Content Standards

= Game Standards = When creating game entries, you are expected to:


 * Follow all the Community Guidelines, Miraheze TOS and the Miraheze Content Policy
 * You should also additionally meet the "Game Standard" or "Content Standard" regulations which are listed on this page / document

This applies to everyone who are contributing entries or data, whether that be a new game on the database or an already existing entry. Failure to do so may result in: internal punishment to your account, Miraheze CVT action, deletion of your data entry(ies) or re-editing of your data entry(ies).

Focus
What is our focus? The focus for GamesDB is to archive and document everything that can be classified as a game. However, what is our classification of a "game." Well, to be considered a game, it must meet the following requirements:


 * There must be some sort of data, whether that be: media (images, videos); descriptions; reviews [FROM OTHER SITES] or documentation on it from other sites
 * It must be: digital, a board game (preferably one with a digital version), one that can be played on a device (e.g. PC, console(s) or even arcade machines)
 * It should not be in violation of: our wiki / community guidelines, Miraheze TOS or Miraheze Content Policy

Terminology

 * Publisher: we use publisher interchangeably quite a lot, sometimes we mean the literal publisher (the company that distributes the game) or we mean the original creator (the studio or company that has created the game)
 * Translated version game: a game that has been translated and the contents of it have been changed beyond that of the language
 * This does not include games that have separate games for different languages that only have modifications for translation purposes

Metadata Guidelines
These are the guidelines you must follow for each metadata data / variable. Main titles:


 * As always, the main title must not be in violation of our Community Guidelines or the Miraheze TOS or Content Policy
 * The main title's first word must always be capitalised unless otherwise stated by: the publisher, the documentation on the game, the cover art (in some cases) or any other legitimate proof that has been approved by a administrator
 * If it is in another language, and that language does not have capitalisation but does have a English version, then the English entry / section for that game must be capitalised
 * The main title must resemble the official / master / main cover art of the game
 * Do not substitute the main title e.g. instead of "II" the roman numeral, you use "2" (the only instance where this is allowed if there is a technical or MediaWiki area, in which you must contact an admin)
 * If there is other official / master / main cover art for whatever reason this has happened, then you must follow this structure: which cover art is the most popular / was the most used? > which cover art was on the latest release > if you manage to go past the 2 filters, then contact a administrator
 * If the title is not visible on the master cover art, then use any other alternative cover art - if it is not visible on any cover art then use the title that is most used by the Publisher
 * If the main title has chapters or subheading then it must be ordered in the following ways:
 * Title > Subheading > Chapter
 * Title > Volume > Subheading > Chapter
 * Title > Subheading > Volume > Chapter
 * In general, do it in the hierarchical order of the game e.g. If the subheading is the larger content and it is split into volumes then it will be Title > Subheading ....
 * For titles in other languages:
 * Translate - translate it into the database language e.g. on the main database (English) then translate it to English and follow as closely to these guidelines
 * Resemble - you can have 2+ titles for multilingual entries - one that is translated into English and one that resembles the origin title as much as possible, and also as many as you need for the game's releases in other countries
 * As always, any questions must be forwarded to a administrator

Alternate Titles:


 * An alternate title is:
 * Titles translated into other language e.g. the origin (English) may have an alternative title if there was a Japanese edition, so, the Japanese title would be the alternative title
 * A title that is also used by the publisher other than the main title
 * Alternative titles should not be:
 * The name of the wiki page
 * Used on the cover art (unless there is multiple cover arts of the game) - ask an administrator if the only cover art of the game has the alternative title
 * Should not be in the "main title" metadata section of a game entry
 * Alternative titles should:
 * Be in the "alternative titles" metadata section of a game entry
 * Can have a wiki page which must redirect to the wiki page with the Main Title

Modifications:

A modification is any sort of addition to the original (vanilla) game that can either: add content, remove content, modify the code, give advantages or disadvantages, or anything that has modified the original game in any way.


 * Please follow the main title and alternate title regulations, but for the modifications
 * The URL of a modification should be: https://gamesdb.mirheze.org/gamename_modificationmaintitle
 * A modification must also follow: community guidelines, Miraheze TOS and Content Policy
 * If the modification has a logo or some sort of cover art, then also include that

Different Game Criteria:

A game that is considered different must meet this requirement(s):


 * Completely different main story line, campaigns or anything of similar nature
 * The main aspects of the game have been changed or heavily modified
 * Game modifications, translated editions etc. do not count as separate games
 * Also ask a administrator if you are not sure

Game Series Criteria:


 * You can create a page on a game series, or put a game apart of a game series on its metadata list if the game series in question is officially recognised by the publisher in any sort of way
 * The game series must also have more than 2 games - game modifications, translated editions etc. do not count as separate games
 * Game Series titles
 * The title of the game series must be the title that is most used across all the games (50% or more)
 * It must resemble them as close as possible
 * Game Series cover arts
 * The cover art that should be used is: the most popular game - or the official game series cover art used by the Publisher

Screenshots


 * A screenshot must be added to the game's metadata and files list
 * It must conform to the Community Guidelines, Miraheze TOS and Content Policy
 * The screenshot in question must be from any part of the game e.g. title screens, actual game play or footage etc.
 * If a screenshot is from a modified version of the game then it must be stated
 * If a screenshot is from a translated game

Videos


 * A video must be added to the game's metadata and files list
 * It must conform to the Community Guidelines, Miraheze TOS and Content Policy
 * If a video is uploaded to the wiki, then it must be under the 250MB limit as a unextracted file
 * The video in question must be from the game - it must be more than 3 seconds long and more than 50% of the video should be from the game
 * If the video contains a modified version of the game it must be stated
 * If the video contains a translated version of the game it must be stated

Translated versions of the game/modifications


 * What do we mean by translated version of the game?
 * A translated version of the game is a separate game that is translated into the different languages
 * A translated game (without the "version") is one that provides all the language settings within the game itself
 * A translated version of the game may have different contents in it - and different modifications
 * For modifications
 * A translated version of the modifications is the same a translated version of the game
 * A translated modification without the "version" is one that supports the language settings or files of the unmodified game - or one that has its own translation
 * For game series
 * A translated version of the game can be considered a separate game
 * Translated versions of the game can have separate entry(ies)
 * URL for translated games
 * iso639langcodes_gametitleorigin
 * iso639langcodes_modificationtitleorigin_gametitleorigin

Platforms


 * To add a platform (where 1 or more games can be played, or used to be able to be played) please contact an administrator to add it to the platforms list
 * Games that support a platform must:
 * Have the platform's name included in the platform's metadata
 * The game should be in the list of games for that specific platform
 * If a platform supports multiple languages:
 * Add it to the platform's metadata
 * Games that are in these languages do not need to have anything happen to them - however, you should put it in the origin game's metadata - update the translated version game with this information as well

Descriptions


 * For games:
 * The description of a game must be good
 * Summary: a short description of the game with a maximum of 5 sentences, it should talk about the characters, or the main story line of the game, or anything else that is important to know
 * Detailed: a large description of the game - must be a minimum of 5 sentences - it should contain things such as: how long it takes to complete the game, the main story line or campaigns, information about the characters, the end goals etc.
 * For game series:
 * The description of a game series must contain the general overview of all the games, how they link and there main story lines and the overall goals / characters - also add anything important that is across the game series
 * For modifications:
 * Must include: how it modifies the game
 * For translated versions of a game:
 * Must meet the same description requirements as a game
 * Modify if the translated versions of a game have different content

Genres


 * A genre should be assigned to a game depending on its main content, or whatever the publisher has decided for it
 * A modification does not require genres, however if you do, it should be assigned according to what the creator has decided
 * To add a genre contact a administrator - make sure that the genre is broad or is able to encompass more than 500+ games

Publishers


 * The Publisher is the company that is the primary distributor of the game(s)
 * They must be recognised by the creator of the game

Creator


 * The creator of the game must be the original: designer(s), coder(s) etc.
 * Companies:
 * A company that creates games must be the original creator of the game
 * If there are multiple companies that worked on a game, then list all of them
 * You should link to the company page when on the metadata part of the table
 * Describe in detail what each company contributed to the game
 * Individuals or groups of people:
 * If there is a group of individuals, or just an individual, then you can name that individual by: there online name presence e.g. example#0000 (Discord), example@example.com (email address) etc.
 * You should name as many of the group of individuals who worked on the game
 * You should give the titles of which person worked on what e.g. John Doe --- Head Design, Jane Doe --- 3D Modeler
 * If a person has multiple roles, then write them out separately e.g. John Doe - Programmer, John Doe - Artist

Release Dates


 * For the release dates, you are expected to contain multiple data(s)
 * Update Logs
 * You should contain local copies or external copies of the update logs - e.g. .txt downloads, .pdf downloads or you can link to the official update log(s)
 * The update log(s) should be kept as up to date as possible
 * Date of publication
 * The date of publication is the date on which it was first released to be: downloaded or purchased - this applies to games that were taken down and then put back up
 * You can add other dates of publication if the above scenario I said happens

Codes


 * IGDB codes - you can add IGDB codes to the game page

Cover Art


 * The cover art should be the one that is most popular, then the one that was released first, then the one that is most used by the Publisher
 * They should be cropped to only show the cover art
 * There can be multiple cover arts e.g. DVD cover art, collectors edition etc.

Hard Cover Data


 * If the game comes in CD or DVD cases, or anything similar, then make sure you can get some pictures of these where the text can be clearly read
 * If you cannot find them but you can get copies of them, then please do so and upload and add the images to the appropriate pages


 * If these images are low resolution, or you cannot get them to be clearly read, upload and add the pictures - then, write out what the cover says

Misc. Art


 * Miscellaneous art can be
 * Fan art, unofficial cover arts, unofficial trailers etc.

Age ratings


 * Provide as many age ratings as you can e.g. PEGI, ERSB - if it has multiple age rating then add all of them

Reviews


 * Reviewing games are not allowed - please do not add reviews to games
 * You can provide links to other review sites

Specifications


 * State the minimum (and maximum) specifications for each platform your game entry supports

Information


 * Anything else can be added to the "information" section(s)
 * Trivia - you can add questions and answers, or questionnaires about the game
 * Easter eggs - any secrets within the game or how you can obtain them
 * Links - links to external sites, the game's websites and more
 * Anything else we have not covered

= Company Standards = Coming soon...