This guideline is a part of the English Wikipedia's Manual of Style. It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though it is best treated with common sense, and occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.

Shortcuts WP:MOSVG MOS:VG

The following are guidelines for various aspects of writing article content about video games, established by consensus among Wikipedians. Please discuss them on the talk page if you have ideas or questions. Editors should also be familiar with the main Manual of Style, writing about fiction sub-guidelines, and the general guide to writing better articles.

For video game-related naming conventions, see Wikipedia:Naming conventions (video games).

In general, the following sections describe typical ordering of sections used in articles related to video games. These do not necessarily have to correspond to the actual section headers and divisions. Do not try to conform to them if they are not helping to improve the article.

For games

• Lead section: The name of the game in bold italics, its gameplay genre, release date, platform, and other identifying information go first. Then, a brief summary of the entire article body, which explains why the game is notable and important; this is the key aspect of the lead section, because it establishes the main idea that will be carried throughout the article.
• Infobox: Contents should adhere to the template documentation, see below for further information.
• Gameplay: going over the significant parts of how the game works. Remember not to include player's guide or walkthrough material. The gameplay section should come before the plot section, with the exception of when it would help to simplify the discussion of either section. For example, in Assassin's Creed, the player plays the role of a man in the 21st century experiencing the memories of a long-distant ancestor in the Crusades, with several gameplay elements in place to reflect this double-perception. In this case, describing the plot before the gameplay simplifies the content of each, avoiding repetition between sections.
• Plot: if the plot is not too complex, it can be lumped in with the gameplay; otherwise, put it in its own section. If necessary, the section can have subheadings for the story, setting, and characters. Keep it concise and avoid trivial details.
• Development: discuss development, design concepts and inspirations, etc. This can easily include several different subsections. It also includes release material, such as the game's marketing, promotional info, and/or release dates. If the release material is large enough, it can be split to its own section.
• Reception: This should detail how the game was received by critics.
• Legacy: If the game had a substantial impact on its series, genre, and/or the video game industry, consider making a section dedicated to its legacy. This can either be put under the reception header or, if there is enough information, a separate section. If the only major impact is a sequel or media adaptations, consider instead naming this section "Related media", "Sequels", etc. as appropriate.
• References: Cite sources! If you are unsure what to include for references, reviews, interviews, news articles, game instruction booklets, and guides are all good candidates. See this list of sources deemed generally usable or unusable on Wikipedia.
• External links: When available, list the company and game website(s) if the company website is separate from the game's website. In addition, list all relevant websites for English publications. Other sources that do not qualify as reliable sources may be used if they are not on the list of sites to be avoided.

For characters

• Lead section: The name of the character or series (if a group of characters) in bold italics, name of the company and/or designers that developed them, and other identifying information go first. Then, a brief summary of the article. Finally, why the character(s) is notable and important; this is the key part of the lead section, because it establishes the main idea that will be carried throughout the article.
• Infobox: Articles on a single character should have a character infobox. Articles on a group of characters should have an infobox omitted.
• Concept and design: going over the process in which the character(s) was created and designed.
• Appearances: This should list any games or related media that the character appeared in and briefly discuss their role in the game. This section should normally be integrated into the rest of the character section if in a list or article on a group of characters.
• Merchandise: This section should be included if the likeness of the character(s) has been used extensively on merchandise and marketing material. Types of merchandise should be include and if possible release dates and regions of the merchandise
• Reception: This should detail how the character(s) was received by critics. Criticism about the game itself should generally be omitted as the character(s) is the subject of the article.
• References: Cite sources! If you are unsure what to include for references, game instruction booklets, guides, reviews, and interviews are all good candidates.
• External links: When available, list the game website(s). If it was published in a non-English country first, list both the original country's website; in addition, list all relevant websites for English publications. Other sources that do not qualify as reliable sources may be used if they are not on the list of those to be avoided.

For settings

• Lead section: The name of the setting or fictional world in bold italics, name of the company and/or designers that developed them, and other identifying information go first. Then, a brief summary of the article. Finally, why the setting is notable and important; this is the key part of the lead section, because it establishes the main idea that will be carried throughout the article.
• Infobox: Most articles on a setting should have an infobox omitted. There are exceptions though.
• Concept and design: going over the process in which the setting was created and designed.
• In-game content: This section should include information about the setting as it applies to the game. Briefly discuss the role in the game and any aspects of the in-game world that is notable and/or an important fact to the game. This section should not contain excessive detail about the game's plot, descriptions about the setting, or game guide information.
• Reception: This should detail how the setting or aspects of the setting were received by critics. Criticism about the game itself should generally be omitted as the setting is the subject of the article.
• References: Cite sources! If you are unsure what to include for references, game instruction booklets, guides, reviews, and interviews are all good candidates.
• External links: When available, list the game website(s). If it was published in a non-English country first, list both the original country's website; in addition, list all relevant websites for English publications. Other sources that do not qualify as reliable sources may be used if they are not on the list of those to be avoided.

What is appropriate?

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. Articles on video games should give an encyclopedic 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. Plot sections, if necessary, should be no more than approximately 700 words, to retain focus. It is 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 rule of thumb if unsure: if the content only has value to players, it is unsuitable. Video game articles should be comprehensive and readable to non-gamers.

Wikipedia commonly has stand-alone articles about notable games, companies, individuals, or hardware. Reliable information about game peripherals, expansions, music, merchandise, or characters can often be merged somewhere more appropriate, and richer in context. Avoid detailed coverage of in-game elements such as items, levels, or setting. If multiple reliable sources describe a game element's importance to a game or series, this can be summarized at the relevant parent article, in context. A separate article for a game element is typically warranted if multiple sources establish its importance outside the game itself, describing its influence on the game industry, history, or a genre.

Content that is inappropriate for Wikipedia may be appreciated elsewhere: Codex Gamicus for general info/trivia; an individual game's wiki (such as on Fandom or elsewhere) for detailing a setting, plot, or in-game items; StrategyWiki for walkthrough/strategy/gameplay content; and Wikibooks Electronic games bookshelf. To propose that an article or section be copied to a gaming wiki, use the {{Copy to gaming wiki}} template. See Help:Transwiki on how to move information to other wikis. To simply tag such information for removal, please add the {{Game guide}} template to the article in question.

Essential content

Each video game article should include a minimum set of standard elements:

• An infobox, completed correctly and appropriately (see WP:WikiProject Video games/Templates for instructions on how to use the different templates for video game articles).
• The {{WikiProject Video games}} template placed on the article's Talk page. This lets others know that the article is within the scope of WikiProject Video Games.
• A "Development" or "History" section. To keep a real-world perspective, it is essential to explain how the article subject was made, and not only discuss the fiction.
• A "Reception" section. This shows the impact that the subject had on the game industry: commercially, artistically, and technologically. For additional guidance see this guideline.
• When writing about a game, be sure to categorize it by genre, platform, and year (see WP: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.

Release dates

Release dates for video game should be included as follows:

• In the {{Infobox video game}}, release dates should be provided for primarily English-speaking regions, including North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand. If the video game is first released in a non-English country, commonly in Japan, then that should also be stated.
  • Region releases (North America, Europe, or even PAL region) are preferred to specific country releases unless there are significant differences in release dates or the game was preemptively banned or restricted from sale in a specific country within the region. Consider using footnotes rather than a separate country release entry in the infobox to keep the information included within it relatively succinct.
  • Releases in non-English countries should otherwise not be included in the infobox, but if determined to be necessary to include, can be discussed further in the article's body.
  • If the game is available for multiple platforms, group release dates first by platform, then by country. Thus, a game that may come out for the Xbox 360 then later for the PlayStation 3, group all the Xbox 360 release dates under one heading, then all the PlayStation 3 releases under a second.
  • If a remake, remaster or game collection is covered within the same article as its original game, further group release dates by original and remakes, then by console, then by country.
    • However, games re-released through emulated systems, which include the Virtual Console for Nintendo consoles, microconsoles like the Atari Flashback, and some software titles like Sega Genesis Collection should not have these emulated re-releases included in the infobox.
  • If the game is a same-day multi-platform release, it is not necessary to create separate lists for each platform, and these can be grouped accordingly. See the infobox in Grand Theft Auto V for example.
  • Should the number of consoles or remakes become excessively large, consider stating only the first release or primary console within the infobox using the {{Collapsible list}} template with the {{{title}}} field set to show the top-level information, and summarizing the other release dates within the development section of the article body; See the infobox in Lemmings (video game) for an example.
  • Release dates should be provided using the {{Video game release}} template, unless the game had a single, simultaneous worldwide release date, in which case the template may be omitted. Do not use flag icons in the infobox, instead, state the region/country by name, one of the limited region codes supported by {{Video game release}}, or by their ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country codes. If one set of releases have different regional release dates, while another platform has worldwide release, then stay consistent throughout the infobox with the {{Video game release}} using the "WW" country code for worldwide releases.
  • Release dates must be consistent with the prevailing prose date format.
• In the article lead, release dates should be summarized to be as general as possible, avoiding specific mention of platform and region releases unless significant. Whenever possible, the release dates in the lead should be summarized to the year of release, or month and year if further applicable. Examples:
  • A video game released worldwide across all major platforms within a single year but many different dates can be summarized as "released in 2008". If the release period spreads across a year boundary, this can be summarized as "released in 2008 and 2009".
  • A video game with a later port to a different system can be noted as such: "The game first released for the PlayStation 2 in January 2008, and was ported to the Nintendo DS later that year."
• Release dates should be discussed in the body of the article (typically, as a section within "Development" or "Release"), and should include citations published after the game or content has been released to verify that the product came out as expected. Game reviews may be suitable for this, but not pre-release reviews.

Care should be taken in citing release dates. Many commercial gaming sites, such as GameSpot, IGN, and 1Up.com, supply accurate dates, as well as retailers such as Amazon or GameStop. For unreleased games, vendor sites should not be used as verifiable sources since their date is likely based on their best estimate of when the game is to be out; always look for corroborating statements from reliable sources to confirm these dates. If a general timeframe ("first quarter", "early") or even month is provided, include this before the year, but do not link these terms (see date formatting in the Manual of Style). Avoid the use of seasonal estimate release dates ("winter", "summer") as these have different meanings in different parts of the world (see WP:SEASON for more).

Keep in mind that some publishers may advertise a "release date", while some may advertise an "in-store date", and some may advertise both. (Metroid Prime 3: Corruption provides an example of both.) Usually, but not always, the release date also happens to be the date on which the publisher ships the game to retailers, resulting in an in-store date of between one and three days later. In some cases, the game is shipped out before the release date – this usually happens with large-scale releases where the publisher intends for everyone in a country or region to have access to it at a specific time (midnight launches, etc.). The "release date" should always be used, and the ship and in-store dates are almost always irrelevant.

Early releases such as open beta-testing periods, early access, or other similar mechanics should not be included in the infobox once the game is actually released. While the game is in an early release state, that early release date may be included in the infobox, but it should be indicated as an early release, and in the article prose, the game should be treated as an upcoming video game that has yet to receive a full release for all other purposes.

Platforms

In both the lead and infobox, the list of platforms should only include the name of consoles or operating systems, such as "Game Boy", "iOS", "Windows", "PlayStation 4", "Sega Genesis", "Xbox Series X/S", to which the game was developed for by the developer or publisher. Specific details on the platform can be discussed in the body with appropriate sourcing.

• The listed platforms should not include storefront names, such as "Steam", "PlayStation Network", "Xbox Live Arcade", "eShop" or "App Store". In general, storefront names are not required to be mentioned in any part of a game article unless they are relevant to the sourced discussion around the game.
• The listed platforms should also not include subscription or streaming services that offer games, such as "Apple Arcade", "OnLive", "PlayStation Now" or "Xbox Game Pass". These are not considered ports or the like, and only reoffering the game from an existing platform on a different service.
  • The only exception to this is for Stadia, which has been determined to be a unique platform that developers must build for and offers unique features not offered by the underlying Linux operating system.
• The listed platforms should not include platforms on which the game is playable via emulation, whether officially released for that (such as Nintendo's Virtual Console and Nintendo Switch Online or officially licensed Dotemu rereleases), through middleware solutions such as Proton on Linux-based SteamOS on the Steam Deck, or through third-party/user-made emulation systems like through ScummVM. The platform list should be limited to those platforms which the game was built and compiled for. Often there will be games that are a collection of emulated games, such as Sega Genesis Classics or The Disney Afternoon Collection. The article on the collection of the games should include the new systems the collection is offered for, but those platforms should not be added to the articles on the individual games.
• Similarly, the listed platforms should not include platforms that support backwards compatibility for earlier versions. While several original Xbox games are playable on the Xbox 360, the Xbox 360 should not be listed as a platform for these games. Similarly, both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S feature both backwards compatibility from the previous generation as well as the capability for optimization patches to improve the performance of the game on the newer consoles; this is also not sufficient to include the newer consoles among a game's platform list.
• Avoid listing hardware-specific aspects in the platforms. Do not use "Ouya" or "Nvidia Shield TV" but instead "Android", though exclusivity to these devices can be mentioned in the body. Do not include "Oculus Rift" or "HTC Vive", but instead use "Windows" but clearly indicate the game supports virtual reality, and a list of compatible headsets can be mentioned in the body. For some Apple games that require a specific device (such as an iPad over an iPhone), stay to the base operating system (iOS) but mention the limited hardware compatibility in the body.
• Similarly for operating systems, use the broad category of operating system and not specific versions of releases. A game that requires the operating features of Windows 10 should still only be given in the platform list as "Windows". Use "Unix" or "Linux" to cover the broad classes of various Unix/Linux distribution releases.
  • For Mac OS X/OS X/macOS games, use the name of the operating system used when the game was released.
• If a platform list is very long due to numerous ports, consider highlighting the original platform using collapsed lists or links to a relevant section to give the full list. Avoid repeating long lists of platform names in the lead. For example, for Lemmings, we state Lemmings is...published by Psygnosis for the Amiga in 1991 and later ported for numerous other platforms. rather than an exhaustive list of the twenty-some platforms it had received official ports.
• For games which receive official remakes or remasters which are not covered by a separate article, include the platforms the remake was released on, but make sure to distinguish the platforms of the original release and of the remastered release. If the remake has its own article, such as the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake, do not include the remake's platforms in the original game's article. Unofficial third-party or fan remakes should not be considered in determining a platform list.

Categorizing upcoming games

• If an upcoming game has a confirmed release date set for that year and a citation, add it to Category:Upcoming video games scheduled for 2024 and move it to the appropriate year category e.g. Category:2024 video games after release.
• If in doubt, or there is no date information, add the game to Category:Upcoming video games.
• If a game's development appears to have stopped but has not officially been cancelled (e.g. Agent or Tekken X Street Fighter), add it to Category:Vaporware video games. This category can also be used for games that were previously considered vaporware before eventually releasing.

Inappropriate content

Below is a list of content that is generally considered beyond the scope of information of Wikipedia articles on video games and related video game topics.

1. 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.

   Based on: WP:Notability § General notability guideline, and WP:Summary style § Avoiding unnecessary splits.

2. 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:Article size.

3. 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.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal.

4. 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.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal.

5. 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, as articles should focus on the real-world elements of a topic, such as creation and reception.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information, and WP:Neutral point of view § Undue weight.

6. Lists of characters lacking secondary sourcing: Following from the above, excessive in-game details on characters is strongly discouraged. Standalone lists of video game characters are expected to be (1) written in an out-of-universe style with a focus on their concept, creation, and reception, and (2) cited by independent, secondary sources to verify this information. While character lists can include some plot summary specific to the character, these plots should not be rehashes of the video game(s) in which they appear but instead broad strokes that simplify the plots of individual games. If these requirements cannot be met, it is instead more appropriate to reduce the list to one to three paragraphs of prose within the "Plot" or "Synopsis" section of the game or series article. It is almost never appropriate to create a standalone list of characters that appear within a single video game as these can be described in the game's article.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information, and WP:Neutral point of view § Undue weight.

7. Lists of gameplay items, weapons, or concepts: Specific point values, achievements and trophies, time-limits, levels (including lists of stadia/sport venues), character moves, character weight classes, unlockable characters, vehicles, 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.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information, § Wikipedia is not a directory, and § Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal; as well as WP:Neutral point of view § Undue weight.

8. Cost: The purchase cost of games, products, or subscriptions, including point values for online services, should not be included in articles, unless the item's individual cost has attracted substantial coverage in independent reliable sources. Exceptions are generally made for inclusion of the manufacturer's retail price of standardized game hardware and devices, such as game consoles, on articles about that hardware or comparisons with other hardware, a practice in line with other physical product articles on Wikipedia.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a directory.

9. Rumors and speculation: Speculation about future games, rumors about content within a game, or changes in video game developers and publishers should not be included, even if these rumors emerge or are re-reported from reliable sources. Discussion of well-reported, industry-wide rumors from a historical standpoint, well after the time they had or should have happened, may be appropriate to help provide context for a topic.

   Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a crystal ball and § Wikipedia is not a publisher of original thought, as well as WP:No original research.

10. Exhaustive version histories: A list of every version/beta/patch is inappropriate. Consider a summary of development instead.

    Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a directory and § Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information, as well as {{Section link}}: required section parameter(s) missing.

11. Cast lists: Generally speaking, a list of the actors providing voices, likenesses or motion capture acting performances for video game characters is not appropriate. If mention of an actor has received substantial coverage in independent reliable sources, typically the actor will be mentioned in the prose of the development section. (Good examples are: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Portal 2, and BioShock Infinite).
12. Unofficial translations: Unless they are mentioned by independent reliable sources, unofficial translations should not be mentioned. Summarizing those sources may be appropriate, but avoid linking to a website for an unlicensed fan project in order to reduce any potential copyright violations.

    If the unofficial translation's website's page is necessary for verification of certain details, it may be used so long as it doesn't link to or host an image file for a commercial game. If it does, use of an archived version from an Internet archive like Wayback Machine is acceptable.

    Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal

13. System requirements: System requirements for a video game should only be mentioned if independent reliable sources have distinguished that game from its peers (e.g., the high system demands of Crysis on its maximum settings). A brief summary of those sources should be mentioned in prose, in a manner that is easily understandable by a reader with no knowledge of the subject.

    Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal

14. Succession boxes may be valid in some cases, but they should not be used for things such as being a bestselling game for a single month in one nation for a single console. Succession order should be based on either obvious information, such as release dates, or information that can be readily and reliably sourced; for example, it is possible to source the narrative chronological order of the games in the Metroid series to information provided by Nintendo directly, but less apparent for series like Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty. Keep in mind that navboxes may be a better form to provide the same sorted information in a more compact form, such as with the {{Seumas McNally Grand Prize}} navbox.
15. Non-notable soundtracks: Unless the soundtrack or music is the subject of independent commentary (apart from the game): put it in Development rather than its own section, do not include tracklists, and do not add non-free soundtrack cover art or audio clips. Never upload non-free soundtrack art similar in content to the main infobox's non-free art. If the soundtrack has been released on a widely distributed physical medium, it can be acceptable to include an infobox for the soundtrack alongside discussion in the "Development" section (for example, see Journey (2012 video game)); non-free cover art must meet the WP:Non-free content guidelines to be included in this infobox.
16. Age and content ratings: Unless the game's age and content rating (ESRB, PEGI, CERO, etc.) is the subject of independent commentary (such as the case for Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia), do not add it to the article.
17. Release edition tables: Do not add tables featuring a game's many release editions, such as special, limited, collector's, into articles. If a re-release has been the subject of independent reliable sources, a concise summary may be appropriate in prose.

    Based on: WP:What Wikipedia is not § Wikipedia is not a directory

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.

Pop culture citations

Video games have been around long enough to have made a mark on popular culture (or pop culture). Recognizing a subject's influence on popular culture can enhance an entry subject's notability on Wikipedia. Usually this can be added to the 'Reception' (sub)section (see Shenmue), an 'Other media' section (see World of Warcraft § In other media) or, if notable and influential enough, a separate 'Legacy' section (example: Super Mario Bros. 3 § Legacy).

However, all instances must be documented and follow Wikipedia policies on citing sources and verifiability. Specifically in regards to television citations, a citation to the specific episode using {{cite episode}} should be included. Any entries not following these guidelines will be marked {{citation needed}} and eventually removed if a suitable reference is not found. Material should also be presented in the preferred prose format rather than lists of popular culture items.

The following guidelines are to be used for judging if content is relevant enough to be included in a pop culture section:

• Worth mentioning:
  • The entry is directly related to the brand and character. For example, licensed TV shows based upon games, like Pac-Man or Super Mario Bros. Depending on the amount of information, such an entry might be in a separate section.
  • The game or related subject is a literal character in the film. The game is integral to the plot of the work (i.e. it would be named in a well-written plot summary). For example, World of Warcraft is significantly featured in the South Park episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft", and is allowed to be mentioned within the World of Warcraft article.
  • In references to music, the appearance is worth inclusion when the game or character is integral to the artist, album, or song itself. Examples of worthiness would be where the game or character is part of the song presentation (artwork), song title, album title, or the subject of the song itself. For example, Manilla Road's song "Defender" and Buckner & Garcia's Pac-Man Fever album.
  • Multiple notable appearances in a specific medium should be combined and summarized. For example, multiple notable appearances of Pac-Man in the TV show Family Guy can be summarized in one or two sentences.
• Consensus needed:
  • References and parodies in media (film, television, music, etc.) would merit inclusion when the game or character in question plays a significant part of the storyline, dialogue, or scene. With very few exceptions, the film, television show, novel, or other work should meet the relevant Wikipedia:Notability criteria for the appearance to be worth mention.
  • The game or related subject is being played by the major character(s) and is the major subject of the dialog in at least one scene. The game is being played and the game events are an illustration, counterpoint, or ironic commentary on the subject of the discussion—note this must be obvious or sourced to a reliable secondary source, or it will likely be labeled original research. Consider the importance of the dialog or scene to the work as a whole. The second segment of Futurama's "Anthology of Interest II" episode contains numerous video game references and parodies, some which are more integral to the plot than others. The inclusion of this episode on the specific video game articles would need to be determined by editor consensus.
• Not worth mentioning:
  • The game or related subject is only mentioned in passing, or is just a source of occasional interruptions during dialog. The game is being played only because the playing of any game is needed for the scene, for example to give the characters something to do or to be distracted by, even if the game is specifically named. The game appears as a background prop. For example, Gears of War is briefly shown in the first few minutes of the movie Live Free or Die Hard but is never referred to by name nor does it appear later; this would not warrant a mention.
  • The entry is not directly related to the brand and character. A sports figure who has adopted the nickname "Pac-Man" because of perceived similarities between the person and the character, or a sports figure nicknamed "Super Mario" whose first name is Mario.
  • Having a brief mention in the midst of a song does not warrant inclusion.

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 list all the levels in a game, but Sonic Generations is an exception because its reliance on aspects from prior Sonic games is the basis of the game.
• 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.
• It is usually inappropriate to describe in-game items in detail, but describing the portal gun from Portal is necessary to understand the game, and has significant coverage in reliable sources.
• It is usually inappropriate to list specific multiplayer servers or worlds in a game, unless they have individual notability and coverage in reliable secondary sources, such as Hypixel, 2b2t, or The Uncensored Library.
• It is usually inappropriate to include cost information, but including the launch price of the PlayStation 3 in its article is an exception because it was largely criticized across various reliable publications. This should be included in the "Reception" section.
• It is usually inappropriate to mention or list homebrews and fan remakes of games. However, certain specific homebrew games, such as Grid Wars and Armagetron Advanced, have achieved notability because of their far-reaching impact on the game(s) on which they are based. Some fan remakes of games or their engines are independently notable and have their own articles, e.g. OpenMW (see also the "Remakes" section below).
• If a short article that has existed for some time is to be merged (per #2 above), merge the content first and only redirect the short article once consensus determines the merge is of sufficient quality.
• It is usually inappropriate to speculate about games that were never announced. However, certain games such as Chrono Break have been the subject of much debate by independent reliable sources, with the game's developer Square Enix commenting on questions about the future of the Chrono series.

Remakes, expansions, and series articles

Remakes, expansions (including both expansion packs and downloadable content), and game series can be handled as either a section in a parent article, or as a separate article. If you can verify enough information to write a non-stub section about the distinct reception of a video game remake, as well as a non-stub section about its distinct game development or design, then the remake will qualify for its own article. However, having a separate article should not endanger the notability of the parent article. If there is not enough distinct information on the remake for a complete article, the few distinct aspects of the remake should be covered in the original game's article. Expansions follow similar criteria for when it is appropriate to split out a separate article, taking care to avoid unnecessary splits.

Series or franchise articles provide an overview of a continuous intellectual property and a summary of its recurring elements. Generally, there will not be enough shared information for a separate series article until there are at least three related entries. Avoid creating a series article that only repeats what sources say about the individual games, and instead base the article on what reliable sources say about the series as a whole. This broad coverage can take some of the following forms:

• A broad scope: The series article should not merely recap or summarize individual games. It should instead describe the series as a whole in broader terms, such as what the games have in common. This could include general gameplay, and recurring elements such as characters and locations.
• Development/History: The article should give information on how the series came to be, and follow the thread of its history across multiple releases. This continuity is vital information that would otherwise be lost in articles about the individual titles.
• Reception/Legacy: There should be content that describes the real-world impact of the series. What do critics think of the series as a whole? How did the series effect its creators, the genre, and the wider industry in games and entertainment?
• Franchise/non-game media: Some series expand beyond the medium of video games. Franchise articles can cover these topics if they do not achieve independent notability on their own.

This is an encyclopedia, and articles should be written formally, unlike FAQs, fansites, or player's guides. In addition to the general Manual of Style guidelines, keep these video game-centric style ones in mind.

Name formattingedit

• Italicize video game series and stand-alone video games.
• Individual video game levels, chapters, or episodes of a standalone video game should use standard double quotes (for example, "Milkman Conspiracy").
• Italicize titles of in-universe fictional works that would be italicized if they were real, e.g. Red Book of Hergest. Similarly, use double quotes for titles of in-universe fictional works that would normally use double quotes if real, such as song names.
Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Video_games
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