WiKirby:Sourcing standards
WiKirby takes pride in ensuring that all of its files are properly sourced, though what constitutes a "source" is typically simpler than what's expected in academia. In short, all we really care about is that we know where specifically an uploaded file came from, and whether or not it constitutes official material from the Kirby franchise. For a more detailed explanation, the following are WiKirby's sourcing standards.
Criteria
For a WiKirby file to be considered properly sourced, it must generally meet these requirements (though these can vary depending on the file itself and its origin):
- For game screenshots or audio clips, we need to know from where the file was taken, and by whom. If you are uploading a screenshot or audio clip you captured yourself from your own game (i.e. not from a YouTube video or other site), you can simply use the word "self" in the source parameter of the Aboutfile template. Otherwise, specify where the file comes from and include a URL link to the source.
- For photographs, the same general criteria exists as for screenshots. If it's your own image, mark it as "self". Otherwise, specify the source URL.
- For artwork and other non-game images, a source URL is almost always needed, even if the artwork is known to be official. This is not always possible, however, such as in the case of certain Nintendo press kit images which are not publicly released. Files that are known to fall into this latter category can be marked as such using the term "presskit" in the source parameter of the Aboutfile template. If you scanned the artwork yourself from a manual or other such source, you need to specify that, along with the name (and page if applicable) of the literature in question.
Notes on source categories
On WiKirby, there exists a handful of maintenance categories for dealing with various unsourced or improperly-sourced images. Ideally, all of these categories should be empty. They are as follows:
- Files lacking sources - This is the "general" category for unsourced images. Any file where the source parameter is left blank will end up here automatically.
- Files with incomplete sources - This category is for files which are known to be legit, but for which a URL or other proper source has not been specified. The notice template Link needed is placed on any file with this issue.
- FANDOM sourced images - WiKirby does not allow images from the Kirby Wiki on Fandom to be used here, unless said image can be sourced to somewhere aside from Fandom itself. Any images found to be in this category will be swiftly deleted if a source cannot be quickly found.
- YouTube sourced images - This category is for game screenshots that were taken from YouTube videos without a proper source. Even if a source is provided, an image in this category may still be deleted for breaking the image quality standards.
One last thing should be noted. WiKirby's current sourcing standards were only really codified in 2022 and put into writing in 2023. As such, there are a handful of old images left over from older times when sourcing standards were more lax, but which haven't been deleted yet because they are known to be official. That said, they may not be used in mainspace until a proper source can be found for them, and they may eventually be deleted if no source can be found. You may find these images in some of the above categories, or all on one page in this archive. This list will not be growing, as any new images coming in without a proper source will be quickly sourced or deleted.
User expectations
As specified above, all files on WiKirby are expected to be sourced, even if it's just a goofy meme you post to your userpage as a personal image. If you upload a file to WiKirby without a properly-specified source, or if the file itself seems dodgy, you will be asked from where the file comes, and if you do not provide a source in a reasonable time frame, the file will be deleted. If from there you continue to upload files without proper sources, you may be subject to warnings and/or more severe consequences depending on circumstances. As a WiKirby user, you are also expected to be honest about where your files come from. Any instance of dishonesty when providing sources for images, including but not limited to falsely claiming an image as your own capture, will result in a one-strike block as specified by the block policy, and you may be permanently suspended.
See also
- Help:Formatting file pages - More info on formatting file pages and using the Aboutfile template.
- Help:References - How to reference textual information in articles.
