I don't know why, but I feel like I've somehow done something wrong. I feel like a jerk with this big-ass medal hanging around my avatar. 
 
I don't want to be "Medal-Guy"! I want the community to be equal again. 
 
I mean, it certainly looks nice. 
 
DAMN NICE. 
 
Anyway, I think lack of sleep has once again claimed my brain as its own, so I'll wrap this up by asking: 
 
How's everyone feeling about this shindig?

After realizing how they ARE splitting the community... 
 
I do feel like I've taken the bribe, and sold out my friends living in the basement. 

It is a pretty medal. When I get payed next Wednesday I'll probably jump on the monthly to give it a go.  
 
Still pissy about the bombcast though

" After realizing how they ARE splitting the community... "

who cares about shinies *looks down* oh um....

Everything they told us about how they're going to handle this was a flat-out lie.
 
Oh we're not going to split the userbase or remove features, but here's a shiny THIS GUY IS PAYING US under his avatar, and also, we have a video telling you how being a free user makes you WORTHLESS TO US.
 
Oh and you're going to get better interaction with the staff, and a timely bombcast.
 
BUT other than that, EVERYBODY IS EQUAL.

Now I need a hat too. Get to it web guys.

" Everything they told us about how they're going to handle this was a flat-out lie.  Oh we're not going to split the userbase or remove features, but here's a shiny THIS GUY IS PAYING US under his avatar, and also, we have a video telling you how being a free user makes you WORTHLESS TO US. Oh and you're going to get better interaction with the staff, and a timely bombcast.  BUT other than that, EVERYBODY IS EQUAL. "

i kinda get an inkling that it will split the community slightly - i guess it depends on how mature people are about it.
i always thought top ten contributors should get the whole medal privelige

Well, I bought a year. I've spent countless hours on GiantBomb, so I don't mind paying.

'Sup GOOBERS!!!!
 
The community has been split between the haves and have nots. 
 
DIVIDE AND CONQUER!!!

Yeah I agree. I don't like drawing the attention of the lesser Giant Bomb members like this... I also don't like how it covers my beautiful avatar.

I haven't payed yet, but I definitely will at some point. There are just games coming out now! I don't know what to spend on!

People taking offense to a visual indicator of who the premium members are just seems weird to me...

Give me a medal, damn it! 
If I promise I will pay soon, can't you give me my medal now? Pretty please with a cherry on top.

Its not a big deal, its just a little icon under your avatar, who cares if it shows who paid. 

As long as no actual features are taken away from me, I'm fine with it. I do feel it will give some of the less-smart users out there a feeling of higher priority when it comes to their opinions.

I payed for a year but I've got no medal, but when I clicked submit I got an error... twice. Can I pay using Visa Electron? 

Everyone's internet feelings are so sensitive.

" Yeah I agree. I don't like drawing the attention of the lesser Giant Bomb members like this... I also don't like how it covers my beautiful avatar. "

Splitting the community? Like anyone really cares about the medal under their names. I don't. I'm not changing my attitude. I can see a few people who haven't subscribed being total dicks, though - saying we're idiots for subscribing. 
 
I'm, and I'm sure mostly everyone else, subscribed just to say thanks for everything. Keep on being awesome, Giant Bomb!

I do feel like people are going to start hating me because of the medal now.

" As long as no actual features are taken away from me, I'm fine with it. I do feel it will give some of the less-smart users out there a feeling of higher priority when it comes to their opinions. "

" Give me a medal, damn it! If I promise I will pay soon, can't you give me my medal now? Pretty please with a cherry on top. "

" Yeah I agree. I don't like drawing the attention of the lesser Giant Bomb members like this... I also don't like how it covers my beautiful avatar. "

" Everything they told us about how they're going to handle this was a flat-out lie.  Oh we're not going to split the userbase or remove features, but here's a shiny THIS GUY IS PAYING US under his avatar, and also, we have a video telling you how being a free user makes you WORTHLESS TO US. Oh and you're going to get better interaction with the staff, and a timely bombcast.  BUT other than that, EVERYBODY IS EQUAL. "

" Why are some silver? "

You BOURGEOISE TWATS with your fancy medals, lording it over the rest of us plebeians.  Enjoy your social status while it lasts for the bomb will once again become equal, each to himself a peasant and a king.

" People taking offense to a visual indicator of who the premium members are just seems weird to me... "

" Its not a big deal, its just a little icon under your avatar, who cares if it shows who paid.  "

@MaFoLu said:

" Give me a medal, damn it! If I promise I will pay soon, can't you give me my medal now? Pretty please with a cherry on top. "

I'd give you mine, but it appears to have melded with my very being. 
 

I honestly don't care, I myself want to help Whiskey Media and Giant Bomb out by becoming an annual subscriber once I have the money. 
So to say that I don't like you because of your medal, or because your get 720p video, would make me a jackass. 

" It amazes me that you've only posted 184 things, It feels like you've been around forever!  "

 Everything they told us about how they're going to handle this was a flat-out lie. 
 
Oh we're not going to split the userbase or remove features, but here's a shiny THIS GUY IS PAYING US under his avatar, and also, we have a video telling you how being a free user makes you WORTHLESS TO US.
 
Oh and you're going to get better interaction with the staff, and a timely bombcast. 
 
BUT other than that, EVERYBODY IS EQUAL.    

" Why are some silver? "

" @Tebbit said:

" It amazes me that you've only posted 184 things, It feels like you've been around forever!  "

I can't tell if I should be happy or angry at you for saying this "

" @Tebbit said: 

@MaFoLu said:

" Give me a medal, damn it! If I promise I will pay soon, can't you give me my medal now? Pretty please with a cherry on top. "

I'd give you mine, but it appears to have melded with my very being. 
 

It must have felt wonderful when that happened. "

 Like some other people have said, I pretty much subscribed to thank them for the AMAZING content of the past two years as well as the forthcoming content of the next year. This was my chance to compensate them for the hours and hours of entertainment I've gotten from quick looks and the endurance runs. Also, HD video will be nice. The medal I could take or leave. I'd be satisfied by a tiny colored dot next to my name.    

I'm not sure whether I should subscribe or not. I think the medal looks kinda stupid to be honest, and no matter where I look, I can't seem to find an official list explaining exactly what it is I'm getting for my money - choosing to upgrade simply gives me a billing page... billing for what? I know I saw like 3 or 4 bullet points outlining what I would get if I upgraded when I was merging my accounts, but I can't even find that any more. 
 
As I understand it, I would be paying for HD video and half a podcast (or maybe not, depending on how many people subscribe)? The mobile site is of no use to me, and I don't really want the T-Shirt (speaking of which, why can't I remove the Tshirt to get a cheaper subscription, and at least save me the extra intl shipping fee?). 
 
I remember Dave saying there was loads more to come, and that what he had outlined in his blog was only really the start of what would be a ton of additional goodies, but so far I'm only really seeing the couple of things he mentioned. 
 
The Friday live show seems cool, but like I said, I can't find any sort of official mention of it anywhere.

" Everything they told us about how they're going to handle this was a flat-out lie.  Oh we're not going to split the userbase or remove features, but here's a shiny THIS GUY IS PAYING US under his avatar, and also, we have a video telling you how being a free user makes you WORTHLESS TO US. Oh and you're going to get better interaction with the staff, and a timely bombcast.  BUT other than that, EVERYBODY IS EQUAL. "

I like my medaless avatar, it doesn't mean im less of a member for not paying, as i repeat over and over, my health is more important. A medal wont keep me alive, a medal doesnt make my dreams come true, and a medal here dont give me anything that i need or want.  
 
They do what they do because they can. At the end of the day, they say they care, but they don't, money always buys happiness, they care about "being bigger and better" to prove a point to other sites, not to us. But i still love them :)  
 
Medal or no medal im a GiantBomber, medal or no medal i will always be me, and is no shame in that. :) 

I think the medal looks kinda stupid to be honest

Yeah, I think they should do away with it. A small indicator in your profile would be fine, or better yet no indication at all. I just signed up to say thanks for all the entertainment they've given me. I don't intend to seem like I'm gloating about it.

I'm quite new to the forums, though I made my account back before Giant Bomb even officially opened up (anyone remember being able to create the accounts ahead of time back then?). I subscribed because I want to support the guys that have given me hundreds of hours of entertainment, and I'm sure that most of the people that have subscribed so soon are doing it for the same reasons. I don't care about downloading videos, a medal on my avatar or any of the other stuff. I fully appreciate that some people can't support because, yeah, it's expensive. I also get that some people don't want to support out of principle, what with the podcast splitting etc. That said, I don't even intend to act superior to anyone else because I'm a subscriber. Hell I probably won't even post enough for you guys to recognise who I am, so this won't even matter, but yeah. If you want to subscribe for whatever reasons, then do so whenever you can. If not, then that's your choice, and I'm not going to try and convince you otherwise.