User talk:Randomran/guidelinework
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It is proposed that this user talk page be deleted because of the following concern:
If you can address this concern by following the user page guidelines, please edit this page and do so. You may remove this message if you improve the user talk page or otherwise object to its deletion for any reason. To avoid confusion, it helps to explain why you object to the deletion, either in the edit summary or on the talk page. If this template is removed, it should not be replaced. The user talk page may be deleted if this message remains in place for five days. This template was added 2008-06-08 15:58; five days from then is 2008-06-13 15:58. If this is your user page, please don't take offense. Instead, consider improving the page so that it is acceptable according to the user page guidelines. |
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This is the user sandbox of Randomran. A user sandbox is a subpage of the user's user page. It serves as a testing spot for the user and is not an encyclopedia article. For a sandbox of your own, create a user subpage.
Or try other sandboxes: Main Sandbox | Tutorial Sandbox 1 | Tutorial Sandbox 2 | Tutorial Sandbox 3 | Tutorial Sandbox 4 | Tutorial Sandbox 5 |
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This page in a nutshell: The goal for this sandbox is to copyedit and organize the wikiproject video game guidelines while keeping the meaning of the guidelines the same. |
Contents |
[edit] Content
[edit] Overview: what content is appropriate for a game article?
Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. Articles on computer and video games should give an encyclopedia overview of a game and its importance to the industry. Readers should be presented with a concise overview of the game's plot and gameplay. It is also important for readers to be able to learn how the game was developed and its commercial and critical reception. Because the encyclopedia will be read by gamers and non-gamers alike, it is important not to clutter an article with a detailed description of how to play it or an excessive amount of non-encyclopedic trivia. A general rule of thumb to follow if unsure: If the content only has value to people actually playing the game, it is unsuitable. Always remember the bigger picture: video game articles should be readable and interesting to non-gamers.
Content that is inappropriate for wikipedia may find a good home at gaming wikis: Encyclopedia Gamia for general info/trivia, StrategyWiki for walkthrough/strategy/gameplay content or GamerWiki for categoric listings of releases, due to the pending deletion of the Wikibooks computer and video games bookshelf. To propose that an article or section should be copied to a gaming wiki, use the {{Copy to gaming wiki}} tag. See Help:Transwiki on how to move information to other wikis. To simply tag such information for removal, please add the {{gameguide}} tag to the article in question.
[edit] Essential content
Each computer or video game article should include a minimum set of standard elements:
- An infobox, completed correctly and appropriately. See the VG Templates for more instructions on how to use the different templates that are used in writing video game articles.
- The {{WikiProject Video games}} template placed on the article's Talk page. This lets others know that the article is part of WikiProject Video Games.
- A "Development" or "History" section. Specifically for articles about games, it is essential to explain how the game was made. This information is highly useful in constructing articles on fictional aspects within a game as well.
- A "Reception" section. This shows the impact that the subject had on the game industry: commercially, artistically, and technologically.
- When writing about a game, be sure to categorize it by genre, platform, and year. See Wikipedia:Categorization.
If these essential pieces of information cannot be found in reliable sources, then it may be more appropriate to merge this topic into a parent article.
[edit] How to research essential content
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This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. |
Finding critical review for older games may be difficult as most work was done in dated gaming magazines without the advent of the Internet. Several project members have kept old copies of certain video game publications. A list of users and notable data is kept at Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Magazines. If you find something relevant to your article on that page, contact an appropriate user to request referencing.
If you wish to contribute to the project, please add your username to issues you have or create new issue listings if none currently exist. Please be thorough when checking magazines, and be sure to wikify game titles. Follow the simple table format.
If you prefer, add this userbox to your page to generate interest in the project. Just add {{User WPCVGm}} to your user page.
[edit] Inappropriate content
Below is a list of content that is generally considered beyond the scope of information of Wikipedia articles on video games.
- Non-notable articles and spinouts: Avoid creating new articles on non-notable topics. A notable topic must receive significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject. A smaller article should only be split from a larger topic if the new article would itself be notable.
- Numerous short articles: One large article usually provides better organization and context for a topic. Don't create multiple small articles when one larger compilation will do. The ideal article is neither too large nor too small.
- Based on: Wikipedia's guideline on article size
- Detailed instructions: Saying that a character can jump, shoot, and drop bombs is helpful to understand the game, but avoid explaining button combinations or cheat codes.
- Strategy guides and walkthroughs: Basic strategy concepts are helpful to understand the game, but avoid details about how to solve puzzles and defeat certain foes.
- Excessive fictional details: A concise plot summary is appropriate to cover a notable game, character, or setting. Information beyond that is unnecessary and should be removed.
- Lists of gameplay items, weapons, or concepts. Specific point values, achievements, time-limits, character moves, character weight classes, and so on are considered inappropriate. Sometimes a concise summary is appropriate if it is essential to understanding the game or its significance in the industry.
- Cost: The cost of games, products, or subscriptions in any form should not be included in articles. This includes point values in online stores. Wikipedia is not a sales catalog.
- Homebrew clones and remakes: These are generally included for self-promotion and may infringe on copyrighted works.
- Based on: Wikipedia is not a soapbox
- Rumors and speculation: Speculation about future games, or rumors about content within a game, should not be included.
- Based on: Wikipedia is not a crystal ball
These standards have been developed in accordance with fundamental Wikipedia policies and guidelines and reflect the consensus of the community. All editors should understand and follow these standards, though they should be treated with common sense and the occasional exception.
[edit] Exceptions
There are always exceptions to these rules. In general, anything can become suitable for coverage in wikipedia if it is given significant attention by reliable sources. For example:
- It is usually inappropriate to explain strategies, but the "lurking" exploit in Asteroids is an exception because it changed the way developers test their games for exploits.[1]
- It is usually inappropriate to describe game items in detail. But describing the portal gun from Portal is necessary to understand the game, and has significant coverage in reliable game news reports.[2]
- It is usually inappropriate to include cost information, but the price of PlayStation 3 is an exception because it has been criticized by reliable gaming news sites.[3] This should be included in the "Reception" section.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Esquire, February 1981
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (2007-05-15). Portal: First Impressions. Eurogamer. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
- ^ Riyad Emeran (2007-03-23). Sony PlayStation 3. Trustedreviews.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
