GameFAQs#Message boards

{{expand section|Any activity after 2007, any other info in relevant years prior|date=July 2012}}

GameFAQs was started as the Video Game FAQ Archive on November 5, 1995,{{Cite web |title=What Is GameFAQs? |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help/41-what-is-gamefaqs |access-date=2014-05-26 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125044917/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help/41-what-is-gamefaqs |url-status=live }} by gamer and programmer Jeff Veasey. The site was created to bring numerous online guides and FAQs from across the internet into one centralized location.{{Cite web |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=2006-01-24 |title=Meet the Man Who'll Make You a Smooth Criminal in San Andreas |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1521550/meet-the-man-wholl-make-you-a-smooth-criminal-in-san-andreas/ |access-date=2014-05-26 |publisher=MTV |archive-date=2016-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410075553/http://www.mtv.com/news/1521550/meet-the-man-wholl-make-you-a-smooth-criminal-in-san-andreas/ |url-status=dead }} Hosted on America Online (AOL), it originally served as a mirror of Andy Eddy's FTP FAQ archive.Andy Eddy's archive was formerly located at ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/vi/vidgames/faqs{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2005-04-29 |title=The Great GameFAQs Q&A |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/20696917 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120943/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/20696917 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2005-11-05 |title=10 Years. Wow. |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/24408683 |access-date=2009-12-20 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120931/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/24408683 |url-status=live }} The initial version of the site had approximately 10 pages and 100 FAQs.{{Cite AV media |url=http://wxbh.net/gaming_files1.htm |title=Interview with Jeff Veasey |date=2002-03-02 |publisher=WXBH AM-1190 |place=Cobleskill, New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607073548/http://wxbh.net/gaming_files1.htm |archive-date=2002-06-07 |website=The Gaming Files}} In 1996, the site moved to gamefaqs.com and changed its name to GameFAQs.{{Cite web |title=VGFA on flex.net |url=http://www.flex.net/~cjayc/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010723115459/http://www.flex.net/~cjayc/ |archive-date=2001-07-23 |access-date=2006-09-21 |website=GameFAQs}} At this time, GameFAQs listed fewer than 1000 FAQs and guides and was updated on an irregular basis.{{Cite web |title=Video Game FAQ Archive |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961223185936/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=1996-12-23 |access-date=2007-04-09 |website=GameFAQs}}

During the following months, the site grew in content and in design; two different styles were introduced in early 1997 to accommodate the support of tables in web browsers (or the lack thereof).{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs (tables) |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970218070909/http://www.gamefaqs.com/home.html |archive-date=1997-02-18 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}}{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970218070917/http://www.gamefaqs.com/thome.html |archive-date=1997-02-18 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} Two key features of the site—the game search engine and the contributor recognition pages—were planned at this time.

On February 6, 2018, the site changed its domain from gamefaqs.com to gamefaqs.gamespot.com,{{Cite web |last=Tyner |first=Allen |date=2018-02-06 |title=Domain change complete & login improvements |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/76289961 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206191056/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/76289961 |archive-date=2018-02-06 |access-date=2014-05-26 |website=GameFAQs}} due to CNET (owner of GameSpot) acquiring GameFAQs, and integrating GameFAQs into the GameSpot network. The link gamefaqs.com now redirects to gamefaqs.gamespot.com as a result.

In 1997, GameFAQs became an independent affiliate of the Imagine Games Network (IGN), leading to the placement of affiliate links on the home page.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs home page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981212025143/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=1998-12-12 |access-date=2006-10-27 |website=GameFAQs}} User contests were introduced during this period; the first monthly contest, which was held in 1998, received 253 entries.{{Cite web |title=October 1998: Select Fighter |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/c9810 |access-date=2006-09-29 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120955/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/c9810 |url-status=live }} GameFAQs went through several design changes, including a pink color scheme, before arriving at the blue-colored layout that was used until 2004.

In November 1999, several changes occurred in rapid succession.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs home page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128113006/http://gamefaqs.com/index.html |archive-date=1999-11-28 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} A search box was added to every page on November 5, the site’s fourth anniversary. On November 7, the message boards opened in a beta testing mode.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2001-11-07 |title=Second Anniversary Karma Bonus |url=http://chris.insder.com/index.php?pg=426 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012075244/http://chris.insder.com/index.php?pg=426 |archive-date=2004-10-12 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} The "Poll of the Day" was introduced at the end of the month.{{Cite web |title=Poll of the Day #1 |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/1-what-do-you-think-about-polls-on-web-sites |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180150/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/1-what-do-you-think-about-polls-on-web-sites |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Poll of the Day |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll?page=74 |access-date=2009-12-20 |website=GameFAQs |quote=11/30/99 |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121007/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll?page=74 |url-status=live }} These changes marked Veasey's increased concentration on the site, and it was around this time that GameFAQs became his full-time job.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |year=1999 |title=The Big Announcement |url=http://gamefaqs.com/announce.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991114205707/http://gamefaqs.com/announce.html |archive-date=1999-11-14 |access-date=2007-05-26 |website=GameFAQs}}{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Neil |date=2003-03-05 |title=Stumped by a Video Game? Chances Are Jeff Veasey Can Help |publisher=Canadian Press Newswire}}{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2003-06-03 |title=The Future of GameFAQs |url=http://chris.insder.com/index.php?pg=224 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012074034/http://chris.insder.com/index.php?pg=224 |archive-date=2004-10-12 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} Until this time, he had been working as a programmer. On August 9, 2000, the site received one million hits in a single day for the first time.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs home page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815053934/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=2000-08-15 |access-date=2007-03-13 |website=GameFAQs}} By 2001, the "GameFAQs Chat" (an IRC chat server) had been launched;{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs Community |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/community |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010401131103/http://cgi.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=2001-04-01 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} however, it was removed in May 2001 due to administrative issues.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs Home Page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010512232132/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=2001-05-12 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}}

On January 9, 2001, GameFAQs ended its association with IGN.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs home page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010118211300/http://gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=2001-01-18 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} To continue generating revenue, an advertising banner sold to non-profit organizations was placed on the top of each page. This lasted until CNET Networks became an official affiliate of GameFAQs; CNET ads ran on the top of the page, and links to news articles from GameSpot were shown on the home page.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs home page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418154308/http://www.gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=2001-04-18 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs}} In September 2002, the ad was moved from the horizontal header to the vertical sidebar. This led to changes to the links on the side, as well as the creation of navigational links at the top of the screen.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs home page |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020922025120/http://gamefaqs.com/ |archive-date=2002-09-22 |access-date=2006-09-20 |website=GameFAQs}} Contributions to GameFAQs continued to increase, and Veasey, as sole operator and administrator of the site, dedicated significant portions of his time to ensure that GameFAQs remained updated and successful.

On April 1, 2002, Veasey changed GameFAQs to "GameFAX" as an April Fools' joke.{{Cite web |title=GameFAX |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206083811/http://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |archive-date=2018-02-06 |access-date=2006-09-19 |website=GameFAQs }} [http://www.ksot.com/GameFAX.htm Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101000124/http://www.ksot.com/GameFAX.htm |date=2006-11-01 }} The site's colors were changed to green and black to imitate those of the Xbox, with the intention of making users believe that GameFAQs was now dedicated solely to the Xbox, "the only system that matters." After clicking on any link on the main page, users were directed to the real GameFAQs home page. Nevertheless, Veasey reported receiving hate mail from users.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2006-04-01 |title=An important notice about the future of GameFAQs |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/27283817 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180127/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/27283817 |url-status=live }}

On March 2, 2002, Veasey participated in a radio interview with WXBH AM-1190 on their program called "The Gaming Files." During this interview, Veasey was drilled with questions from current and former users of GameFAQs; he also discussed his time on GameFAQs and how the site came to be.{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2002 |title=Veasey Radio Interview with The Gaming Files |url=http://wxbh.net/gaming_files1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607073548/http://wxbh.net/gaming_files1.htm |archive-date=2002-06-07}}

File:CNETNetworksSanFran.jpg headquarters in San Francisco, California]]

On May 6, 2003, CNET Networks (the site's long-standing affiliate and sponsor) acquired GameFAQs. The amount paid for GameFAQs and two other unrelated websites was US$2.2 million.{{Cite web |date=2003-08-05 |title=CNET Networks SEC Quarterly Report |url=http://ccbn.10kwizard.com/xml/download.php?repo=tenk&ipage=2269604&format=PDF |access-date=2006-09-20 |publisher=CNET Networks |format=PDF}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On June 3, 2003, Veasey announced the merger to the users of the site. He clarified that the user-submitted content (i.e., FAQs and reviews) remained under the ownership of the authors and was not (nor could be) sold to CNET; however, CNET acquired GameFAQs' rights to host them on the site. He assured users that GameFAQs would undergo no major administrative change and said, "The GameFAQs you see today is the one you'll see tomorrow." This was true to a certain extent, as the only visible change over the next few months was the addition of a CNET footer to the bottom of every page. Additional changes included moving the site to servers in California.

From 2004 to 2006, GameFAQs witnessed further changes. On April 28, 2004, GameFAQs implemented a large visual redesign,{{Cite web |title=New Layout/Boards Merger |url=http://chris.insder.com/newlayout/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041009125141/http://chris.insder.com/newlayout/ |archive-date=2004-10-09 |access-date=2006-09-20 |website=GameFAQs Archive}} and the boards merged with the GameSpot boards to allow both communities to share the same game-specific boards (to the dismay of many GameFAQs users). To facilitate the merger, GameFAQs converted its board code from ASP to PHP, and GameSpot dropped its Lithium code. On April 11, 2006, a new design was implemented, and the GameSpot logo was added to the GameFAQs logo on the header of every page. This change was initially greeted with general disapproval by users on the message boards.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2006-04-28 |title=Survey says... |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/27814467 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180314/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/27814467 |url-status=live }} To satisfy those who prefer the earlier layout, the old board pages have been preserved for certain users.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2006-08-03 |title=The v9 End of Life Project |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/29712507 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180250/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/29712507 |url-status=live }} Shortly after the redesign, the site began using the Smarty template engine.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2006-07-12 |title=The First Major Code Change Is Live... Whew! |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/29230067 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120953/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/29230067 |url-status=live }}

On July 19, 2007, Veasey announced that he would eventually be leaving the site. According to his announcement, Allen Tyner, who had been employed with the site since 2004, would take over as editor and administrator of GameFAQs.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2007-07-19 |title=The Long, Slow Goodbye |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/36893099 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180312/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/36893099 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |date=2007-07-20 |title=The Founder of GameFAQs to Step Down; It's Time to Show Some Respect |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2007/07/the-founder-of-gamefaqs-to-step-down-its-time-to-show-some-respect.ars |access-date=2009-12-20 |publisher=Ars Technica |archive-date=2012-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827064046/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2007/07/the-founder-of-gamefaqs-to-step-down-its-time-to-show-some-respect/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2007-07-20 |title=GameFAQs Founder Announces (Eventual) Retirement from Site |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/75116-GameFAQs-Founder-Announces-Eventual-Retirement-from-Site |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=The Escapist |archive-date=2014-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012144232/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/75116-GameFAQs-Founder-Announces-Eventual-Retirement-from-Site |url-status=dead }}

Red Ventures acquired various properties, including GameFAQs and GameSpot, from ViacomCBS in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |title=ViacomCBS Reaches Deal to Sell CNET for $500 Million to Marketing Firm Red Ventures |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/cnet-viacomcbs-sells-red-ventures-1234768810/ |access-date=November 13, 2020 |website=Variety |date=14 September 2020 |archive-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201219232151/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/cnet-viacomcbs-sells-red-ventures-1234768810/ |url-status=live }}

Fandom acquired various properties, including GameFAQs and GameSpot, from Red Ventures in October 2022.

{{thumb|caption=Growth of FAQs hosted (1995-2012)
{{Cite web |date=5 July 1997 |title=www.gamefaqs.com |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970705071849/http://www.gamefaqs.com/thome.html |archive-date=5 July 1997 |access-date=30 December 2016}}{{Cite web |date=15 August 2000 |title=GameFAQs: Requests |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/requests/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818043745/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/requests/ |archive-date=18 August 2000 |access-date=30 December 2016}}{{Cite web |date=21 December 2002 |title=GameFAQs: GameFAQs Site Statistics |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/stats/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021221081348/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/stats/ |archive-date=21 December 2002 |access-date=30 December 2016}}{{Cite web |date=20 June 2003 |title=GameFAQs: GameFAQs Site Statistics |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/stats/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030620173637/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/stats/ |archive-date=20 June 2003 |access-date=30 December 2016}}{{Cite web |date=19 June 2004 |title=GameFAQs Site Statistics- GameFAQS |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/stats/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040629204928/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/stats/ |archive-date=29 June 2004 |access-date=30 December 2016}}

|content=

{{Graph:Chart

| width = 240

| height = 200

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| x = 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012

| yAxisTitle = FAQs

| yAxisFormat = s

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| y = 100, 1000, 1465, 18000, 18991, 22087, 23249, 36000, 49000, 56000

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All of the guides and walkthroughs on GameFAQs are contributed by volunteers.Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winner's Circle; The Times (London); July 1, 2001; Stuart Andrews; p. Doors.2 "Guides to completing thousands of video games, compiled by gamers worldwide" Most of the FAQs are not actually lists of frequently asked questions; instead, they cover aspects of gameplay in the same way as strategy guides, with walkthroughs, item lists, maps, and puzzle solutions. Nearly all of the FAQs hosted on the site are in plain text,{{Cite web |title=Composing Your Guide |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=28 |access-date=2006-10-26 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121003/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=28 |url-status=live }} though GameFAQs does also accept stand-alone images, such as maps, diagrams, and puzzle solutions.{{Cite web |title=Images (Maps and other graphics) |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=11 |access-date=2007-01-01 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180215/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=11 |url-status=live }} From December 2009, formatted guides which allow authors to use mark-up loosely based on Wiki markup in the document were being accepted.{{Cite web |last=Tyner, Allen |date=2009-12-04 |title=Ask GameFAQs: A new approach to FAQs |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/52525167 |access-date=2009-12-19 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180117/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/52525167 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs Help: Formatted FAQs |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=53 |access-date=2010-06-06 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121005/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=53 |url-status=live }} In addition to FAQs, contributors can also submit reader reviews, cheat codes, developer credits, game release data, game saves, screenshots, and images of game boxes. In 2006, the site hosted over 36,000 guides. By February 2009, over 49,000 guides were hosted on the site and over 113,194 reviews.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2009-02-20 |title=Ask GameFAQs: Double Stuf'd |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/48243761 |access-date=2009-12-20 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121008/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/48243761 |url-status=live }} As of 2012, this had increased to over 56,000 guides for 21,639 unique games.{{Cite web |date=20 June 2012 |title=wetterdew comments on I Am the Administrator of GameFAQs.com, AMA! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/vc3jz/i_am_the_administrator_of_gamefaqscom_ama/c5370eg?context=5 |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=reddit |archive-date=7 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207164108/http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/vc3jz/i_am_the_administrator_of_gamefaqscom_ama/c5370eg?context=5 |url-status=live }}

When an author submits something to GameFAQs, it is screened by an administrator before being posted on the site.{{Cite web |title=After You've Submitted |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=31 |access-date=2006-10-26 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121010/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=31 |url-status=live }} The author retains the copyright on the submitted material,{{Cite web |title=Copyrights, Trademarks, and Plagiarism |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=29 |access-date=2006-10-26 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120951/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=29 |url-status=live }} and their name is added to the site's "Contributor Recognition" section. GameFAQs agrees to host the guide only on their servers but does allow other affiliates to link directly to the guides (including GameSpot, Yahoo! Games, AOL, and GameFly).

GameFAQs features several ongoing contributor contests, including FAQ of the Month, Review of the Month, and numerous "FAQ Bounties," which reward contributors who submit FAQs for uncovered, high-demand games.{{Cite web |title=FAQ Bounty |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/faq_bounty |access-date=2007-03-18 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180310/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/faq_bounty |url-status=live }} The FOTM and ROTM contests are generally picked from comprehensive, complete guides or reviews for new games. Winners are sent a gift certificate for an online retailer or can opt for a mailed gift card upon contest entry.{{Cite web |title=FAQ of the Month |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/fotm |access-date=2007-03-18 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120957/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/fotm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Review of the Month |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/rotm |access-date=2007-03-18 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180218/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/rotm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Totilo, Stephen |date=2006-01-24 |title=Meet The Man Who'll Make You A Smooth Criminal In San Andreas |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521550/20070131/index.jhtml |access-date=2009-12-20 |publisher=MTV.com |archive-date=2012-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622134327/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521550/lost-san-andreas-heres-man-call.jhtml |url-status=dead }}

In 2004, Future Network USA published two commercial strategy guides with material from GameFAQs: The Ultimate Xbox Strategy Guide and The Ultimate PS2 Strategy Guide.{{Cite book |title=The Ultimate Xbox Strategy Guide |publisher=Future Network USA |year=2004 |editor-last=Cohen, Corey |asin=B000E7URBQ |oclc=60827530}}{{Cite book |title=The Ultimate PS2 Strategy Guide |publisher=Future Network USA |year=2004 |editor-last=Amrich, Dan |asin=B000E7URPM |oclc=60579744}} These guides were composed of FAQs written by contributors on GameFAQs.

Every game listed on GameFAQs has its own message board, where both novice and experienced gamers can discuss game strategies and other game-related topics.{{Cite book |last=Carless |first=Simon |title=Gaming Hacks |date=October 2004 |publisher=O'Reilly |isbn=0-596-00714-0 |author-link=Simon Carless}}{{Cite conference |last=Flor |first=Nick |date=July 2004 |title=The Architecture of the Symbol Engine in a Programmable Autonomous Business |publisher=IEEE |pages=119–126 |doi=10.1109/ICECT.2004.1319725 |isbn=0-7695-2098-7 |book-title=Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on E-Commerce Technology}} After the redesign of May 2004, the game boards with enforced topicality were shared with the GameSpot community (another CBS Interactive website). Certain popular games may have additional boards for social discussion. Game-specific boards for certain older consoles do not have topicality rules and are often claimed for social discussion—these are referred to as "secret" or "dead" boards. Every system also has a general board for discussing hardware and upcoming games.{{Cite web |title=Message Boards |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/ |access-date=2008-08-05 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190838/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards |url-status=live }}

GameFAQs has boards made purely for the purpose of socializing, some that cater to special interests (such as Anime, TV, Music, and Pro Wrestling), and some purely for users from a particular region (e.g., United Kingdom, Australia/New Zealand). GameFAQs also has boards for official announcements, contributor discussion, contest discussion, suggestions, and site help.

The custom-made GameFAQs Message Boards coded by Veasey began operation on November 7, 1999.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs: Message Board Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000510142945/http://cgi.gamefaqs.com/boards/faq.asp |archive-date=2000-05-10 |access-date=2006-12-21}} Although the original purpose of the board system was to facilitate game discussion, other board categories have been added since the boards opened. Every day, approximately 20,000 topics and 200,000 messages are posted on GameFAQs' 60,000+ individual boards,{{Cite web |last=Tyner, Allen |date=2008-07-04 |title=Ask GameFAQs: We Have Explosive |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/44064783 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120934/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/44064783 |url-status=live }} and on November 7, 2006, there were more than 100,000 accounts actively in use.{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2006-11-07 |title=Happy Birthday to Us... and to you! |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/31607751 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180141/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/31607751 |url-status=live }} During October 2009, there was an average of 84,853 unique logins a day.{{Cite web |last=Tyner, Allen |date=2009-10-24 |title=Ask GameFAQs: I like to move it, move it |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/51910546 |access-date=2008-12-22 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180152/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-team-gamefaqs/51910546 |url-status=live }}

On March 23, 2012, it was announced the GameFAQs and GameSpot will once again start to separate content. On May 7, 2012, the shared GameFAQs-run message boards went read-only on GameSpot.{{Cite web |last=SBAllen |title=Topics Go Read-Only on GameSpot - SBallin'! Message Board |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-sballin/62745571 |access-date=2012-08-25 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121009/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/11-sballin/62745571 |url-status=live }}

Posts made on the message boards are mostly plain text. Some HTML mark-up is used on the boards, including bold and italics tags.{{Cite web |title=Board Basics |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=18 |access-date=2006-09-20 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180114/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=18 |url-status=live }} The forums use a wordfilter to prevent the use of certain vulgar words, which is intended to keep the forum safe for all readers.{{Cite web |title=Message Board Terms of Use |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/tou |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121004/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/features/tou |url-status=dead }} On some boards, topics that have no new posts for a period of time are removed permanently or are locked and archived.{{Cite web |title=Rules and Standards |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=19 |access-date=2007-11-08 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180221/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=19 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Tyner, Allen |date=2008-02-07 |title=Game Board Archiving Active |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/41276959 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180211/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/41276959 |url-status=live }}

GameFAQs users gain one "karma" for every day they visit the boards while logged in. As karma increases, new features become available, such as the ability to post more messages per day, edit posts, and send private messages. Users can add favorite boards to a personalized list on the main boards page and can track specific topics (a feature added in 2006).{{Cite web |title=Additional Features |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=20 |access-date=2006-09-30 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121006/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/help?cat=20 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Veasey |first=Jeff |date=2006-12-06 |title=Topic Tracking |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/32250342 |access-date=2008-08-04 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2018-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210121000/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/32250342 |url-status=live }}

The message boards are managed by the site's administrators and moderators. Initially, Veasey was the only administrator and therefore had full control over the boards; however, more administrators have since been appointed. Tyner, who uses the username "SBAllen" (formerly "Sailor Bacon"), was the main administrator on the boards until 2023. On May 7, 2012, Tyner announced long-time moderator Devin Morgan had been hired as another administrator; his primary role was to work on the code of the site.{{Cite web |title=Devin Morgan Named New Administrator |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-message-board-announcements/62746844 |access-date=2023-04-10 |archive-date=2022-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502021304/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-message-board-announcements/62746844 |url-status=live }} On September 5, 2014, Tyner also announced that long time user Stephanie Barnes (under the username Krystal109) had been hired as the site's Community Manager, which included duties such as running the site's contests and the Facebook/Twitter feeds.{{Cite web |title=GameFAQs Welcomes Community Manager Stephanie Barnes to the Team! - GameFAQs Announcements Message Board - GameFAQs |url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/70012465 |access-date=8 October 2014 |archive-date=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180154/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/6-gamefaqs-announcements/70012465 |url-status=live }} As of July 2015, Barnes was no longer part of the team.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2015 |title=Krystal's Gone, and I'm Actually Sad to See Her Go |url=http://gamefaqscensorship.blogspot.com/2015/07/krystals-gone-and-im-actually-sad-to.html |access-date=24 April 2019 |via=Blogger |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424165241/http://gamefaqscensorship.blogspot.com/2015/07/krystals-gone-and-im-actually-sad-to.html |url-status=live }}

Allen "SBAllen" Tyner stepped down from his lead admin position in October 18, 2023. The site is currently run by Community Manager "DToast", who is the lead board admin, and Contributor Lead "ZoopSoul", who moderates data and guide submissions.

GameFAQs' moderators are volunteer users selected by the administrator and are responsible for keeping order within the message board community. Because of the size of the boards, the moderators do not patrol every board and topic. Instead, messages that break the site's Terms of Service can be "marked" by regular users, which brings them to the attention of the moderators.{{Cite web |title=Rules and Standards |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/help/?cat=19 |access-date=2006-09-20 |website=GameFAQs |archive-date=2007-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125140/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/help/?cat=19 |url-status=live }}

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