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{{Infobox Website
{{Infobox Website
| name = StrategyWiki
| name = StrategyWiki
| logo = [[Image:StrategyWiki.PNG|StrategyWiki logo]]
| logo = [[Image:StrategyWiki screenshot.png|StrategyWiki logo|250px]]
| screenshot =  
| screenshot =  
| caption =  
| caption =  
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| commercial = No
| commercial = No
| type = [[Computer and video game]] [[wiki]]
| type = [[Computer and video game]] [[wiki]]
| registration = Optional, but recommended
| registration = Optional
| owner =  
| owner =  
| author =  
| author =  
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| revenue = Undisclosed
| revenue = Undisclosed
}}
}}
'''StrategyWiki''' is a [[wiki]]-based [[website]] aiming to provide gamers and game walkthrough authors with a definitive repository of [[videogame]] [[walkthrough]]s, [[FAQs]] and [[strategy guide]]s all licensed under the terms of the [[GFDL]]. 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.


To differentiate itself from other standard MediaWiki wikis, StrategyWiki's unique default skin ''BlueCloud'' was developed in 2005 by web designer Ian Szewczyk.
==Internet resource==
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>.


===Involvement with Wikimedia===
==Involvement with Wikimedia==
When [[Jimmy Wales]] designated he 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 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 had no educational value therefore was in violation of Wikibooks' charter, StrategyWiki used the [[m:Help:Transwiki|transwiki]] process to copy the left over video game 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 who wished to continue creating game walkthroughs have now become regular StrategyWiki contributors.
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>


Additionally, game guide content that was found on [[Wikipedia]] was formerly moved over to Wikibooks as the content is considered unencyclopedic<ref>[[Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#GUIDE]]</ref>.  StrategyWiki is now considered a primary location to move game guide content<ref>[[Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Article guidelines#Scope of information]]</ref>
==Partnerships==
StrategyWiki has participated in developing professional partnerships to alleviate costs and improve its ability to compete with other guide websites.


=== Partnership with DoubleJump Books ===
===DoubleJump Books===
On [[March 18]], [[2008]], StrategyWiki entered into a partnership with distinguished [[strategy guide]] publisher ''DoubleJump Books'' for mutual cross-[[Promotion (marketing)|promotion]] in an attempt to bridge the disconnect between online and print guides. The first promotion has appeared in DoubleJump's print guide for the [[PlayStation 2]] [[RPG]] ''[[Mana Khemia]]''.
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>


== Milestones ==
===GamerDNA===
* StrategyWiki has grown to incorporate over 13,000 different articles containing over 25,000 maps, screenshots and other illustrations.<ref>[[strategywiki:Special:Statistics|StrategyWiki statistics]]</ref>
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 hosts over 2,000 different walkthroughs, over 300 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>
* StrategyWiki receives per month approximately 300,000 unique visits and over 5,000,000 hits on average.<ref>[[strategywiki:StrategyWiki:Statistics#Recent traffic statistics|StrategyWiki's server statistics]]</ref>
* StrategyWiki is ranked within the top 20,000 websites in the world traffic-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.
 
Wikia has a collection of game related wikis, many of which are released under the GFDL.  However, each wiki is disjoint from the others with disjoint development and standardization.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External Links==
==External links==
* [[strategywiki:|''StrategyWiki'' website]]
* [[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]
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[[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