Create sources that can be referenced in a Wikipedia article

deniz1a · Post by **deniz1a** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:52 pm

OpenRA doesn't have its own Wikipedia article because it is not notable enough. Being notable is mainly determined by the number and quality of independent sources that mention a subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:N

OpenRA is mentioned on Wikipedia only here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_%2 ... an_remakes

So in order for OpenRA to have its own article, we need independent sources on it that can be referenced.

One way to accomplish this would be making game magazines and websites review OpenRA. The most popular gaming magazine is PC Gamer ( http://www.pcgamer.com ). PC gamer has a user forum where people discuss games. And it also has a section called free games at http://www.pcgamer.com/category/free-pc-games/ . OpenRA could easily be reviewed there.

They even did a video review of Red Alert 1:
http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/02/09/why-y ... d-alert-1/

Linux section of PC Gamer website: http://www.pcgamer.com/tag/linux/

And here are some other game magazines:
Europe's most popular (German): http://www.gamestar.de
Game Informer: http://www.gameinformer.com/pc/news.aspx
Another big one: http://www.pcgames.de

Hiro · Post by **Hiro** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:24 pm

So how do we make them review this game?

deniz1a · Post by **deniz1a** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:30 pm

Just by bringing OpenRA to their attention. Most people don't even know there is an open source Red Alert game. And I think OpenRA will be much more popular and attractive once it supports Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2. Because these games have huge and active modding communities that develop completely different mods.

Imagine these mods running on OpenRA:
http://mentalomega.com/
http://ti.ppmsite.com/
http://dday.migeater.net/
http://omegabolt.cncguild.net/red_resurrection/

Speedy · Post by **Speedy** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 12:19 am

Didn't TotalBiscuit do a thing on OpenRA as well?.. Though I guess that might not be a 'credible source' either..

Maybe you could send an email to EA or post about it on the C&C forums?

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:40 pm

Vote for us at http://www.linuxgameawards.org/ however I don't think this project will ever be notable enough for an Wikipedia article. What we do here does not justify an encyclopedic article next to Newtons Law and the Theory of Evolution.

Speedy · Post by **Speedy** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:14 pm

Cmd. Matt wrote: ↑What we do here does not justify an encyclopedic article next to Newtons Law and the Theory of Evolution.

No, I guess not.

But it DOES justify an encylcopedic article next to articles about webcomics, indiegames and such..

Wikipedia has articles on pretty much anything. Don't undermine yourself by thinking this isn't 'big enough to be there'.

deniz1a · Post by **deniz1a** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:29 pm

Spring engine has a comprehensive article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Engine

OpenRA is superior to this engine in many ways. If that's notable then OpenRA is doubly so.
And Newton's law is insignificant compared to the OpenRA physics engine. The evolution of base structures as they spread over the map, assimilating ever more territory through base walking is a much more important phenomenon than the beaks of some stupid finches.

Speedy · Post by **Speedy** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:45 pm

Here's some online articles I could find on OpenRA.

NWTV (Dutch!)
Phoronix
TotalBiscuit's review
OSAlt
Channel 9 MSDN
About.com
N4G (Although admittedly about TotalBiscuit)

I think just this small list should be enough for references, until OpenRA ends up getting more notable sources.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:59 pm

Those mention us, but none of them (except maybe TotalBiscuit, but that is a video podcast) actually give any insight. Looks like we need to write a Gamasutra article or get interviewed so you have more material to write about.

Hiro · Post by **Hiro** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:15 am

New strategy: Lock Matt in a room with a popular blogger and don't let them out until there is a (favourable) review of OpenRA + interview with a dev on their site. All in favour?

Is it possible for one of us to simply create a wikipedia article for it? I'm not sure how it works but I don't see why it would get taken down...

Also what would be really nice would be a wiki of our own to host things like unit stats and tech trees. I know there's a bounty on an ingame/automated thing for this but a fan-maintained wiki might be doable?

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:18 am

I said it at http://www.hedgewars.org/node/5796 and I will repeat it here. Just because the notability rules are not properly enforced, because Wikipedia is understaffed, does not mean you should create a fan article. Please improve http://cnc.wikia.com/wiki/OpenRA instead or create one at http://gaming.wikia.com/wiki/OpenRA

Hiro · Post by **Hiro** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:46 pm

Wow, today I learned they actually have rules for deleting information about things that are arbitrarily "not notable". Here I was with the impression that Wikipedia was simply an information store, and leaving any stone unturned would simply be a loss of information. But hey, rules are rules, won't go there.

I think I might work on a nice pretty tech tree before bothering too much with manual information gathering/storing in a wiki.

deniz1a · Post by **deniz1a** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:01 pm

Of course those sites should also be improved but Wikipedia is different. It is for the general audience and it is general purpose. A Wikipedia article shows the maturity, quality and popularity of a project. And it would bring OpenRA to the attention of people who otherwise wouldn't know that there is an open source implementation of Red Alert.

And Wikia is not exactly an encyclopedia, it is specialized on entertainment. Having an article in a universal encyclopedia would have a considerable impact.

Also the big selling point of OpenRA is that it brings the games/mods it supports to Linux and Mac OS. These games were originally only supported on Windows. This is a huge gain for Linux gaming which has a big potential and is rapidly growing. SteamOS is an important indication of this.

I think this is the most popular linux gaming website:
http://www.gamingonlinux.com/

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 4:14 pm

Looks like I can't stop you. I was just told you need to follow the guidelines from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia ... es/Sources to find and evaluate proper sources.