To-do list:
Consensus was to create two new namespaces for pages currently located in Useful Notes, a Platform/ namespace for media platforms (game consoles, operating systems, etc., like Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft Windows, and Steam) and a MediaNotes/ namespace for pages containing background information on media, like How Video Game Specs Work or ANSI Standard Broadcast TV Schedule. Thus, the following will need to be done:- Go through the Useful Notes index and see which pages should be moved from UsefulNotes/ to either Platform/ or MediaNotes/.
Original post:
Useful Notes, from what I understand, is meant to be specifically about informing readers about complicated subjects that show up a lot in the media, to help them understand how to properly portray it. These subjects range from historical events to real-life locations and cultures. There's some subjectivity about what's "useful" here, but it's a pretty specific namespace otherwise.However, we also have a class of pages that really don't fit this mold. However, they're in UN because there's no better namespace for them. These are the "media history" pages, such as the pages on various game consoles. They're not work pages because these things aren't tropeworthy, they're not creator pages because they're individual works, tools, or concepts; and they're not trivia because why would they be? They're in Useful Notes because they're informative pages on things related to media, but you'd be hard pressed to say that reading UsefulNotes.Nintendo Game Cube would help you write a book. These pages serve a function that's definitely relevant to the website, but they just don't fit the intended use of Useful Notes.
The reason I'm bringing this up now is because the TRS thread for RetroGaming wants to make it UsefulNotes, which
... I did vote for because at the moment there ain't no rule saying it doesn't go there, but I did make it clear that my true stance is a lot different. I didn't want to derail the discussion though, because Retro Gaming would just be another drop in the ocean, not the problem in and of itself.
This reminds me of the state of the Franchise/ namespace before Derivative Works/ was created pretty recently. The namespace was being used for things it shouldn't be used for simply because we lacked anything more suitable. So one possible solution would just be to create a new namespace for these pages, such as Media History/ or something, to preserve them as their own category.
The other solution is to just expand the definition of "Useful Notes" to include pages like these. I'm not sure I agree with this because in my opinion this would just validate some of the serious decay issues the namespace has (seriously, there are a lot of superfluous pages), but it would also be the easiest thing to do and would allow us to maintain the current status quo.
And of course, you may disagree with me that there's even a problem here at all. I'm just calling it as I see it based on my understanding of the namespace guidelines, especially as UN misuse and bloat has been called out elsewhere in the past.
Edited by GastonRabbit on Feb 23rd 2024 at 1:25:29 PM
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
Well, that I can't really explain other than that green links be somewhat bugged (even cut disambigs remain greenlinked).
Currently Working On: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
He/Him
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Yeah, that's the actual bug
CutListing them should make them red, but it doesn't
Art Museum Curator and frequent helper of the Web Original deprecation project
lmao
Should Website.Pixiv be moved to Platform/?
I gather that it's an online art gallery like Platform.Deviant Art.
Pantheon Wick Cleaning
the Retromancer
It is and sometimes hosts full comics.
TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Hey two questions; should iOS Games be moved to Platform/? And what namespace should Arcade Game be in?
She/Her | Currently cleaning N/A
Honestly I'm not so sure about them being platforms, they're a games list mostly and arcade games isn't limited to video games
lmao
What got Android Games moved to Platform/ then? Sorry if I missed prior discussion on that.
Edited by BlackFaithStar on Jan 16th 2024 at 8:28:25 PM
Pantheon Wick Cleaning
I dunno, as far as I know it kinda just did
the Retromancer
As I've mentioned before, it wouldn't be a concern if Android Games was merged into Android
TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Android and iOperating System themselves do count as platforms due to being operating systems
If the list o games was moved there then platform would make sense
lmao
I'm unsure where iOS Games would merge to though, since iOS isn't it's own page, or am I mistaken?
Pantheon Wick Cleaning
iOS would need a page
He/Him
And then move the index to said page
Yeah, well it would make platform make sese for it
Unofficial co-Wiki Curator for Magnificent Bastard
So a bit of a problem. The main page for Roblox says that it "is supposedly not actually a video game, but a technology platform for developers to develop games on. It's only listed under the Video Game namespace for lack of a better namespace to put it under.". Would it work better under Platform or Video Game?
MB Pending | MB Drafts | MB Dates
He/Him
Roblox is one of those cases where it is a Platform/ by definition, but said platform has tropable content in its design.
Waffle Cat (she/her)
I think it would be better to move it to Platform/ but clarify that it has trope-worthy stuff in its design so we are making an exception or something like that.
Here there be cats.
He/Him
Maybe we can tweak the description of Platforms that states:
To state that some platforms can have tropes of their own, just not most.
Edited by AudioSpeaks2 on Jan 17th 2024 at 11:51:13 PM
Art Museum Curator and frequent helper of the Web Original deprecation project
Waffle Cat (she/her)
That would be better, yeah.
Here there be cats.
He/Him
I've added a note saying some platforms have tropes
Anyways, anyone else good with Roblox being moved to Platform/?
Art Museum Curator and frequent helper of the Web Original deprecation project
lmao
Since most of what I read say that Roblox is a platform by definition, ![[tup]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thumbs_up_emote.png "[thumb up]"){kind=small}
to moving it to Platform/
Unofficial co-Wiki Curator for Magnificent Bastard
to moving to Platform.
The Wanderer
Since Roblox has been moved should that note about it only being in the Video Game namespace for lack of place to put it also be removed?
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
He/Him
Yes it should be removed, because we have found a namespace that fits it now.
Crown Description:
Consensus was to create two new namespaces for pages currently located in Useful Notes, a Platform/ namespace for media platforms (game consoles, operating systems, etc., like Nintendo Game Cube, Microsoft Windows, and Steam) and a second namespace for pages containing background information on media, like How Video Game Specs Work or ANSI Standard Broadcast TV Schedule. The name of the namespace for background information on media hasn't been decided yet, so what should its name be?
I've checked by manually changing UsefulNotes.Play Station 4's that it's not pagetyped as disambig.
Edited by Amonimus on Jan 9th 2024 at 10:52:42 PM
TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup