Editing Getting started with VRChistory (section)

== Page Structure: The Required Template ==

Every article in VRCHistory follows this structural order. Deviations require justification.

=== 1. Table of Contents ===

Every article begins with:

<pre>__TOC__</pre>

This forces the table of contents to appear at the top of the page regardless of MediaWiki's default behavior.

=== 2. Infobox ===

Every article has a right-floating infobox using the <code>{| class="wikitable"</code> structure. This is the article's data sheet — a scannable summary of the most important facts.

'''Infobox template:'''

<pre>
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1.5em; margin-bottom:1em; width:340px; font-size:0.92em;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#1a1a2e; color:#c0a060; text-align:center; font-size:1.05em;" | [Subject Name] — [Type] Record
|-
| '''Field Name''' || Value
|-
| '''Field Name''' || Value
|}
</pre>

'''Common infobox fields by article type:'''

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Article Type !! Required Fields !! Recommended Additional Fields
|-
| '''World''' || World ID · Creator · Created Date · Visit Count · Version · Platform Support || Favorites · Capacity · Last Updated · Notable Features · Community Discord
|-
| '''Creator / User''' || User ID · Trust Level · Joined Date · VRC+ Status · Known For || Platform · Languages · External Links · Notable Works
|-
| '''Avatar / Species''' || Creator · Price · Gumroad URL · Platform Support · Quest Support · Performance Rating || Polygon Count · Shader · Version History · Ecosystem Links · TOS Summary
|-
| '''Event''' || Organizer · Date(s) · Platform · Record Attendance · Charity Total || Frequency · Ticket Price · Partner Organizations · World Count
|-
| '''Platform / System''' || Launch Date · Developer · Version · Deprecated Date (if applicable) || Successor System · Related Systems · Documentation URL
|}

=== 3. Opening Paragraph ===

The first paragraph must:
* Identify the subject precisely (full name, creator, type)
* State the single most important fact about it
* Establish why it belongs in VRCHistory

Do not start with "X is a..." as your only sentence. Establish context immediately.

=== 4. Archive Context Box ===

If the subject has deep historical significance, include the styled Archive Context box immediately after the opening paragraph:

<pre>
<div style="background:#1a1a2e; border-left:4px solid #c0a060; border-radius:4px;
padding:0.9em 1.2em; margin: 1em 0; color:#d4b870; font-size:0.95em;">
📼 '''Archive Context:''' [Your context here]
</div>
</pre>

Use this box to answer: ''Why does this subject matter to VRChat's history?'' Not every article needs it — stubs and minor entries can skip it. Major subjects (worlds with millions of visits, foundational creators, landmark events, platform-defining decisions) should always have one.

=== 5. Body Sections ===

Section ordering is flexible based on subject type, but the following patterns are established across the archive:

'''For Worlds:'''
<pre>
== Creator ==
== World Description ==
== Technical Specifications ==
== Community ==
== History & Version Timeline ==
</pre>

'''For Creators / Users:'''
<pre>
== Profile ==
== Background ==
== Notable Works ==
== Community Presence ==
== Timeline ==
</pre>

'''For Avatars / Species:'''
<pre>
== Creator ==
== Species Description ==
== Technical Specifications ==
== Licensing ==
== Third-Party Ecosystem ==
== Cultural Significance ==
</pre>

'''For Events:'''
<pre>
== Origin ==
== Structure ==
== Event History ==
== Charity Record ==
== Cultural Significance ==
</pre>

=== 6. Data Tables ===

Any technical specs, version history, timeline, or comparison data must be presented as a wikitable — not as prose lists:

<pre>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Column A !! Column B !! Column C
|-
| Data || Data || Data
|}
</pre>

If you're writing a list of facts that all share the same structure, they belong in a table.

=== 7. Quotes & Citations ===

Official statements — from creator Gumroad listings, developer blog posts, official announcements, direct X/Twitter posts — use the blockquote format:

<pre>
<blockquote>
"Quote text here."
<br/>— <i>Name, Title — Source, Date</i>
</blockquote>
</pre>

Community-sourced quotes (Discord, forums, secondary sources) should be labeled clearly as such. Do not present community quotes with the same authority as official documentation.

=== 8. Closing Sections (Mandatory) ===

Every article must end with all four of these sections in this order:

<pre>
== See Also ==
== External Links ==
== References ==
</pre>

Followed by at least 4 category tags:

<pre>
[[Category:VRChat Avatars]]
[[Category:Furry Community]]
[[Category:2020 VRChat]]
[[Category:Open Species]]
</pre>

'''See Also''' links to other VRCHistory articles that are directly related. Prefer specific links over general ones. Annotate each link briefly.

'''External Links''' lists primary sources: official creator pages, Gumroad listings, VRChat group pages, Discord servers, social media accounts. Not secondary coverage — the source itself.

'''References''' is a prose or list section that documents every specific fact source used in the article: which Gumroad listing, which tweet, which SteamDB entry, which WikiFur article. Include retrieval date for web sources where possible.