User talk:Frecklefoot/Tips for writing arcade game articles

Infobox suggestions

Have you considered using screenshots (e.g. from MAME) to illustrate the arcade game articles? I see for example that Pac-Man has such an image (asserting it as fair use). Might fit nicely as an illustration in your infobox. —Stormie 01:11, Aug 11, 2004 (UTC)

I hadn't thought of that, but I'm not sure it would work, unless the screenshot is resized or cropped in some manner. I guess I'll have to try it. It'd have to be a "shot" of the title screen. Thanks for the suggestion. Also, if you're interested, there is a WikiProject for Arcade game articles here. I proposed using the infobox I created for it. :-) — Frecklefoot | Talk 14:32, Aug 11, 2004 (UTC)

Pac-Man
Developer:	Iwatani Toru
Publisher:	Namco
Release date:	1980
Genre:	maze game
Game modes:	Up to 2 players, alternating turns
Cabinet:	Standard and sit-down
Controls:	Standard upright
Monitor
Orientation:	Vertical
Type:	Raster, standard resolution
Size:	?
Notes
Considered the #1 arcade game of all time; Developed during the Golden Age of Arcade Games

I was thinking something like this →

That's with the image scaled down to 200 pixels wide.

I wouldn't necessarily say it would have to be a shot of the title screen—I think it would depend on the game. Especially for older games (like Pac-Man!), the title screen is nothing special, a screenshot of the game in play would be the iconic image.

—Stormie 00:15, Aug 12, 2004 (UTC)

Thanks, that does look good! I'll add your suggestion to the infobox section in a while... I also see you put the designer's name under "Developer." Though all people who work on video/computer/arcade games can be called "developers," I meant that more as the company that developed it, not the people. To help fix this, I'll add a "Designer" line with the person who designed it (since that's what Toru did). I expect few games will have this line since knowledge of most designers is not known. Thanks again! — Frecklefoot | Talk 14:02, Aug 12, 2004 (UTC)

Okay, I added the infobox with your suggestion to the project. Make any further suggestions there. And add yourself to the Participants if you want to help out! :-) — Frecklefoot | Talk 15:34, Aug 12, 2004 (UTC)