Talk:Windosill

Latest comment: 9 years ago by Jaguar in topic GA Review

DYK nomination edit

{{Did you know nominations/Windosill}} czar  22:19, 8 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

Images edit

I have contacted Smith about licensing free use images. czar  22:15, 8 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

GA Review edit

This review is transcluded from Talk:Windosill/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Reviewer: Jaguar (talk · contribs) 14:03, 9 March 2015 (UTC)Reply


I haven't took a video game GAN in a while. I'll finish this soon, but please let me know if you need more time Jaguar 14:03, 9 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria

  1. Is it reasonably well written?
    A. Prose is "clear and concise", without copyvios, or spelling and grammar errors:  
    B. MoS compliance for lead, layout, words to watch, fiction, and lists:  
  2. Is it factually accurate and verifiable?
    A. Has an appropriate reference section:  
    B. Citation to reliable sources where necessary:  
    C. No original research:  
  3. Is it broad in its coverage?
    A. Major aspects:  
    B. Focused:  
  4. Is it neutral?
    Fair representation without bias:  
  5. Is it stable?
    No edit wars, etc:  
  6. Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
    A. Images are tagged with their copyright status, and valid fair use rationales are provided for non-free content:  
    B. Images are provided if possible and are relevant to the topic, and have suitable captions:  
  7. Overall:
    Pass or Fail:  

Initial comments edit

  • Can the gameplay/plot part of the lead be expanded a little? It doesn't give a overview of what the player is supposed to do for the reader. "The player advances through eleven rooms through interacting with each level's environmental objects" - what about the game's mechanics/engine?
  • "It was developed by artist Patrick Smith" - is he the only member of Vectorpark or were there others who worked on the game?
  • "The game was first released for Windows, OS X, and web browsers in 2009" - do you know what month/date it came out? It's just that app games' releases are usually more precise
  • "Windosill has influenced games including Alto's Adventure, Blek, Donut County, and Monument Valley" - Monument Valley links to the valley in Utah rather than Monument Valley (video game)
  • There is very little on development in the lead section, given that the development section is the largest. At the moment the lead doesn't summarize the article
  • Gameplay section is looking a little dry. Are there no free use images that can be used to illustrate the gameplay? I have a feeling I took this GAN a little early as the section looks incomplete! Is it possible to expand?
  • Smith's main inspirations in the development section are unreferenced. It's the part that ends with "Italian Renaissance painters Paolo Uccello and Piero della Francesca"
  • "He coded his own 3D and physics code" - code overload. Would it sound better with programmed?
  • "Windosill '​s first half was free-to-play and the second half could be unlocked with payment" - this sounds like it's in past tense. Was it made completely free-to-play at a later date?
  • Would you consider renaming the "Development" section to "Development and release"? The last paragraph of the development is essentially about its release and sales which differs from actual development. Please feel free to ignore as I don't know if it helps!
  • "Critics described Windosill as not just a game but "a toy" in itself." - should this be moved before Campbell and Rattray are introduced? The first paragraph of the reception section is usually there to summarize
  • "Still, Anthony Burch of Destructoid wrote that the puzzles were designed" - sounds informal
  • The Legacy section is too short, can it either be expanded or merged with the reception section as a level 3 header? I did a similar thing to Jumping Flash!. Also Monument Valley links to the Colorado range

References edit

On hold edit

Some issues there are preventing this from meeting the GA criteria at this time, but I trust that you can handle it. It should be easy to make the lead summarize but the Gameplay section is looking a little dry and also the Legacy section is too short. The references look good, though. Please let me know if you need more time or have any questions; I look forward to hearing your reply! (I swear nothing is available outside iOS, I've never had a Apple device in my life...) Jaguar 14:41, 9 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

@Czar: I notice that the GA bot didn't give you a notification, I've pinged you so you can hopefully see this Jaguar 19:40, 9 March 2015 (UTC)Reply
@Jaguar, appreciate the review (and the ping—not sure why the bot skips me). I think I got everything. I had left a note on the talk page that I contacted the dev and am expecting images soon. I expanded the gameplay a little, though the sources really didn't say much more apart from its simple interactions. There is no formal release date for the game. I had a note in the infobox that the May Steam date appears wrong because journalists were reporting that the game was out in April. Smith also said he didn't have a browser version at first, so it magically shows up some time that year. "2009" works the best. I think it's normal to include the Release in the Development unless the Release is notable enough to warrant its own section. The "a toy" part should be fine since it's in the critic summary section. czar  03:44, 11 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

Close - promoted edit

Thank you for the improvements, czar! The article is looking better than before given that it has been expanded as much as possible and the lead now summarises. I forgot that this is considered an "old" app game, given that 2009 was six years ago(!).   Jaguar 18:46, 11 March 2015 (UTC)Reply

@Jaguar, thanks! I think this is actually my 50th GA, with much credit to your reviews. I have a few book articles sitting at GAN, if you're interested... czar  18:54, 11 March 2015 (UTC)Reply
No problem czar, and congratulations on your 50th GA! I saw your educational GANs in the queue back when I was in the GA Cup, so I'll take a few of them soon. Funnily enough I remember seeing God's Choice lying around in my college library but I've never read it. I'll take that one first and will review a few more soon Jaguar 19:00, 11 March 2015 (UTC)Reply