Creating Getting started with VRChistory: Difference between revisions

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<div style="font-size:2em; font-weight:bold; color:#e0d7ff; letter-spacing:0.06em; text-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(140,100,220,0.5);">📼 VRCHistory — Contributor Guide</div>
<div style="color:#9f8fcc; margin-top:0.4em; font-style:italic; font-size:1.0em;">Welcome to the archive. Here's everything you need to contribute.</div>
</div>

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This page is a '''project meta-page''' — it documents how VRCHistory.org works, what our standards are, and how to contribute. It is not an archive article about a VRChat subject. For the archive itself, see [[Main Page]].
</div>

== What Is VRCHistory? ==

'''VRCHistory.org''' is an unofficial, fan-operated digital archive dedicated to preserving the cultural and technical history of [[VRChat Inc.|VRChat]]. Founded in April 2026 by [[Kingsley Vega]], it functions as a community museum: a permanent, searchable, and open record of the worlds, creators, avatars, events, and platform moments that define VRChat's history.

VRChat changes fast. Worlds break when [[SDK2 to SDK3 (Udon)|Unity versions change]]. Creators move on. Events that thousands attended exist afterward only in memory. VRCHistory exists so that doesn't mean they disappear.

<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:''' Every person who contributes to VRCHistory is performing an act of cultural preservation. The platform's history is not maintained by [[VRChat Inc.]] in any archival form — no official record of [[The January 2018 Viral Surge|January 2018]], the original [[The Great Pug|Great Pug]], or the early Furality events would exist in a searchable public form without community-driven efforts like this one. Your contribution is not optional data entry — it is the archive.
</div>

== The VRCHistory Documentation Standard ==

All articles in VRCHistory follow the '''Forensic Archival Style''' — a specific approach to documentation that treats every subject as a museum exhibit: something to be precisely described, contextually situated, and permanently recorded. This section explains what that means in practice.

=== Core Principles ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Principle !! What It Means in Practice
|-
| '''Prioritize raw data''' || World IDs, user IDs, dates, version numbers, polygon counts, prices, CCU figures. Every claim that can be quantified should be quantified.
|-
| '''Source everything''' || Every specific fact should trace to a verifiable origin: a Gumroad listing, an API call, a Steam stat, an official post. Undocumented claims should be labeled as such.
|-
| '''Context, not just facts''' || A world's visit count matters. Why the world mattered to the community matters more. Both belong in the article.
|-
| '''Academic tone''' || Write as if a future researcher who never used VRChat will read this in thirty years. Assume no prior knowledge of the platform. Explain what things are before citing them.
|-
| '''Internal cross-linking''' || VRCHistory is a web of connected history. Every article should link to every other article it relates to. [[Graham Gaylor]] connects to [[tupper]] connects to [[VRCat]] connects to [[VRC+ Subscription]] — these threads are the archive's value.
|-
| '''No original research beyond documentation''' || Document what happened. Attribute opinions and interpretations to their sources. Do not insert personal judgments as fact.
|}

== 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.

== Internal Linking Guidelines ==

Cross-linking is not optional — it is a core function of the archive. Every article should link aggressively to related pages.

=== Foundational Pages (Always Link When Relevant) ===

These are the archive's central nodes. Any article that touches their subject matter must link to them:

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Page !! When to Link
|-
| [[VRChat Inc.]] || Any mention of VRChat as a platform, the company's decisions, funding, or history
|-
| [[Graham Gaylor]] || Any mention of VRChat's founding, the open avatar decision, the 2024 layoffs, or CEO-level company direction
|-
| [[tupper]] || Any mention of VRChat's community management, VRCat (he inspired the mascot), the VRC+ launch era
|-
| [[The January 2018 Viral Surge]] || Any mention of Ugandan Knuckles, the platform's first viral moment, early VRChat history
|-
| [[Furry Community in VRChat]] || Any avatar or world article that exists in the furry ecosystem
|-
| [[VRChat Creator Economy]] || Any mention of VRChat Credits, in-platform purchasing, Tilia, or Avatar Marketplace
|-
| [[Furality Online Xperience (F.O.X.)]] || Any mention of VRChat's largest event, the F.O.X. Portal, or the Furality charity record
|-
| [[Kingsley Vega]] || The archive's founder; relevant in project meta-pages and historical context
|}

=== Link Format ===

Standard link: <code>[[Page Name]]</code>

Link with display text: <code>[[Page Name|display text]]</code>

Use display text when the link target would read awkwardly in prose, or when you want to use a shorter form of a long title.

== Naming Conventions ==

=== Article Titles ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Subject Type !! Naming Convention !! Examples
|-
| World || Exact name as listed in VRChat || <code>The Great Pug</code> · <code>Japan Shrine</code> · <code>Furry Hideout</code>
|-
| Creator (real name) || Display name as used in VRChat or primary social presence || <code>Graham Gaylor</code> · <code>Rezillo Ryker</code> · <code>AzukiTiger</code>
|-
| Creator (username only) || Username with capitalization as used || <code>tupper</code> · <code>Lt_Shadow</code> · <code>ITOAR</code>
|-
| Avatar / Species || Common name, disambiguated if necessary || <code>The Rexouium</code> · <code>Taidum</code> · <code>Mayu (Kemono Feline Avatar)</code>
|-
| Event || Full name, including year if disambiguation needed || <code>Furality Online Xperience (F.O.X.)</code>
|-
| Platform Event / Controversy || Descriptive title with date || <code>The January 2018 Viral Surge</code> · <code>Easy Anti-Cheat Controversy (July 2022)</code>
|-
| System / Technology || Descriptive system name || <code>VRChat Creator Economy</code> · <code>SDK2 to SDK3 (Udon)</code> · <code>VRC+ Subscription</code>
|}

=== Talk Pages ===

Use article Talk pages to:
* Flag factual disputes or uncertainties
* Discuss major structural changes before making them
* Leave notes for other editors about incomplete sections

== Article Quality Tiers ==

Not every article starts complete. VRCHistory uses an informal quality tier to track article development:

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Tier !! Description !! Markers
|-
| '''Stub''' || Minimal entry; basic facts only; structure incomplete || Add <code><nowiki>{{Stub}}</nowiki></code> to top; [[Category:Stubs]]
|-
| '''Draft''' || Major sections present; some facts unverified or missing; needs expansion || No marker required; note in Talk page
|-
| '''Standard''' || All required sections present; infobox complete; primary sources cited; categories and See Also filled || No marker; considered complete for archival purposes
|-
| '''Featured''' || Exceptional depth; forensic data richness; cross-linked thoroughly; nominated for homepage feature || Nominated via Talk page; displayed on [[Main Page]]
|}

Current Featured Articles (as of May 2026):
* [[The January 2018 Viral Surge]]
* [[Furality Online Xperience (F.O.X.)]]
* [[The Great Pug]]
* [[Graham Gaylor]]

== What to Document ==

=== High-Priority Article Types ===

If you know about any of the following, your contribution is especially needed:

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Category !! What's Needed !! Why It Matters
|-
| '''Legacy worlds''' || Worlds from 2017–2020 that no longer load or have changed significantly || Pre-SDK3 world history is almost completely undocumented in any public archive
|-
| '''Platform events''' || Server crashes, update rollouts, policy changes, and community responses || Platform history is more than features — it's the events that shaped community trust and behavior
|-
| '''Early creators''' || VRChat users active 2014–2018; world builders from the pre-Steam era || The earliest generation of VRChat creators is largely absent from any public record
|-
| '''Dance world culture''' || History of VRChat dance worlds, DJ communities, and performance culture || A large and active community with almost no archival presence
|-
| '''Community governance events''' || Group formations, community splits, moderation controversies || Organizational history shapes communities as much as creative output does
|-
| '''Avatar economy history''' || The pre-Creator Economy informal market; Gumroad history; early commissioners || The informal economy built VRChat's creative culture with no official documentation
|}

=== What NOT to Document ===

VRCHistory is a historical archive, not a directory or social platform:

* '''Do not''' create pages for users with no documented impact on VRChat's history or culture
* '''Do not''' document living controversies without sourcing; let events settle before archiving them
* '''Do not''' create pages for worlds or creators you cannot source with verifiable data
* '''Do not''' use VRCHistory to settle community disputes or promote personal projects

== How to Write Your First Article ==

=== Step 1: Choose Your Subject ===

Pick something you can document with verifiable sources. A world you can find in the VRChat API. A creator whose Gumroad listing you can link. An event you attended and can source from official social media posts.

If you cannot source it, do not write it as fact. You can note it as community-reported or undocumented.

=== Step 2: Gather Your Sources First ===

Before writing a single word, collect:

* The VRChat world ID (if applicable) — from the URL when viewing the world in a browser
* The user ID (if applicable) — from the VRChat API or profile URL
* Links to creator pages: Gumroad, BOOTH, Jinxxy, Twitter/X, Discord
* Dates: when was the world created? When did the creator join? When did an event happen?
* Stats: visit counts, favorites, member counts, version numbers

The article writes itself once the data is assembled.

=== Step 3: Build the Infobox ===

Start with the infobox. It forces you to identify what facts you actually know and which are missing. Empty infobox fields are better than filled ones with invented data.

=== Step 4: Write the Opening Paragraph ===

One paragraph. Four sentences maximum. Subject + most important fact + historical significance + why it's in VRCHistory.

=== Step 5: Write Section by Section ===

Don't write from top to bottom. Write the sections where you have the most data first. Come back to thin sections later, or flag them as needing expansion.

=== Step 6: Add Every Internal Link ===

Go back through the completed article and link every mention of a subject that has its own VRCHistory page. Use the foundational pages list above. More links are almost always better.

=== Step 7: Fill the Closing Sections ===

References first (they're already in your browser tabs from Step 2). Then External Links. Then See Also. Then categories.

=== Step 8: Add the Last Documented Date ===

End every References section with:
<pre>* Last documented: [Month Day, Year]</pre>

This timestamps the article's archival state and tells future editors how current the information is.

== Uploading Images ==

Images are among the most archivally valuable contributions to VRCHistory. A screenshot from 2018 of a world that no longer loads is irreplaceable.

=== Image Guidelines ===

* '''Label images descriptively''' — "VRChat_GreatPug_2017_Interior.png" not "screenshot1.png"
* '''Note the date''' in the image description field if known
* '''Note the world and event context''' — what was happening, who was there
* '''Low resolution is acceptable''' — old screenshots at low resolution are historical documents, not aesthetic choices. Upload them.

=== What Images to Upload ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Priority !! Image Type
|-
| 🔴 Highest || Screenshots from 2014–2020 of any world, avatar, or event
|-
| 🟠 High || Screenshots documenting specific events (Furality, viral surge, world updates)
|-
| 🟡 Medium || Creator profile screenshots; avatar showcase images; world thumbnails
|-
| 🟢 Standard || Recent screenshots documenting current state of documented subjects
|}

== Community & Contact ==

VRCHistory does not have its own Discord at time of writing. Contributor coordination currently happens via [[Kingsley Vega]]'s community presence. For corrections, disputes, or major proposed additions, use the article's Talk page.

For questions about the archive's standards or this guide, contact [[Kingsley Vega]] directly via VRChat or associated community channels.

== See Also ==

* [[Main Page]] — The archive's front page; featured articles and recently added entries
* [[Kingsley Vega]] — Founder of VRCHistory; primary editor and archival standard-setter
* [[Project:Wanted Pages]] — High-priority articles that need to be created *(to be created)*
* [[VRChat Inc.]] — The company whose platform this archive documents
* [[Graham Gaylor]] — VRChat's co-founder; the origin of the platform whose history we preserve
* [[Furry Community in VRChat]] — The broadest cultural overview in the archive; a model article for community documentation
* [[The January 2018 Viral Surge]] — A model article for event documentation; forensic archival style at full depth

== External Links ==

* [https://vrchat.com VRChat — Official Platform]
* [https://wiki.vrchat.com VRChat Official Wiki] — Official platform documentation; a source, not a substitute for VRCHistory
* [https://en.wikifur.com WikiFur] — The furry fandom wiki; a useful source for species documentation
* [https://vrchat-legends.fandom.com VRChat Legends Wiki] — Another community archive; complementary scope
* [https://hello.vrchat.com VRChat Inc. Official Site]

== References ==

* VRCHistory.org Recent Changes log — page creation dates and edit history; confirmed as primary source for archive state
* VRCHistory.org existing articles — article structure derived from established standard across 35+ pages created April–May 2026
* MediaWiki documentation — wiki formatting syntax reference
* Forensic Archival Style — developed by [[Kingsley Vega]] for VRCHistory.org; applied consistently across all archive articles from April 19, 2026 onward
* Last documented: May 19, 2026

[[Category:VRCHistory]]
[[Category:Project Pages]]
[[Category:Contributor Guides]]
[[Category:Meta Pages]]

Latest revision as of 16:25, 19 May 2026

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