Board Thread:Consensus Track/@comment-6991905-20150405224253

The Elder Scrolls Wiki has a very strict video policy, allowing only official media released either by Bethesda or the Wikia. It has been nearly one year since this subject has been last discussed by the community, and I think it is time to talk about it again.


 * http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:292513
 * http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:423404
 * http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:458593

Some efforts to reach a consensus failed due to abandonment and indifference, only to continue the enforcement of such unnecessary policy, incompatible with our Wiki's current size and growing rate. This time, however, a consensus should be reached to change our actual regulations and make them correpond our community's position and desires. A discussion not to be forgotten. In the last discussion, we had some progress, however, lack of explainment and regulations killed it with the Elder Scrolls Wiki's channel on Youtube, which was overseen by SuperSajuuk. A few videos were uploaded in that channel, including some of Morrowind quests made by me. However, I saw no motive to continue making them if no connection would exist between our videos and our articles, not even a link would be placed (remembering those videos were in Wiki's channel, not on my own channel). The project was quickly abandoned, but I never stopped thinking about a new policy on videos. It is a fact that our community, in the mentioned discussions, demonstrated great approval to videos in the Elder Scrolls Wiki, I believe this support still exists and with a clear consensus and good coordination it will be possible to concrete the community's position, relaxing the current video policy.

Copyright will not be an excuse, for Bethesda is very tolerant to this type of media, expressing their support on their blog: http://www.bethblog.com/bethesda-video-policy/

I would like to clarify that I am not making this discussion to aprove my views on the subject, but to attend the community's views on the subject. Every active member should take a position about this matter, specially staff members.

My proposal consists of four steps to be discussed:

First Second Third Fourth
 * The video policy, it should be changed or preserved.
 * A consensus of the community over video regulations.
 * Which users should be responsible for this new feature.
 * Which program should be used.
 * What should be recorded.
 * How it should be recorded.
 * A minimum video quality.
 * Which editions could be made in the video (such as voice commentaries and cuts).
 * The level of tolerance to modifications in videos (mods, such as textures or overhauls).
 * Where videos should be uploaded.
 * How and by who they should be selected.
 * How can we construct a relationship between the articles and videos (such as placing them inside the articles or their links only).

Of course, other importances I forgot to mention should also be discussed. So, I will ask to every member write his opinion about this discussion, even if it goes against the consensus.

Proceding, the following lines will explain my position on this subject.


 * Videos would be a great improvement to the Wiki's pages, such as demonstrating how complete a specific quest or pass a complex dungeon. More accurately, they should be of major support in older games like Morrowind, where bugs are widespread, many times breaking quests and confusing the player.


 * The argument of unnecessity of videos, sustained by the belief that "words can describe nearly everything", is invalided once it is seen that videos do not describe the subject in the same way words do - they present a different point of view, to many easier and less stressful. I can see a similarity on this argument and this Wiki, because during 2006, the year this website was created, UESP already had all the content on Elder Scrolls series, which would expose the unnecessity of a similar site.


 * The policy I am thinking should be still strict, because videos are not like images. A Youtube channel, overseen by a trusted member of the Wiki, on which well recorded videos should be uploaded and rated by other members.


 * Videos should be encyclopedia-like, which means formal, serious, without jokes nor imbecility, focused on explanation and demonstration, not entertainment. No voice commentary.
 * Each quest should have a video, which could be placed in their correspondant article.
 * The minimum video quality should be 720p, with a roughly 45fps.
 * Any recorder capable of reaching my proposed minimum quality should be accepted.
 * PC should be prefered.
 * The making of videos should be voluntary and we must enforce this position. Wiki is not a place for personal propaganda. No mention of other channels should be included inside the videos.
 * Instructions given during quests should be followed, no alternative path. Example: in Morrowind's introdution, the game gives intruction to use a specific keyboard character, so this character should remain unchanged during the video. However, the use of a different keyboard configuration inside the game, with the exception of these moments, should be fine.
 * Mods changing the game's aspect in the video should be strictly prohibited, like texture packs, armor mods, hair. However, lesser modifications with no impact in the video should be allowed. Example: a Morrowind mod which delays the Dark Brotherhood attacks while sleeping, only to happen after the completion of the Main Quest (they are added my Tribunal DLC).


 * Before recording videos for the Wiki, the player should inform which mods he installed into his game.
 * Cutscenes should also have videos.


 * After being uploaded, videos should be placed inside a particular topic to be rated by members of the community or only the Staff (I leave this discussion to fellow users).
 * After being approved, they should be placed in the correct section of its correspondant article, as defined by the new protocols.
 * Beyond quests, some teasures and collectibles, such as the Dark Brotherhood's secret chests, and the stones of Barenziah, could have videos showing their locations. In this particular case, I think videos will be a great adition.
 * And a minor point, our videos could also have a common opening. Like showing "The Elder Scrolls Wiki.com" for 4 second before the video begins. Something like this, certaly.

These are my proposals.

I really want to reach a consensus about this policy. 