Videogame Style Guide writes the book on game journalism
by Kyle Orland 
{ Feb 27th 2007 at 10:25AM }
We here at Joystiq don't usually post about our own outside work, but I figured I'd make an exception for my first foray as a dead tree book author.
The Videogame Style Guide and Reference Manual is an effort to set down some consistent answers for those niggling copy editing questions that constantly come up when writing about games -- questions like whether videogame should be one word or two (the guide says one, you say two), whether to capitalize the B in Xbox (no) and whether the term "Wiimote" should be excised from the English language forever (yes, yes, a thousand times yes). Not everyone will agree with our choices, and others won't even care, but as I say in the book's introduction, we hope that addressing these issues will "build trust and respect for both our art and the emerging field of gaming as a whole."
The guide will be available in hardcover, paperback and eBook editions on June 1, 2007. Working game journalists can register for a free eBook edition for a limited time by e-mailing freebook@gamestyleguide.com.
Read - Excerpt from the Guide's introduction
Read - Official Guide web site
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonah Falcon @ Feb 27th 2007 10:35AM
I might pick up a copy, just to see if my journalism is similar to what you state is optimal.
White Rose Duelist @ Feb 27th 2007 10:38AM
You can pry the space in "video game" out of my cold, dead hands!
In all seriousness, a style guide is something the games journalism industry has needed for a long time (there's an internal one at Netjak, but only staffers can view it). Hope you make lots of money with this.
NintendoFanbot @ Feb 27th 2007 10:56AM
That's a really good idea, for when writers don't always have access to PR materials to refer to.
But I as a fan cannot let go of Nintey Shiggy Wiimote waggle.
Good luck anyways. :)
32_Footsteps @ Feb 27th 2007 10:56AM
The usage of the term "videogame" over "video game" only makes sense if you would consider games like Monopoply a "boardgame," games like rummy or contract bridge a "cardgame," games like Dungeons & Dragons or White Wolf's offerings a "role-playinggame," or so on.
Look, I'm a huge partisan of video gaming, but they are not so appreciably different from other games that it justifies violating the rules of American English to name it. To say otherwise is pretentious.
Though it's much easier to deal with things that are produced by companies - the style should be the trademarks. You say "Xbox" instead of "XBox," "X-box," or "X-Box" because Microsoft uses "Xbox" at all times. Similarly, "Wiimote" is not used at all by Nintendo, so it shouldn't be considered standard (however, they do use the term "nunchuck" for the analog stick attachment, so that's usable).
That said, I'll probably pick this up, if for nothing else than it'll be fodder for a column.
littlebadwolf @ Feb 27th 2007 10:59AM
Two freaking words. If the AP stylebook says something, I'd tend to agree with that, since they represent the legitimate press and all.
dvdguy @ Feb 27th 2007 11:01AM
Whore.
;-)
Todd @ Feb 27th 2007 11:13AM
Why don't you like Wiimote? Does that mean you also don't like Nunchuck?
ck @ Feb 27th 2007 11:18AM
Yeah, a style guide is a step in the right direction for game journalism. Sometimes when I pick up Game Informer and EGM, I can't help but feel embarrassed that I'm reading it due to poor word choices, bad grammar and and overall tone that a high school kid had written the article, including the horrendous "jokes" that they put in the captions. It would be nice to see a game magazine along the style of the New Yorker (maybe not as pretentious, though. But more of a professional caliber in what articles they pick and how they write them).
Kudos to you guys, I may have to pick one up for the sake of having it when I post comments here.
NintendoFanbot @ Feb 27th 2007 11:19AM
I think Nintendo officially calls it Nunchuk, without the 2nd C. Just like Game Pak. :P
White Rose Duelist @ Feb 27th 2007 11:28AM
#4 - I also would have accepted "roleplayinggame".
Todd @ Feb 27th 2007 11:29AM
Oh woe is me. So is Nunchuk on the chopping block then?
Tucker @ Feb 27th 2007 11:36AM
Sorry, you lost me at improperly spelling "video game."
Kyle Orland @ Feb 27th 2007 11:51AM
Since this seems to be a point of interest among commenters, we prefer "Wii remote" to Wiimote. Nunchuck is acceptable on all references, capitalized.
refinedsugar @ Feb 27th 2007 11:53AM
So is this just the vanilla brand of self-promotion or is this actually going to improve gaming journalism ... like say here? White Rose said it best ... 'Hope you make lots of money with this.'
Randy @ Feb 27th 2007 11:59AM
Way to write a book that will really make a difference. Everyone who was confused over videogame/video game, Xbox/XBox and Wiimote/Wii Remote will now be able to offer you praises for raising the bar of gaming journalism. Maybe next time, you can actually tackle tough issues.
GUS @ Feb 27th 2007 1:56PM
Thank goodness I can get the eBook for free.
GUS
ry @ Feb 27th 2007 12:04PM
You use way too many commas to be taken seriously.
chris @ Feb 27th 2007 12:07PM
You tell 'em Randy! Way to really get at the problem!
Todd @ Feb 27th 2007 12:07PM
In regards to "video game" and "videogame," what does the mainstream media say?
Currently the immersive concert event, Video Games Live, uses two words.
Todd @ Feb 27th 2007 12:10PM
I own a Wii. I refer to the controllers as Wiimote. Reggie Fils-Aime refers to the Wii remote as Wiimote. When the Nintendo execs start refering to their own peripheral as Wiimote I think you need to go with the flow.
Todd @ Feb 27th 2007 12:11PM
I'm not trying to kick a dead horse here, just merely giving mainstream examples already established or in use.
philliphowel @ Feb 27th 2007 12:11PM
You've combined two of my favourite pastimes: Copy editing and gaming! I need this book.
PS: "Video game" FTW.
is @ Feb 27th 2007 12:34PM
Wiimote is a great term, Kyle, and its here to stay. Suck it.
: )
hvnlysoldr @ Feb 27th 2007 12:47PM
I've grown up correcting people on both my first name (which is Korean) and my family name (Americanized Hungarian with descent from India). My own sister says our family name differently but that's how I've always said it. Ah, arguing with my brother over how to say Scyther. Anyway I've always said video games because that's how I've always read it everywhere. I didn't even know it was called videogame by some.
Ninty is a dumb name. Who's lazy enough not to call them Nintendo? Weird how FireFox's spell checker catches videogame but not Nintendo.
Wiimote is like saying it really fast but I don't hate it.
And with all the woe is the decay of the English language, there's a silver lining. Maybe when English, and other languages, are dead, the entire globalized world can just use one.
Dave @ Feb 27th 2007 4:26PM
Maybe you should add an entry to your book called, 'Conflict of Interest.' You're writing a column about your own book? Both on here and at Game Daily? That's a joke. I'll stay with my copy of the AP Style Guide.
Eric Iberri @ Feb 27th 2007 6:33PM
It's important to note that both the AP Style Guide and New York Times style use "video game."
I hope you can make a strong argument against the two most trustworthy standards of journalism style in the United States.
mj @ Feb 27th 2007 9:01PM
WII-MOTE!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
soul4sale @ Feb 27th 2007 10:11PM
Hmmmmm. How is a style guide for VG journalism even necessary? AP and NYT got you beat a long time ago with all the important stuff, and the rest is just detail wrangling between VG journalists and press flacks.
You are definitely on the wrong site of history with "videogame." And Nintendo dropped the ball with the "Wii-mote" coinage. They deserve to have their product mislabled. "Xbox," well that's just a dumb name to start with.
And don't turn to the press flacks as the ultimate authority. Otherwise, you'll find yourself writing revisions everytime Sony wants free press for the newly re-named "PLAY-STAY-SHUN TRE."
gtpunch @ Feb 28th 2007 3:00AM
"How is a style guide for VG journalism even necessary?"
Surely you mean "V journalism", it's one word now...
theWallflower @ Feb 28th 2007 9:44AM
Shouldn't the style reflect the terms and spelling used in colloquial speech? Certainly Wiimote and 'video game' have become consistent pieces of vocabulary, changing it takes credence away from your book.
Todd @ Feb 28th 2007 9:27AM
@soul4sale
How did Nintendo drop the ball? The term "Wiimote" is used very loosely and managment seems rather fine with the usage. I guess I am missing your point of having their controller mislabeled when there isn't any negative flack for the term, even in Nintendo's main circles.