StrategyWiki:Staff lounge

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Welcome to all users! This page is where people can ask StrategyWiki-related questions to the staff and senior community figures, and they will do their best to answer. If you want to raise a topic for discussion (rather than just ask about it), please use community issues instead. New issues are entered here, with the most recent at the bottom of the page. Please review the Table of Contents to see if your issue has already been raised; also check the archives (to the right) in case it was discussed some time ago.

To facilitate ease of browsing and replying, please:
 * 1) Place your question at the bottom of the list
 * 2) Title the question (by placing the title between equals signs: ==title==)
 * 3) Sign your name and date (by adding two hyphens and four tildes: --~ )

For regular members only: Wikipedia article draft
Hi everyone. Echelon asked me to help write a draft of an article that would be contributed to Wikipedia about StrategyWiki. Aside from the history (how the site began, which I'm not especially knowledgeable about), I have drafted two of the sections, the Mission and the Milestones. I think what I've done is very rough and in need of much improvement, but it should serve as a good foundation. It would mean a lot to this site if all of the regulars took a stab at molding and shaping it until we have an article worthy of depositing on Wikipedia. Have a go at it here: Wikipedia_Article. Thank you! Procyon 21:57, 2 February 2007 (CST)
 * The problem is notability. Unless outside sources have noted StrategyWiki, well then it is not supposed to exist on Wikipedia. --Notmyhandle 01:32, 3 February 2007 (CST)
 * It needs to be notable so that it can be verifiable. I wouldn't bother putting an article about this site on there unless it has at least three outside sources (not here, or blogs, but gaming sites might due).  Or perhaps one major news story (like a cnn/nbc kind of thing).  As far as I know we've gotten some attention for challenging gamefaqs, but that isn't notability in itself. -- Mason11987 (Talk - Contributions) 08:29, 3 February 2007 (CST)
 * What do you guys think of these sources? I am hesitant to say that they alone are enough, but I do think that they would serve well in our defense should our notability be challenged. If we need more sources, perhaps we can simply look into help--I know of a reporter at Wired, for instance.  ech elon  23:57, 3 February 2007 (CST)
 * I believe the key here is to get increasingly notable press for our project. I would like to start seeing GameFAQs regulars switching over to StrategyWiki; a Wikipedia article would only serve as an additional claim to our relevance, and though such would not be the ultimate measure of our project's worth I do believe it can and will serve as a talking point in converting GameFAQs contributors into StrategyWiki contributors. It is ultimately these people of whom we must garner the respect and support of. Random articles and Diggs may help us get more traffic, but they alone will not likely net us the hardcore contributors.  ech elon  00:07, 4 February 2007 (CST)
 * Maybe it's time we got slashdotted. Oh, and a better server while we're at it. GarrettTalk 01:34, 4 February 2007 (CST)
 * I think the Kotaku, MIT Convergence Culture Consortium, Joystiq, and perhaps lifehacker are all good don't bother with digg or delicious obviously.  It'll be a tough call to be sure on notability.  The only thing that could cause us problems is if we don't directly follow policy.  We can't attempt to game the system and using sockpuppets will sadly put our site in a more negative light.  I think we should start the article and use those three (perhaps four) articles as sources.  Ensure that all the information is sourced and meaningful to people outside of just this small group here.  -- Mason11987 (Talk - Contributions) 18:45, 4 February 2007 (CST)
 * I doubt the article will have much length, but why not give it a try. Even if it gets deleted eventually we can bring it back. --Notmyhandle 20:18, 4 February 2007 (CST)
 * Just to note, we do get classed in the top 100k websites according to Alexa, though thats only on Sundays... it'll take a little while before our 3 month avg is above 100k. -- Prod (Talk) 22:34, 4 February 2007 (CST)


 * I added our site to the list of sites using MediaWiki, which could count as a reliable source (sort of) because all links on that page are checked for the fact that they A:exist and B:do use MediaWiki. --Ryan SchmidtTalk - Contribs 20:41, 7 February 2007 (CST)
 * Does anyone think we should add a screenshot of bluecloud and maybe Autumn leaf onto this page on mediawiki.org.--Rocky http://media.strategywiki.org/images/thumb/7/78/Rally-X_Rock.png/25px-Rally-X_Rock.png (Talk - Contributions) 08:57, 2 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Autumn leaf needs a better header image (it's pixelated), preferably one with clouds, before it can be a good mod. -- 12:58, 2 September 2007 (CDT)

Question about transferring a guide
I am currently working on a guide for the old DOS game Star Wars TIE Fighter for gamefaqs.com, but that site has really made me angry over the past few months... So once I complete it, I intend to upload it there, because I've wanted to write this guide for a long time... But would there be any easy way for me to put it on here? Like, can I give you guys permission to use parts of my guide for on here, or how would I go about that? Vegetaman 17:02, 31 August 2007 (CDT)
 * We don't have to give YOU permission, you have to give US permission. By putting anything on this site you are surrendering actual copyright of the document, however your name is associated to the content that you submit.  What this means is that any person can post any part of your guide anywhere so long as they say Vegetaman wrote it.  Anyways, when you're finished (or while you're not finished) you can just start pasting content on the correct pages.  -- 18:01, 31 August 2007 (CDT)


 * Excellent. I'd say I'm only half of the way done, but I hope to be done in a few weeks. I'll have to add the game and somebody will probably have to pretty it up and screenshots will need to be added, but no worries there. Many thanks. Vegetaman 18:52, 31 August 2007 (CDT)

Table of Contents
I want to know how to change the table of contents for the Sims 2 page but I'm not sure how. Clicking on edit doesn't do anything, I don't know how to add new pages to it and I'm scared I might accidently delete pages that I've already completed. Can someone help me?--Sims2Guy 00:09, 1 September 2007 (CDT)
 * You need to edit The Sims 2/Table of Contents directly. -- Prod (Talk) 00:18, 1 September 2007 (CDT)

Oh never mind. Worked out how--Sims2Guy 00:26, 1 September 2007 (CDT)

Tables and Graphs
I know your not allowed to copy information directly from copyrighted sources but are you allowed to copy raw data, (that is, tables of information and graphs) from those sources if they're relavent to the page being created or edited.--Sims2Guy 00:31, 1 September 2007 (CDT)
 * You can copy the data, as long as you completely redo the layout and presentation. -- Prod (Talk) 00:34, 1 September 2007 (CDT)

missing games question
Work has been keeping me too busy to play through games lately but I still want to help out since this site is a wonderfully helpful idea. Right now I have access to a lot of box art that we are missing. The games also have their manuals so I can at least do the research for the first page and add any information like play instructions from the manuals. I was wondering if it was considered rude or undesirable to create stubs for games that have yet to have anything added on them? The most I would be adding would be info for the front page and instructions on how to play. --Zaiqukaj 21:29, 4 September 2007 (CDT)
 * No, it's not rude at all. We weigh the pros and cons of doing this.  On the one hand, it adds work that someone can eventually expand upon.  On the other hand, the presence of the stub itself may deter less investigative members from working on a guide because they assume is already present (even though it's just a stub.)  But I think the pro outweighs the con in this case.  And in my opinion, a "fleshed-out" stub is much better than a page-creation stub.  So feel free to go for it.  Procyon (Talk) 21:37, 4 September 2007 (CDT)
 * The more information you add, the better. Some people focus on the main pages, some people focus on the guides. Really the best thing you could do to start off a guide (even if you don't plan on writing the actual guide) is to fill in a few key pieces of information:


 * Make sure the game name is right (verify based on the wikipedia page, name on the box, additionally the company site should give you the exact 'trademarked' name).
 * Fill in the infobox (wikipedia is a great help)
 * Add some quick info about the game (a few sentences)
 * Create the table of contents (using the preload button) and then add some extra links (level names, or just something specific for the game)
 * A good example of this is Ghost Master. You don't need to fill everything in, but the more the merrier :). -- Prod (Talk) 11:42, 5 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Thank you for answering. I will keep this information in mind when making a new page. --Zaiqukaj 08:46, 6 September 2007 (CDT)

Naming Pages
I have basically finished the walkthroughs, renamed the missions and am getting ready to do cleanup from when I first started, as I feel I have a bit more of a basic 'format' feel of things now.

I have one idea about naming the missions, and wanted your opinion. When I am working on things, I see the mission titles like "Blue Angel" and I have to make extra efforts to remind myself what mission it is, China, USA, GLA -- and then what number the mission is. I know I can default to the Table of Contents, but just looking at the page I feel lost.

What do you think of this page-naming concept...do you think it is too much information???

CHI-1 The Dragon Reborn  or China 1. The Dragon Reborn USA-1 Blue Angel GLA-3 Flood of Chaos or at least: 1. The Dragon Reborn 2. Chaos Factor

thanks...Karlcsr 18:30, 11 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Uh, try to be as descriptive and concise as possible. Other than that, no idea. -- 20:11, 11 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Well, you could take a look at how I named the missions for StarCraft. Since yours are way shorter than my examples, I'd say any of them are okay. Baejung92 20:20, 11 September 2007 (CDT)

I replied to this on his talk page. In short, I don't think it's necessary (even the StarCraft guide doesn't really need them). -- Prod (Talk) 20:44, 11 September 2007 (CDT)

Please ban XLordKishuX to edit maple story category..
He is edit maple story category and destroy it or put wrong staff there....i did undo his changes 5 times and said to him to stop this but he is not listening to me...--Ofir38 03:35, 16 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Done. Sorry for not doing it sooner, i have also reverted all of his edits.--Rocky http://media.strategywiki.org/images/thumb/7/78/Rally-X_Rock.png/25px-Rally-X_Rock.png (Talk - Contributions) 05:36, 16 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Where did you tell him to stop??--Rocky http://media.strategywiki.org/images/thumb/7/78/Rally-X_Rock.png/25px-Rally-X_Rock.png (Talk - Contributions) 05:39, 16 September 2007 (CDT)

in my MS forum...i know him there and in that forum i speak hebrew and he speak hebrew 2 so i told him there in pm to stop edit the MS category and he didnt listening to me...--Ofir38 07:29, 16 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Ah. Anyway, we can't just block someone for editing one specific thing. They can either edit everything (aka, not blocked), or edit absolutely nothing (aka, banned). Quite obviously, vandals fall into the second category, but please keep in mind that when blocking users, it is impossible to "pick a category". Just to let you know, Ofir. -- 09:52, 16 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Page Protection would kinda, but that's not really an option.--Rocky http://media.strategywiki.org/images/thumb/7/78/Rally-X_Rock.png/25px-Rally-X_Rock.png (Talk - Contributions) 09:58, 16 September 2007 (CDT)

YouTube video guidelines?
Are there any specific guidelines to adding Youtube videos to a strategy section?

For instance, I have recently been uploading video walkthroughs of The Simpsons Hit & Run to my YouTube account and was wondering if I would be able to use them here. Would videos like these be okay, or should I get rid of all the extra stuff (site logo, zomg glitch alert, watermark, etc) and just upload plain videos? Kamek 22:12, 21 September 2007 (CDT)


 * Don't worry about it, just use the YouTube template (you can see pages that have been using it by going to YouTube and then "What Links Here" in the toolbox, then check the list for examples. Btw, thanks for the contributions - vids are greatly appreciated.  -- 23:38, 21 September 2007 (CDT)

Outside link
Is Audition/Songs an acceptable page? All it contains is a link to an outside source that has all the songs listed in it. Baejung92 23:09, 28 September 2007 (CDT)
 * Never mind, I see it just got rewritten. Baejung92 23:15, 28 September 2007 (CDT)

code with spaces
When a link or image name has spaces in it I just noticed that both space and underscore work in the same manner(at least in my browser). I'm confused on if there is a prefered standard.

Also, is it ok to take information from a walkthrough book if the information is a statistic or number that would be the same in every source? For example: The encounter rates of enemies in a specific area or how many HP something has. Zaiqukaj 07:59, 1 October 2007 (CDT)
 * There's no standard for spaces vs. underscores right now. I personally prefer to use spaces because I think it looks cleaner.  As for statistics from games, as long as you do not copy the formatting of a guide, you can use the information.  Everything you take/learn from another guide must be rewritten to avoid copyvio.--
 * It's better to upload images with underscores but it doesn't really matter.-- The preceding signed comment was added by Rocky (talk • contribs). 10:29, 1 October 2007 (CDT)
 * When using the images in a page, try to avoid underscores. They aren't really necessary and it looks cleaner.  The underscores are converted to spaces when you upload the file anywayz. -- Prod (Talk) 11:18, 1 October 2007 (CDT)

infoboxes
With the different categories that infoboxes cover, is there a proper/preferred way to cover remakes or game collections that include the game? There are also some services that allow use of older games. Should the dates a game becomes available on one of those be stated somewhere? Just thought I would ask since Wikipedia threw me off by giving release dates for Midevil on Playstation Network. --Zaiqukaj 06:08, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

I'm confused
Well i started to edit Neo Geo and i added in an infobox via then saved it off so a second later it comes up with the needed syntax. I thougt it be simply like other infoboxes but it ended being jiberish to be .Richardson j 06:14, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Fixed that. You must have used subst: when creating it. It's currently just a stub, so could use some information filled in.  Check System for some documentation of variables. -- Prod (Talk) 09:26, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
 * I added some info to the infobox, but it could still use some information in the body of the page... Oh, and Prod I hope you don't mind, I fixed the link in your response.--
 * Ok thanks Richardson j 18:15, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

For the experts out there.
OK, so Prod and I have been on a tear to reorganize the fighting game move lists and get them transcluded on respective pages. I thought it was a pretty good idea, and it has been working well up until now. If anyone tries to check out Street Fighter Alpha 3, with its 33 transcluded move lists, they're probably not going to succeed. It seems to time out. I've been editing the page to try things out, and the most number of guys that I can get to show up without it bombing out is around 10, and even then it's extremely sloooooooow. I don't know if there's anything that I can do to optimize the individual lists, or anything in general that would help SW build this page in its entirety... I think we may simply have hit upon some kind of limit. Any advice that anyone has on this problem would be greatly appreciated. Chances are I'll just break the list down into smaller sections, as unfortunate as that would be. (Well, it wouldn't be that unfotunate, it would just make SFA3 different from the other lists...) Procyon (Talk) 16:47, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
 * I've always been kind of confused with the move lists project. What exactly is the goal?  Are you trying to put all of the lists on each guide as well as a specific character page for each character with all of their moves from each game?  Also, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea to have a separate page for each character in the guides with strategies vs. other characters (or is this part of the transclusion as well?).  Like I said, I've always been kind of confused about it.  Maybe it would be worth it to create a move lists project page that explains what you are trying to do and has a to do list for those of us who don't really know where to begin.  Kind of like the cleanup project.--
 * The original intention was to have two ways for a player to reference moves from every fighting game: A master list of all the characters from a particular game, and a character list with all of his/her moves from every game. That was the the concept at it's most basic.  Unfortunately, the original plan doesn't lend itself very well to the organization here at SW.  (I mean, it lends itself well, just not very well.)  So Prod convinced me of a few reformatting ideas, and I like them a lot, particularly because rather than having to update to distinct lists in order to keep each page up to date, you only have to update one, and the update occurs everywhere the list is transcluded.  So even if we transclude it three or more times, it's not a problem.  At this very moment, Street Fighter II has pretty much the ideal format for the move lists.  Each game's page contains its master move list, and each of the character pages reference their own moves from each of the games.  (This way you can see how the moves differ from one version to another).  Versus strategy was never in the scope of the Move Lists project itself, per se.  That doesn't mean there's anything stopping anyone from adding a strategy page to any fighting game page they wish.  Along those lines, a combo page might be nice as well, but my personal biggest concern was recording all of the special moves.  So... does that answer all of your Qs Duke?  Cuz I'm really hoping someone can answer mine.  I have a feeling that Template:SFA3 may be part of the problem :( Procyon (Talk) 20:05, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

Update: Well I tried blanking out Template:SFA3 as a test, and the page (slowly) succeeded to load. But that template is extraordinarily useful for that game. So either I need to find a way to trim so fat, or split the list up into two parts. Still curious if anyone has any ideas. Procyon (Talk) 20:46, 3 October 2007 (CDT)

Redirects
How do you do them? I want to make sure "COD4" and "Call of Duty 4" all go to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Baejung92 23:23, 3 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Create the page COD4 where the content is " #REDIRECT Call of Duty 4 " without quotes. When redirecting to category pages you MUST place a colon in front of the title of the page you are redirecting to, for example: " Category:RPG ." -- 00:35, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * There is also a link in the edittoolbox (just below the edit box) to add a redirect in case you forget. -- Prod (Talk) 09:42, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Prod's talking about this image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/Button_redirect.png -- 14:00, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Do you really have to put a colon in front of the link name? I never have and it seems to be working fine...--
 * If you don't, the page gets put in the category Duke... -- 18:00, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * You know you've had a long day when you can't even read things correctly... I somehow totally missed the fact that you were talking about category pages.  I think I need some sleep.--
 * Actually, I'm talking about the text boxes below. Under Wiki markup: there's a bunch of useful ones.  Though that one is probably better. -- Prod (Talk) 20:17, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * OK Thank yous. Baejung92 19:26, 4 October 2007 (CDT)

Renaming Images
Am I allowed to rename images? If so, how do I do it, and if not, the one needing to be renamed is "Image:COD2 Silo Barn.jpg". It should actually be named "Image:COD2 Silo Post Office.jpg". Baejung92 19:55, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Upload it under the new name, and mark the old one for deletion with delete. Make sure you add a reason why (link to the new image). -- Prod (Talk) 20:16, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * He meant "Save it, then re-upload it under the new name..." -- 23:05, 4 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Any user can, or just ask me. To do it, go to the image page, click on the imget to get the fuull version, save it to your PC as the right name, open a new tab or window with the upload screen, select the file, edit the image, copy all the info, go back to the image page, say who originally uploaded it, upload it, change all links to the new image, then add delete to the original imge.-- The preceding signed comment was added by Rocky (talk • contribs). 02:02, 5 October 2007 (CDT)
 * If I uploaded the image and still have it, I can just reupload it under the new name right? Baejung92 17:17, 5 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Just follow Rocky's instructions. If you already have it saved you can skip that step.  -- 18:53, 5 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Yeah, it also helps if you made the image so you can miss out the attribution.-- The preceding signed comment was added by Rocky (talk • contribs). 00:35, 6 October 2007 (CDT)

Singapore release date
Do we have any templates for a Singapore release date? Wikipedia's abbreviation for it is sg and I could not find it in the little listing in our Release date templates. Messing with templates is still a foreign idea for me so a little help or advice would be appreciated. --Zaiqukaj 03:43, 13 October 2007 (CDT)
 * We don't currently, but I'll create one. In future, just use the template as you would normally (even though it doesn't exist), and just point me to the page using it, and I'll create the template. :-) Oh, and could you not add wikipedia to articles unless the Wikipedia article is particularly useful? Thanks. -- 09:15, 13 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Sure thing and thanks for the help. I'm starting to get a good understanding of how things work here. Almost all of the mario party pages don't have any content beyond the infobox. The wikipedia pages all had pretty detailed descriptions of the features and links to other related sites. It should prove to at least be a bit more helpful than a stub to someone who needs help/info on the game. I admit the wikipedia link would be only repetative data after the pages are filled past being stubs. Thanks for letting me know when to add that tag, they will be taken out when the pages have something helpful on them. --Zaiqukaj 03:10, 14 October 2007 (CDT)

Missing Section in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
I've just noticed something weird. There isn't any section that tells about Gerudo Valley, Gerudo's Training Fortress, Desert Collossus, or the Haunted Wasteland before the Spirit Temple in the guide to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I just wanted to let everyone know that the section about the journey to the Spirit Temple is missing. It is a major gap of information, and is neccesarry to complete the guide. I will try my best to fill it in, but some help would be appreciated. -- '''|Superpowered  Mario ''' (Talk|contribs)
 * Huh, weird... I didn't notice that either. I could help later on, but I need to get that far on my emulation copy first so I can take screenshots (and that far on my N64 one so I can play for the strategy -- I just cannot play them for reasons other than screenies on the computer, the key layout just doesn't suit me as well as the actual controller). -- 15:25, 23 October 2007 (CDT)

People's Tactics Guide
en.wikibooks is hosting a guide for People's Tactics, that has recently been nominated for deletion. I know there is a little bit of a backlog for books to be imported to strategywiki from wikibooks, but since this one is on the chopping block, maybe it could be fast-tracked? The guide is HERE. Apparently, this online guide is the only existing documentation for the game, and if it gets deleted at wikibooks, it will disappear forever. I don't think there is any particular hurry, if the import can't be done immediately. Thanks! --Whiteknight 20:01, 24 October 2007 (CDT)
 * I have transwikid it over, but it needs major cleanup/revision to fit with our standards. -- 20:32, 24 October 2007 (CDT)
 * It also needs to be voted on before it can stay; considering it doesn't meet our requirements for fitting in with Scope. I for one say it should stay: the game is freeware (i.e. not advertiseable), the guide looks like its one of a kind, and it's already at a level 2 or 3 stage by the looks of it.  -- 20:43, 24 October 2007 (CDT)
 * Notmyhandle, the guide was already listed on the Wikibooks Import List (check through the history since I removed it and put in in the completed page), which is why I imported it over without asking for input (it wouldn't be listed there if it didn't deserve to come in). Plus, this guide is the only one of its kind out there, so it really can't be deleted anyway. -- 10:15, 25 October 2007 (CDT)
 * None of those reasons are really compelling to me. However, from the screenshots the game looks well made and complete so I think it suits our notability standards (unlike certain games).  And the guide is already made, and relatively small, so no worries about wasting our collective time for a minor game. -- Prod (Talk) 11:23, 25 October 2007 (CDT)