PCGamingWiki:Editing guide/Introduction

This is a draft and work in progress and should not be implemented onto articles at this time.

The aim of a new 'Introduction' section is to incorporates changes discussed here:

The aim is to provide:

More relevant qualitative information for gamers researching a new PC game that is not constrained to single bullet points.
Information about the history and current state of the game.
Additional natural content for improving search engine ranking.

Guidelines:

This is the first free text area on PCGamingWiki and our aim is to describe the game in a factual and neutral way.
Every claim should be individually referenced, ideally with a snippet e.g.
```
<ref>{{Refurl|url=|title=|date=2020-05-09|snippet=}}</ref>
```
It is important to consider 'undue weight', see: Reliable sources and undue weight and only include issues that affected/will affect a significant number of players.
Avoid platform exclusivity, instead refer to concrete release dates.
Delays should be included but only if longer than one month. Multiple delays can be grouped together in a single sentence.
Avoid speculation about release dates, only use direct references from developers/publishers.

Introduction structure

Introduction - this section has no header, it is simply prose separated by paragraphs:

{{Introduction
|intro-sentence    =
|release-history   =
|current-state     =
|community         =
}}

intro-sentence

gamename is a taxonony/perspective/mode/genre etc. featuring key/unique gameplay features made by company published by company.
game is a sequel/prequel in the series or related series or is a spiritual successor.
game uses engine plus any noteworthy engine information compared to other entries in the series.
game is important/noteworthy because reasons.

release-history

game was first released on platform on date.
pre-release information including early access, crowdfunding, closed beta, etc.
platform changes with platform (Steam, EGS,GOG etc.) including delays, technical issues.
launch was successful/unsuccessful/criticised? with player number milestones if noteworthy.
history with a focus on technical issues: e.g. major bugs, inability to access the game, DRM, missing advertised features, features missing from console counterpart, missing endings, etc.

current-state

current major issues that have not been resolved yet.
updates/support is the game regularly updated technically (patches etc.) or content (DLC, expansions, microtransactions or free content updates).
multiplayer describe the scene, is it alive or dead, can players find games?
improvements link to anchors of essential mods or quality of life improvements further below.

community

major community additions ONLY INCLUDE if there are major communities outside of 'General information' links such as already linked Steam, GOG, fan forums, e.g. substantial modding communities, Discord communities, alternative servers, hacked multiplayer etc.