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BioShock Wiki


J.S. SteinmanHQ
"'Symmetry, dear Steinman. It's time we did something about symmetry...'"J.S. Steinman

This is a BioShock Wiki project, a collaboration of editors working to improve articles and other content related to a particular subject.


The File Project is a project aiming to get all files on this wiki sorted.

File Checklist[]

See also the file categories on the Maintenance Portal.

Every file on this wiki should be checked according to this list before removing {{Unprocessed File}}.

Guidelines[]

Naming[]

Every file should have a proper name that refers to the image content or topic.

Image titles that are created by your preferred screenshot tool should be not be used since they usually use filenames like APPLICATIONNAME-2024-03-19-10-51-48 which says pretty much nothing about the image itself. There is no standard or laid down scheme how the image title should look like, but it should be clear to others what the image content is about by reading the filename.

Using shortcuts in the image title for game or location names is accepted as long as the standart shortcuts are used (eg. Bio2 for BioShock 2 or citc for Clash in the Clouds). A list of shortcuts can be found on the page of template Information.

Proper filenames can include…

  • the game's name
  • the level's name
  • the location's name
  • the object or character name
  • defining adjectives that describe the scene or object to separate them eg. by point of view or current state

Filenames should not include complete scene descriptions. The detailed information should be added into template Information on the image description page.

Examples[]

Examples

Examples of bad image titles:

  • 0013.jpg - Reason: Just a number
  • 2014-06-12 00014.jpg - Reason: A date combined with a number
  • J.png - Reason: Just one character
  • Ncbncn.jpg - Reason: Just some random characters which have no relation with the image content
  • Image.jpg - Reason: No reference to the image content

Examples of good image titles:

  • BS1 Frolic RMetro2.png - Reason: Shortcut "BS1" means BioShock 1, "Frolic" refers to Fort Frolic and "RMetro" to the Rapture Metro
  • Siren Alley-Airlock01.jpg - Reason: The level name (Siren Alley) as well as the subject (Airlock) is included. The name of the game (BioShock 2) could be added, but doesn't have to. Additions could also be one or two words about where you are and what you look at (eg. "waterside", "inside" or "control panel" or somthing like that)
  • BaS2 TestDrive Entrance.png - Reason: Shortcut "BaS2" means Burial at Sea - Episode to, "TestDrive" is a location and "Entrance" tells us what we look at
  • Proving Grounds-Museum Lobby-01.png - Reason: The level "Proving Grounds" tells us where the scene can be found and from which game the image is taken from, "Museum Lobby" tells us what the image content is about
  • Pneumo Tube Model Render.png - Reason: We know what the object (Pneumo Tube) is and that it's not a screenshot, but rather a rendered image done with a different program


File Content[]

The file content of every file should meet certain standards to be used on the BioShock wiki. A full list of criteria that should be taken into account can be found on the Image Policy page.

In short: The file should be as high resoluted, saved with as high quality (regarding pixelation, file content, etc.) and have as less parts of the HUD as possible.

Template Information[]

Template Information should be used on every file page on BioShock wiki. As much information as possible should be filled in. The template should be used as following:

 {{Information
 |description = A description of the file's content
 |source      = Where is the image taken from (A self taken screenshot, a webpage, ...)
 |game        = In which game the content can be found
 |level       = In which level the content can be found
 |levelpart   = In which general part of the level the content can be found
 |location    = A more specific location inside the level
 |topic       = What is the file all about (character, enemies, items, audio diaries, ...)
 |license     = What is the licence for this image (fair use, creative commons, public domain, ...)
 |approver    = Who has reviewed and checked the use of the template and all it's entries
 }}

Check the template's page for the exact values and shortcuts you have to enter. The lower part of the template indicates if something is missing or if you used something wrong. If you use for example an unknown shortcut for game, the responsible line will turn yellow and will tell you so. If you leave your description blank the responsible line turns red and will tell you that as well. If you did something wrong your files will be sorted into different categories that indicate the type of problem.

You should include wikilinks to other pages the image will be used on or is referring to in the description section of the template.

For images of Audio Diaries, Voxophones, Kinetoscopes and Need to know Theaters template Information should not be used. Instead template Audio Diary File should be used for all Audio Diarie and Voxophone files and template Kinetoscope File should be used for all Kinetoscope and Need to know Theater files. The list of possible entries and shortcuts is again listed on the template's page.


Examples[]

Examples

Let's say we want to use template Information on these five images:

BioShock Infinite - Soldier's Field - Patriot's Pavilion f0789

You uploaded this image and you want to correctly use template information. Let's have a look at the list:

  • Description: The image shows the Patriot's Pavilion
  • Source: The image is a self taken screenshot
  • Game: The screenshot is taken from BioShock Infinite
  • Level: The level is Soldier's Field
  • Levelpart: The Patriot's Pavilion is the levelpart
  • Location: The Patriot's Pavilion is a part of Soldier's Field
  • Topic: Since the Patriot's Pavilion is a part of Soldier's Field, it is part of a level
  • License: The image's content is a copyrighted screenshot of a BioShock game.

The use of template Information would look like this for this image:

{{Information
|description = The [[Patriot's Pavilion]]
|source      = stss
|game        = BioShock Infinite
|level       = Soldier's Field
|levelpart   = Patriot's Pavilion
|location    = The Patriot's Pavilion is a part of Soldier's Field
|topic       = level
|license     = BioShock Image
}}
MotoGW

You uploaded this image and you want to correctly use template information. Let's have a look at the list:

  • Description: The image a Motorized Patriot in the Hall of Heroes Gift Shop
  • Source: The image was taken from JLBiggs' Tumblr
  • Game: The screenshot is taken from BioShock Infinite
  • Level: The level is the Hall of Heroes
  • Levelpart: The levelpart is the Hall of Heroes Gift Shop. Since this page does not exist yet, this part can be left blank
  • Location: The Motorized Patriot can be found inside the gift shop
  • Topic: The Motorized Patriot is an enemy
  • License: Even the file was downloaded from somewhere else, it still shows a part of a BioShock game.

The use of template Information would look like this for this image:

{{Information
|description = A [[Motorized Patriot]] emerges from its glass case in the [[Hall of Heroes]] Gift Shop.
|source      = http://digitalfrontiers.tumblr.com/post/55552825015
|game        = BioShock Infinite
|level       = Hall of Heroes
|levelpart   = 
|location    = Inside the Gift Shop
|topic       = Enemy
|license     = BioShock Image
}}
Alice Roosevelt Longworth Photograph

You uploaded this image and you want to correctly use template information. Let's have a look at the list:

  • Description: The image shows Alice Roosevelt Longworth. The photo was used as inspiration for the appearance of Lady Comstock.
  • Source: The image was taken from Wikimedia Commons
  • Game: Even the image not directly part of a game itself, it's used on the Lady Comstock article which belongs to the BioShock Infinite universe
  • Level: The content can not be found in any level
  • Levelpart: There is no level information so there is no levelpart information as well
  • Location: There is no level location, but it's a painting from the real world
  • Topic: The image is again not directly a character, but it belongs to one, to illustrate the character's article
  • License: Since the image is not taken from any BioShock game and is downloaded from a website we have a look at the website what the license is. Wikimedia Commons does only allow files that are licensed under a free license, so we can be certain that we can use the image. The page on Wikimedia Commons tells us, that the image is "in the public domain".

The use of template Information would look like this for this image:

{{Information
|description = A Hand-tinted photograph of [[Wikipedia:Alice Roosevelt Longworth|Alice Roosevelt Longworth]], 
by Frances Benjamin Johnston. 
The photo was used as inspiration for the apperance of [[Lady Comstock]].
|source      = [[commons:File:Alice Roosevelt by Frances Benjamin Johnston.jpg]]
|game        = BioShock Infinite
|level       = Levelless
|levelpart   = 
|location    = Real world painting, not found in-game
|topic       = Character
|license     = Public Domain
}}
AD gNr058-lNr17 Andrew Ryan - The Great Chain f0449

You uploaded this image and you want to correctly use an information template. Since this image shows the location of an audio diary, template information is not used. Instead template Audio Diary File will be used.

  • Game: The game is the original BioShock
  • Level: The audio diary can be found in Arcadia
  • Levelpart: The levelpart is the Rapture Metro Station in Arcadia. Since this page does not exist yet, this part can be left blank
  • Title: The audio diary is called "The Great Chain" ...
  • Speaker: ... and is spoken by Andrew Ryan
  • Disspeaker: This part can be left blank if the content of speaker is fine as used link
  • Location: The audio diary can be found in the metro station of Arcadia
  • Article: A link to the title is not applicable here since page "The Great Chain" does not contain the transcript. The transcript articles name will be inserted here instead
  • Disarticle: This part can be left blank if the content of article is fine as used link
  • License: We only have to decide wether it's an image or an audio file
  • Source: The image is again a self taken screenshot
  • Sourcepath: There is no path to the source audio file in the game files. For this image sourcepath will be left blank or removed
  • Sourcefilename: There is no file name of the source audio file in the game files. It will be again left blank or removed

The use of template Audio Diary File would look like this for this image:

{{Audio Diary File
|game      = BioShock
|level     = Arcadia
|levelpart = 
|title     = The Great Chain
|speaker   = Andrew Ryan
|location  = Arcadia Metro Station, on the bench to the right of the entrance
|article   = The Great Chain (Audio Diary)
|license   = image
|source    = stss
}}
KIN gNr002-lNr02 Beware The False Shepherd! f0739

You uploaded this image and you want to correctly use an information template. Since this image shows the location of a kinetoscope, template information is not used. Instead template Kinetoscope File will be used.

  • Game: The game is BioShock Infinite
  • Level: The level is the Town Center
  • Levelpart: The levelpart is the New Eden Square
  • Title: The title is "Beware The False Shepherd!"
  • Addtitle: This part is only for images that show two or more objects which are on different pages. It is not necessary so it will be left blank or removed
  • Location: The kinetoscope can be found outside the Grocery store in New Eden Square
  • Article: The article name is "Beware the False Shepherd" ...
  • Disarticle: ... but we still want to DISplay it as "Beware The False Shepherd!"
  • License: So far there is only the option for "image". Since it's an image we willuse it
  • Source: The image is a self taken screenshot
  • Sourcepath: There is no path to the source video file in the game files. For this image sourcepath will be left blank or removed
  • Sourcefilename: There is no file name of the source audio file in the game files. It will be again left blank or removed

The use of template Audio Diary File would look like this for this image:

{{Kinetoscope File
|game       = BioShock Infinite
|level      = Town Center
|levelpart  = New Eden Square
|title      = Beware The False Shepherd!
|location   = Just outside the Grocery store in New Eden Square, near the Barbershop Quartet.
|article    = Beware the False Shepherd
|disarticle = Beware The False Shepherd!
|license    = image
|source     = stss
|approver   = Bioexpander
}}


Categories[]

It is important to sort images into the right category so that it is grouped with other images that have the same or a similar topic. You should check your categorization in the following order (if you can't follow along check the examples down below):

1. Check if a suitable category already exists

  • Search for Category:PAGENAME Images in the wiki search box
  • Open images with the same topic and check the categories they are sorted in
  • Open an image that has a similar topic and go to the image's category. Then open the category's head category that seems most suitable to you. Then search for a category that fits your image.

2. Check if there is a suitable category with a wider topic

  • Open images from different pages and see if they have are sorted in categories that have a wider topic that includes yours as well

3. Create a new category

  • Since there are enough categories, this should be your last option. If you want to create a new category ask an admin before creating it. There may already is a category that fits the topic os your image.

Every image should at least contain one category that fits it's topic. If the image calls for it (because of multiple objects in one image or because it is an object in a specific location) more categories should be added - again: one category for each topic.

You also want to avoid adding two categories to the image if one is the main and the other one is a more specific subcategory. You should always pick the most specialized category that is the suitable for your image.

To create a new category should be the last exit-strategy. There are plenty of categories and there is no need for a one category for every file-approach. If there is a decent amount of images of one topic they can get their own category - but they don't have to. Before you create a category you should discuss your ideas with an admin on this wiki.


Examples[]

Examples

Let's say we want to categorise these three images:

Comstock

You uploaded this image and you want to put it into the right category. The topic obviously is Zachary Hale Comstock. Following the first rule let's search for "Category:Zachary Hale Comstock Images". It does exist! We can sort the image in Category:Zachary Hale Comstock Images! We can see that Category:Zachary Hale Comstock Images is categorized in Category:BioShock Infinite Character Images. That means that we do not want to include Category:BioShock Infinite Character Images since Category:Zachary Hale Comstock Images is a subcategory of it.

Bio2 Pauper's Drop The Limbo Room Breadwinner Splicer

You uploaded this image and you want to put it into the right category. The topic is the Breadwinner Splicer from BioShock 2. The page "Category:Breadwinner Images" does not exist. Following down the line we search for other images on the Splicer's page. We can see that other images with the same splicer are sorted into "Category:BioShock Splicer Images" and "Category:BioShock 2 Splicer Images". Since the background tells us that the image was taken in The Limbo Room, which is a location in BioShock 2, we know that Category:BioShock 2 Splicer Images is the right choice for us. Now we can check if there is a subcategory for that splicertype that we may have missed. There is not, so that category is fine for us. Since The Limbo Room is a topic in this image a category for that should be added as well. Since there is no category for The Limbo Room itself you check the categories for other images on The Limbo Room's page. Many of them are sorted into Category:Pauper's Drop Images. The Limbo Room is in Pauper's Drop and since there is no subcategory that is more specific Category:Pauper's Drop Images should be added as well.

Apollo Square Gallows
You uploaded this image and you want to put it into the right category. The topic is the gallows in the central concourse on Apollo Square. There is no category for the gallows itself and there shouldn't be one since it's a too specific topic. Searching through the other images you don't find a category for central concourse either. After checking some other images for the same page you find that many of them are sorted into Category:Apollo Square Screenshots. This is a very general category, but there is no subcategory inside that category. Since Category:Apollo Square Screenshots is the most specialized and still suitable category for this image it should be categorized in this category.


Licensing[]

It's important for every file's description page to display under which license the file is used. This is done using license templates. Since the BioShock wiki is dedicated to all that is connected to the BioShock series, there can be a lot of different content from all over the web. Only by using the right license templates we can assure that no copyright is violated.

Depending on the source (self taken screenshot, taken from a webpage, etc.) and other information (license templates on the web page from eg. Wikimedia Commons, a permission by the original author, etc.) a file can have a different license. All existing license templates can be found in category copyright tags. A small selection of the most important license templates:

  • BioShock Image: This template should be used on every image that is a screenshot from the BioShock series or is otherwise a part of eg. the development cycle.
  • 2K Audio: This template should be used on every audio file from the BioShock series such as Audio Diary or Voxophone recordings.
  • Fairuse: This template should be used for every file that is not directly taken from any BioShock game, but rather from a different source such as other games, TV series, movies, etc.
  • PD: This template should only be used for files for which there no doubt that they are in the public domain
  • Self: This template should only be used if you - and only you - have drawn, recorded or created the file. Note that "I have taken the screenshot myself" does NOT mean that you hold ANY copyright AT ALL.

Also note that files with no or incorrect license templates will be tagged with {{No license}} and WILL be deleted!


Examples[]

Examples

Let's say we want to correctly licence these four files:

Stienman's Mistakes

You uploaded this image and you want to add the right license to it. The image is a screenshot of J.S. Steinman in the Medical Pavilion. Thereby it's a screenshot from the original BioShock game. Even you may have taken the screenshot or have downloaded the image from a website, the original content was created by Irrational Games and the copyright holder is 2K Games. The right licence for this file is {{BioShock Image}}.

You uploaded this audio file and you want to add the right license to it. This file is a audio diary from BioShock 2. Even you may have recorded or extracted the audio file from the original game files from BioShock, the original copyright holder is still 2K Games. The right license for this file is {{2K Audio}}.

Sherlock-Bioshock-Infinite

You uploaded this audio file and you want to add the right license to it. This screenshot does not show any content that is taken from any BioShock game, DLC, development cycle or is part of any removed content, but it is a screenshot from the TV-series Sherlock. The copyright holder for this screenshot is neither 2K Games nor you, but somebody else. The right license for this image is {{Fairuse}}

Alice Roosevelt Longworth Photograph

You uploaded this audio file and you want to add the right license to it. The image shows Alice Roosevelt in 1903 created by Frances Benjamin Johnston who lived from 1864 until 1952. The source page on Wikimedia Commons tells us that this image is in the public domain. The right license for this image is {{PD}}


Participants[]

If you are interested in keeping the files and their descriptions on this wiki accurate and up to date, simply add your username below. Place every participant on a new line.

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