Editing Rules: Companies
In order for a company to be included, it must have released a video game-related product. This includes all companies that have developed or published a video game or video game console, a computer that can play video games, audio software used in the development of a video game, manufactured audio hardware used to play video game music, or published a video game soundtrack. For an example of a company page that meets the VGMPF standards, see Nintendo.
Contents
Sections
All of the following applicable sections should be included in a company's page.
Template
Each company page should begin with an company template which will include some basic information about the company as well as set the page into the necessary categories.
General
The company's general description should cover its origin, major historical milestones (especially pertaining to music), and dissolution, if applicable. Since the description section is the main section, it should not have a header.
Games
If the company has developed or published any games, they should be listed here. If the company has developed and published more than 20 games, include the twenty most popular games, and a link to the category of all their games. Audio software should also be covered in this section.
Music Development
This section should include information about how the company produced music and sound in the various platforms for which they released games including which audio hardware they relied upon and which sound drivers they employed.
Audio Formats
This is a sub-section of Musical Development. List any audio formats created by this company as well as those commonly employed by this company, and for which platform they were used.
Audio Personnel
This section should include the various employees who worked for the company's audio department. This includes composers, arrangers, Foley artists, sound programmers, producers, and engineers. Try to include their primary position at the company and a date range from when they worked there. You may list contracted employees as well, but, if the list would become too large, prune it to just the more important contracted employees. When a company hires a band or external company to write their music, list only the band name or company, not each person in the group.
Hardware
If the company released any audio hardware it should be listed here in chronological order. Subsections may include:
Game Platforms
List all gaming platforms released by the company.
Sound Devices
List any sound cards, external audio devices, or audio chips created by the company.
Picture Gallery
This section should include pictures of the company's headquarters (past and present), group photos of the company's workers (especially audio personnel), and past logos.
Links
Any links to the company should be included here especially to authorities on the company like MobyGames and Wikipedia.
Mergers and Purchases
Many companies will experience being sold off or a merger with another company. Also, many companies have multiple arms for distribution in various countries. Under normal circumstances, these companies should be grouped together in a single page with the company's most recent name, but there are reasons for why an absorbed company should have its own page. If the company made a name for itself before the merger, or if the merger replaced the majority of the company's staff, there should probably be a unique page for it.
For example, Square Enix was made by merging Square and Enix, but since each company had made a name for itself individually, they should have individual pages as well. However, 3D Realms, which was once Apogee Software and Epic Games which was once Epic Megagames were both the product of re-branding, and therefore do not have pages for their old names.
The process can become quite complicated though. For example, SNK was having financial troubles and was purchased by Aruze. However, the former owner of SNK formed a company called Playmore in order to buy-back his old company. Aruze sold SNK to Playmore, and the result was SNK Playmore. Because of this, SNK Playmore is essentially the same company as the old SNK, so there is no point to have a separate page, and since Playmore never produced any games by itself, it doesn't need a page either. Aruze has its own history of being bought and sold.
