User:Sjones23/Proposal

Lists
If the characters section in a video game article grows long, please reconsider the amount of detail or number of characters included. Beyond that, a separate list, may be appropriate to be split off.

Separate articles
Separate articles for video game characters should be avoided unless there is enough verifiable, citable material based on reliable third party sources that cover the character in detail to warrant a separate article. For example, the character article may include reception of the character; critical commentary about the character primarily as a fictional element of the video game. Detail about the history and development of the character in question in addition to some reception of the character is also acceptable to warrant a separate article. Characters must have some sort of real-world impact outside the in-universe of the game the character was in. Per the guidelines for writing about fiction, you must have at least some of the reception in hand before you create a character article—this is the meat of your notability.

Lead
A one-to-four paragraph summary of context, including that this is a fictional character, who she or he was created by, what works he or she appears in, her or his role in these works, development history, and why he or she is notable. The usual WP:SS/WP:LEAD material. This should ideally be able to stand on its own as a potted summary.

Infobox
Although this is not a section, the VG character infobox is a useful and attractive addition to an article. See the template documentation for instructions.

Creation and conception/Development
Out-of-universe information about the creation and development process, including influences upon the creators. Differences between the stages of development, as well as adaptations (both between media and during translation) and between sequels would also be discussed here. Voice actor paragraphs may also be appropriate to be included within the article. The best sources of information are interviews and critical analysis; be especially careful of original research here. Use a title appropriate for your section's actual contents.

Appearances
Information about the character revealed in the story of the games goes in this section—note, however, it should maintain out-of-universe prose (see Writing about fiction for guidance) as opposed to in-universe descriptions, and should not be mistakable for a biography. Using in-universe descriptions is inaccurate and misleading, inviting unverifiable original research. This section will generally not have subsections, unless the character differs significantly enough in their various media appearances that subsections can help distinguish them. Other aspects of the character can also be treated in a separate subsection if encyclopedic treatment suggests it is warranted, based on the amount of reliably sourced commentary.

Any plot lines about the character should have information important to that character, and it should not be exceeding the length of a plot summary for a video game, which should be at least 700 words.

In order to not place undue weight on any one element it is necessary to list only the important elements. Long lists like every named attack of the character gives more importance to less important attacks. Exhaustive background which chronicle blow-by-blow accounts of a character's history overwhelm the reader with information where mention does not establish notability. For more information, please see WikiProject Video games/Article guidelines and What Wikipedia is not.

Reception/Cultural impact
Out-of-universe information on responses to, popularity of, and influences upon others. Reviews, critical essays, and academic analysis are good sources; appearances in other works, poll results (if backed up by significant coverage from a reliable source), statements by other creators that the character was an influence for them, etc. are also valid topics here.

In video game journalism, it's rather common for websites to create "Top X characters for Y criteria" type articles, such as Top 5 Hot Video Game Girls. Editors must be careful in how they use these articles as far as using them to satisfy the general notability guideline. Also, if an editor want to show that a video game's graphics were critically acclaimed, a representative sampling of commentary from the best sources they can find should be included, to indicate the general pattern of commentary to the reader. The source must not only be reliable, but also cover the subject in detail, showing why the character is notable. For instance:
 * Unacceptable - "IGN ranked Lara Croft the number 2 hottest girl in video games, because they love her short shorts and smile."
 * Acceptable - IGN deemed Lara Croft number two on their list of the hottest girls in video games, stating that "started a trend of making it more acceptable for women to be the main protagonist in video games in the 90's, but at the same time, raised a lot of concerns that her design was 'sexist' and 'not realistic'".

However, the notability guideline does not not apply to article content itself. Once enough coverage is found to justify the article, there is no reason that brief mentions can't be used as part of the article, as they are simply not enough to justify an article in themselves. If this passage is intended to apply to article creation only, this should be made clear; otherwise this guideline does not preclude this kind of content wholesale.

Reasons to Delete/Merge a character article

 * 1) The character does not meet the general notability guideline. Characters must have coverage in multiple, reliable third party sources, that cover the character in detail.
 * 2) Fansites, user-submitted Youtube videos, user-submitted artwork (i.e. Deviant Art), and Wikis do not work towards satisfying notability requirements. This also includes self-published sources, such as open wikis, personal blogs, Internet forum postings, and tweets.
 * 3) Top X Lists typically cannot be the only type of reception a character has, nor are they useable if they do not offer something of substance towards the character.
 * 4) A laundry list of every list and poll one can acquire. Perhaps just a sampling of the most auspicious ones, and include relevant commentary (but not in-prose mentions)
 * 5) Self promotion - if the links contain advertising and link spamming.
 * 6) Quotations: over-use of quotations.
 * 7) The character does not have some sort of real-world impact outside of the in-universe world of the game he/she was in.
 * 8) Undue weight - For example, if all the sources focus on coverage where mention does not establish notability.
 * 9) aesthetic opinions - This includes physical representation and subjective opinion on any artistic work.
 * 10) Plot summaries - if the character article consists of only an in universe plot summary.