This
guideline documents an English Wikipedia
naming convention. Editors should generally follow it, though
exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect
consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on
this guideline's talk page. |
The article title for any topic related to video games should be the most common word or phrase used to describe that topic. In particular, if the title of a video game is sufficiently unambiguous compared to any other topics or is considered to be the primary topic, then make that title the title of the article; for example, The Last of Us or Battlefield 1942.
If the common title of the game is ambiguous, an alternate article title will need to be used to distinguish it from other similarly named games, series, characters, movies, books, terms, or other topics. Natural disambiguation may be used if the game has an alternate title that is also commonly used to refer to it, such as the full title including subtitle; for example Halo: Combat Evolved. Failing that, then parenthetical disambiguation may be needed – use the most appropriate method as described in the sections below.
When the content presented in a video game spans other
media formats such as film, TV, radio, comics, or print, then an associated overview page (an article describing and summarizing the items of the
franchise) should occupy the primary article title (eg.
Star Trek), but may be disambiguated as Series name (franchise)
when required.
Do not disambiguate unless a naming conflict exists and the article in question is not the primary topic. As per the article titles criteria, make the disambiguation precise enough to identify the topic (but no more precise than necessary), and as concise as possible. In all cases, naming conflicts should be settled according to the disambiguation guidelines and the specific conventions below.
Naming conflicts often arise between a video game and a series based on it. Where they are part of the same series, it may be appropriate to create a broad concept article covering all the related games, including the original. The first step is to determine which article is the primary topic, in accordance with Wikipedia's policy on article titles. Where the series is the primary topic, the series should take the base name while the video game article is disambiguated, for example the case of The Legend of Zelda (the series) and The Legend of Zelda (video game) (the first game). Where the primary topic is the first game in the series, such as the first BioShock or Myst games, the series article should be disambiguated as Myst (series) and BioShock (series).
More rarely, a new series will use the same title as an older game, such as Fight Night (video game series) and Fight Night (1985 video game), or Fable (video game series) and Fable (1996 video game). Where the releases are not part of the same series, it is usually sufficient to include a hatnote at the articles about one or both series. Occasionally, it may be appropriate to summarize what reliable sources have said about naming negotiations between the two series' developers or publishers.
Use hatnotes and disambiguation pages when disambiguation in naming is used. Disambiguation pages are not required if the only disambiguation exists between similarly named articles related to the same video game series.
This
guideline documents an English Wikipedia
naming convention. Editors should generally follow it, though
exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect
consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on
this guideline's talk page. |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The article title for any topic related to video games should be the most common word or phrase used to describe that topic. In particular, if the title of a video game is sufficiently unambiguous compared to any other topics or is considered to be the primary topic, then make that title the title of the article; for example, The Last of Us or Battlefield 1942.
If the common title of the game is ambiguous, an alternate article title will need to be used to distinguish it from other similarly named games, series, characters, movies, books, terms, or other topics. Natural disambiguation may be used if the game has an alternate title that is also commonly used to refer to it, such as the full title including subtitle; for example Halo: Combat Evolved. Failing that, then parenthetical disambiguation may be needed – use the most appropriate method as described in the sections below.
When the content presented in a video game spans other
media formats such as film, TV, radio, comics, or print, then an associated overview page (an article describing and summarizing the items of the
franchise) should occupy the primary article title (eg.
Star Trek), but may be disambiguated as Series name (franchise)
when required.
Do not disambiguate unless a naming conflict exists and the article in question is not the primary topic. As per the article titles criteria, make the disambiguation precise enough to identify the topic (but no more precise than necessary), and as concise as possible. In all cases, naming conflicts should be settled according to the disambiguation guidelines and the specific conventions below.
Naming conflicts often arise between a video game and a series based on it. Where they are part of the same series, it may be appropriate to create a broad concept article covering all the related games, including the original. The first step is to determine which article is the primary topic, in accordance with Wikipedia's policy on article titles. Where the series is the primary topic, the series should take the base name while the video game article is disambiguated, for example the case of The Legend of Zelda (the series) and The Legend of Zelda (video game) (the first game). Where the primary topic is the first game in the series, such as the first BioShock or Myst games, the series article should be disambiguated as Myst (series) and BioShock (series).
More rarely, a new series will use the same title as an older game, such as Fight Night (video game series) and Fight Night (1985 video game), or Fable (video game series) and Fable (1996 video game). Where the releases are not part of the same series, it is usually sufficient to include a hatnote at the articles about one or both series. Occasionally, it may be appropriate to summarize what reliable sources have said about naming negotiations between the two series' developers or publishers.
Use hatnotes and disambiguation pages when disambiguation in naming is used. Disambiguation pages are not required if the only disambiguation exists between similarly named articles related to the same video game series.