Talk:Fashion Dogz/Gameplay

Sorry for creating the Screen Layout page. I didn't think it would look good to create a "Getting Started" page in the "Getting Started" secion. But I guess you just made the "Getting Started" text point to the page.

Also, Najzere, I noticed your comment said "We don't need a whole page for Screen Layout".

''EDIT: The following discussion is in no way directed at Najzere. It is just a general discussion directed at anyone who reads it. It was merely Najzere's comment that prompted me to ask these questions.''

What is the minimum amount of information that is needed to qualify it for it's own page? In my opinion, if a whole page can not be created for screen layout (which can be extensive in some games with many things happening on the screen at once), then it could also be argued that a whole page should not be used for Controls. Especially on a system with few buttons, such as Gameboy Advance. To solve these discrepancies, I propose that we pick and stick with one of two ways of dealing with this:

1. Screen layout, controls, and other basics all be put on a single page entitled "Getting Started" or "Basics" or something of that effect. Then Controls, Screen Layout, etc. can just be under their main headings on that page.

2. The other option is of course to have separate pages for each of these: Controls, Screen Layout, etc... under a common heading of "Getting Started" or "Basics" in the table of contents which is similar to the way many games are setup now on StrategyWiki.

Either of the above ways is fine with me. It just doesn't make sense to have both of the above scenarios happening at the same time. Right now with this game, there is a separate page created for controls, yet their is a "Getting Started" page with other basics inside of it. And, when video games are concerned, controls are the most basic of basics as you can't play without knowing them. Which suggests that they should also be on this "Getting Started" page.

EDIT: I just read the guidelines on Guide/Organization and it does explain some things. However it pretty much says that game basics can be organized in either of the 2 above mentioned ways depending on the complexity of the game. Which makes sense. A simple game can have all of the basics on a single "Getting Started" page. A complex game can have separate pages for each of the basics. Including Screen Layout if the complexity warrants it.

This game (Fashion Dogz) now has both methods in place. Having a "Getting Started" page and a separate controls page. To follow the guidelines on your organization page I will move controls to the "Getting Started" page. --louie55 22:23, 10 January 2009 (UTC)
 * As you say, a Screen Layout page would be fine "if the complexity warrants it." So create the page and fill it out with all the information and we can decide if it needs its own page. Until you actually contribute some content to the guide, it's going to be pretty hard to determine how complex it is. On the other hand, we can let the user who is writing the guide make her own decisions and then evaluate if anything needs to change afterwards. I don't recall ever having seen a Screen Layout page on here, the closest I think would be a Controls and Interface page on some of the very large and complex computer games, but somehow Fashion Dogz doesn't strike me as needing that level of detail. Time will tell, but just looking at some of the level four completion DS games (Chrono Trigger, Animal Crossing: Wild World and Metroid Prime Hunters), Screen Layout doesn't appear to be at all necessary. - naj zere 01:42, 12 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I totally agree with you on everything you said. I was merely speaking generally, not for this game particularly. I agree this game will probably not warrant a separate page for Screen Layout. When I made the Screen Layout page, it was only because I needed a place to put the information that the author had entered and didn't know that I could make the big "Getting Started" heading into a link to a Getting Started page. Just another sign of my lack of experience here. It won't happen again. --louie55 01:54, 12 January 2009 (UTC)