WikiCheats Editorial Guidelines

From WikiCheats

"If we had rules, we'd have to break them on principle. Let's just go with guidelines."

Welcome to the WikiCheats. Part of building a web community is developing guidelines so that everyone knows the best way to contribute to and use WikiCheats. These guidelines are sure to change, so be sure to check them out from time to time.

This page is currently protected. To discuss these guidelines or propose changes see the discussion page or the Editor's Lounge Forum.

WikiCheats Guidelines

Don't add content from other sites. 

As the site matures we'll get more specific on exactly what users can and can't add. For now, do not copy content from any other site, including Wikipedia. The one exception is if you obtain permission from the original author. In this instance, make a note on the game's Discussion page (the link to which can be found in the Toolbox on the right side of a game's page) that you have permission to re-post something, and make note of the original author.

The best information about games comes from firsthand experience. Information that you've learned from playing a game is more accurate and relevant than a secondhand description from someone else. All we need for great game guides is for people to share what they've learned playing games.

Focus on the game. 

The purpose of WikiCheats is to help people complete games. Information on the storyline, background, and characters are all good to have, and contributing this kind of information is encouraged. However, the primary focus of any game article should be gameplay and strategy.

Previews and reviews of games should be short and limited to the game's introduction.

Write from a gamer perspective. 

Walkthroughs and strategies should be written for game players, rather than an in-game or in-story perspective. For example, to say "the Cave of Eternal Fire can only be entered by a hero with a pure heart" (an in-game perspective) doesn't help someone who's trying to get in. It's better to use a gamer perspective and say "To enter the Cave of Eternal Fire, you must use the Pure Water Key, obtainable in chapter four."

WikiCheats has spoilers. 

Cheats and strategies have spoilers. There is no way around it, so don't even to try avoid writing about them. A single spoiler warning at the top a page is more than enough.

WikiCheats is objective. 

Opinions about a game belong in the forums, not in the game guide. Presumably someone looking at a game guide already has the game, and they can tell for themselves if it's good or bad.

WikiCheats is a group effort. 

You can edit any article on the site, and everything you contribute will be edited by others. Contributions and contributors are automatically recorded in the history page so there's no need to identify or sign your contribution in the article.

WikiCheats is in English. 

We're not set up to handle more than one language on the site. All contributions and edits should be made in English. We don't expect award-winning novelist-level writing here, but basic adherence to the rules of English grammar, spelling, and syntax are appreciated.

Don't post personal information. 

Everything on WikiCheats is viewable by anyone on the internet. For this reason you should not post any personal information, including but not limited to your home address and telephone number.