Wikipedia talk:Naming conventions (video games)

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(Visual novel) disambiguation

I would like to formerly nominate that the (visual novel) disambiguation be abandoned in favor of (video game). The reasoning is that visual novels are just a genre of video game, and we do not disambiguate other genres in this manner. This was previously informally discussed at Talk:Clannad (video game)#Requested move 19 December 2020. TarkusAB^talk/contrib 15:31, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

I think there's a more general discussion to be had here, which is that there's currently no guidance for when two video games of the same name came out in the same year on the same platform. One solution is to allow genre as an alternative disambiguator, such as "visual novel". In general, there is no need to disambiguate by genre and I'm in favor of using "(video game)" where possible, including for visual novels, but the precipitating discussion to this one has one case where a genre-based disambiguator might be preferred. Axem Titanium (talk) 16:36, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

I think it was decided upon in 2012. It was a request that VNs be recognised as video games and there was no objection to that. Fully support the OP in not disambiguating by genre. - X201 (talk) 07:22, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

I agree with this. Visual novels are games, and there are better ways to disambiguate. Shooterwalker (talk) 21:18, 30 June 2022 (UTC)

Games with the same title and year on different platforms

One thing I'm curious about that this article doesn't make clear is what to do when you have games, released under the same title in the same year, that are different enough on different platforms to be considered separate games. There aren't a whole lot of examples that seem notable enough to get separate articles, ones I've found include

• The World Is Not Enough (PlayStation video game) and The World Is Not Enough (Nintendo 64 video game)
• Ghostbusters II (computer video game) and Ghostbusters II (NES video game)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game) and Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit video game) (this one seems particularly contentious)

Even though there aren't a lot of cases of this on Wikipedia and it's rarer these days than in the 80s and 90s, it'd still be nice to have some sort of guideline for what's best to do. For instance, if a game were just released on one PC platform, like Windows, would it use (Windows video game) or just computer? Are terms like console and handheld acceptable, or is it best to always specify the platform when possible? What term would cover both PC and console versions? Would the one considered more important just get (video game) instead of specifying a platform? Or is it too case by case to make any guidelines for? Ringtail Raider (talk) 00:14, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

This is rare enough that nobody has thought to turn it into a guideline. Even then, it's rare enough that it would be hard to turn it into a guideline, because Wikipedia's guidelines are meant to be descriptive not prescriptive. If I had to describe current practice, I'd say it's inconsistent. Maybe if the 8-bit sonic game were renamed to (game gear), we could say it's best practice to distinguish it based on the platform. Shooterwalker (talk) 02:22, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Agreed, there's too few examples that we need a guideline for. I think the proposed idea on the 8-bit Sonic, using Game Gear (the one that it was better known for out of that and the Genesis) would make sense, but that's seriously just a 1 off case. Masem (t) 02:45, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Just a note on Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit video game) title - the game in question was released on both Master System and Game Gear, so it's a bad idea by just tagging one platform for disambiguation. This article is a very special case. Fortunately the platforms it was released are both 8-bit except for emulated and compilation re-releases. Thus the "(8-bit video game)" tag was the consenus for the article title. Such tag cannot work with Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game) as this game originally released on Sega Genesis had various re-releases and ports (not just emulation). Explorer09 (talk) 04:55, 14 June 2023 (UTC)

In theory, "Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game)" is a fine primary title for its subject, but that's not how we use disambiguation on Wikipedia. It's currently disambiguating itself with the 2006 video game, while it's assuming to take primacy over the Master System game. In turn, "(Sega Genesis game)" would disambiguate with the 2006 game less cleanly. I don't think there's a good solution; the current situation is very clear though. ~Maplestrip/Mable (chat) 07:05, 14 June 2023 (UTC)

Platform acronyms

Hello, sorry for dropping another question, but I was had a question about this line (which I apparently missed when I asked my above question):

When the platform name has at least three words in length, the shortest possible acronym should be used in the disambiguator (e.g., Disney's Beauty and the Beast (SNES video game)" or Ninja Gaiden (NES video game)).

While NES and SNES games do indeed follow this guideline, there are a large number of Game Boy Color ports of games that have (Game Boy Color video game) in their title instead of (GBC video game). Is this something that should be fixed? Or is "Game Boy" considered a single word here? I don't see GBC used as an acronym as much as NES and SNES, or even GBA, so I'm wondering if it's a specific exception or not. Thanks! Ringtail Raider (talk) 15:33, 10 January 2024 (UTC)

Example update of what I mean: Game Boy Advance video game vs GBA video game, Game Boy Color video game vs GBC video game, NES video game for comparison. Of the ones using GBA or GBC instead of the system's full name, only one is not a redirect. There aren't as many as there are game articles using NES or SNES in the title, but it's still odd the three word name rule doesn't seem to apply to them. --Ringtail Raider (talk) 04:08, 13 February 2024 (UTC)

It's been almost half a year, dunno if there's a better place I should post to ask about this. I found the issue was discussed here in 2015; I think if that guideline is going to be applied to (Super) Nintendo Entertainment System games, it should be to Game Boy Color/Advance games as well (and any other systems with 3+ word names if any others exist), unless there's a good reason otherwise. I know the GBC's article says it's also sometimes written CGB if that's a factor? As well as the original Game Boy's name not being long enough to be an acronym. Sorry for posting yet again, I guess I was hoping for either a change discussion or a reason for the different treatment. Thanks! Ringtail Raider (talk) 04:49, 8 June 2024 (UTC)

My two cents - NES/SNES are far more well known by general audiences than GBC/GBA. I don't believe we should be using GBC/GBA as a disambiguation term. Sergecross73 msg me 16:32, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

That makes sense. I think that's especially the case with Game Boy Color, which I sometimes see treated as not really a separate thing from Game Boy original. I think the guideline should probably be rewritten a bit to be more specific, if it's a case-by-case thing. Ringtail Raider (talk) 18:41, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

I agree. I imagine we're not alone either, as I anecdotally can say that I don't see people following the current wording either. Sergecross73 msg me 19:14, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

Not a fan of a blanket - we should acronymise if over a certain length. The SNES is by that name. The GBC or XBSX aren't known by those names etc. Lee Vilenski ^{(talk • contribs)} 16:41, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

"GBA" is a very commonly-used acronym for the Game Boy Advance, but games are still disambiguated with the full name for no apparent reason (see Disney's Lilo & Stitch (Game Boy Advance video game)). I am in favor of removing the acronym policy entirely due to inconsistent usage and because only gamers can really parse the lingo. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 09:20, 16 June 2024 (UTC)

To be clear, are you saying that we should use Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Nintendo Entertainment System (when there's no better alternative)? - Cukie Gherkin (talk) 15:30, 16 June 2024 (UTC)

Yes, that is what I am suggesting. Ultimately, it makes no sense to use acronyms in some places and not others, for seemingly arbitrary reasons. ᴢxᴄᴠʙɴᴍ (ᴛ) 04:43, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

Recognizability isn't an "arbitrary" reason. Sergecross73 msg me 15:17, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

I agree with that, I feel that the number of people who understand "Nintendo Entertainment System" and not "NES" is so infinitesimally small as to be not worth accommodating. - Cukie Gherkin (talk) 17:17, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

Agreed. Imagine yourself among a group of people who are non-gamers. If you said "Hey, who remembers the NES?", you'd get a bunch of people saying "Of course I do, those were the days, etc". Similarly, if you asked everyone "Hey, who remembers the GBC?", you'd probably get a lot of confused faces and people asking "What's a Gee Bee Cee?". That's the difference. Some were used as alternate names, while others are just used as abbreviations in gaming publications. Sergecross73 msg me 17:32, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

For me, I would argue that GBA comes somewhat close to being a recognizable name (it sold more than the NES and SNES combined after all), but nevertheless, the NES and SNES are probably more well-known to the general public than their full names. Basically FBI/CIA tier. - Cukie Gherkin (talk) 20:52, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

I'm happy with NES and SNES, but on the fence with GBC and GBA. I think we can just make this policy consistent by referring to specific platforms. I definitely don't think "Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game" would be an appropriate disambiguation. "Nintendo Entertainment" being such a mouthful makes these two acronyms much nicer for us. ~Maplestrip/Mable (chat) 06:43, 17 June 2024 (UTC)