I'm interested in making a fansite, but I have questions about software and hosting. Do you know a place that has free utilities or that offers free hosting?
You can locate a lot of information about website software and hosting by doing an Internet search. You'll find hosting options, website design programs, graphics programs, HTML editors, CSS tutorials, and more through your search engine. You may also wish to ask existing sites for their advice about which programs to use. And of course if you post questions in a friendly fansite forum, you may get not only recommendations about software programs and hosting, you may also meet up with someone who would like to help with a new fansite.
Most of the free sites have pop-up ads, which I'd like to avoid. Do you know of low-cost hosts?
We recommend researching this matter thoroughly. There are many excellent Internet hosting providers who offer low-cost packages that can be increased in size and services over time. To pay for these options, some fansites are self-financed, others accept donations, and others still look into advertiser support for funding.
I've noticed that some of the fansites have ads that offer Guild Wars gold or items for real-world currency. Isn't that against the rules of the Fansite Program?
Yes, such ads are against the rules of the Guild Wars Community Fansite Program, and the appearance of such ads on a fansite jeopardizes the fansite's involvement with the program. Sites can offer auctions or other exchanges where gold or items are exchanged for in-game currency, of course. But certain advertisement providers offer ads, or a rotation of ads, that promote sales of gold or items for real-world currency. We recommend that before you establish a relationship with an advertiser, you learn all the requirements of that relationship, and learn and establish site-wide policies so that you can keep disallowed ads off your site. It is your responsibility as a fansite operator to keep your site entirely free of ads for gold and item sales.
Are you opposed to advertising to support the costs of a Guild Wars fansite?
No. We understand that fansites require hosting, and that webmasters have expenses in the form of website and/or forum software, and so forth. We do not object to sites arranging advertising to support the costs of the site.
Can I get hosting directly from ArenaNet?
At this point, we cannot offer fansite hosting on our servers. With so many free and low-cost sources for hosting, we believe it's possible for fansites to operate for little or no money, and of course you are free to investigate advertiser support of all kinds.
Is there a way I can get exclusive material that is released to my fansite only?
We support fansites through the Guild Wars Community Fansite Program, and qualifying fansites will be granted exclusive materials from time to time via the program. Of course, most of our major releases will be prioritized towards gaming media outlets such as gamer magazines and major game sites, and towards non-gaming press outlets such as newspapers, magazines and television.
What font do you use for the Guild Wars logo?
It is a custom designed font, and cannot be provided as a useable font for fansites.
How can I use the art from your official site on my fansite?
The Fansite Kit is provided for your use in creating and maintaining a Guild Wars fansite. The use of Fansite Kit images and contents for anything beyond website design must be cleared in advance with ArenaNet. Additionally, the use of any Guild Wars assets not offered in the Fansite Kit requires prior approval by ArenaNet. For instance, our navigation bar, borders, customized game images, or section headings are intended for use exclusively on the official Guild Wars site and should not be adopted for fansite use. If you have questions, please contact us.
How long does content given to fansites remain unpublished on the Guild Wars site?
When we give first publication opportunities to a press site or a fansite, it is our intention that we eventually will make those assets available on our official site or to other press or fansites. For images or content given to a fansite or fansites, we will usually maintain the exclusive nature of the release for at least one week from date of posting or publication.
What is the ArenaNet policy regarding the watermarking of Guild Wars images?
We believe that watermarking is appropriate in limited circumstances. For example, a fansite may wish to designate exclusive content by placing a watermark on it. But we ask that fansites not watermark resources pulled from other sites, or from http://eu.guildwars.com or our Fansite Kit. If you have questions on this policy, please write us.
How can I use the information that has been released by ArenaNet through various media outlets?
Once our information is shared with a media outlet, it becomes public information that may be commented upon, written about, and disseminated through many means, including fansites. The source of the materials should always be attributed (i.e., Source: (name of website or magazine, issue date, website link, etc.) or commentary such as "This information was obtained from the interview presented (this date) on (name of source)." Copying an entire piece verbatim is frowned upon, but taking clips of content, or analyzing, interpreting, and presenting the new information using fresh verbiage is generally accepted as appropriate and responsible journalism.
Can I translate parts of the ArenaNet or Guild Wars site into my native language?
Our Terms of Use has limitations on translations. Those limitations specifically refer to the translation of an entire site. Individual site components, such as our Guild Wars FAQ, may be translated, as long as attribution and a link to the official content is provided. For instance, you may post something like this at the top of the translated page: "This material is a translation of the original English-language version of the Official Guild Wars FAQ. You may find the original document on [[[this link]]]." With that attribution and link, you may then provide a translation of the document.
Will ArenaNet support my fansite with Guild Wars prizes and giveaways?
We are able to offer top-tier Guild Wars fansites limited support for such enterprises. Please contact the ArenaNet Community Team with a proposal, giving details of the planned competition and the desired prizes. We will discuss the matter internally to determine if we will be able to provide support and will respond to the webmaster or site representative with a decision.
How do I become a member of your Fansite Program?
Please review the Guild Wars Community Fansite Program information pages. When the site is ready to be reviewed for consideration as a member of the program, the site's webmaster should contact the Community Team at ArenaNet. A team representative will send the webmaster a copy of the GWCFP Application form. Upon ArenaNet's receipt of the completed form, the site will be reviewed for acceptance into the GWCFP.
I note there are several kinds of fansites. How do we start and when is my site able to attain a higher level?
For acceptance into the program, follow the instructions above. Sites begin at the simple Listed level, meaning that with certain standards met, they are added to the Fansite Roster on the Official Site, http://eu.guildwars.com. After a period of 60 days of active updating and content building, and once they have shown themselves to have achieved the requirements of the next level, the site may apply for recognition as an Honored Guild Wars Fansite. They will be reviewed as time allows and maybe be moved up in status if the site merits the higher ranking. Sites that meet the additional requirements of the Elite level may apply for a review for consideration at the higher level after 90 days. Please note that Elite Fansites have certain specific requirements, including the submittal of site statistics, and those requirements must be met for a period of 90 days before the site can be recognized as Elite. There is no time limit on applying for recognition at a higher level; the site may apply for a level review at any time but no more often than once every 60 days.
Can you describe how fansites change levels?
Eligibility and level placements are reviewed periodically, and changes may occur based upon the frequency of news updating, depth of content, and several other factors listed in the requirements. A site webmaster may request an increase in level, or ArenaNet Community Team may make changes in the site's level, as necessary. In the event a site does not meet the program requirements at a specific level, the site will be moved to the next lower level, and should it fail to meet the Listed Fansite requirements, it will be dropped from the program. A site may apply for readmission upon again meeting the program criteria for a period of at least 30 days.
If a website changes hands, does it keep its designation as an Official or Elite site?
If a website undergoes a significant change in staffing, any previously-earned designation will be removed and the site will be encouraged to apply for review under the normal processes. This helps to maintain the integrity of the GWCFP rankings by precluding an existing site from changing over and carrying an unearned designation. The Guild Wars Community Relations Manager will make determinations on status on a case-by-case basis.
If I am not accepted into the program, may I reapply?
A fansite may resubmit for consideration as a GWCFP site, and if it qualifies at that time, will be welcomed into the program. We encourage a careful review of all the qualifications for the program, so that the review process is helpful and efficient. We cannot review sites more often than once every 60 days, although we can provide advice and suggestions formulated as the result of a requested review.
Does the Guild Wars Community Fansite Program include guild sites?
At this time, the GWCFP is a program for fansites only. Guild sites generally adopt a very different focus than fansites, and while we may offer a separate program for guild sites in the future, at the present time the program is intended for Guild Wars fansites only.
Is my site required to join the GWCFP? What if I don't meet all the GWCFP requirements?
Sites are not required to join the GWCFP. We believe that the benefits that we offer are a good incentive to join the program, but we encourage fans to create any sort of fansite that they desire, as long as it is in conformance with our Terms of Use. Our fansite program is designed to accomplish two goals. The first goal is to help fans easily locate quality sites through the GWCFP designation. The second goal is to establish and publicize quality levels that, through signifying sites of particular value, benefit the community and the company. So while we intend to support all our fansites, in order to be accepted into the Guild Wars Community Fansite Program and to receive the specific benefits of the program, a fansite must meet the requirements at one of the four program levels, as outlined on the Program Info Page.
My site content has been used by another fansite without my permission or consent. Will ArenaNet help me resolve this problem?
Concerns about, or instances of plagiarism should be resolved between the sites involved. We encourage a swift appeal to the site's webmaster and to the site's high-level staff, when possible, in an attempt to resolve the issue between the sites. You may send a copy of such correspondence to ArenaNet. ArenaNet cannot assist in legal matters that involve plagiarism of a site's unique content. However, if we are presented clear and overwhelming evidence that a site has taken another site's content without permission, attribution or credit, we will remove the offending site from the GWCFP.
Will this program evolve over time? Will you be open to ideas from fansite operators?
We definitely welcome communication from webmasters and site staff members. Your ideas and input will help us reach our goal of giving the best fansite support in the industry. What is good for you is good for us, and we want to work with you to make your fansite fun and worthwhile for you to maintain. Please write at any time with your suggestions and comments.
