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{{Infobox Website
{{Infobox Website
| name = StrategyWiki
| name = StrategyWiki
| logo = [[Image:StrategyWiki.PNG|StrategyWiki logo]]
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| commercial = No
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| type = [[Computer and video game]] [[wiki]]
| type = [[Computer and video game]] [[wiki]]
| registration = Optional (required for editing)
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'''StrategyWiki''' is a [[wiki]]-based [[website]] aiming to provide gamers and game walkthrough authors with the definitive repository of [[videogame]] [[walkthrough]]s, [[FAQs]] and [[strategy guide]]s with the advent of the [[MediaWiki]] engine. Unlike similar sites, StrategyWiki touts a "one game, one guide" rule where, rather than having each author work on a guide of their own, all users contribute to one single guide for each game. This is both to take full advantage of the wiki design and to eliminate the originally-inevitable redundancy of maintenance and expansion between different guides for the same game.<ref>[[strategywiki:StrategyWiki:What makes StrategyWiki different|StrategyWiki:What makes StrategyWiki different]]</ref>
'''StrategyWiki''' is a [[wiki]]-based [[website]] that hosts [[computer and video game]] [[walkthrough]]s and [[strategy guide]]s licensed under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]. It has a ''"one game, one guide"'' rule under which all users contribute to one unified guide rather than each author working on a separate guide for each game as on websites such as [[GameFAQs]]. This is intended to promote traditional wiki collaboration and also reduce the maintenance limitations of individual guides.<ref>[[strategywiki:StrategyWiki:What makes StrategyWiki different|StrategyWiki:What makes StrategyWiki different]]</ref>


Traditionally, video game walkthroughs are created as plain [[text file]]s with no formatting or embellishments other than visual tricks such as [[ASCII art]]. In recent years this format has been increasingly criticized for having not evolved along with advances in web design and web content accessibility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/06/strategywiki-out-to-crush-gamefaqs/|title=StrategyWiki out to crush GameFAQS - Joystiq}}</ref> By using [[MediaWiki]], StrategyWiki guides utilize features such as [[rich text]], [[HTML element#Tables|tables]] and inline images, all things that are either impossible or extremely difficult to replicate in a [[plain text]] file.
Traditionally, video game walkthroughs are created as plain [[text file]]s with no formatting or embellishments other than visual tricks such as [[ASCII art]]. In recent years, this format has been increasingly criticized for having not evolved along with advances in web design and web content accessibility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/06/strategywiki-out-to-crush-gamefaqs/|title=StrategyWiki out to crush GameFAQS - Joystiq}}</ref> By using [[MediaWiki]], StrategyWiki guides are able to utilize features such as [[rich text]], [[HTML element#Tables|tables]] and in-line images, things which are difficult or impossible to replicate in plain text.


===Skin===
==Internet resource==
StrategyWiki's unique default skin ''BlueCloud'' was developed in 2005 by web designer Ian Szewczyk. It has been favored among most StrategyWiki contributors.
In addition to providing strategy guides to natural [[search engine]] visitors, several sites use StrategyWiki for directing their traffic to supplementary information. Links for game guide information are found on articles in [[Wikipedia]] and the site is linked as a gaming resource on [http://mameworld.info/ MAMEWorld]. The site is also used to provide in-depth information for [[Battlestations: Midway]] on the [[Apple]] website<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2008/07/battlestationsmidway/index2.html |title=One if By Air, Two if By Sea |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2009-11-02 }}</ref>.


BlueCloud can be easily distinguished from other MediaWiki skins, a toolbox dock is placed on the right and stretches from the top to the bottom of the page. It contains various links to non-critical functions such as ''Watch'' and ''What links here'', while more important functions exist at the top of the page as a tab. Furthermore, a special template can be used to display extra elements originally unreachable by the scope of any other default skin created. All elements processable by the MediaWiki engine can be placed on the toolbox dock, including text, images, and various other aides. Some games have utilitized this to display the game's table of contents, or to display a list of objectives throughout the game.
==Involvement with Wikimedia==
On [[April 22]], [[2006]], [[Wikimedia Foundation]] chairman [[Jimmy Wales]] stated that videogame walkthroughs should not be hosted on [[Wikibooks]]<ref>[[wikibooks:Wikibooks talk:Electronic games bookshelf#I am unaware of any elementary school, high school, or college courses which require computer game walkthroughs as a text|Jimmy Wales comments on Wikibooks]]</ref><ref>[http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=Wikibooks:What_is_Wikibooks&oldid=434945 Jimmy Wales comments on What is Wikibooks]</ref>, saying that video game walkthroughs were not the subject of educational courses and so were a violation of Wikibooks' charter. As a result of this announcement StrategyWiki used the [[m:Help:Transwiki|transwiki]] process to copy over these disallowed works.<ref>[[strategywiki:StrategyWiki:Wikibooks Import List|StrategyWiki:Wikibooks Import List]]</ref>


===Involvement with Wikibooks===
==Partnerships==
When [[Jimmy Wales]] no longer wanted videogame walkthroughs on [[Wikibooks]]<ref>[[wikibooks:Wikibooks talk:Computer and video games bookshelf#I am unaware of any elementary school, high school, or college courses which require computer game walkthroughts as a text|Jimmy Wales comments on Wikibooks]]</ref><ref>[http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=Wikibooks:What_is_Wikibooks&oldid=434945 Jimmy Wales comments on What is Wikibooks]</ref>, StrategyWiki used the [[m:Help:Transwiki|transwiki]] process to copy many guides for continuation to their site.<ref>[[strategywiki:StrategyWiki:Wikibooks Import List|StrategyWiki:Wikibooks Import List]]</ref> They now host the majority of Wikibooks' video game guides. This has inevitably resulted in a large boost to both StrategyWiki's guide count and contributor base, as many Wikibooks users now consider themselves regular StrategyWiki contributors.  
StrategyWiki has participated in developing professional partnerships to alleviate costs and improve its ability to compete with other guide websites.


== Milestones ==
===DoubleJump Books===
* StrategyWiki has grown to incorporate over 2,500 different articles containing over 9,000 maps, screenshots and other illustrations.<ref>[[strategywiki:Special:Statistics|StrategyWiki statistics]]</ref>
On [[March 18]], [[2008]], StrategyWiki entered into a partnership with [[strategy guide]] publisher [[DoubleJump Books]] for a mutual cross-[[promotion (marketing)|promotion]]. The site has been advertised in DoubleJump's print guide for the [[PlayStation 2]] [[RPG]] ''[[Mana Khemia]]'' and has subsequently become DoubleJump's official wiki.<ref>[http://www.doublejumpbooks.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=5260.0 Announcing the DoubleJump Strategy Wiki!]</ref>
* StrategyWiki has nearly 100 to 200 edits on an average daily basis.
 
* StrategyWiki hosts over 700 different walkthroughs, over 100 of which are in a "completed state" (covering most or all elements of the game in question.)<ref>[[strategywiki:Category:Guides at completion stage 4|Guides at completion stage 4]]</ref>
===GamerDNA===
* StrategyWiki attracts nearly 30 new authors every week.{{fact}}
On [[October 12]], [[2008]], StrategyWiki officially transferred their database to servers owned and operated by [[GamerDNA]] in hopes of increasing performance and site stability.<ref name="GDNA Announcement">[http://strategywiki.org/wiki/StrategyWiki:Announcements StrategyWiki announcement] of GDNA server operation on October 12th, 2008.</ref>
* StrategyWiki receives per month approximately 100,000 unique visits and over 4,000,000 hits on average.<ref>[http://strategywiki.org/wiki/StrategyWiki:Statistics#Recent_traffic_statistics StrategyWiki's server statistics]</ref>  
* StrategyWiki is nearly within the top 40,000 ranked websites in the US trafic-wise. <ref>[http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?q=strategywiki.org&url=strategywiki.org Alexa.com statistics]</ref>


==Similar sites==
==Similar sites==
Since its founding [[IGN]] has started the IGN Vault Wiki, but only for [[computer role-playing game]]s and [[MMORPG]]s. [[1up]] also operates a wiki, called [[MyCheats]]. Neither of these wikis have their content available under an open source license.  
Since StrategyWiki's founding, [[IGN]] has started the IGN Vault Wiki, but only for [[computer role-playing game]]s and [[MMORPG]]s. [[1UP.com]] also operates a wiki called MyCheats, but neither of these wikis have their content available under a [[copyleft]] license. [[Wikia]] has a collection of game-related wikis, some of which feature walkthrough material.


==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}


==External Links==
==External links==
* [http://strategywiki.org/ ''StrategyWiki'']
* [[strategywiki:|''StrategyWiki'' website]]
* [http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/wiki/a-wiki-for-game-strategy-tips-147290.php Kotaku - A Wiki for Game Strategy, Tips]
* [http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/wiki/a-wiki-for-game-strategy-tips-147290.php Kotaku - A Wiki for Game Strategy, Tips]
* [http://www.convergenceculture.org/weblog/2006/01/strategywiki_the_new_gamefaqs.html MIT Convergence Culture Consortium - StrategyWiki: The New GameFAQs?]
* [http://www.convergenceculture.org/weblog/2006/01/strategywiki_the_new_gamefaqs.html MIT Convergence Culture Consortium - StrategyWiki: The New GameFAQs?]
* [http://www.lifehacker.com/software/games/game-strategy-with-strategywiki-147058.php Lifehacker - Game strategy with StrategyWiki]
* [http://www.lifehacker.com/software/games/game-strategy-with-strategywiki-147058.php Lifehacker - Game strategy with StrategyWiki]
* [http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/06/strategywiki-out-to-crush-gamefaqs/ Joystiq - StrategyWiki out to crush GameFAQs]


[[Category:2005 establishments]]
[[Category:2005 establishments]]
[[Category:Video game websites]]
[[Category:Video game websites]]
[[Category:MediaWiki websites]]
[[Category:MediaWiki websites]]
[[pt:StrategyWiki]]
[[sv:StrategyWiki]]

Latest revision as of 04:12, 5 November 2009

Template:Infobox Website StrategyWiki is a wiki-based website that hosts computer and video game walkthroughs and strategy guides licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It has a "one game, one guide" rule under which all users contribute to one unified guide rather than each author working on a separate guide for each game as on websites such as GameFAQs. This is intended to promote traditional wiki collaboration and also reduce the maintenance limitations of individual guides.[1]

Traditionally, video game walkthroughs are created as plain text files with no formatting or embellishments other than visual tricks such as ASCII art. In recent years, this format has been increasingly criticized for having not evolved along with advances in web design and web content accessibility.[2] By using MediaWiki, StrategyWiki guides are able to utilize features such as rich text, tables and in-line images, things which are difficult or impossible to replicate in plain text.

Internet resource[edit]

In addition to providing strategy guides to natural search engine visitors, several sites use StrategyWiki for directing their traffic to supplementary information. Links for game guide information are found on articles in Wikipedia and the site is linked as a gaming resource on MAMEWorld. The site is also used to provide in-depth information for Battlestations: Midway on the Apple website[3].

Involvement with Wikimedia[edit]

On April 22, 2006, Wikimedia Foundation chairman Jimmy Wales stated that videogame walkthroughs should not be hosted on Wikibooks[4][5], saying that video game walkthroughs were not the subject of educational courses and so were a violation of Wikibooks' charter. As a result of this announcement StrategyWiki used the transwiki process to copy over these disallowed works.[6]

Partnerships[edit]

StrategyWiki has participated in developing professional partnerships to alleviate costs and improve its ability to compete with other guide websites.

DoubleJump Books[edit]

On March 18, 2008, StrategyWiki entered into a partnership with strategy guide publisher DoubleJump Books for a mutual cross-promotion. The site has been advertised in DoubleJump's print guide for the PlayStation 2 RPG Mana Khemia and has subsequently become DoubleJump's official wiki.[7]

GamerDNA[edit]

On October 12, 2008, StrategyWiki officially transferred their database to servers owned and operated by GamerDNA in hopes of increasing performance and site stability.[8]

Similar sites[edit]

Since StrategyWiki's founding, IGN has started the IGN Vault Wiki, but only for computer role-playing games and MMORPGs. 1UP.com also operates a wiki called MyCheats, but neither of these wikis have their content available under a copyleft license. Wikia has a collection of game-related wikis, some of which feature walkthrough material.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

pt:StrategyWiki sv:StrategyWiki