Eric Lengyel

I'm glad to see a lot of effort being applied to making a good reputation system. Given that one of the reasons for having a reputation score is to provide some kind of measure of how reliable the information in someone's post is likely to be, I have a small suggestion. How about giving an extra reputation bonus to people who have certain concrete qualifications such as the following?

*) Works at a well-known game company.
*) Has an advanced degree in computer science or related field.
*) Is a published author in the field of game development.
*) Has won some kind of industry award, such as a prize in the IGF.
*) ... any other big indicator that someone knows what they're talking about.

The awards beneath someone's name used to show these kinds of things, but they seem to have disappeared, and they didn't affect reputation. The way things are now, an industry veteran working at Valve (for example) could make only a small number of posts on this site, and his reputation would show that the information he gave is no more reliable than someone who posts a lot, but has no industry experience and is currently enrolled in his first C programming class.

I'd like to see each member have the ability to apply for recognition of the above qualifications, somehow prove that he has satisfied them, and be able to receive significant reputation bonuses for each one cumulatively. Too many times, I've seen a lack of respect for highly-qualified industry game developers in this website, and I think a lot of it is due to the fact the people simply don't know who they're talking to.