StarfieldWiki:Community Portal

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Namespace Separation: Yes or No?
We should address this early before it gets much harder to change directions. We currently do not have a decision to use namespaces or not.

The main pros for using namespaces include:
 * Better compatibility with UESP's infrastructure.
 * Can be neater as namespaces function as "super categories" of topics.
 * Will allow us to document topics from gameplay and lore perspectives easier.

The cons include:
 * Although UESP users are likely to be familiar, most wikis do not use namespaces in this fashion so it could be potentially confusing to readers and prospective editors.
 * We don't know if this is going to be a series yet, so it may not be necessary to really divide between different games and lore.
 * It may increase the difficulty in implementing Scribunto/Lua templates.

Considering these points, I find myself in favor of adopting a namespace structure like UESP's. While it may not be standard, I don't think it's that overall confusing. And while we don't know if this will be an ongoing franchise, none of the wording from Bethesda has implied this series will only ever get a single game, and considering the history of the games industry, assuming there will be sequels is likely the safer bet. --AKB (talk) 12:04, 12 May 2022 (EDT)
 * I'm not strictly opposed, but I don't think there is necessarily a need to do this overall. Namespaces work really well to separate multiple media types and styles, especially when a company is first figuring out what and how they want to create their world. Thus, early games, like TES1 become very very different from later games such that the exact same content is quite different and could be confusing all on the same page. Once a company matures, you see that sort of variation less. I don't believe Starfield and future games in the new franchise will have quite as much contradictory information as TES1, TES2, TES3, etc.


 * That being said, I do feel like a Lore/Gameplay split is a very useful one for separating talk of gameplay mechanics from the in world content, though this can easily be achieved with separate sections on a single page. One worry I do have is that while a lore section for an existing franchise of multiple games gets filled out, a lore section for a single game often feels... lacking... and presenting pages that are complete but feel empty might not be the look we want to go for, if that makes sense. Jeancey (talk) 13:27, 12 May 2022 (EDT)

I'm also in favor of doing namespace separation. While a single game may not be enough to justify a separate category of articles, it's still likely that Starfield will get sequels, and lore exists in media outside the mainline games as well: books, mobile games, spin-offs, movies and series. I think it's better to create the separation now rather than having to adapt the whole wiki for it once it does become a need. --Sayoregg (talk) 15:50, 12 May 2022 (EDT)


 * I'm in favor of the namespace separation as well. Starfield is just the beginning, and I can't see them stopping at this game only. Even though we probably won't see any sequels for a while, I think it's better to have the separation now than doing it all later when more entries are made. --YzraDoesStuff (talk) 16:09, 12 May 2022 (EDT)


 * It looks like overall we are in favor of doing this, although it may ultimately prove to be unnecessary. If that's the case, it'll definitely be worth revisiting this topic if/when any future installments are announced. --AKB (talk) 00:16, 9 June 2022 (EDT)


 * I'm not entirely sure if its necessary. Unless we think we'll get a Starfield MMO or something? With the expected upcoming games (TES and then Fallout 5) it would take more than 10-15 years before we get a real sequel. --Sgtfrankieboy (talk) 12:59, 20 June 2022 (EDT)


 * I think that Starfield is likely to receive more content on a faster pace. I think part of the delay with BGS was caused by them working on Creation Engine 2 and the new mechanics/setting needed for Starfield. Beyond that, there is a fairly high chance for a spin-off, based on the other releases for TES and Fallout. So even if the next mainline sequel is a decade out (which I'm not sure about), I think we'll definitely get more Starfield in the interim. --AKB (talk) 14:27, 20 June 2022 (EDT)