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StrategyWiki:Guide/Other ways to contribute: Difference between revisions
From StrategyWiki, the video game walkthrough and strategy guide wiki
StrategyWiki:Guide/Other ways to contribute (edit)
Revision as of 19:06, 14 July 2006
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== Editing Pages == | == Editing Pages == | ||
In order to begin editing pages, you will need to register for an account. Don't worry, the process is very simple. Look at the top-right of the page to find a | In order to begin editing pages, you will need to register for an account. Don't worry, the process is very simple. Look at the top-right of the page to find a "log in" button, then fill out the information on the page that appears and you'll be editing articles in no time. | ||
Once you have an account, all you have to do to modify the page you're reading is click the | Once you have an account, all you have to do to modify the page you're reading is click the "Edit" tab above the page's main heading. This will display the page and the page's edit box below. Simply enter your changes into the edit box and click the "Save page" button, and your generous contribution will be instantly visible to all the visitors to the page. | ||
If you want to try out a few edits without fear of messing up a page, you can use the [[StrategyWiki:Sandbox|sandbox]]. It's the perfect page to learn how to edit and test Mediawiki markup. | If you want to try out a few edits without fear of messing up a page, you can use the [[StrategyWiki:Sandbox|sandbox]]. It's the perfect page to learn how to edit and test Mediawiki markup. | ||
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=== Discussion pages === | === Discussion pages === | ||
Every page also has an assocated | Every page also has an assocated "talk page" that can be viewed by clicking the "Discussion" link on the right-hand sidebar. These pages are usually used to aid collaboration between multiple users who are all making edits to the page. | ||
== Creating a Guide == | == Creating a Guide == | ||
What's that? Your favorite game doesn't have a StrategyWiki guide yet? You can create it! The easiest way to get started is to type the full name of the game you want to work on into the search box (at the top-right of every page) and press the | What's that? Your favorite game doesn't have a StrategyWiki guide yet? You can create it! The easiest way to get started is to type the full name of the game you want to work on into the search box (at the top-right of every page) and press the "Go" button. If nobody has started a guide for your game, the search result page will tell you so. Then, just click on the "this exact title" link to begin editing your guide's first page! | ||
NOTE: '''do not''' under any circumstances use & (ampersand) or ? (question mark) in the page name. These are used for special functions and pages using them in the title will be troublesome to work with. Any characters other than these two are fine, and there is no problem using these characters within the page itself. | NOTE: '''do not''' under any circumstances use & (ampersand) or ? (question mark) in the page name. These are used for special functions and pages using them in the title will be troublesome to work with. Any characters other than these two are fine, and there is no problem using these characters within the page itself. | ||
===Before you start=== | ===Before you start=== | ||
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===Writing guidelines=== | ===Writing guidelines=== | ||
When writing, always maintain a single focussed | When writing, always maintain a single focussed "voice". Do not refer to yourself ("I", "me", etc.) in the guide, unless it is specifically necessary (e.g. "[[User:NameHere]] has found that collecting all five keys within 30 seconds can actually be done, as long as...". However this is solely for the purpose of asserting that something is possible, rather than claiming glory for having achieved it. | ||
Always give alternate options. Many solo guide writers often choose what they say is the best way to complete a certain objective, but another gamer might choose another route. If there are multiple ways to do something writing them all out could be useful to the reader. | Always give alternate options. Many solo guide writers often choose what they say is the best way to complete a certain objective, but another gamer might choose another route. If there are multiple ways to do something writing them all out could be useful to the reader. | ||
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{{sidebar|width=200px|title=Example sidebar|contents=The sidebar runs helpfully alongside the core text without interrupting its flow.}} | {{sidebar|width=200px|title=Example sidebar|contents=The sidebar runs helpfully alongside the core text without interrupting its flow.}} | ||
If you want to mention helpful things to do along the way that are not part of the current stage of the walkthrough (for example sidequests or specific things needed for later in the main game) use [[Template:sidebar]]. | If you want to mention helpful things to do along the way that are not part of the current stage of the walkthrough (for example sidequests or specific things needed for later in the main game) use [[Template:sidebar]]. | ||
<br clear=all /> | |||
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===Copying from other guides=== | ===Copying from other guides=== | ||
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===Screenshots and illustrations=== | ===Screenshots and illustrations=== | ||
Do not go overboard on screenshots. Each screenshot should have a specific purpose, such as demonstrating a particular task (such as finding the correct book to open a secret passage), or a boss's various evolutions or movement patterns, or a list of enemies so the player can learn to recognise and differentiate between them, and so forth. If the thing in question is not clearly visible it may be useful to draw a circle or arrow similar indicating it. For the sake of simplicity do not write on the screenshot, the explanation should instead go in the picture caption or in the walkthrough body. For more involved steps it may be necessary to label different parts | Do not go overboard on screenshots. Each screenshot should have a specific purpose, such as demonstrating a particular task (such as finding the correct book to open a secret passage), or a boss's various evolutions or movement patterns, or a list of enemies so the player can learn to recognise and differentiate between them, and so forth. If the thing in question is not clearly visible it may be useful to draw a circle or arrow similar indicating it. For the sake of simplicity do not write on the screenshot, the explanation should instead go in the picture caption or in the walkthrough body. For more involved steps it may be necessary to label different parts "A" and "B" or similar. | ||
Similarly, featuring an overworld or screenshot map without any annotations is probably of little value. Such should serve to either show all the major locations in the game world or else to highlight hidden goodies, enemies, etc. | Similarly, featuring an overworld or screenshot map without any annotations is probably of little value. Such should serve to either show all the major locations in the game world or else to highlight hidden goodies, enemies, etc. | ||
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To help other people find your new guide, you should place its main page in several categories. We already have categories set up for systems and genres. To add a page to a category, simply put the following into your page: | To help other people find your new guide, you should place its main page in several categories. We already have categories set up for systems and genres. To add a page to a category, simply put the following into your page: | ||
<pre>[[Category:NAME]]</pre> | |||
Replace NAME with the category name you would like to use. To put your page into more than one category, just duplicate that line and change the name. | Replace NAME with the category name you would like to use. To put your page into more than one category, just duplicate that line and change the name. | ||
