NintendoWiki:Release management

In order to help manage the different versions of a single game, we have compiled here a list of possible release relations and terminology, along with some examples.

Predecessor, Successor and Partners

When specifying when a game was released in relation to other games in its series or sub-series, use one of the following terms:

Predecessor

A game published or released before another in the same series or sub-series

Successor

A game published or released after another in the same series or sub-series

Partner

A game published or released at the same time as another in the same series or sub-series

Examples
Kirby's Adventure	is a successor game to	Kirby's Dream Land
Pikmin	is a predecessor game to	Pikmin 2
Pokémon Gold	is a partner game with	Pokémon Silver
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages	is a partner game with	The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

Sequels, Prequels, Interquels, etc.

When specifying a game's chronological placement (as opposed to order of release) within the timeline of its series, use one of the following terms:

Sequel

a game that follows the story of another entry in the series

Prequel

a game set before the story of another one, even if it is released later

Interquel / Midquel

a game set between the story of two others

Examples
Super Mario Bros. 2	is a sequel to	Super Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past	is a prequel to	Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and The Legend of Zelda
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge	is a midquel between	Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie
Metroid Prime	is a interquel between	Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus

Remakes, ports and Re-imaginings

Remake

A game is redone, with improved graphics, and possibly minor changes to the story and/or gameplay.

Port

A game is re-released on an emulated service, but is not changed in terms of graphics, story, etc. Controls may be adapted to suit the new console, and bugfixes may be included.

Re-imagining

A remake of a game, with more significant changes to the plot, graphics, and gameplay techniques. Also sometimes referred to as a "reboot".

Updated Release

A game is released a year or two later, with some minor additions or changed details. Not a full remake.

Examples
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe	is a remake of	Super Mario Bros.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land	is a remake of	Kirby's Adventure
Super Mario 64	was ported on	Virtual Console
Star Fox 64	is a re-imagining of	Star Fox
Super Mario Bros.	is ported for	Virtual Console
Pokémon Yellow	is an updated release of	Pokémon Red and Green, Pokémon Blue and Pokémon Red and Blue

Notes

• Each remake and re-imagining merits a page; however, ports do not. This is due to the fact that ports generally do not change the content of the game in any way.
• If a game is ported to another console, categories for the year in which the port was released are not added to the article.

Interactions

When indicating if a game can interact with another game, use the following terminology:

Import

Data is transferred from one game to another, temporarily or permanently

Exchange

Data is continually transferred from one to the other, and often back to the first

Examples
Golden Sun: The Lost Age	imports information from	Golden Sun
Pokémon Black and White	imports information from	Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
Pokémon Platinum	exchanges information with	Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Compilation

Compilations are single games consisting entirely of ports and/or remakes of previous games, usually with little or no original content.

Examples
Super Mario All-Stars	is a compilation of	Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Super Mario Bros. 2 Super Mario Bros. 3
Game & Watch Gallery	is a compilation of	Ball Cement Factory Flagman Manhole Vermin

Games featured within other games

Certain games, most notably the WarioWare series, sometimes include partial ports of other, larger games. These are usually termed "mini-games", or, within the WarioWare series, "microgames".

Examples
Kirby's Dream Land	is a mini-game in	Kirby's Adventure
Helmet	is a microgame in	WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
Star Fox	is a microgame in	WarioWare D.I.Y.

Other situations

There are times when different releases of a game vary based on what region it is being released in.

Sometimes, this is simply a difference in language, with minor differences in art, story, etc. Other times, there are drastic differences between the two regional releases.

How big the difference is helps determine whether or not a separate page is required for each release.

Examples
Star Fox 64	is renamed in the PAL region as	Lylat Wars
Pokémon Red and Blue	is the international release of	Pokémon Red and Green
	with the graphical improvements of	Pokémon Blue

Notes

• If the same game is released for the same console in different years in different regions, and is not a port or remake, it should have categories for each of those years. For example, F-Zero was released in Japan in 1990, the USA in 1991, and Europe in 1992. Therefore, it goes in the 1990 games, 1991 games, and 1992 games categories.
• Super Mario Bros. 2 is a special case. The game originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2 was deemed by Nintendo of America to be excessively difficult, and it was decided not to release the game outside of Japan. In its place, Nintendo instead restyled Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, originally a Famicom Disk System game, into a Mario series game, and released it in the USA and Europe as Super Mario Bros. 2. The Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2 was eventually released as part of the Super Mario All-Stars collection, where it was renamed Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, and the Western version of Super Mario Bros. 2 was released in Japan as Super Mario USA. To help avoid confusion, please refer to the game released in the USA and Europe as Super Mario Bros. 2, and the Japanese original as Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

Basic Editing Getting Started • Talk Pages • Images • Galleries • Image Sourcing • Templates • Moving Pages Advanced Editing Tables • HTML • CSS • Redirects • Archiving • Archiving Talk Pages • Merging • Merging Pages • Citing Sources • References • Templates (Formatting Templates • Link templates) • Color usage • Protected Page Policies/Guidelines General rules • Coverage Policy • Nintendo Article Guidelines • Article Structures • File Deletion Policy • InterWiki Policy • Protected Policy • Color Scheme Standards Quality Standards • Sections • Lists • Tables • Templates • Images • Categories Featured Content Help guide • Articles • Images Projects Release management • Technical details • Interwiki (Link) Task Force • CrossWiki Team • Affiliates • Interlanguage partners Basics User Accounts Customizations Userboxes (Userbox list)  • Custom Signatures • User Navigation Bars Ranks Users • Autoconfirmed • Ambassadors • Autopatrol • Patroller • Administrators • Bureaucrats Communication IRC • Community portal