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With the multitude of subjects and popularity of the Mario series, it can sometimes be difficult to find the right way to name an article. Generally, the best source for naming will come from the game itself, but when subjects are not named within the actual game, you may need to turn to secondary sources for an official name.
The series is continually adding games to its portfolio and we should be aware of guidelines set in place to deal with the new content these games are bringing. This page emphasizes on unreleased video games but will also cover any other type of unreleased media, which will collectively be referred to as “projects”. In addition, the page covers how information can turn into beta elements and what to do in case of a cancelled project. This page does not detail how to start an article on a new project, but rather how to deal with information regarding new games and other media.


== Naming an Article ==
==Released vs. unreleased projects==
There are several steps to follow when naming an article:
If a project is slated for an international release, the project is considered released only when it is released in an English speaking country. This is because content may change in the translation process and Super Mario Wiki has a primarily English speaking audience. If the project clearly is not going to be released in an English speaking country and it has been released somewhere else, the project can be considered released. The official release date is what is used when determining when a project is released, regardless of when retailers start selling the product.


*The Super Mario Wiki is an English language wiki, so the name of an article should correspond to the '''first official international English name''' of the subject. For example, the name "''[[Mario Strikers Charged Football]]''" was established before "''Mario Strikers Charged''." Therefore, the title "''Mario Strikers Charged Football''" is used for the game's article. Some English names have changed over time though, and in these cases the common modern name can be used. For example, [[Princess Peach]]'s first English name was "Princess Toadstool". However, she is commonly called "Princess Peach" in recent games, so the article's title is "Princess Peach".
==New articles pertaining to upcoming projects==
*If there is no official English name, then the first official name of the subject in any language is used. For example, the giant bird boss from ''[[Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins]]'' is named "[[Radonkel]]" on the wiki. The boss is unnamed in English, but has an official name in German, and since that is the only official name currently known, the title "Radonkel" is used for the article.
Generally, new articles on subjects in upcoming projects are only allowed if the articles have sufficient information backed up by reliable references. Articles that only mention the future appearance of the subject or other minor details will be deleted immediately. If an article does have sufficient information, place {{Tem|new subject}} at the top of the page to point out that the article is subject to major changes. Once the information has been rewritten and more content has been added, the template may be removed.
*If there is no official name in any language, then a conjectural title is developed if the subject is notable enough for an article. For example, the unnamed mole people from ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' have been given the conjectural name "[[Mole folk]]", as they are a notable species that appear throughout the game.
*When naming an article, do '''not''' use game abbreviations. (e.g. use [[Yoshi (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)]] as opposed to [[Yoshi (PM:TTYD)]]).


== English and Non-English Sources ==
==Previously existing articles in upcoming projects==
English regions on MarioWiki are defined as regions where the games are officially released in the English language. This commonly includes the American, European, and Australian regions. European sources usually means the United Kingdom, but can include other countries where games are officially released in the English language. English sources generally have priority over non-English sources.
Information about subjects in upcoming projects with pre-existing articles is allowed as long as the information is not speculation and is accompanied by solid references. Unlike new articles pertaining to upcoming projects, there is no minimum for length of content. Statements like “[subject] may make an appearance in [future project]” are not allowed. When adding information about an upcoming project to an article, make a separate section to distinguish it from existing information. Place {{Tem|new subject-section}} at the top of this section to signal to other editors and readers that the information is subject to change because the project hasn’t been released yet. Once information has been rewritten and more content has been added, the template may be removed.


Non-English sources on MarioWiki are defined as regions where games are not officially released in the English language. This can include any region where Nintendo officially releases their products.
==Beta elements, vaporware, and cancelled projects==
It is almost inevitable that a project will have certain aspects of it cut or changed from the final product. The information before it is altered for the final product is referred to as beta elements. When editors discover discrepancies between information about an unreleased game and its final product, editors should move that information to the relevant beta elements page.


== Acceptable Sources for Naming ==
Although rare, it is possible for a project to be left in perpetual development or be completely cancelled. When the former occurs, the project is referred to as vaporware. When a project becomes vaporware or cancelled, a page should be created for the vaporware/cancelled project and all relevant information needs to be merged to that article.
This is a list of acceptable sources when it comes to naming an article. If a source is not present, keep moving down the list until you have found the right way to name the article. This list is in order by priority:


#'''First international English name''' – In most cases, this means the first use of the name in an English language game. If there is a conflict of whether to use the American source, European source, or Australian source for naming, the region which had the game released first will be the preferred source. This includes both in-game and instruction booklet sources.
==References==
#'''Name from a Nintendo Player's Guide''' – A name from a Nintendo Player's Guide (also commonly known as a Nintendo Power guidebook) is an acceptable alternative. For games released after 2007, this source can no longer be used since this source is currently discontinued. ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' is the last Mario game to be covered by Nintendo Power.
{{Main|MarioWiki:References}}
#'''Name from a Prima Games Strategy Guide''' – A name from a Prima Games Strategy Guide is also an acceptable alternative assuming that it is a guide from 2007 or later. This is because Nintendo Power has [http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/magazine/index.jsp officially partnered] with Prima Games in that year after their discontinuation.
#'''First international name from a non-English region''' – This includes the first use of the name in a non-English language game. If there is a conflict of which source to use, the region where the game was released first will have priority. In almost all cases, this means the Japanese region. This includes both in-game and instruction booklet sources.
#'''Name used in officially licensed media''' – A name from any officially Nintendo licensed media source. This most likely includes non-video game sources like cartoons, movies, and comics.
#'''Development name''' – Any name used during the development of a video game or other Nintendo licensed media source. This type of name usually comes from beta elements or debugging.


== Conjectural Names ==
Whenever adding information about upcoming projects, it is necessary to cite your sources. This is because the information comes from secondary sources rather than the project itself. When making a new article or adding information to an existing article about an upcoming project, you need to cite your sources. Edits that do not follow this standard will be reverted without notice. Once the project has been released and the information is clearly present in the released project, you may remove these references. Just remember that references should stay in cases where the information is only present from secondary sources.
Any name from a source not covered above is considered unofficial and conjectural. Generally, conjecturally named subjects don't have articles because they are either not noteworthy enough to have an article or don't have much information to cover. However, subjects that are detailed and noteworthy enough to have articles still have to adhere to certain guidelines.


Conjectural names are usually decided upon by the users of MarioWiki or commonly used names by the Mario community. When deciding on a name, the name must be simple yet descriptive. For example, the article [[Bat]] has a simple yet descriptive title. A name like {{Fakelink|Dark Evil Bat}} is not acceptable because it is not simple and has an inaccurate description.
==Revision==
The procedure for rewriting information about an upcoming project upon release will vary depending on the quality of the information prior to the rewrite. You may follow this checklist for some guidance:


== Name Changes ==
#Change all future tense words to present tense. For example, replace words like "will appear in" to "appears in".
In certain cases, names may be changed because the old name is replaced with a new commonly used name. A popular example of this is how {{Fakelink|Bloober}} was changed to [[Blooper]]. In these cases, the newer name will replace the older one with certain exceptions. Exceptions include naming errors, translation errors, and use of aliases/nicknames. For example, if the Prima strategy guide incorrectly names [[Swooper]]s as Bats, Swooper will still be the article name. It is up to the users to find and determine what the naming errors, translation errors, and use of aliases/nicknames are.
#Remove unnecessary references. Examples of this are information with references which can readily be found in the released project.
#Add more content if possible.
#Add or update images/templates as necessary.
#Remove the {{Tem|new subject}} or {{Tem|new subject-section}} templates.


== Capitalization ==
This list doesn't necessarily have to be followed in all cases.
The words in the title must be capitalized the same way they are from the source, unless it is a proper noun. Proper nouns are capitalized no matter how it is in the source. The Wiki software makes it so that the first letter of the title is capitalized regardless. Exceptions to the proper noun rule can be made if there is some special reason why the proper noun is uncapitalized. Also, words that aren't proper nouns in conjectural titles should not be capitalized (like [[Pauline's items]]).

Latest revision as of 13:04, May 20, 2017

The series is continually adding games to its portfolio and we should be aware of guidelines set in place to deal with the new content these games are bringing. This page emphasizes on unreleased video games but will also cover any other type of unreleased media, which will collectively be referred to as “projects”. In addition, the page covers how information can turn into beta elements and what to do in case of a cancelled project. This page does not detail how to start an article on a new project, but rather how to deal with information regarding new games and other media.

Released vs. unreleased projects

If a project is slated for an international release, the project is considered released only when it is released in an English speaking country. This is because content may change in the translation process and Super Mario Wiki has a primarily English speaking audience. If the project clearly is not going to be released in an English speaking country and it has been released somewhere else, the project can be considered released. The official release date is what is used when determining when a project is released, regardless of when retailers start selling the product.

New articles pertaining to upcoming projects

Generally, new articles on subjects in upcoming projects are only allowed if the articles have sufficient information backed up by reliable references. Articles that only mention the future appearance of the subject or other minor details will be deleted immediately. If an article does have sufficient information, place {{new subject}} at the top of the page to point out that the article is subject to major changes. Once the information has been rewritten and more content has been added, the template may be removed.

Previously existing articles in upcoming projects

Information about subjects in upcoming projects with pre-existing articles is allowed as long as the information is not speculation and is accompanied by solid references. Unlike new articles pertaining to upcoming projects, there is no minimum for length of content. Statements like “[subject] may make an appearance in [future project]” are not allowed. When adding information about an upcoming project to an article, make a separate section to distinguish it from existing information. Place {{new subject-section}} at the top of this section to signal to other editors and readers that the information is subject to change because the project hasn’t been released yet. Once information has been rewritten and more content has been added, the template may be removed.

Beta elements, vaporware, and cancelled projects

It is almost inevitable that a project will have certain aspects of it cut or changed from the final product. The information before it is altered for the final product is referred to as beta elements. When editors discover discrepancies between information about an unreleased game and its final product, editors should move that information to the relevant beta elements page.

Although rare, it is possible for a project to be left in perpetual development or be completely cancelled. When the former occurs, the project is referred to as vaporware. When a project becomes vaporware or cancelled, a page should be created for the vaporware/cancelled project and all relevant information needs to be merged to that article.

References

Main article: MarioWiki:References

Whenever adding information about upcoming projects, it is necessary to cite your sources. This is because the information comes from secondary sources rather than the project itself. When making a new article or adding information to an existing article about an upcoming project, you need to cite your sources. Edits that do not follow this standard will be reverted without notice. Once the project has been released and the information is clearly present in the released project, you may remove these references. Just remember that references should stay in cases where the information is only present from secondary sources.

Revision

The procedure for rewriting information about an upcoming project upon release will vary depending on the quality of the information prior to the rewrite. You may follow this checklist for some guidance:

  1. Change all future tense words to present tense. For example, replace words like "will appear in" to "appears in".
  2. Remove unnecessary references. Examples of this are information with references which can readily be found in the released project.
  3. Add more content if possible.
  4. Add or update images/templates as necessary.
  5. Remove the {{new subject}} or {{new subject-section}} templates.

This list doesn't necessarily have to be followed in all cases.

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