Sonic News Network:Community Portal

This is a place where you can post ideas for articles and projects.

Current Projects

 * One of the things that this wiki most needs are pages about each level from each Sonic game. A good example are those from Shadow the Hedgehog, see Shadow the Hedgehog (game).
 * The Shadow the Hedgehog stages have been taken care of for the most part, but some information (especially Rankings scores) are still required.

General Information

 * We have a character infobox template, aptly named Template:Character, and a game template, Template:Infobox CVG. These should be used on all major character and game pages, respectively. Usage instructions are on the template pages. They will not automatically work by copying the Wikipedia infoboxes, but it should be easy to convert Wikipedia's infoboxes to ours. If you have questions about either template, please leave a message on the template talk page, or contact FerralMoonrender.

Ongoing Discussions
Flashfire here (aKa. Will the Echidna) I'm wondering whether fan-made images would pass for Userpages and fanfics. I have an Image of Will on my PC, but I don't know whether to put it up on the wikiFlashfire212 02:54, 10 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Fan-images and fictions appear to be allowed just so long as they're in userspace and not the articles themselves.Fair field fencer F F F  08:56, 10 January 2009 (UTC)

Categories
I'm proposing the changing / merging / adding of several character Categories as I feel a number are overly specific (apply to too few characters), overly generic (apply to too many characters to the point of being pointless) and have long cumbersome names. My proposed changes can be described as Character Ability Purpose, Character Primary Ability Type, and a more general Character Other Characteristics. Character Purpose is what the character's overall abilities are geared toward and is based off of Sonic Chronicles and modified slightly. Since all the characters seem to be based around a primary gimmick, Character Primary Ability Type is to list that gimmick (based off of descriptions often used of them), which is something they excel in way more than others and are most well known for - only 1 should be listed because then every character would get nearly every Category listed (for example, ALL of the playable "characters have 'superhuman speed but by making the Category about "in comparison to the other characters in the series", a character with Knuckles's superhuman speed is nothing compared to the speed of a speed type like Sonic / Shadow). The "Other" section is just because a lot of Categories seem like they can be described better or merged down to one. *edit: added affected Categories under proposed new Categories*

Character Ability Purpose (choose one):


 * Fighter Class Character - characters who are fighters; Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow
 * Support Class Character - characters who are who support the fighters; Tails, Cream
 * Shifter Class Character - characters who shift between Fighter Class and Support Class; Rouge, Amy
 * Leader Class Character - characters who lead other characters or are generally "in charge", they may lead on battlefields or from behind desks; Eggman, the President, Black Doom
 * Civilian Class Character - characters who do not participate in fighting; Maria, Vanilla

Character Primary Ability Type (choose one):


 * Speed Type Character - characters who specialize in high speed in comparison to other characters; Sonic, Shadow, Metal Sonic
 * Category:Characters who can move at superhuman speeds
 * Flight Type Character - characters who specialize in flight; Tails, Rouge, Charmy
 * Category:Characters who can fly
 * Strength Type Character - characters who specialize in great strength in comparison to other characters; Knuckles, Vector, Big
 * Category:Characters with superhuman strength
 * Weapon(s) Type Character - characters who specialize in using one or more weapons in comparison to other characters; Omega, Fang, Amy
 * Category:Characters with Piko Piko Hammers
 * Category:Characters Who Use Explosives
 * Special Type Character - characters who specialize in using some special ability (excludes Chaos Powers); Silver, Blaze, Espio, Mephiles
 * Category:Characters who can teleport
 * Category:Characters who can turn invisible
 * Category:Telekinesis
 * Category:Characters Who Can Distort Time
 * Intelligence Type Character - characters who have no physical skill but are skilled strategists in comparison to other characters, often leaders; Eggman, the President

Character Other Characteristics (choose all that apply):


 * Element Guardian - characters who are guardians of an element or elements (such as other characters, locations, items); Knuckles, Blaze, Chaos
 * Creator - characters who create / invent; Eggman, Tails, Wave
 * Creations - characters who are created; Shadow, Biolizard, Omega
 * Category:Artificial intelligences
 * Category:Experiments Gone Wrong
 * Energy Harnesser - characters and machines that can harness the powers of the Chaos Emeralds or other such items (Super Transformation, Chaos Control, etc); Shadow, Sonic, Eggman's machine in Sonic Advance 3, Blaze
 * Category:Chaos Energy
 * Category:Burning Transformation
 * Category:Super-Transformation
 * Category:Super Transfomation
 * Category:Super transformations
 * Hunter - characters who are treasure hunters, bounty hunters, or hunters in general
 * Category:Bounty Hunters

This is more just some starting ideas, not a fully fleshed out proposal. Thoughts? Sonic saiyan 19:26, 3 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Which categories specifically are you citing problems with (besides Category:Characters who can move at superhuman speeds)? Could you provide a list (with links) to those that you've having the biggest problem with? (I.e. which categories are you trying to replace with the system you've proposed here?)
 * In general, I agree that there are several categories that aren't particularly useful and could be excised. There are some very good ideas to take out of your proposed system, but there are some things that would need to be tweaked before implementing. My biggest concern is the level of subjectivity in these categories. When you were listing them, for example, why did you make Eggman a "Leader Class Character" when he was a "Shifter Class" in Sonic Chronciles? -- Supermorff 20:18, 3 April 2009 (UTC)
 * I'll need some time to compile the list, it would include any that would be redundant with what my proposal would make. As for the determining which character fits which category, I think it should be more about what characteristic is most prominent in that category section (I explained above that the characters seemed designed around one very prominent characteristic which also seems to define their purpose). For example, Eggman was listed as a 'Shifter' in Chronicles, but I deemed him a 'Leader Class' because he is more well known for leading his robots and generally doesn't fight hand to hand or support other characters like a Shifter Class as defined above, Omega has super strength but is more well known for using his weapons to shoot things and blow stuff up so he is Weapons Type, Amy is often described in games as Speed character but her speed is nothing next to a Sonic or Shadow, and she is very well known for her Piko-Piko Hammer so she is Weapons Type (although I am divided on whether she really is Shifter as Chronicles said, or Support since she is not really a good fighter like Rouge and SA2, Unleashed really don't help her case - like I said it's still early). Sonic saiyan 20:48, 3 April 2009 (UTC)
 * I just added a list of as many affected categories as I could find under what they would be merged into under my proposal in its current form - its not a complete list since I kept finding more after going thru it so I probably missed some. Also there are a lot more I think should done differently but there are just so many. Sonic saiyan 04:17, 7 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I have removed Category:Living Weapons, since this is actually a category relating to a story arc from the Archie Comics series, not a character category. I will think about your ideas and comment later. -- Supermorff 12:50, 7 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I'm still thinking this over, but I have some ideas to share. First of all, if the goal is to overhaul the existing category structure (and we're both agreed that this is necessary), then there is little to gain by adding new categorisation. In particular, your "Character Ability Purpose" categories do not affect any existing categories, and so will not help clean up the mess we have at the moment. Therefore I suggest setting those aside for the time being.
 * Second, I don't think that the "Super transformations" category should be merged in with "Chaos Energy" or similar. The "Super transformations" and "Burning transformations" categories specifically refer to the powered forms of those characters - not to characters with the ability to transform. Still, it might clear things up if those were merged together. "Category:Powered forms" might not be a bad place to do it. The other ones you mentioned could be combined into a "Category:Energy harnessers" or similar, but by this point they might not need to be.
 * The suggested members of the category you have provisionally called "Element Guardians" are all in fact "Emerald Guardians". Maybe that's worth a category itself, or maybe not.
 * Same of the problem with the speed and strength categories as they are now stems from the wording in the category title. The categories are over full because the characters are being compared to a human norm. That seems a bit silly. But rather than assigning each character a "type", it might just be worth upping the threshold a bit with a name change. For example "super speed" or "supersonic speed" rather than "superhuman speed", perhaps?
 * Let me know if this sparks any ideas in you (or, hey, anyone else). I'll keep thinking on it. -- Supermorff 01:45, 11 April 2009 (UTC)


 * • Putting the Purpose CATS aside for now is fine, I just felt like they would be a good addition to the generalized definition of the character - going hand in hand with the ability type (so listing a character like Amy as a 'weapons type' wouldn't put her on the level as one like Omega).
 * • You're right, the Transformations thing was actually bothering me too because it felt like I was forgetting something - and I was: I wasn't thinking of the non-Super Transformations at the time I was making it. I guess a good fix is both a "Category:Transformations" and a "Category:Energy Harnesser", both go on templates for characters who harness energy to transform and only the Transformation CAT for those who don't use energy to transform. How's that idea?
 * • I like the "Element Guardians" because there are few overall guardians of anything so keeping this generalized seems like a good idea. This way the CAT also covers Chaos also being guardian of the Chao, and in some continuities, Knuckles being guardian of the whole of Angel Island (even though the games seem to make him consider the island a prison he loves escaping from), it even includes the Babylon Guardian, who guarded no Emeralds.
 * • Although I'm not attached to the actual names I used above, I still feel that defining what 'type' of character they are is best. Other attributes outside of their big gimmick tend to be erratic and can lead to confusing categorization - where characters, who do not belong being listed alongside others who specialize in something, get listed there (for example Shadow's strength is being listed next to Knuckles who specializes in strength). Naming it 'super speed' or 'super strength' might continue the current problem of being overly generalized while 'supersonic speed' is problematic as only Sonic is confirmed to be supersonic (for example: Sonic is described as being able to only slightly surpass mach 1 in Sonic Jam, and there are some sources that describe Shadow as being slower than Sonic, so what if Shadow is at the uppermost subsonic or transonic speed which still rivals Sonic without being supersonic, while Jet might be able to hit hypersonic with his Extreme Gear - I don't think anything is confirmed with Extreme Gear speeds - also if this concept were taken into the Archie series where would Mina Mongoose go?), also there is no way of applying such a specific definition to super strength. If characters were categorized by type, then characters (like Shadow) can have other notable abilities (like his strength) listed in their abilities section where it is better described anyway. Sonic saiyan 21:11, 13 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Regarding the "Transformations" cats, I'm not sure I understand your point. The current category is well defined and an appropriate size: it contains only the alternate powered forms of various characters. I don't think it needs to be split into multiple categories. It might (possibly) benefit from a new name, but I don't think that's a priority right now.
 * As for "Energy Harnessers", that should only include characters who have an inherent ability to harness or manipulate energy (e.g. Chaos Energy). Some of the powered forms would also be included in this category, as would Sonic and Shadow (both of whom have used Chaos Control in the past) and that's about it.
 * I just don't like the word "Elements" because it doesn't mean anything, and yet it sounds like it should. If you wanted a general category for people who guard things, why not just call it "Category:Guardians"?
 * I do see what you mean about over-generalization of categories, which makes them effectively useless. Frankly, I think the best thing might just be to delete all the "Ability", "Equipment" or "Type" categories and be done with it. As you said, abilities will be listed on the page anyway. How useful would it be to categorise them? I think not very. -- Supermorff 22:21, 13 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Sorry I wasn't clear: I meant transformations that use energy (like Chaos Energy or Sol Emerald Energy)get both categories (Energy Harnesser and Transformation); while transformations that do not use such energies just get one category (transformations) - it's not a split, transformations covers all from Super Forms to FinalHazard while Energy Harnessers gets added to Super Forms but not FinalHazard. Energy Harnesser also goes to non-Super forms that harness energy like Chaos Control - all Energy Harnessers are harnessing energy - some for transformations and some for other things. Maybe this does over-complicate it.
 * I guess just "Guardians" is ok, as long as it is clear that it is any type of guardian.
 * Although I have no problem eliminating them entirely, I strongly doubt others using this Wiki would want that - I was trying to just propose changes to what already exists. Sonic saiyan 22:56, 13 April 2009 (UTC)


 * Seems to me as though the two of us tend to agree on this, although it would be great to have some other input on it. To test the water, I've tagged a couple of the most ridiculous categories for deletion (telekinesis, use of piko piko hammer, and invisibility). I guess we'll see what the consensus is soon. -- Supermorff 00:56, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

Result:
The creation of Sonic News Network:Fan Fiction, now the active official policy. Any future discussion of the fanfic policy should take place at Sonic News Network talk:Fan Fiction.

Archive of the discussion:
Recently fan fictional content has become an issue of controversy. There are two different issues that we are dealing with: In the first case, fanfic is being written, while in the second case it is being written about. The policy here has previously been that fan fiction that is written here must be kept in a user's own space (i.e. User:username/pagename), but that fanfic which has a large following outside of SNN may be written about, because it is deemed, as I always say "notable in the Sonic community." An example of this would be the "Power of Nazo" and "Nazo Unleashed" series, which are written about on the Nazo page. This policy has been criticized, so I am starting this general discussion so that we may decide upon a new policy, because this is a wiki, and policy is determined by consensus.
 * Fanfic which is created here by SNN users.
 * Fanfic which exists elsewhere and has been written about here.

Several possible solutions (please feel free to suggest more) include:
 * Creating a "Fanfic:" namespace and restricting all fanfic (both types) to that
 * Not allowing any of either type of fanfic in the mainspace
 * Keeping the old policy and having discussions about what qualifies as "notable" fanfic

Please Note: Please do not go around warring over the fan related pages. The pages Nazo and Ashura have been protected (only administrators can edit them), and will remain protected until this discussion is over, and any other pages which become controversial will also be protected.

Also Please Note: Fanfic is allowed in the forums and in userspace, and always will be. That is not up for debate. Editing or deleting what other users have written in the forums or in their userspace will result in being temporarily block from editing this wiki.

Please discuss your opinions below, and remember to sign your posts with four tildes (type ~). ~ FerralMoonrender 04:10, 17 July 2008 (UTC)

Fanfics shouldn't be allowed as a wiki like this should have fact, not fan-made fiction. Let users write there stories in their userspace, since that isn't actually in an article. But the articles should have fact.Fair field fencer F F F  09:00, 17 July 2008 (UTC)

I do think we should have fan articles that have major importance to the Sonic society, like Nazo Unleashed being linked to Nazo without putting info of the series on Nazo's page since Nazo is to be strictly factual. However, there are fanfics not of major concern to Sonic that are only said to be actually part of the series, like (I think) that Bobby Blabby page, and most certainly that Sonic Riders Adventure2 name mess-up thing. I also think there should be an area where we can share our fanfics with the community since you can't do that and go through each user's respective page through special pages, although they can't have any actual relevance to related articles in those related articles, know what I mean? Enzeru 16:42, 17 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Yep, FerralMoonrender... You pretty much said the truth right there. In my opinion, sorry to disappoint, but I don't think a specific section on a Wiki is a good idea. We are trying to make a resource here, and even though it has its own section, a fanfic section might be mistaken by some newbie for fact, and that could be dangerous. Anyway, there are other sites out there for fanfics. If you want it here, make it on your userpage. See you all around... 21:54, 17 July 2008 (UTC)

Fanfictions should NOT be allowed. This is a Wiki, and is an encyclopedia. That means nothing but fact. Look in a real encyclopedia, do you see a chapter for a fanfiction about the history of how God was created? No. Fact. That is what we need. And the main problems are:
 * 1. These fanfictions are being treated as real games, which is confusing to passing visitors, who don't know much about the series.
 * 2. They're being thrown into character articles, as part of their life's history. Which, as I stated before, may be confusing. I'm fine with them on userpages. Nothaving their own artcles though.
 * 3. Fan characters are getting their own articles. Another no-go.
 * 4. Made up history, and appearances are being created. (IE: Marine cameoing in TDB.) Proof? This is why we must CITE information!

This site is a pathetic excuse for a Wiki. It needs some serious cleaning up!  Skeletal S.L.J.C.O.A.A.A.T.R.  05:54, 18 July 2008 (UTC)
 * A lot of the problems with fan fiction being in real character articles is due to a user we used to have called Sonicadventure, who pretty much flooded the site with fanfiction and stuff he made up. I wholeheartedly support cleaning that sort of thing up. ~ FerralMoonrender 08:22, 18 July 2008 (UTC)
 * If he's responsible for all this, then he should be blocked. Unless he has an excuse. And I was wondering: how do become an admin?Fair field fencer F <font color="#FFA500">F <font color="#FF2400">F  09:49, 18 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, please, if he isn't already, block him. I will be more than happy to help clean things up, and find sources to cite, so that this can be a better Wiki.  Skeletal S.L.J.C.O.A.A.A.T.R.  19:42, 18 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Okay, this is good Ferral thankyou for listing to us. <font color="#0000FF">Sonic& <font color="#FF2400">Mario Fan (Pik kid) 15:59, 18 July 2008

Three things: 1) Regarding Sonicadventure, he rarely edits here anymore and in any case he stopped being a problem when Navij11 blocked him for a few days and he learned the hard way that he had to keep his fanfics in his userspace. Some of what he originally did, however, never got cleaned up, so if you see fanfictional information in character histories, etc. please feel free to delete it. 2) If you see entire fanfictional articles, please use this proceedure: Check the history: 3) Please share your opinions on so-called "notable" fan fiction which is written about here, such as the Nazo Unleashed series. Most people said that we shouldn't allow people to write fanfiction here because it might be confused with canon information, but very few people shared their opinions on whether we should write articles about popular fanfics (ex. Such and Such is a fanfiction movie that was created by somebody-or-other...), and/or articles about Sonic community websites. If you want that kind of articles gone too, please be very clear about that, and give a reason. If you support including that kind of articles, please explain how you think we should choose what is notable enough to write about. ~ FerralMoonrender 22:44, 23 July 2008 (UTC)
 * If it has been edited mainly by one user and looks like a personally created fanfic, such as someone's fancharacter, move it to that user's userspace by clicking "Move" and then typing in the "To new title:" box User:(the creator's username)/(the old title).
 * If it has been edited by multiple people and looks like a discussion please move it to the newly created Fandom forums. Please see the forum page for instructions on how to do that move, since simply clicking the "Move" button won't work.


 * Well, I'll move them into a sandbox for a user if it's just one person. If it's a bunch of people I'll most likely put it in the sandbox for the most recent person who typed it there. I'm fine with the fanfic in sandboxes. I'm doing that on the true Wiki. The site's been cleaned up alot, and I think we're almost done.  Skeletal S.L.J.C.O.A.A.A.T.R.  18:18, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

Hey. I see I've joined the discussion late. A solution to the problem of fans confusing fanfic content for canon content can be solved with a template at the top of the article, something like, "This article is about a fan-made subject that has not been officially endorced by Sega. While it is canon to the fanfic it originates from, Sega has yet to feature it in one of their creations." We just have to be sure that we don't start using these templates to say which sources (TV, comic, and otherwise) are canon and non-canon. It's going to sound confusing, but here it is: each officially endorced source, such as a TV show, video game, or comic book, is canon to itself if nothing else. The blanket term, "canon," should never be a shortening of, "Canon to the video game series." especially because certain video games such as Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine may or may not be canon to titles like Sonic Adventure. Stumpers 08:35, 28 July 2008 (UTC)