How should IP handle the images of upcoming works?:

Images for upcoming works tend to be notoriously complicated since posters or cover arts tend to pop up whenever a new trailer comes out and the work gets closer to release, making a teaser image quickly outdated. In the case of IP, we've ended up having several threads for upcoming works, only for those works to get another thread weeks, if not days later because a prettier or more "representative" poster or cover ends up coming along. So how should we handle images for upcoming works?

I've seen a couple of suggestions on previous IP threads. Those two being.

• Withheld from having an image (or just stick with the initial picture (which is usually just the logo)) until the work is released or (in the case of things like games or books) we get the definitive, final cover art.
• Make upcoming works exempt from image picking until the work is released. Not dissimilar to how images for Sandbox are handled.

I'm sure there are probably a couple of other suggestions, but those are the two I see most.

Edited by Tylerbear12 on Dec 23rd 2022 at 2:13:34 PM

Well, I'll say the title would have been less awkward if it had been posted in Wiki Talk, but if we're having this discussion in this thread that doesn't matter now.

I'd thought about bringing this up in Wiki Talk, but the IP discussion thread has already seen some discussion on this issue.

Imo the best way to handle it to prevent wasted time is to stick to one initial teaser image until the work is released.

Edited by Karxrida on Dec 23rd 2022 at 1:03:45 AM

I'd suggested either not having a pic at all until the work is officially released, or sticking with whatever teaser image is put on the page and not making further changes until the work is released, with other pre-release images being placed on an Image Links page for consideration in an IP thread for the work.

I'm good with sticking with a teaser pic.

Start with a teaser picture at first, then when the work is released change it to a more "complete" poster. You'll only have two threads at most.

Edited by harryhenry on Dec 24th 2022 at 7:33:02 AM

and

No or first pic only. Automatically lock new threads for upcoming works unless the release version of poster comes out.

As mentioned over on Image Pickin' when this was first raised, ComicBook pages fall foul of this a lot, and tend to end up with the first promo pic - which is often landscape and a bit crowded at wiki size, especially for Bat Family Crossover and Crisis Crossover events which want to show a dozen different characters.

(Dark Web, Judgment Day (Marvel Comics) and Revenge of the Brood are all recent examples).

I'd be in favour of keeping images off the page until there's slightly more choice available.

Basically. Though I should stress that I don't personally agree with it for obvious reasons.

I voted "no image" mostly because in my experience, first images tend to be the worst images, and it feels more annoying to stick with them indefinitely than to just not have one at all.

I don't really have an issue with the current system, to be perfectly honest.

Also, this decides what to do in case of an IP thread, but what do we do in case of an unilateral change? Wouldn't clogging up the pinned threads with "this pic got changed, can we revert?" be so much more annoying?

I can't imagine it being so common that pinned threads would be overloaded. I'm more bothered with threading some obvious reverts, but that's how it is.

As with any policy change (e.g. moments thread) there will be growing pains but folks will get used to it. We would just have to update all the important things (upcoming works rule page, IP guideline, maybe the image change notifier) and advertise accordingly

It's been over a week and the result seems decisive.

If we are sticking with first image, I guess the two related scenarios I can think of are -

• First image needs to be removed for some reason (copyright, NSFW etc) - in which case it gets pulled... and maybe the page doesn't get a replacement until the work is released?

• First image is changed without discussion - which sounds like it would be noted in IP and reverted with no need for a thread/vote?

Edited by Mrph1 on Jan 20th 2023 at 2:12:26 PM

Yeah, that first case would be treated just like any other pic...may need to tweak those two additions to note that. Agreed that the second would just be a straight reversion.

Edited by Willbyr on Jan 20th 2023 at 8:27:14 AM

What if the image is meant to be a placeholder? Like a screenshot from a trailer?

Still counts as a pre-release image from promotional material, does it not?

I try to discourage "placeholder" mentality in general, hopefully now there is incentive to choose a good placeholder (and not just "low quality logo screencap from the 2 second sizzle reel from the studio" just so the page can have a pic").

Also, I noted this in the notifier thread, but I updated the "image change" notifier.

Edited by Synchronicity on Jan 20th 2023 at 12:34:18 PM

Alright. I’ll leave my future work pages blank until there is a poster from now on.