When uploading an image, it needs to have an appropriate name and description, and be categorised by using [[Category:Category name]] tags in the "Summary" field on the upload page. PNG images are preferred over any other type of image (such as GIF or JPG) because of their enhanced lossless compression, and the fact that they're an open standard.
| Good image names | Bad image names |
|---|---|
LOZ Red Octorok.png
|
An enemy.gif
|
Image names: An appropriate name is one which begins with the initialised version of the game title and an underscore (e.g. Counter-Strike: Source images all begin with "css_") then something which details the content of the image itself very briefly. Names should not detail where or how the image is going to be used; merely what's in it. Numbered names for use in series of screenshots of a level are acceptable (e.g. "css_level_name01"), but this is the only use-case where not describing the contents of the image is acceptable. It should be noted that the MediaWiki software recognises filename extensions as case-sensitive, for example Image.jpg will be a different file than Image.JPG.
Descriptions: An appropriate description is one which links back to the relevant game, and contains text noting what the image is, and (if the game can be run on multiple systems) the hardware on which the image was captured. The categories to use when categorising an image are the subcategories of the images category. If a game has a large number of images for its guide (e.g. more than twenty), an image category for that game could be created, and all images for that game put into it, as well as being put into the normal image categories. Image categories for games should be named "Game name images" (note the lowercase "images"); and be a subcategory of images, nothing else (even if all the images in the game image category are sprites now, who knows what could be put in there in the future?).
For information on how to use and lay out images in articles, please see the layout guidelines. You also need to be aware of the legal issues when uploading images. Please do not upload watermarked images, but most other things are acceptable. For more information, see the copyrights page.
There are several main categories of images:
Box artwork
These images are pictures of game boxes. Preferably, the image will be a flat scan of the front of the box at a high resolution. Box artwork images should be wider than 250px, and the description should state the country of purchase of that box.
Box artwork should be categorised only in the box artwork category, by using the following wikimarkup:
[[Category:Box artwork]]
Other artwork
Other artwork can include company/hardware logos, game banners and conceptual artwork, and other similar images if no more appropriate category is available. With such images, a description is more important, as the background and use of the image may be less obvious than, perhaps, a box artwork image.
Other artwork should be categorised only in the artwork category, by using the following wikimarkup:
[[Category:Artwork]]
Character images
Character images are images of the characters, enemies, bosses, etc. in a game. They can either be sprites or models, but cannot be both. The description for a character image should contain the name of the character, as well as the usual link back to the game.
Character images should be categorised in the characters category, and additionally in either of the sprites or models categories, depending on what it is. (A sprite is a two-dimensional graphic, and a model is a three-dimensional polygonal object rendered by the computer. Sprites are mainly used in old games, while models make more of an appearance in games produced from the mid-1990s onwards.)
The following wikimarkup would be used for a sprite character:
[[Category:Characters]] [[Category:Sprites]]
The following wikimarkup would be used for a modelled character:
[[Category:Characters]] [[Category:Models]]
Item images
Item images are images of the items, weapons, etc. in a game. They (like character images) can either be sprites or models, but also cannot be both. The description for an item image should contain the name of the item, as well as the usual link back to the game.
Item images should be categorised in the items category, and additionally in either the sprites or models categories. For more information on this, see the character images section.
The following wikimarkup would be used for a sprite item:
[[Category:Items]] [[Category:Sprites]]
The following wikimarkup would be used for a modelled item:
[[Category:Items]] [[Category:Models]]
Screenshots
Screenshots make up most of the images on StrategyWiki. Any image which is a direct screenshot from in a game is considered a screenshot. Most screenshots will only be in the screenshots category. The description for a screenshot should contain information about the level and general area in which it was taken, and any specific action which is taking place.
The following wikimarkup should be used for a screenshot:
[[Category:Screenshots]]
Maps
Maps are images showing an overhead map of a level or area. Such maps can be annotated or have routes drawn on them, and they all go exclusively in the maps category. The description should say what the map details, and the meaning of any routes or paths drawn on it.
The following wikimarkup should be used for a map:
[[Category:Maps]]
Diagrams
Diagrams are any images which contain simplified or structural representations or guides to things. An example of a diagram would be a labeled view of a games console controller, or an image for a map key. All diagrams go exclusively in the diagrams category. Descriptions for diagrams should contain information on what the diagram is, and where it's likely to be used.
The following wikimarkup should be used for a diagram:
[[Category:Diagrams]]
Photos
A photo (photograph) is any picture which has been taken with a digital camera. The subjects of photographs are usually games consoles and other hardware, and the description should reflect what the subject is. All photographs should be in the photos category.
The following wikimarkup should be used for a photograph:
[[Category:Photos]]