Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Video games/Sources

See also: Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard

This talk page is for discussing the reliability of sources for use in video game articles. If you are wondering if a video game source is reliable enough to use on Wikipedia, this is the place to ask.

When posting a new topic, please add a link to the topic on the Video Game Sources Checklist after the entry for the site. If an entry for the site does not exist, create one for it and include the link to the topic afterward. Also, begin each topic by adding {{subst:find video game sources|...site name...|linksearch=...site URL...}} in order to provide other users with some easily accessible links to check up on the source.

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thegamer.com and gamerant.com are identical.

Currently using this very useful list as a basis for an article I'm writing. I just stumbled across [1] which I realized has the exact same proportions / font / styling as [2] which has me concerned, since one of them is an accepted source on the list, and the other is situational. Essentially unsure what to do so posting here! — Mcguy15 (talk, contribs) 18:31, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

They are published by the same company, Valnet, just like Screen Rant. All three use the same software for their website, so the layout is the same. The staff and content, however, are different. You can find the same with PC Gamer, GamesRadar+, and TechRadar. All are published by Future and use the same software/layout, but their staff and content diverge. IceWelder [✉] 18:44, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Alright, thank you for the information! — Mcguy15 (talk, contribs) 18:46, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Not gonna fight it but I think thegamer should be treated the same as the other Valnet properties. -- ferret (talk) 19:25, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Is it not? All three share a table, with similar limitations. – Rhain ☔ 10:47, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

Appears it is, the OP said it wasn't and I didn't check. :) -- ferret (talk) 11:30, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

Since TheGamer is mentioned again, I thought I'd link this post as a reference point for future discussions about their reliability. At the very least, they seem introspective enough about their shoddy past. Haleth (talk) 09:33, 3 April 2022 (UTC)

Ovicio.com

Find video game sources: "...Ovicio.com..." – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR · free images · free news sources · WP Library · NYT · WP reference · VG/RS · VG/RL · WPVG/Talk · LinkSearch · LinkTo

This is a Portuguese site that covers video games, films and comics. I recently bumped into it when searching for resources for Sonic-related articles. Is anyone here able to determine the reliability of this site?

Here's the English-translated version: https://ovicio-com-br.translate.goog/ MoonJet (talk) 12:18, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

Sister site https://overplay.com.br/ should also be evaluated alongside. I'm a proponent of us vetting more non-English sourcing, however, I've not been able to find any sort of About Us, Editorial Policy, Staff Page, etc, so far. Not even a directly visible copyright notice anywhere. Both pages link to Facebook profiles that are only created in the last two years. Ovicio.com's archives go back to 2010 though, while Overplay seems to have been spun up in 2020. Clicking on authors takes you to a list of articles they have written with no description or credentials provided about the author. This spree of listicles is not encouraging. -- ferret (talk) 12:50, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

It seems they try to suppress the display of it, but I hit one page that did show a watermark and link to a one man Wordpress developer (www.fabiolobo.com.br) who apparently provides the theme/coding for this site, which is indeed Wordpress based. That in and of itself isn't a problem, Wordpress is used everywhere, but it doesn't lend a sense that this is a big operation or established company. Miguel Oliveira appears to be the owner of Ovicio, and he has a testimonial on Fabio's site. The site's involvement is actually documented at https://www.fabiolobo.com.br/trabalho/o-vicio -- ferret (talk) 13:40, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, I noticed that. No "About Us" page or anything. Weird. As for the listicle thing, they do pertain to one character each, to be fair. MoonJet (talk) 14:22, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

That's kinda the issue though. They are just taking a list of characters for a series/franchise and indiscriminately, one a day, putting out a list. It doesn't suggest any particular importance to any character since they're running through them all. And that's all that particular author does, once a day, a new listicle about a character from the franchise they are currently running through. -- ferret (talk) 14:26, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

Well, they talk about their creation and everything too. I think you need to look beyond the fact that they are listicles. MoonJet (talk) 14:38, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

• Hey, @Ferret:, I just looked at an archived version of the site, and they have a privacy page and a terms and conditions page there. See: https://web.archive.org/web/20160831160038/http://ovicio.com.br/ MoonJet (talk) 05:50, 21 April 2022 (UTC)

  ToS and Privacy page do not aid Reliability determinations, really. Though it does shed some more light on what company may own the site, or at least at that time did. It seems the site was owned by or at least hosted by R7 at the time, but perhaps that's no longer the case? All of the articles on that front page are by Miguel though, suggesting it may have been a one man operation at the time. -- ferret (talk) 13:14, 21 April 2022 (UTC)

Dualshockers

Find video game sources: "Dualshockers" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR · free images · free news sources · WP Library · NYT · WP reference · VG/RS · VG/RL · WPVG/Talk · LinkSearch · LinkTo

Hi! This site is currently listed as unreliable on WP:VG/RS, but there seems to be a very poor consensus as to why. As it was brought up at Talk:Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes#Unreliable sources, I think it would be wise to reassess. The about us page suggests it has an editorial roll. Previous discussions [3] no comments, suggested COI, [4] one comment, also mostly COI, [5] has some comments, but mostly suggesting the previous entries were somehow suitable to suggest it was unreliable. This is seven years ago, so probably needs a better look. The about us page [6] suggests it has a decently strong editorial backbone. Best Wishes, Lee Vilenski ^{(talk • contribs)} 14:07, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, I don't know why this was concluded to be unreliable. They seem fairly professional, and other reputable sources like IGN, Kotaku, and Gamespot have credited them, going by the about page, which another indicator for reliability. So, I would say reliable. MoonJet (talk) 14:30, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

The first two discussions for Dualshockers really didn't establish anything. The third is more in-depth but it's primarily Czar's view and we didn't see much participation from others. I'd say it's ripe for re-evaluation. -- ferret (talk) 14:35, 20 April 2022 (UTC)

Esports Insider

Find video game sources: "Esports Insider" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR · free images · free news sources · WP Library · NYT · WP reference · VG/RS · VG/RL · WPVG/Talk · LinkSearch · LinkTo

Esports Insider (About, Team) is a business-focused esports news website, akin to The Esports Observer. Most pieces are on acquisitions, funding, and partnerships. Appears to also write some sponsored content, which is tagged with "Supported by:" at the end of the article (e.g. [7], [8]). Also runs a print and digital magazine, The Esports Journal, in partnership with Latam Media Group. Subsidiary of SBC. I lean reliable; it's a good source for the content it provides. – Pbrks ^(t • c) 13:13, 22 April 2022 (UTC)

• I would also lean reliable. Separating sponcon and non-sponcon, writing team all seem to have experience/training in journalism, etc. Doesn't look like they're doing anything groundbreaking, but no reason to believe their coverage of business moves isn't reliable. Alyo (chat·edits) 14:06, 22 April 2022 (UTC)

NerdCubed

Hello, I would like to ask if NerdCubed, a popular and renowned gamer and game reviewer who is even in charge of his own company that has made 3 games, is a reliable source for video game articles/pages on this site, like his list of Top 100 greatest games of all time.

He doesn't violate any of wikipedia's source reliability rules from what I can tell, and he doesn't seem too different from the already-accepted Electric Playground Network.

Eseseso (talk) 02:23, 27 April 2022 (UTC)Eseseso

Looking him up, it looks like he's primarily just a Youtuber who self-publishes his own stuff. That's not generally what we look for in reliable/usable sources on Wikipedia. We're generally looking for websites/magazines/publications that have professional credentials and editorial policies, standards, editorial oversight, etc. I'm sure he's a great guy...but he sounds less like any of that, and more like a popular guy who uploads lots of videos straight to the internet. Sergecross73 msg me 03:28, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

Serge sums it up. Self-published individual, who happens to be popular. -- ferret (talk) 12:48, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

Screenage Wasteland and DigitalDreamDoor

Hello,

Would the sites of Screenage Wasteland (which has done various lists and such that focus on games, including a top 500 games list that begins here) and DigitalDreamDoor (which among other gaming things has its own list of greatest games of all time) be considered "reliable sources"?

Screenage Wasteland definitely seems like a reliable source by this site's standards, and seems no different from other journal/magazine sites that have had their gaming lists accepted.

DigitalDreamDoor was a bit less certain to me, but looking at the lists it seems like they have multiple individuals look over things such as the games put in their ranking lists and use some criteria when listing them. It also seems to follow all of wikipedia's source reliability standards from what I can tell.

Eseseso (talk) 18:29, 3 May 2022 (UTC)Eseseso

Both unreliable. No reputation for fact checking, no editorial policies, no credentialed staff. The staff page of Screenage Wasteland includes such descriptions as "I'm that guy that writes about Star Wars and shit." and "I like horror and stuff, but I hate most things.". The site is also only 3 years old. Digitaldreamdoor is older but looks like it's just a blog of some sort. No hallmarks to suggest it's reliable, unless someone knows something I don't. -- ferret (talk) 19:19, 3 May 2022 (UTC)

Reliability of HLTV

Find video game sources: "HLTV" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR · free images · free news sources · WP Library · NYT · WP reference · VG/RS · VG/RL · WPVG/Talk · LinkSearch · LinkTo

This CS:GO related site has been on WP:VG/RS for a while and has been brought up for reevaluation multiple times as well, but no discussion has taken place. The original evaluation mentions a lack of evidence that the writers are "experts in the field," and whilst this may have been somewhat true in 2016, the situation has definitely changed. The current head of operations, Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin has been hired as an analyst by multiple notable tournament organizers including ESL and PGL (where he was hired for an official Valve sanctioned tournament).

This does not mean their website is reliable per se, but their match database has also been integrated into the official CS:GO client itself.[9][10]