# Talk:The Space Bar

I Merged the other Space Bar article with this original as it had useful information. I also made other general improvements to the page and removed the stub marker as the article is more filled out.
Lando242

I seem to remember this game having -ten CDs-.  I couldn't find any verification.  Anyone?  68.0.59.178 (talk) 06:24, 8 July 2008 (UTC)

I've only found a few references but they all say it came on 3 CDs. Considering its age I very much doubt it used 10 CDs, most big adventure games of that era came on 2-4 CDs. Lando242 (talk) 00:45, 9 July 2008 (UTC)

https://web.archive.org/web/19970614090459/http://www.gamesdomain.ru/gdreview/advidx.html
https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1996-12/page/n39
https://web.archive.org/web/19970711134834/http://www.pcgames.com:80/e3/segasoft/
https://web.archive.org/web/20010220145001/http://www.zdnet.com:80/gamespot/stories/features/0,12059,2639965,00.html
https://archive.org/stream/powerplaymagazine-1997-08/PowerPlay_08_1997#page/n125/mode/2up
Steve Meretzky interview
https://web.archive.org/web/19961220170543/http://www.next-generation.com:80/specials/071996.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19970605165633/http://www.next-generation.com:80/demos/spacebar.chtml
https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_161#page/n423/mode/2up/
https://web.archive.org/web/20111109193512im_/http://www.gamasutra.com/resource_guide/20011119/meretzky_images/meretzky_01f.jpg - image
https://web.archive.org/web/20130320054340/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-03-23/news/mn-46252_1_dreamworks-interactive
https://archive.org/stream/space-bar-manual#page/n1/mode/2up
https://web.archive.org/web/19961221005628/http://www.cdmag.com:80/news/0814961.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19971018102901/http://www.gamespot.com:80/features/future/index.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19971021203213/http://www.boffo.com:80/sbindex.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19971007221930/http://www.cdmag.com:80/adventure_vault/space_bar_preview/page1.html - 10/19/96
https://web.archive.org/web/20041225023523/http://www.gamespot.com:80/pc/adventure/spacebar/preview_2559804.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19971021203546/http://www.boffo.com:80/steveqa.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20010104010400/http://gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-86,00.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20180502094102/https://ifarchive.info/if-archive/magazines/XYZZYnews/XYZZY11.PDF
https://web.archive.org/web/20010119114900/http://gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-723,00.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20000312042354/http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_06/13_segabooth/index.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20060621162113/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7017
https://web.archive.org/web/20180502112250/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steve-meretzky-interview/1100-2639965/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160210064906/https://www.wired.com/1996/12/beta-28/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160209210745/https://www.wired.com/1996/06/updata-29/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160209165829/https://www.wired.com/1997/08/updata-11/
http://archive.is/fHA3S
Meretzky, Steve (November 19, 2001). "Building Character: An Analysis of Character Creation". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
http://web.archive.org/web/19991111011114/http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_07/08_spaceba/index.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20161014135015/http://gdcvault.com/play/1013993/Look-Before-You-Leap-The
https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_154#page/n53/mode/2up/
https://web.archive.org/web/20120511175041/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/122379/The_GDC_25_Chronicles_Totally_Boffo.php
https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration33Sep1997/Next_Generation_33_Sep_1997#page/n143/mode/2up
https://archive.org/stream/vgmuseum_questbusters_qbusters116/qbusters116#page/n1/mode/2up/
https://web.archive.org/web/20180503110211/http://mirrors.ibiblio.org/interactive-fiction/magazines/XYZZYnews/XYZZY10.PDF
https://web.archive.org/web/20180503110324/http://mirrors.ibiblio.org/interactive-fiction/magazines/XYZZYnews/XYZZY11.PDF
Shif, Gil Alexander (November 23, 2000). "Steve Meretzky". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on March 24, 2005. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
https://imgur.com/a/Uf3XB - https://i.imgur.com/PlYWHFo.jpg
https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_145#page/n59/mode/2up/
https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_157#page/n221/mode/2up/
http://archive.is/F8Zx1
https://web.archive.org/web/19970101105328/http://www.cdmag.com:80/news/0814961.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19980207215412/http://ogr.com:80/news/news0497.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19970205122836/http://www.gamespot.com:80/previews/spacebar/index.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20120604003312/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643/page2/
https://books.google.com/books?id=LA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54
https://books.google.com/books?id=vwcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA108
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-08-19/business/fi-35640_1_hybrid-cd-roms
https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082115/https://www.wired.com/1996/08/nanobucks/
https://web.archive.org/web/20141107230952/https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Virtual-Arcade-Games-Play-the-classics-on-the-2994579.php
https://web.archive.org/web/20180505165512/https://www.cnet.com/news/rocket-science-unveils-virtual-arcade/

I check pages listed in Category:Pages with incorrect ref formatting to try to fix reference errors. One of the things I do is look for content for orphaned references in wikilinked articles. I have found content for some of The Space Bar's orphans, the problem is that I found more than one version. I can't determine which (if any) is correct for this article, so I am asking for a sentient editor to look it over and copy the correct ref content into this article.

Reference named "gamespot":
From Video game artist: Gamespot UK - So You Want To Be An: Artist Archived 2013-04-14 at the Wayback Machine - Accessed 17/11/2012.
From Myst: Sengstack, Jeff (May 1, 1996). "Myst for PC Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical; I am just a simple computer program, so I can't determine whether minor differences are significant or not. AnomieBOT⚡ 13:41, 8 May 2018 (UTC)

This review is transcluded from Talk:The Space Bar/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Reviewer: Anarchyte (talk · contribs) 08:50, 24 June 2018 (UTC)
This game looks interesting. I'll take a look at this article soon. Anarchyte (work | talk) 08:50, 24 June 2018 (UTC)


### Lead
No need to mention the names of critics in the lead. That information can be saved for the reception section.
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)


### Gameplay and plot
What is a node location?
I found this concept very difficult to describe. It's something from the Myst games, and the "node" language was used in the FA Myst III, so I thought it might work here. Basically, movement through the game isn't smooth-scrolling. You're clicking through a series of pre-rendered (and panoramic) still images that represent each scene, so there are natural jumps between the screens. I did my best to make this clear while sticking to what the sources actually say about it, which is always limiting in these cases. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
Page-lurker here. Hi! I've written articles on various Myst-like games and I've considered describing them as "static screens" (if you can only see a still image), "Panoramic static screens" (if you can spin the screen around and that's it), and "360° static screens" (if you can move the camera anywhere like those 360° YouTube videos).--Coin945 (talk) 03:10, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
I like this solution! I'll have a look at my sources and see if this language fits. Thanks for the tip. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 03:22, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
before it escapes → before they escape
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
Is mentioning Vedj and Zzazzl important? Calling them aliens may suffice. However, if you want to keep it, write that they're races. (i.e. "Seedrot of the Vedj race")
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)


### Development
design for Boffo's Hodj 'n' Podj → design for Boffo's previous game Hodj 'n' Podj
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
GameSpot and Gamasutra should be in italics
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
No need for the list price. WP:DIRECTORY#5.
I understand this rule as a general practice, but I feel like the price mention is justified in this case. Firstly, the price isn't cited to a review—it's part of a news story. Secondly (and most importantly), price was used by publishers in the late 1990s to separate between premium ($50+) and budget releases ($20-35) on store shelves. Especially given SegaSoft's controversial handling of The Space Bar pre-launch, I think how they released it is an important aspect of its coverage. It says something that SegaSoft chose to sell it as a premium title, just as the decision to sell it as a budget game would've been important to note. Game publications were aware of these distinctions at that time, and reporting the price by itself was enough to convey the game's premium/budget status to readers. As a result, I would argue that this is not an instance of WP:DIRECTORY. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
@JimmyBlackwing: Fair enough. Might I suggest adding some of that information (about premium costs and pricing) to the article? This way it gives it relevance. Anarchyte (work | talk) 06:36, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
Not sure of any sources specifically about this practice—it's something I picked up from passing mentions in sources about other things. For now, I'll just remove the price for simplicity's sake, and re-add it if I find a source on game pricing. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 18:46, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
Cool. I think this marks the resolution of all the issues I found. If you've got nothing more to add, I'll pass this. Anarchyte (work | talk) 04:22, 27 June 2018 (UTC)
Yep, that's it. Many thanks for the review! JimmyBlackwing (talk) 05:33, 27 June 2018 (UTC)


### Reception and aftermath
Publications (such as Adventure Gamers and GameSpot) should be italicized.
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
on the market", he said. Remove "he said".
Done. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)


### References
These are fine. I ran IABot to see if there were any additional deadlinks and none were found.


### Files
All meet the required criteria. There are not too many and all are tagged as they should be.


### Overall
@JimmyBlackwing: Superb work! I was hard struck to find issues, but those that I did find are mentioned above. Once they're resolved, I'll happily pass this. Anarchyte (work | talk) 07:59, 25 June 2018 (UTC)

Many thanks! I'll go over the issues soon. JimmyBlackwing (talk) 17:53, 25 June 2018 (UTC)
I've gone through the article and made the requested tweaks. Two notes above (regarding "node" movement and the price). JimmyBlackwing (talk) 02:56, 26 June 2018 (UTC)
Great! I've replied to the pricing issue above. Anarchyte (work | talk) 06:39, 26 June 2018 (UTC)