Forum:Definite definitions

Seems like several users are having some difficulties identifying easter eggs from glitches (and vice versa) and the difference between music and a song. This thread would serve as a general reminder to users (and those confused) on the proper definitions.

Music
"Piece" and "Composition" can generally be used interchangeably - both refer to any musical work, although "piece" usually connotes a less substantial musical work then "composition" does.

To be a "song", a musical work has to meet two criteria: (1) it must have a component of singing (unless it is referred to as a "song without words", in which case it wouldn't) and (2) it must be relatively short (an opera or a cantata would not be considered a song for this reason, although both of those pieces can be said to contain several songs). Note that a "vocalese" (which is a song without specific words- typically sung to "ah" or "ooh") can be considered a song as well.

[A] song can be a piece or a composition, but not all pieces and compositions are songs.


 * Reference
 * Yahoo! Answers: How do you define "song"?

Glitches
For a glitch to be awarded its own article, it must be shown that the glitch can be documented and is replicable. A glitch is defined as mistakes, errors and/or oversights made by the game developers. A glitch must be capable of being documented; this means the glitch can be described and elaborated upon, supplemented with either an image or video evidence. It must also be capable of being reproducible; this means the glitch can be produced based on the description.

In addition to the above, the glitch must be considered notable enough to be awarded its own article; this would normally require extensive instructions as to how to achieve the glitch.

Bad examples of glitches (that could simply be added to their respective articles' trivia sections.
 * Repairs glitch
 * Dead shielded Emile
 * Flipping Warthog
 * Floating assault rifles

Good examples of glitches
 * BXR
 * Drive an AA Wraith

Easter Eggs
For an easter egg to be awarded its own article, it must be shown that the easter egg is an intentional hidden message or feature. Emphasis added. Thus, what is important is whether such things were intentionally left by the developers as easter eggs. Gameplay-related objects hidden intentionally by developers such as leftover weapons or characters are not easter eggs unless specified otherwise.

For example, Linda-058 Easter egg is not really an easter egg; it is in fact a definite acknowledgment that she was present on the Autumn before the ship crash-landed. It should not be considered as an easter egg unless the developers themselves intended to make such appearance an easter egg. This is different to John-117 in cryo: Bungie admitted that they intentionally left it in the cutscene for the fans of the franchise.

In addition to the above, the easter egg must be considered notable enough to be awarded its own article; this would normally require extensive instructions as to how to view it.

Feel free to comment to improve this! — subtank   13:56, 12 September 2012 (EDT)

Comments
Yo dawg, I herd you like definitions... Depends. Some easter eggs are easier to find than others, and don't require extensively leaving the path of the game, such as random AI chatter versus stuff like the skulls. Likewise, what if the glitches documented are randomly occurring ones that can't be instructed on, like Giant Spartan Glitch? Tuckerscreator (stalk ) 16:05, 12 September 2012 (EDT)

I agree with everything except for the easter eggs. Like Tuckerscreator said, some easter eggs are easier to find than others. Linda-058 Easter egg should count as an easter egg. A bad example would be the (already deleted) Screaming Miranda Keyes, which is really a "line" that is rarely triggered since Keyes is rarely seen in combat. If Keyes is seen in combat, she would probably "scream" when hurt. Another bad example would be the Paranoid Marine, which isn't an easter egg, but a device Bungie used to create an eerie atmosphere in the level. Besides, he's intended to be seen by the player and he's confirmed to be canon in The Flood. Secret Marine on The Covenant and its CE counterpart Unarmed Marine Easter Egg are also bad examples for an easter egg. These are mechanics left by Bungie, hidden in a place they thought no one would find. Just my thoughts. — S331 (COM • Mission Log • Profile) 21:37, 12 September 2012 (EDT)


 * What is this, I don't even... I'll rephrase those two sections now. Not revised properly. I blame copy-paste job.— subtank   01:50, 13 September 2012 (EDT)


 * And revised. To address Tuckers' comment, randomly-occurring glitches should not be awarded its own article. While it can be documented, it is not necessarily reproducible using a set of instructions (smash your modem/console/cable with a hammer to achieve it perhaps?). Easily-accessible easter eggs should be added to the trivia section of their respective articles. Special Dialogue Grunt is an exception; it is notable since it has made multiple appearances in the game titles and they all share one unique feature: a funny dialogue. Similar would apply to the Special Dialogue Marine (Paranoid in H1, Suicidal in H3, Wounded in H3R and Shell-shocked in HR).
 * Spartan331: easter eggs can include canon objects as long as it was intended to be as an easter egg. This is why I consider the "John-117 in cryo" to be one and not "Linda-158 in the Autumn"; Bungie admitted that they left the character in the game as a treat for the fans in the former whereas 343 Industries is simply updating the game's graphics to keep it true to the canon universe for the latter (unless they say otherwise, of course). One can also make an assumption that the developers intentionally left an easter egg if it has made several appearances across game titles; this is the case of the Special Dialogue Grunt and Special Dialogue Marine.— subtank   02:39, 13 September 2012 (EDT)

Well, some like Flying Grunts I see virtually every week and yet we can't quite center down what causes them. Seems we'd lose a lot of very prominent ones in the process, encountered often even though we don't know fully what's the trigger. (And as for the meme, have a Pinkie Pie.) Tuckerscreator (stalk ) 02:23, 14 September 2012 (EDT)


 *  * raises white flag*
 * The description given for glitches such as the one you linked above seems sufficient; it provides a general description of how the glitch is "activated" and that description provides instructions as to how to replicate it. I guess I should replace the need for "extensive instructions" with just "instructions" seeing that this is not the case for most randomly-occurring glitches. Perhaps you can come up with a better wording? :)
 * Also, one of the main reason why a set of instructions is needed is because it would help the developers; they would be able to replicate the glitch and come up with a solution to prevent the glitch taking place in the new game.— subtank   07:01, 16 September 2012 (EDT)

I could take a look at revising it then. I'll try that later today. And yes, victory is mine! Tuckerscreator (stalk ) 14:53, 16 September 2012 (EDT)