[game_preservation] New MLA Format for 2009

[Andrew Armstrong]

They do mention "Writers are, however, encouraged to provide a URL if 
the citation information does not lead readers to easily find the 
source." for URL's. I think it is stupid to not reference a URL, it'd be 
like referencing a newspaper collectoin without a date and page (which 
in fact you might do if you...reference a online news article). Bemusing...

As for if they understand technology, who knows...looks a bit backwards 
to me on the CD/DVD thing. However any interview correspondence - if not 
published somewhere publicly available (ie; not just email) is always a 
problem right? Fact-checking unpublished things is next to impossible, 
having better or worse references to impossible to get information is a 
bit moot :)

Is this MLA stuff used as a standard in the USA then?

Andrew

Devin Monnens wrote:

> I feel this has some relevance to us as preservationists. While there 

> is no 'Game' listing, the new updates do include a section on medium:

>

> http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/15/

> *Publication Medium.* Every entry receives a medium of publication 

> marker. Most entries will be listed as Print or Web, but other 

> possibilities include Performance, DVD, or TV. Most of these markers 

> will appear at the end of entries; however, markers for Web sources 

> are followed by the date of access.

>

> Sadly, listing it as 'DVD' or 'CD' doesn't let you know what platform 

> it is for! What if I am referencing the Stephen Jay Gould interview on 

> Bully for Brontosaurus interactive CD for Windows 95? I don't think 

> this will run in Vista. Or, for a better example, an Amiga CDROM? 

>

> I find this surprising because either a) MLA does not care about 

> getting software to run or b) they do not have a need to reference 

> older digital media. Their desire to remove URLs from web references 

> seems to indicate that they aren't that interested in getting the 

> referenced source to run. And after all, how can you fact-check a 

> primary source such as an interview with a dead man or an e-mail 

> interview? You have to take it at face value.

>

> -- 

> Devin Monnens

> www.deserthat.com <http://www.deserthat.com>

>

> The sleep of Reason produces monsters.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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