On 7/2/05, Erik Moeller <erik_moeller(a)gmx.de> wrote:
The issue is that games can exist entirely in parallel
to
encyclopedia-building.
If users are spending twenty minutes a day on Wikipedia, *editing*,
and learning to use MediaWiki's arcane template and table syntax, that
cannot be 'entirely in parallel' to encyclopedia building. They have
already overcome the greatest barrier to contribution.
For example, the user who created the
"Wikipedia:Wikigames" project (since redirected) has never made a single
edit to a Wikipedia article. When the fun activity becomes the primary
focus and the encyclopedia becomes incidental, a line has to be drawn.
This is a user who was just introduced to wikis...
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia_talk%3ASandbox%2FChess&…
...and is feeling addicted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Undelete/Wikitine
It seems likely that once s/he tires of on-wiki games (which is
admittedly difficiult, considering what an adrenaline rush our new
gaming platform is), with a positive view of the local community, this
will be a natural outlet for other notes and work... Which is what
we're here for, right? One minor edit and a dozen friendly user:talk
comments far outweigh any negative aspects of playing out four games
of wikichess.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template%3AMTGsets&diff=14496…
If games have to be started in the Wikipedia:
namespace, instead of the Sandbox...
Well, we both want to see this happen.
--
++SJ