User:Krator/Layout

Suggested layout guide for video games-related articles.

= Game = The game's title in bold, followed by a short introductory paragraph stating genre, platform, developer, publisher, release date, and series connections. The second paragraph of the lead section summarises the plot and gameplay in a succinct fashion, focusing on the main elements of the game. The third paragraph of the lead summarises the development, reception and legacy of the game.

Gameplay
Gameplay is usually divided in roughly two parts, with the first part being a general introduction to how the game works. What does the player actually do in the game? Redundancies with genre descriptions are fine here, for example, describing the gameplay of a first person shooter while it has already been stated that the game is a first person shooter. The second part of the gameplay section may be subdivided further, and 'zooms in' on a few major elements. For an RPG, it may be appropriate to describe the equipment and abilities available in the game, and for a shooter, the different weapons deserve some attention. This is usually where notable and/or revolutionary features are singled out. Note that unit lists and weapon lists are not appropriate.

Story
An optional section for games with a fictional setting. The story section may be called "Plot", "Story" or "Setting", depending on the game. Be aware of the distinction between story and plot. Quote: "The plot/story distinction separates out the sequence of events the work relates (the story) from the sequence in which those events are presented in the work (the plot)."source The section is often named "plot" when it should be named "story", but this is not a big deal. Possible subsections include "Characters" (most games with a story have characters), "Factions" (for RTS games), and "Plot" or "Story", where the plot is summarised. Make sure the plot summary is brief and not written from an in-universe perspective.

Development
This section describes the development history of game, including any patches. Usually, technical details like the engine used for the game are described in this section as well.

Music
This may be a subsection of development if really minimal, and describes the music of the game.

Reception
The game's critical reception.