MLA + Video Games = Hassle

[dropCGCF]

I've decided to share this now.

About three weeks ago, I was writing a paper for my english class. The paper had to be done in MLA format, with works cited. I chose to take some ideas from Turok 2- Seeds Of Evil.

The MLA handbook said nothing about how to do it.

So I went to my teacher. She didn't know. I went to the English lab. They had no clue.

So then I got fed up. I emailed MLA. They responded.

Dear dropCGCF:

Video games are not yet covered in our books. I suggest that you write an entry in the works-cited list that contains the elements you consider necessary to distinguish the source. Below I've listed the elements that seem likely to me, but you may want to adjust them:

If the game is online:
1. Title of game (underlined).
2. Version number, if any (e.g., "Vers. 3").
3. Date of version, if any.
4. Name of company that publishes game.
5. The date or date range when you accessed the material, followed by a space and a relevant URL, in angle brackets (e.g., "20-22 Nov. 2004 ").

If the game is published on a physical medium:
1. Title of game (underlined).
2. Publication medium (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.).
3. Version number, if any.
4. City of publication, followed by a colon, the name of the
publisher, a comma, and the year of publication.

Each of these items is followed by a period, except where noted otherwise.

Please let me know if this reply doesn't answer your question.

Sincerely yours,

Eric Wirth
Assistant Editor
Modern Language Association

English needs to evolve to meet the times, man.

[DarkMaster]

English sucks, lets destroy it.

[Happydude]

Originally Posted by DarkMaster

English sucks, lets destroy it.

i'm totally with you on that one.

[Vampyr]

I think all of that crap about "citing your sources" is stupid. What are english people now, Zen masters?

[thatmariolover]

I just think it's silly that if you have an original thought that somebody's already thought and published then you're plagiarizing. In todays world with the number of written languages that are and have been used it will become harder and harder to say or think something that hasn't already been said or thought. And until you're questioned about something you've published you might not even know that you're in violation of somebodys intellectual property.

[GameMaster]

If I were you, I would probably would've just done it in CD-ROM format because they have a citation form for that. But it's cool that you sought an official way from an authority.

[KillerGremlin]

me hated english let me you destroy dis language sillyism

Just having some fun, I agree that English lags. If everyone complains to MLA they will have to add videogames to the sources list.

[Dyne]

APA is what's effing annoying. MLA is ok.

[Ginkasa]

Originally Posted by dropCGCF

English needs to evolve to meet the times, man.

It is. Just, seriously, how many times, so far, has someone written a paper taking information on video games, and needed said paper to adhere strictly to the MLA format?

Besides, the times, themselves, don't even recognize video games as legitimate resources for papers (or much anything else). Pretty much any information they have to give would have to come from their stories, which could probably have been found elsewhere first.

Even information for papers on video games would come from sources outside of video games themselves.


*shrugs and walks away*

[Hero2]

Originally Posted by DarkMaster

English sucks, lets destroy it.

OMGZORZ I d3stroy t3h 3nglish lanuage on a day'ly bas3s!!

exsample above.