3 Ways to Cite Video Games
As video games have become increasingly prevalent in our lives, they have also emerged as important sources for academic research and discussions. Properly citing video games is essential for giving credit to the creators and ensuring the credibility of your work. In this article, we will explore three different citation styles – APA, MLA, and Chicago – and discuss how to cite video games in each format.
1.APA (American Psychological Association) Style:
In APA style, you should include the title of the game, the version or edition (if applicable), developer, publisher’s name, and the year of publication. Here’s how you can structure an in-text citation:
(Game Title, Year Released)
And a reference list entry:
Developer. (Year Released). Game title [Video game]. Publisher.
For example:
Rockstar North. (2013). Grand Theft Auto V [Video game]. Rockstar Games.
2.MLA (Modern Language Association) Style:
In MLA style, you should include the author(s) or creator(s), the title of the game in italics, the version or edition (if applicable), publisher’s name, and the year of publication. For in-text citations:
(Author/Creator’s Last Name Page Number)
A works cited page should be formatted like this:
Author/Creator’s Last Name, First Name. Game Title. Version/edition (if applicable), Publisher, Year Released.
For instance:
Rockstar North. Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar Games, 2013.
3.Chicago Style:
Chicago style is useful when citing video games in footnotes or endnotes of a paper. In this format, you would include the title of the game in italics, platform/medium on which it is played, developer’s name or studio that developed it, publisher’s name, location of the publisher if known, and date of publication.
The note citation format for Chicago style:
First Name Last Name of Creator or Developer, Title of the Game, Platform (Publisher Location: Publisher, Year Released).
An example in Chicago style:
Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto V, PlayStation 4 (New York: Rockstar Games, 2013).
In conclusion, properly citing video games is an essential component of scholarly writing involving these forms of digital media. By adhering to the guidelines of APA, MLA, or Chicago citation styles, you can ensure that your work maintains its credibility and gives appropriate credit to the authors and developers responsible for these unique sources.