View source for Library:Inclusion guidelines

It is important to know which topics are suitable for <b>inclusion on Oddworld Library</b>, and to what level of detail they should be covered. These guidelines serve as general advice; exceptions and alterations can always be argued, and ultimately each subject must be decided on a case-by-case basis.

These guidelines include what subjects should be covered by [[Oddworld Library]] at all (and to what level of detail), as well as which subjects deserve their own page or pages (as opposed to being included in a larger-scope article).

This page is not about the social concept of inclusivity in any way.

== Lore ==
Every aspect of Oddworld lore that is <strong>unique</strong> should be covered by Oddworld Library.
* <dfn>Unique</dfn> aspects are fictional concepts not found outside of Oddworld, which might range in notability from [[Mudokon]] (ubiquitous and central to lore) to [[Haggut moss]] (poorly defined, easily replaced or even excluded from narrative). 

Such unique subjects should only have a dedicated page if they would not form a <strong>minor</strong> component of a more general article that is an <strong>obvious</strong> and <strong>close</strong> parent.
* An <dfn>obvious</dfn> parent is one that any reader would reasonably look to for information on a chosen subject; for example, ‘[[Slig]]’ is an obvious parent of ‘[[Big Bro Slig]]’, whereas someone who didn't know anything about Haggut moss couldn't be expected to seek information on that topic by turning to an article on ‘SoulStorm Brew withdrawal antedote’.
* A <dfn>close</dfn> parent is one without intermediary steps of relatedness between it and the subject; for example, ‘[[Magog Motors]]’ wouldn't be covered in ‘Industrial factories’ when it could more specifically be covered in ‘Glukkon factories’.
* A <dfn>minor</dfn> component is one that would occupy no more than one undivided section of an article. For instance, the article on ‘Big Bro Sligs’ contains multiple sections and so would be inappropriate to cover (in its entirity) in ‘Sligs’; by comparison, ‘Slig drones’ does not have enough known information to justify having its own article.

<strong>Non-unique</strong> aspects of Oddworld lore should be covered if they are sufficiently <strong>significant</strong> to the themes and aesthetics of the series or have traits that are <strong>particular</strong> to Oddworld. Some examples of these are below.
* [[Addiction]] and [[Advertising]] are significant to the themes of Oddworld.
* [[Eusociality]] and [[Possession]] are signficant to the aesthetics of Oddworld.
* [[Bird]]s and [[Phone]]s have notable particularities on Oddworld.

== People ==
The following people are eligible to have their own article:
* Employees of [[Oddworld Inhabitants]] and [[OddMobb]].
* Employees of other companies that have developed Oddworld games.
* Other people who have contributed to the development and business of the [[Oddworld videogames|games]].
* Current and past [[Oddworld Forums staff|members of staff]] on the [[Oddworld Forums]].
* [[Fans of the Month]]

The model page for developers is [[Lorne Lanning]]. Developers' articles should include their career and works prior and subsequent to their Oddworld contributions, but should not go into the same level of detail. Wherever possible, tie their earlier work to their work with Oddworld (such as their relevant experience).

The model page for members of the Oddworld Forums is [[Max the Mug]]. Details of members' lives outside of Oddworld should only be mentioned in passing. What is within the scope of their article is their personal story behind discovering Oddworld, their membership (and possibly moderatorship) on the Forums (including when they joined, any username changes they had and any noteworthy departures, e.g. those who left for [[The Glass Asylum]]), and their involvement in the [[Annual Oddworld Forums Poster Awards|awards]], [[Oddworld Interactive Poll Team|OIPT]] or [[Mod Survivor Island|MSI]].

== Fan labour ==
Fan labour refers to the likes of fanfics, fanart, RPGs and fansites. For the time being, these are largely beyond the scope of the Encyclopædia, although this may change in the future. As it stands, the following articles are permitted:
; Fansites
* OddNet
** [[Oddworld Forums]]
** [[Oddworldian]]
** [[Oddworld-Web]]
** [[Oddworld Universe]]
* [[Oddworld Library]]
** [[OddBlog]]
** [[Oddworld Encyclopædia]]
** [[Oddworld Archives]]
* [[Depths of Oddworld]]
* [[Oddworld Maniac]] and [[Oddworld News]]

; Other
* [[Oddworld MMOSG]]
* [[Oddworld Interactive Poll Team]]
* [[Work at RuptureFarms]]