the blank option in the state field.6. How do I make changes to email alerts I receive from GameStats?To update preferences for alerts you want to receive on a particular game, visit the Email Alerts section of your account. Alternatively, you can visit the game page and check/uncheck the box below the popularity gauge to receive the alerts.7. Where can I submit game info (reviews/previews) that's not currently listed on GameStats?Our Game Info Submission Form allows users to provide GameStats with links from other sites on a particular game's reviews, previews, etc. Please be aware that any links or other information submitted are subject to editorial approval before being posted to GameStats.8. How do I contact the editors of GameStats?If you have feedback, questions, suggestions, or want to report any errors on GameStats, you can Email us.9. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's in this Help section if you haven't done so already. Especially if you are a newcomer to IGN, the FAQ's cover a lot of the unfamiliar ground you are now entitled to as an IGN user.If you have general videogame questions, we first suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in on IGN and click on the 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us. Technical Info FAQGeneral1. What are the hardware and software requirements for the site?2. Can I use browsers other than Internet Explorer or Netscape? 3. When I login, I'm caught in a loop...it keeps refreshing back to the login screen. 4. How do I check if my browser is cookie-enabled? Movies/Videos Troubleshooting5. I can't view streaming videos.6. How do I map Windows Media Player to be the default player for .wmv and .asx files? 7. I'm having problems downloading media. 8. I can't view downloadable videos. 9. How do I map Apple's Quicktime Player to be the default player for .mov and .smil files? 10. When I try to download a movie file, my media player opens and tries to play the file. 11. What is the IGN Downloader? Miscellaneous13. I'm having problems viewing ads on my MAC.14. There's a difficulty when trying to view/download IGN Unplugged or the Buyer's Guide. 15. I'm having problems viewing IGN w/ WebTV. 16. How come I can't view my newsletters anymore? 17. How do I report technical problems with the site to IGN? 18. I have more questions, where can I go? General1. What are the hardware and software requirements for the site?The site is designed for browsing with *MS Internet Explorer 5.0+ or Netscape 6+ for the PC user running Windows 2000 (or later) or MAC user running OS X. In regards to connection, you can access IGN with a 56K modem but we suggest having a broadband connection as the ideal way to enjoy all our media. Furthermore, while you may view the site with an 800x600 resolution, we recommend setting it to 1028x768 with at least thousands+ colors.*Make sure to have cookies and javascript enabled in your browser settings. 2. Can I use browsers other than Internet Explorer or Netscape?While you may find that you can use browsers to view some IGN content, we cannot promise that you will not run into problems. If you get constant graphic errors, like page breaks, ads being misplaced, movies not playing within the browser, or the site being totally unviewable, then please make sure to download and use the most recent version of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.3. When I login, I'm caught in a loop...it keeps refreshing back to the login screen.If you're caught in a loop, you might want to check if your cookies are enabled. To activate cookies in your browser, we suggest accessing the Help feature of your browser for instructions. We also recommend setting the security level to the default setting, since a setting that is too high will restrict access to parts of the site.4. How do I check if my browser is cookie-enabled?To test if your browser is cookie-enabled, please click the following link: Cookie Test. Wait shortly for the result. If your cookies are disabled, then you can access the help feature of your browser for instructions on how to enable them.Movies/Videos Troubleshooting5. I can't view streaming videos.If you're having problems viewing streaming videos, we first suggest upgrading to the most recent version of Windows Media Player. If you still can't view the stream, make sure your player is setup correctly to play .wmv and .asx files. Instructions for doing this are addressed in question #6 below.Also please make sure you have any pop-up blocking software disabled and have javascript enabled. If you still cannot access the stream, we suggest clearing your temporary internet files/cache, then clear your cookies, and try again. If you still continue having technical issues, it may be your firewall preventing you from accessing the stream. Please consult your firewall documentation for instructions on how to reset/re-enable. 6. How do I map Windows Media Player to be the default player for .wmv and .asx files?
7. I'm having problems downloading media.Please note that sometimes when our media servers are being updated, this affects our media downloads. We can assure you that when this happens it is only temporary and you should try again later.Also be aware that the problem might be with your Internet connection or ISP. One of the biggest reasons why downloads get interrupted or slow down is due to net congestion. If your download gets interrupted once, and you try to redownload, your browser might try to just pull the file from cache instead from our server. When this happens, your download appears to be getting interrupted continuously. Try clearing your browser's cache (in IE: Tools, Internet Options, Delete Files), then try again. Please also note that it is not advisable to use a download manager to download media from IGN. Our secure servers don't support download accelerators/managers that don't accept cookies (like GoZilla), which is why you can't use one to download videos from Insider. Disable it whenever you're connecting to one of our secure servers. Additionally, we suggest accessing media w/ the latest version of Internet Explorer or Netscape. 8. I can't view downloadable videos.Most downloadable videos on IGN.com and IGN Insider that are in QuickTime format are only available to IGN Insiders. You should be subsribed to Insider and also have the latest version of Quicktime installed in order to watch the movies on IGN. If you click to view a movie and Windows Media Player loads, you might not have QuickTime installed. Visit Apple.com (http://www.apple.com/quicktime) to get the latest version of QuickTime. Furthermore, if you get a white screen w/ small square in the corner when attempting to download a movie, this means you do not have the Quicktime plugin for your browser. You can check for the plugin here.If you still can't view the video, make sure Quicktime is setup correctly to play .mov and .smil files. Instructions for doing this are below(#9). Also please make sure you have any pop-up blocking software disabled and have javascript enabled. If you still cannot access the file, we suggest clearing your temporary internet files/cache, then clear your cookies, and try again. If you still continue having technical issues, it may be your firewall preventing you from accessing the file. Please consult your firewall documentation for instructions on how to reset/re-enable. 9. How do I map Apple's Quicktime Player to be the default player for .mov and .smil files?
10. When I try to download a movie file, my media player opens and tries to play the file.Your settings within your media player are probably set to automatically play the file when clicked on. You can either disable this option within the player OR when downloading the movie file, right click the download link and choose "Save Target As".To disable this option in Quicktime:
11. What is the IGN Downloader?For more info, please visit the IGN Downloader FAQ.Miscellaneous13. I'm having problems viewing ads on my MAC.The most noticeable problem for MAC users is viewing flash ads in articles, where the only part showing up is the animation. This may be fixed by upgrading to OSX. While some new browsers may also fix this problem, we do not recommend using them as other problems may arise (look below).14. There's a difficulty when trying to view/download IGN Unplugged or the Buyer's Guide.Please click on the file you want to download and then be patient. When the file is completely downloaded, Adobe Acrobat will open and then open the PDF. If your browser says "Done", let it keep running anyway. Chances are it is not actually "Done". Be patient. Let it keep coming and see if Adobe Acrobat opens. Please also note that it is not advisable to use a download manager to download media from IGN. Our secure servers don't support download accelerators/managers that don't accept cookies (like GoZilla), which is why you can't use one to download some media from Insider. Disable it whenever you're connecting to one of our secure servers.Also, note that you must be subscribed to IGN Insider to access Unplugged. For more info on IGN Insider, please visit our benefits page. 15. I'm having problems viewing IGN w/ WebTV.The probable cause is that IGN uses DHTML and java script, which are not supported by the WebTV browser. As the WebTV and IGN.com technologies are incompatible, our recommendation is that you try using a different browser if you have one available to you.16. How come I can't view my newsletters anymore?If you've always been able to read our newsletters in the past, it's possible that your internet mail provider is having some technical trouble. You could wait a day or two, see if it fixes itself, or use their customer support team to help you with the problem.17. How do I report technical problems with the site to IGN?Please report the problem and let us know in detail the error you are encountering. If possible, list step by step (start w/ login) how you get to the error and include the URL/web address of the page. Make sure to include your browser type and version (i.e. IE ver. 6.0), operating system (i.e. Windows XP), and IGN username in your message.18. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.IGN Mail FAQ1. How do I set up an IGN Mail account?2. How do I access my IGN Mail account? 3. How do I read my mail? 4. How do I sort my mail within my mailbox? 5. How do I delete my mail? 6. Why can't I delete my email messages? 7. How do I move my mail into folders? 8. Accessing IGN mail when you are away from home 9. How do I send a new message to someone? 10. How do I send a new message to someone from my address book? 11. How do I send the same message to more than one person (CC)? 12. How do I send the same message privately to more than one person (BCC)? 13. How do I save a copy of the messages I send? 14. How do I save a draft? 15. How do I add people to my Address Book? 16. How do I edit my Address Book? 17. How do I create and maintain a Group Contact list? 18. How do I attach a file or document? 19. How do I view an attachment? 20. How do I save an attachment to my hard drive? 21. What sort of attachments can I view directly from my IGN mail? 22. What is the size limit for attachments? 23. What other features can I get for my IGN Email? 24. I have a username w/ dashes (-) in the front and I can't access my IGN Mail account. 25. What are the POP/SMTP settings so I can download my IGN Mail into another client? 26. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. How do set up an IGN Email account?Your IGN.com email account is one of the benefits of being a registered IGN user. There is no separate sign-up process needed to start using your account. Once you are registered and logged in to IGN.com, simply use one of the "Email" links (like the one on the left side of the home page, at the bottom) to get to your mailbox.2. How do I access my IGN Email account?You'll find "Email" links on the IGN.com homepage, links in our navigation bars, and a "My Email" tab on my.ign.com. Simply login, and click on the links. You can also go directly to http://mymail.ign.com to login and access your email.3. How do I read my Mail?In order to read your IGN mail, you must be a registered IGN user. You choose a user name and a password when registering with IGN.
4. How do I sort my mail within my mailbox?You can sort your mail by sender, subject, date or size. Please note that, in your Sent folder, you can sort by recipient instead of sender. These options are listed at the top of your list of messages. Click on the word for the type of sort you want, and your mail will be sorted accordingly. Click on the word again, and your messages will be sorted in reverse order. When you click on one of the four sorting words (sender, subject, date, size), an arrow appears next to that word to indicate that the messages are currently being sorted in that order.sender sorts your mail in order according to the sender's name. Please note: a sender's name which begins with a capital letter (e.g. Robert) will come before a name which begins in lower case (e.g. info). Sorting by name can be very useful when you know you received an email from someone, but you don't know where it is in your folder. This puts all of the mail from that person together for an easier search. subject sorts your mail alphabetically by the title listed in the subject line. date sorts your mail chronologically by date, with the most recent date at the bottom of the list. Click on Date again if you would like the most recent date to be at the top of the list. size sorts your mail according to the size of the email. This is useful if you're looking for attachments. NOTE: A search for an email can only be done in the folder you are in. If you are looking for an email in your Inbox and it is not there, you might want to repeat your search in other folders. 5. How do I delete my mail?You can delete all of your messages at once by clicking on Select All at the top of the page you are viewing and then clicking on the Delete button. If you do not see "Select All", you may click on the checkbox next to Sender (or From) to select all the messages on that page.If you wish to only delete certain emails, click on the checkbox on the left of the sender's name and then click on the Delete button at the top of the mailbox you are viewing. All mail you delete is placed in the Trash folder. To empty the Trash folder, click on Empty Trash at the top of the page you are viewing. 6. Why can't I delete my email messages?Sometimes when deleting a mail message, you may receive an error message or find that the message is not successfully deleted. There are a number of possible reasons for this.If you are using the Windows 3.x platform or a browser that is version 2.0 or lower, these do not support the Javascript required to use (company_dir). 1. If you are trying to delete many messages at once, there is a chance that your browser will "hang". You can tell that your browser is hanging if you click on a button and nothing happens for an unusually long time. This means that the browser is waiting for information from a server. The more messages you try to delete at once, the longer it takes for the browser to process this request. Therefore, you should try to delete fewer messages at a time. 2. If you still cannot delete a message, try logging back in at a different time. Sometimes the problems you are experiencing are related to temporary down time from our server. Unfortunately, you cannot tell when the server is down. 7. How do I move my mail into folders?The Move function allows you to move your mail from one folder to another. You can move your mail into one of your permanent folders (Inbox or Trash) or into personal folders that you have created.Please note that you cannot move files into your "Drafts" or "Sent" folder. To move your mail:
8. Accessing IGN mail when you are away from homeYou can access your IGN mail from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a connection to the World Wide Web. Just point your browser to mymail.ign.com, log in with your user name and password, and check your mail.9. How do I send a new message to someone?You must have an registered account at IGN.com to send a message. If you do not have an account, you can register for one now. (click here to sign up !!)To send a message, click on Compose (or Write New Message) which you will find either in the navigation bar on the left or near the top of the page. The Compose page will load and you can begin writing your new message. To: Enter the nickname or email address of the person to whom you would like to send the message . Subject: Type in the subject or theme of the email so that the recipient knows what it is about. CC: CC means "carbon copy", or "courtesy copy". By entering email addresses in this field, you can send a carbon copy to multiple recipients. Enter their nicknames or email addresses here, separated by a comma. All addresses in the "CC" field and in the "To" field will be shown to the recipients of the email. BCC: BCC means "blind carbon copy". "BCC" gives you the same functionality as "CC" but with privacy. None of the addresses you enter in the "BCC" field will be shown to recipients of the mail you are sending. Please note: your message must have at least one addressee in the "To" or "Cc" field. Attachment: If you have a file you would like to attach, use this to attach it to the email being composed. To attach a file, look for the document or file to be sent by clicking on the Browse button and browsing through your computer. Once the file is located, click on the "Attach" button to attach it to the email. The name of the document or file and the path to that file will be displayed in the Message Attachment box. File attachments are listed in the slightly larger box. After attaching the document or file, click on the "Send" button if you are ready to send the email. You can attach more than one file at a time, but the maximum size of each attachment is 2MB. 10. How do I send a new message to someone from my address book?To send an email to someone in your address book:
11. How do I send the same message to more than one person (CC)?To send your message to more than one recipient, you can use either the "To", "CC" or "BCC" field.To: You can send your mail to multiple recipients by listing their email addresses, separated by a comma. CC: CC means "carbon copy" or "courtesy copy". You can send a carbon copy to multiple recipients by entering email addresses in this field, separated by a copy. You can also CC people listed in your address book. To do this:
12. How do I send the same message privately to more than one person (BCC)?BCC stands for blind carbon copy. The names and/or email addresses listed in the BCC field will not be seen by any of the recipients of the email. To send BCC mail, list the email addresses, separated by a comma, in the BCC field.To send BCC mail to people listed in your address book:
13. How do I save a copy of the messages I send?You can save a copy of your outgoing messages to your "Sent" folder. To save a copy of your outgoing messages:
14. How do I save a draft?To save a copy of a message you are drafting:
Note 2 - If you resume composing a message that had been saved in the Draft folder and then send that message off, it will no longer appear in the Draft folder. Rather, a copy of it will be saved in your Sent folder if you had set the option to do so. 15. How do I add people to my Address Book?To add a new address to your address book, you can do this directly from an email message, or you can do this in the address book itself.When you are reading an email, you will note a link to the right of the sender's address that says: "Save Address". Click on this link, and the sender's address and/or name will automatically be entered into your address book. This will take you to your address book where you can add other details if you wish before scrolling down and clicking on the Add Contact button. You can also add contacts to your address book after sending an email. When you click the "Send" button, a page loads telling you that your message has been sent. It will also list out the email addresses of the recipients. Those who are already in your address book will be noted with "Already In". Those who are not yet in your address book will have a checkbox next to them. At the bottom of this list is an "Add to address book" button. Check the boxes of those email addresses you wish to add, and then click on this "Add" button. You can also add an address directly in the address book:
16. How do I edit my Address Book?To modify an address or group contact in your address book, click on "Modify" (or "Modify Contact") next to the contact you want to edit. You can then add or remove details. Remember to click the "Modify Contact" button at the bottom of the page when you have finished making your changes, or else the changes will not be saved.To delete an address or group contact from your address book, click on "Delete" (or "Delete Contact") next to the contact you want to delete. The contact page will load and you need only click on the "Delete Contact" button to delete the contact. Should you change your mind about deleting the contact, simply click on the "Cancel" button. 17. How do I create and maintain a Group Contact list?Mailing lists are a useful tool for organizing different groups of people into different lists so that sending mail to them requires entering only the name of the group contact rather than many individual email addresses.You can create a group contact in the following fashion:
18. How do I attach a file or document?To send a mail message with an attached file or document:
19. How do I view an attachment?If you receive an email with an attachment, the name of the attached file will appear at the bottom of the email. Depending on your browser and your security settings, clicking on the attachment will either open it in the browser for viewing, or you will be prompted to save it to disk.20. How do I save an attachment to my hard drive?If you want to save the attachment to your computer, click on the name of the attached file. A "File Download" box will appear with four buttons, one of them being a "Save" button. Clicking on this button will open up a small window where you can choose which drive and directory to save your file. Then, click on the window's "Save" or "OK" button.21. What sort of attachments can I view directly from my IGN mail?IGN mail will automatically display all attachments that are supported by your browser in the body of your message. The message types supported by Netscape, version 3.0 or higher and Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 3.0 or higher include text, HTML, GIF, JPEG and MPEG. Downloading browser plug-ins may enable you to automatically view a wider array of attachments.If an attachment type is not supported by your browser, you will see the name of the attachment in the body of the message. You should click on the attachment name and download this attachment to your personal computer. You can then view the message through whatever application it was created in. For example, messages created in PowerPoint must be viewed through a PowerPoint application. To view an HTML document without seeing the HTML code, the attachment must have an "html" or an "htm" extension. Text extensions (.txt) will display the HTML code in the body of the message. 22. What is the size limit for attachments?The size limit for each attachment is 2 MB.23. What other features can I get for my IGN Email?With Premium Services, you can add a Calendar, electronic greetings, additional mail storage, POP and SMTP access (so you can use things like Microsoft Outlook or Eudora to access your IGN email), and additional domain names. (coming soon!)24. I have a username w/ dashes (-) in the front and I can't access my IGN Mail account.Please keep in mind that usernames that have a dash in the front will not have access to an email account. This is due to limitations set forth by our email provider. We recommend creating another registered IGN account (without dashes in the front) in order to receive the free IGN Mail feature.25. What are the POP/SMTP settings so I can download my IGN Mail into another client?In order to use this feature, you'll first need to sign up for IGN Mail Premium Services. You will then receive a user guide through e-mail, which provides instructions to configure your e-mail client to retrieve your incoming e-mails via POP3. You will also find step-by-step instructions for setting up popular e-mail clients, namely Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express and Eudora.26. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the "Contact the Editors" link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.IGN/Vault Network Boards FAQ1. I need general help with the boards...how do I use it's features?2. What if I see a message that needs to be deleted and/or locked or a situation that requires a mod's attention? 3. How do I become a moderator? 4. Why did my message/post/thread get removed...Why was I banned? 5. How do I inquire about my ban or request an unban? 6. I haven't received a response to my unban request, where is it? 7. Is it possible to create my own icon? 8. Can I change my username and transfer my posts? 9. How do you delete private messages? 10. What happened to the VN Merge tool? 11. What's the difference between the IGN Boards and the Vault Network Boards? 12. What are the subscriber-only features of the Boards? 13. What features are available to those who don't subscribe? 14. Is there a chat feature on IGN? 15. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. I need general help with the boards...how do I use it's features?For detailed instructions on using IGN Boards and its features, head on over to the IGN Boards Help page.2. What if I see a message that needs to be deleted and/or locked or a situation that requires a mod's attention?If it's a message that appears on the IGN Boards, please let the moderators be aware of it. For messages that appear on the Vault Network Boards, go here.A mod will evaluate the post and take appropriate action if needed. If you are having problems with a user regarding private messages, please contact one of the moderators privately for assistance. 3. How do I become a moderator?Generally speaking, when we need a moderator we'll ask. Occasionally we ask specific boards and other mods if they have any suggestions for who would make a good mod, then we'll look through the user's post history and keep an eye on them for a bit to see if they're really a good poster. So if one posts and acts responsibly, they'll have a chance to become a mod. Repeatedly asking, whining to other mods, and posting a petition doesn't help either. Just be an intelligent poster.4. Why did my message/post/thread get removed...Why was I banned?We suggest that you strictly adhere to the IGN Board Rules/VN Board Rules you agreed to when signing up. You were probably banned or your message was removed because you broke one of these rules. Please remember that by registering at the IGN/VN Message Boards, users agree that any post deemed inappropriate may be removed at the sole discretion of IGN. IGN also has the right, at its sole discretion, to revoke board privileges at any time without notice or reason.5.How do I inquire about my ban or request an unban?IGN Board users, please fill out the IGN Boards Unban Request form.VN Boards users, use the VN Boards Unban Request form. A request will be sent to one of our moderators for review. In some cases, bannings are accidental or temporary. Keep this in mind when making unban requests. Please do not create new screen names to circumvent the ban and request an explanation for your banning. This is against board rules and the length of your ban could be extended. Simply fill out the unban request form and your questions will be answered promptly. 6. I haven't received a response to my unban request, where is it?Every Unban Request gets responded to by one of our moderators. Please note that some e-mail services filter our Unban Requests to the Junk Mail or Bulk Mail folder. Just check your Junk/Bulk Mail, and you should see your response there.NOTICE TO HOTMAIL & MSN USERS: There is a bug between our system and Hotmail's/MSN's junk mail filter feature. The ONLY way you will receive your unban response is if you have the Junk Mail filter ON. The response will appear in the "Junk Mail" folder, where it may be deleted instantly, depending on your settings. But without the Junk Mail filter on, you will not receive an unban response at all. If you still can't access our response, please do not use any Hotmail/MSN affiliated email addresses when processing an unban query. We suggest using an alternate email address so we can process your unban request properly. 7. Is it possible to create my own icon?Yes, but you must be an IGN Insider in order to create an icon. Also, the icon must meet certain requirements and must be submitted in a specific thread. For more info, visit the IGN Boards Icon FAQ and the Icon Board.8. Can I change my username and transfer my posts?It is not possible to change your username. Your username is the unique part of your IGN account. Any change to your username will change your IGN data, such as email address, posts, user lists, etc. The only way to acquire a different username is to register another account w/ the desired name if it is available. Please note that your old IGN data (i.e. posts, user lists, email, etc.) will NOT transfer to the new account.If you are not yet subscribed to IGN Insider, you can register a new username and use it to activate your subscription to IGN Insider. Simply visit our subscription page to register. 9. How do you delete private messages?There is no way currently to remove private messages manually. Unread private messages are deleted automatically after 60 days and Read messages are deleted after 180 days.10. What happened to the VN Merge tool?The merge tool on the Vault Network Boards was created so Player Vault users could transfer their data into their newly created IGN accounts. While many users were using the tool to transfer posts long after IGN and Vault Network accounts were consolidated, there was no justification for keeping the tool past its original purpose. Thus, the merge tool was retired and can no longer be accessed.11. What's the difference between the IGN Boards and the Vault Network Boards?The Vault Network Boards are for the community that visits IGN's Vault Network and focus primarily on massively multiplayer online games. While the focus is on MMOGs, there are a few Vault boards that aren't MMOG-centric.The IGN Boards are more all encompassing and include about 1600 game boards as well as a variety of other boards including DVD, movies, cars, gear, current events and music. 12. What are the subscriber-only features of the Boards?IGN Insiders get all the features on the boards that registered members have, but also get the ability to post images, polls and mark-up code on IGN Boards. Subscribers can send and receive private messages, as well as assign an icon to their name to denote Insider status. Insiders also get access to special IGN Insider message boards and now have the ability to search all boards for specific content.13. What features are available to those who don't subscribe?Registered users can post and read messages on free boards, view profiles of other users, search for other users, add multiple topics to an Active Topic Notification list, add users to a "watched user" list, allow e-mail notification when a "watched user" posts a message, and add boards to a "favorites" list.14. Is there a chat feature on IGN?IGN's very own IRC chat system allows you to talk with other IGN users in real-time. Just head over to IGN Chat and choose one of twenty channels to participate in.15. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest posting your feedback, suggestions, and questions on the IGN Boards. One thread of significance is the Super Duper FAQ posted by one of our users. It addresses even more Boards issues. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the "Contact the Editors" link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.Miscellaneous FAQ1. How do I get a job in the videogame industry?2. Which system is the best one to buy? 3. Which platform should I purchase this multi-platform game on? 4. Where do I submit my idea for a videogame? 5. Can I play/download games on IGN? 6. Is there a chat feature on IGN? 7. Can I buy games, DVD's, and toys on IGN? 8. I've got questions about an item I purchased in the IGN Gamestore? 9. Can I get free stuff from IGN, like games? 10. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. How do I get a job in the videogame industry?Below we have listed a comprehensive list of IGN articles related to getting jobs in the videogames industry. Just click on the link that most interests you. Please note that while some articles are free to all IGN users, some can only be accessed with an IGN Insider membership. We recommend visiting our Insider Benefits page for information about IGN Insider. Additionally, Insiders can access our Games Career forum on IGN Boards, where they can get pointers and tips from people in the industry.
2. Which system is the best one to buy?This answer lies in the depths of IGN's articles. Our site exists to give you detailed information, analysis, and reviews to help make the decision. It is really up to each individual on what system is best suited for his or her needs. Surf the site and each platform-specific channel to find out which system best matches your interests. However, if you're interested in what the editors' opinions are about this debate, you can read the archived article. Additionally, you may join other Insiders in discussing this article/topic on the I Boards. *Please note that access to this articles and forum require an IGN Insider subscription. Visit our registration page to sign up.3. Which platform should I purchase this multi-platform game on?Because developers frequently release their titles across multiple consoles, players have difficulty choosing which system they should buy a specific game for. One option is to check the review on each system for the game as many of the differences are pointed out within each article. Also check out our Head-to-Head feature on the Insider channel. While Head-to-Head only covers some cross-platform games, we try to tackle the most popular games that appear on more than one console. The Head-to-Head series of articles cuts through all the different takes the editors have on games, compares the facts, and presents you with one uniform opinion on all the versions.4. Where do I submit my idea for a videogame?Please do not send us game ideas and URL's or info about games independently developed (i.e. "I just developed this game with a bunch of friends, can you review my game?"). These kinds of messages will go unanswered. IGN does not develop games, nor do game companies come to us for game concepts. We recommend visiting the IGN's Development Boards, where you can sound off about your ideas, talk with game developers about making games, or discuss game theory, design, & philosophy. Please note that access to this board requires an IGN Insider subscription. Visit our registration page to sign up.5. Can I play/download games on IGN?Kill some time and a few virtual enemies! Whether you want to shoot aliens, race cars, bust bricks, play cards, or shoot hoops, there's definitely something on IGN Play perfect for a quick diversion during your busy day. IGN Play has plenty of awesome games, available for free that you can play right online -- no download required. These are perfect for a quick break, and ideal for sharing with friends and co-workers. And, when you have a few more minutes, be sure to check out all Play Games on IGN Play -- over 80 free games available for online play OR download.6. Is there a chat feature on IGN?IGN's very own IRC chat system allows you to talk with other IGN users in real-time. Just head over to IGN Chat and choose one of twenty channels to participate in.7. Can I buy games, DVD's, and toys on IGN?Head on over to the IGN Gamestore. Tons of new and used game titles and platforms to choose from as well as DVD's and toys! And, IGN Insiders get special deals! For the latest specials and promotions, make sure to check the IGN Gamestore Boards. Also available to IGN users are the IGN Classifieds Boards where you can buy, sell, or trade all kinds of stuff.8. I've got questions about an item I purchased in the IGN Gamestore?For all inquiries related to purchases made on the IGN Gamestore, please visit the IGN Gamestore FAQ. If your question isn't answered there, please contact Gamestop's Customer Service. Also, you can post your feedback about the Gamestore on the IGN Boards.9. Can I get free stuff from IGN, like games?Make sure to check our Sweepstakes channel for the latest offers and your chance to win all kinds of stuff. Do you want to win your most wanted games? Enter our popular Win-Your-Wishlist sweepstakes. Each Friday, IGN randomly selects one winner to receive the top 5 ranked games on their Wishlist. Just fill out your User Pages and keep them updated, and you'll be entered. The winner's username is posted here every Friday, so make sure to check back and see if you've won.10. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the "Contact the Editors" link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.About Content FAQ1. How often does IGN update its content?2. How do I report a typo? 3. Where do I report a broken link? 4. Who do I contact if I find a site that's ripping off IGN's content/layout? 5. How do I recommend changes or improvements? 6. If I've got a system-specific (PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, PC, GBA) question, comment, or news, whom do I contact? 7. Can I write for IGN? 8. Where does IGN get its news and information? 9. Where does IGN get all the cool media (movies, screenshots)? 10. What do you use to capture your screenshots/movies? 11. Why are there so many ads? 12. How do I get rid of the ads interfering with my beloved IGN content? 13. I need all the information on a particular game. 14. How can I have a specific game reviewed by IGN? 15. Is there a way to search for past articles on IGN? 16. What happened to IGN Sci-Fi, it hasn't been updated in a while? 17. Is there any info on MAC games? 18. Can you please explain your rating system, the overall rating doesn't compute? 19. There are games rated an 8.0 or higher, why aren't they labeled Editor's Choice? 20. I have feedback on your game review, where can I voice my opinion? 21. When trying to access an articles or other IGN content services, I keep getting this screen to sign up for Insider. 22. What's up with all the green text in some of the articles? 23. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. How often does IGN update its content?In the past, you could always count on IGN to update between 6:00 and 8:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, sometimes a bit later, five days per week. That is still the case, but we've made a couple of alterations that we hope you'll see as beneficial. We've adopted a strategy that enables us to update multiple times per day as news breaks. You will now see new updates appear in the six 'top stories' slots on the each game channel's front page, bumping yesterday's stories down under the 'headlines' header. The top story, meanwhile, will almost always remain unchanged until our normal update time of between 6:00 and 8:00 PM PST, unless major breaking news calls for an alteration there as well. You'll also notice that the front page on IGN updates later than the rest of the channels. This is because it needs to wait for the content on the channels to be live first. Therefore, as we work diligently to update the site as quickly as possible, you will now be able to turn to IGN as the news happens without sacrificing on the quality of our news reports or media updates.2. How do I report a typo?Every channel on IGN has a 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. Send a message to the respective editor of the channel and they'll be able to fix it.3. Where do I report a broken link?Use our online form to report the broken link and please include the URL/web address of the page where the broken link is located.4. Who do I contact if I find a site that's ripping off IGN's content/layout?Please report your finding, and include the URL/web address of the website in question and if possible, mention the specific article, file, feature on IGN that is being used.5. How do I recommend changes or improvements?IGN welcomes and appreciates all feedback, as it will certainly be considered in the continued evolution of the IGN product offering. We suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. If your feedback is more general in nature, please send it here.6. If I've got a system-specific (PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, GBA) question, comment, or news, whom do I contact?We suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on system-specific topics. You may click on the following links to access these topics: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Gameboy, PC. Please note these boards require an IGN Insider subscription. Additionally, every channel on IGN has a 'Contact the Editors' link towards the bottom of the page. This will redirect you to the channel's respective email form, where you can send the editors your message.7. Can I write for IGN?You can either browse our jobs page for any current openings or look for announcements that we post throughout the site when something becomes available. Please do NOT send resumes or job requests in any of our email forms, as they will go unanswered. If a position is available, there will be specific instructions in the posting on how to contact IGN. You still want to take a stab at reviewing games? There are always the Reader Review boards, where you can get input from other IGN users. Please use the following links to access these boards: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Gameboy, PC. Please note that the ability to post on these boards requires an IGN Insider subscription. If you need resources on how to get a job in the industry as a journalist, we suggest reading this article. Also available is a special on how IGN editors got their jobs. *Both articles require an IGN Insider subscription.8. Where does IGN get its news and information?IGN gets it's news from trusted sources around the industry. Please visit our News page for daily updates. For up-to-the-minute news around the industry, check out the IGN Newswire. If you've got newsworthy info, we suggest using the 'Contact the Editors' link towards the bottom of each channel page. This will redirect you to the channel's respective email form, where you can send the editors your findings. 9. Where does IGN get all the cool media (movies, screenshots)?Some IGN media (i.e. official game trailers) is provided by the publishers themselves. Most of the screenshots and movies on IGN, though, are taken from actual editors' gameplay.10. What do you use to capture your screenshots/movies?For screenshots IGN editors use various kinds of digital capture boxes. Movies are also captured this way or directly to a DV cam. Adobe Premiere is used to edit the movies.11. Why are there so many ads?From a purely economical standpoint, IGN can't continue to provide the awesome content it does without help from ad revenue. Additionally, revenue from IGN Insider subscriptions alone can't justify offering content 100% ad free. Without both resources, especially advertising, there'd be no IGN. So please consider this when all it takes is a little skipping through. Furthermore, if you completely cannot hang with the intrusive ads, you can always sign up for IGN Insider, and switch off specific types of ads. On one hand you get all the exclusive Insider content, and on the other, you're free of intrusive ads. *For directions on how switch off ads, please look at the next topic.12. How do I get rid of the ads interfering with my beloved IGN content?First, login to IGN.com, then:
*Occasionally IGN's advertising clients perform surveys that appear in a pop up window. These surveys cannot by disabled. 13. I need all the information on a particular game.There are several ways to accomplish this. The easiest way is using the games search function, which is located in the left navigational bar of all IGN pages. In the area where it says 'Enter Title', just enter the game you're interested in and hit enter. The next screen will allow you to choose from news, reviews, previews, faqs, guides, codes, screenshots, videos, and boards that are related to the particular game. The search results even give publisher/developer info, IGN Review scores, and the ability to add the game to your IGN wishlist/collection, where you can automatically receive news about the game at your email address. If you wish to use this 'watch' feature, all you have to do is the following:
14. How can I have a specific game reviewed by IGN?IGN reviews almost every game that is available in stores for the general public. The only exceptions are for PC and MAC games, which we try to cover as much as possible. If the game has been out for a while and you're sure there isn't a review, either 1) try using the search function (mentioned above this topic) to locate any related news or in-depth previews OR to check for possible reviews of the same game on another system 2) use the 'Contact Editors' link towards the bottom of their respective channel page to let us know about it; OR 3) Email us with the name of the game, platform, (and if possible, release date) and we'll do our best to get the game reviewed.*Please do not send us info, URLs, executable programs of games that aren't sold in stores (i.e. 'I just developed this game with a bunch of friends, can you review my game?'). These kinds of messages will go unanswered. 15. Is there a way to search for past articles on IGN?If you're unable to find info using the games search function or if you're trying to search for Music, DVD's, Movies, or something else, we suggest using the IGN News Search. This tool works like a standard search engine and browses IGN for anything related to the topic you entered.16. What happened to IGN Sci-Fi, it hasn't been updated in a while?Actually, it's been a long while. Since November of 2001, IGN hasn't been officially updating IGN Sci-Fi on a daily basis. Readers may still visit the IGN Sci-Fi archives or take a look at the more recently published DVD and FilmForce articles that appear on the channel.17. Is there any info on MAC games?Macheads, you're in luck. Please take a stroll on our MAC channel and get all the latest news, reviews, guides, codes, and more for Mac games.18. Can you please explain your rating system, the overall rating doesn't compute?It's important to remember that the overall rating is not an average of the other five ratings. The overall score is left to the judgment of the reviewer. We believe this gives you a better sense of the reviewer's overall experience with the game rather than using some cut-and-dry formula to determine the final rating. For more info on our rating system, please view our Ratings Guide.19. There are games rated an 8.0 or higher, why aren't they labeled Editor's Choice?The IGN Editors' Choice Award isn't necessarily given to a game just because it scored above a certain rating. While most games that get the award have an overall rating of 8.5 or higher, the award is meant to signify excellence in entertainment value, performance, design, originality, and lasting appeal. A product bearing this award has IGN's unequivocal recommendation and is sure to become a classic in its field.20. I have feedback on your game review, where can I voice my opinion?IGN welcomes all feedback on our reviews. We suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback on a particular review. You may click on the following links to access these system-specific boards: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Gameboy, PC. Please note while registered users may read posts, they must have an Insider subscription in order to post messages on most boards. To sign up for IGN Insider, click here. Additionally, every page that the review appears on has a 'Contact the Editors' link towards the bottom. This will redirect you to the channel's respective email form, where you can send the editor of the review your feedback.21. When trying to access an articles or other IGN content services, I keep getting this screen to sign up for Insider.Thestory, file, or feature you're trying to access is part of our IGN Insider premium subscription service. If you're already an Insider make sure you're logged in with your subscribed account. If you have multiple usernames, again make sure you're using the account you purchased Insider for. It may sound absurd, but many users setup multiple accounts and forget which one they have Insider privileges on.Ifyou haven't signed up for IGN Insider yet, then you might want to check out what you're missing. IGN Insider is your ticket to the very core of our network. Subscription membership allows you enhanced access to IGN's vibrant gaming and entertainment community, including daily IGN Insider feature content, a downloadable monthly PDF magazine and weekly strategy guides, enhanced message board functions, hi-res movie downloads, and so much more! IGN Insider has many benefits. You can even start 7-day free trial or take a tour. 22. What's up with all the green text in some of the articles?IGN is now IntelliTxt enabled. This capability allows for our sponsors to present to you offers and information based on the content of IGN. This is done by highlighting selected words in our content. If you see any advertiser's products or services that interest you, feel free to click on the link. If not, don't click and your reading experience will be uninterrupted. Just remember that capabilities like IntelliTxt help us bring content to all our readers.23. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQs if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.Game Help FAQ1. I'm stuck, how do I get past a certain level and beat this boss?2. I need a serial key/game instructions/technical support for a game I purchased. 3. Where can I find a cheat code for a specific game? 4. How do I submit a cheat code? 5. How do I report a cheat code that doesn't work? 6. How do I submit a FAQ walkthrough? 7. Why isn't there a guide/codes for this game? 8. Where can I find PDF versions of some of the guides? 9. I have more questions, where can I go?/a> 1. I'm stuck, how do I get past a certain level and beat this boss?IGN proudly features three sites dedicated to helping you beat games: IGN Codes provides a daily selection of the latest cheats and hints, IGN FAQs specializes in reader-written walkthroughs, and IGN Guides is devoted to providing full-fledged, printable strategy guides for the biggest and toughest games. You can also get instant feedback and help from other players on our extensive Game Boards and even get codes and tips by email if you set up your game collection on users.ign.com.2. I need a serial key/game instructions/technical support for a game I purchased.If you are having technical difficulties with a particular game you'll need contact the game publisher for further assistance. You can usually obtain support on the publisher's website. If you do not know the website's address, or know who the publisher is, we recommend first locating the publisher/developer within the game documentation, box cover, cd, or the within game credits. From this point, you can use a search engine to find the company's website. Alternatively, IGN provides a comprehensive list of game companies and their contact info, including web addresses, in addition to games the company has published, developed, or distributed. Please visit our Game Companies page.3. Where can I find a cheat code for a specific game?Visit our Codes channel, which is one of the largest collections of cheat codes and playing tips on the Internet. Use the "find a game" search tool located on the left-hand side of the page to find codes for a particular game. If you want to search for codes by system, we've got over 40 systems covered at our Codes Platform List.4. How do I submit a cheat code?Please visit our Code Submission Form, but first make sure that your code isn't already in our Code Database. Please be thorough when submitting codes, as incomplete descriptions, major spelling errors or poor grammar will prevent your submission from being processed.5. How do I report a cheat code that doesn't work?First, please make sure you're entering the codes correctly. Also check that the code you obtained is for the correct system (ex. PS2 codes for NBA2k3 are different than Gamecube codes for NBA2k3). If the codes still do not work, please report it here.6. How do I submit a FAQ walkthrough?For more info on how to write a FAQ walkthrough or submit it, please check out the FAQ Help page.7.Why isn't there a guide/codes for this game?IGN makes every effort to produce as much game help for a particular game as possible. Due to limited resources, it would be virtually impossible for our guides editors to create a guide for every game out there. If you need help in a game and find that an online guide doesn't exist for it, make sure to check our Codes or Faq walkthroughs for the particular game. If the game just got released, you should check back often as guides are added weekly.8. Where can I find PDF versions of some of the guides?Enjoy our selection of downloadable PDF Guides here, and remember, if you can't find what you're looking for, there are many more guides available to IGN Insiders at guides.ign.com.9. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQs if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. The Game Boards, for example, is a good place to start if you need instant help from fellow IGN users. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the "Contact the Editors" link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us.IntelliTxt FAQ1. What is IntelliTxt?2. How are the keywords determined? 3. Why did it associate that sponsor with that keyword? 4. How many keywords will be highlighted? 5. Why don't I ever see any highlighted words? 6. Why is IntelliTxt being added to the site? 7. Do you have any feedback? 8. I have more questions, where can I go? 1. What is IntelliTxt?IntelliTxt is software that scans the page for certain advertiser keywords and contextual relevancy. Should a match be detected, a few words will be highlighted with a colored link (green on IGN.com, blue on GameSpy.com). If the reader moves their mouse over the highlighted keyword, a short message will open describing a sponsor's product or service. Clicking on the message will take you to the sponsor's site. Like with all ads, IGN receives a small payment when the reader clicks on the ad. Should the reader not be interested in the sponsor's message, they can just move their mouse away from the keyword and the ad disappears.2. How are the keywords determined?The list of keywords was chosen to be relevant to a gaming site. So expect to see words and phrases like "PC Games", "Halo" and "Unreal Tournament 2004" to be highlighted. There are thousands of keywords.3. Why did it associate that sponsor with that keyword?The IntelliTxt program ranks keywords based on "relevancy" and "click price" to determine which ad to link to them. Neither the page's creator nor IGN can determine which sponsors are used on a given keyword. As it is a program, there are times when the match won't make sense. Over time, expect the rules IntelliTxt uses to improve.4. How many keywords will be highlighted?The pages are currently set to show a maximum of five highlighted keywords. Many pages won't have any words highlighted as they lack relevant keywords.5. Why don't I ever see any highlighted words?At this time, IntelliTxt only operates on Internet Explorer browsers, version 5 and above, so if you are using a different browser, you will not see any keywords.6. Why is IntelliTxt being added to the site?Advertising revenues allow IGN to offer many services to our readers for free. IntelliTxt provides a method to increase revenues, yet through an ad that is minimally intrusive and hopefully more relevant. It is preferable to increasing our usage of more intrusive ads like pop-ups.7. Do you have any feedback?We welcome your comments about IntelliTxt as we try it out on the site. We don't expect everyone to embrace this new feature, but feel that those that don't will have little interruption to their usage of the site. Please send you comments to Customer Service.8. I have more questions, where can I go?If you weren't able to find your answer here, you might want to check the other FAQ's if you haven't done so already. We also suggest heading over to the IGN Boards where you can post your feedback, suggestions, and questions on a number of topics. Additionally, if you have platform-specific feedback or questions, you can go to the specific platform/channel you're interested in and click on the 'Contact the Editors' link at the bottom. If you need more technical help, you may contact us. |
