Asking an ITG Question
Your ITG question must follow this format. Failure to provide these elements and in this format will mean your question is closed and is at risk for deletion.
Be specific! Even if you follow this template completely, if you provide ambiguous, vague, or incomplete information, your question may still be at risk of closure. If you're not sure about a specific detail, make note of the fact that you're unsure about it.
If you've already eliminated other games, or found similar games, make note of these in your question, and be specific about what it is that was right or wrong about them.
Other people may ask you questions in comments. Answer these questions as best you can by editing more information into your original question.
You must provide the following elements:
- Platform: What device did you use? For PC games, specify the specific OS and the distribution method. For instance, "Windows 98 CDROM" or "Super Nintendo"
- Genre: What kind of game was it? For example "platformer" or "first person shooter"
- Year: What year was the game released, or failing that, what year did you first play it?
- Perspective: How did you view the action? Was it top-down, side-view, first person, third person, 2D, 3D, etc?
- Memorable Moments: Why does this game stick with you? What do you specifically remember about it?
You must provide at least 3 of the following. All are highly recommended:
- Protagonist: What did your characters/avatars look like and/or sound like? How did they move and interact with the environment?
- Weapons/Equipment: What kind of gear/weapons/powerups did the protagonist use?
- Goal: What was the goal of the game? What were some of the objectives you had to achieve to get to the end?
- Plot: What was the plot? How was the story told?
- Enemies: What did the enemies look like? How did you defeat them?
- Puzzles: What kind of puzzles or challenges were there? Can you remember any specific puzzles that stick to mind?
The following are optional, but highly recommended to ensure better answers:
- Art: What was the art in the game like? Cartoony, realistic, pixelated, etc
- Setting: Where did the game take place? Was it the future? The old west? The dark ages? A fantasy realm?
- Environment: What types of environments did the game take place in?
- Tone/Mood: Was it serious, lighthearted, distopian?
- Multiplayer: Were there multiplayer elements? Were they cooperative or competitive? Did multiple people play simultaneously, or did you take turns?
Example
- Platform: NES
- Genre: Platformer
- Year: I played it in 1986.
- Perspective: 2D, side view
- Protagonist: A small man, he wore red overalls. He jumped a lot.
- Goal: Something about jumping on flagpoles. There was a timer that killed you if you took too long.
- Enemies: There were mushrooms and turtles. You jumped on them to kill them. The mushrooms squished when you landed on them, but the turtles went flying across the screen. If they hit something, they bounced back.
- Weapons: You could get this mushroom that made you big, and a flower that turned you red. When you had the flower, you could throw fireballs. There was a star that made you invincible.
- Setting: Kind of fantasy, lots of castles and pipes everywhere.
- Environment: The first level had a lot of red bricks, grass, and clouds. You started near a set of bricks and three "question mark" blocks, one of which had a power up mushroom in it. In the second level you were underground.
- Multiplayer: Two people could play, but you took turns. The second player's character had different colors.
- Memorable Moments: I remember that when you died, the little man looked towards the screen and shrugged, and a little sad song played. He jumped up, and then fell off the bottom of the screen. There were also some pipes you could go down into, which took you to a secret area.
Answering an ITG Question
Answers to ITG questions should adhere to the following guidelines:
- One game per answer. If you can think of many games that fit the criteria, the question is likely too vague. Leave a comment with a question that would help narrow down the options you're considering.
- Include more than just the title of the game. Include screenshots or video if you can find them, or links/citations from sites that have more information about it.
- If the game you're thinking of is significantly different from what the OP describes, then you probably shouldn't post it. Minor differences should be noted in your answer, and you should explain why you think the game fits.
FAQ
Q: What can I do if my ITG question is closed?
Go back and review the format here and make sure you're providing as much specific detail as possible. In some cases, comments may be left to try and assist you in making the question better. If a question is improved significantly, it can be re-opened.
Q: What can I do if I see an ITG question that does not meet these criteria?
If you can, downvote it and vote to close. Try to help the asker understand how to improve the question through comments, if possible.
Q: But wait! I can answer this question, even though it doesn't meet these requirements. Why is it closed?
This checklist ensures that these type of questions meet a minimum quality standard. Even the vaguest questions of this type are potentially answerable, but they make it impossible for us to moderate. Remember that anyone can help improve a question by editing and commenting, including you!
Q: This seems harsh. Why so much with the "musts" and the formatting requirements?
Enforcing a particular format means that people must read first before posting. It also means that it's straightforward and unambiguous to look at these criteria and determine if a question meets them or not. Having objective criteria means that enforcing them is feasible.
