How to cite a video game in apa

In recent years, video games have emerged as a popular medium for research studies in fields such as psychology, education, and even medicine. As such, developers must cite their work properly using established citation styles like APA to give credit to the original authors of sources used in their research. Proper citation is not only important for academic integrity but also for ensuring that future researchers can build upon existing knowledge.

Smith, J. (2021). Super Mario Bros. User Manual. Nintendo Co., Ltd.

APA (American Psychological Association) is a widely used citation style in academia, particularly in the social sciences. It emphasizes the use of in-text citations and a reference list to give credit to original authors of sources used in a paper. In-text citations are brief references made within the text of the paper, while the reference list is a comprehensive compilation of all the sources cited in the paper.

Nintendo. (2021). Super Mario Bros. [Game]. Retrieved from https://www.nintendo.com/games/switch/super-mario-bros/

When it comes to citing video games using APA, there are several types of sources that developers need to be aware of:

1. 1. Video Games with Printed Materials – These include user manuals or game guides and should be cited separately using the standard APA citation format for printed materials. The basic elements of an APA citation for a video game include the author’s name, title of the work, publication date, and page numbers (if applicable). For example:

Smith, J. (2021). Super Mario Bros. User Manual. Nintendo Co., Ltd.

2. 2. Video Games with Online Content – These include websites or social media pages and should also be cited separately using the standard APA citation format for websites, including author’s name (if available), title of the work, publication date, and URL. For example:

Nintendo. (2021). Super Mario Bros. [Game]. Retrieved from https://www.nintendo.com/games/switch/super-mario-bros/

3. 3. Video Games with In-Game Content – These include cutscenes, text files, audio files, and other in-game content that should be cited separately using the standard APA citation format for multimedia content, including author’s name (if available), title of the work, publication date, and location within the game. For example:

Nintendo. (2021). Super Mario Bros. [Game]. Retrieved from https://www.nintendo.com/games/switch/super-mario-bros/, Cutscene 5: “The Bowser’s Castle”.

In addition to these basic types of video games, case studies or personal experiences can also be included in a paper using the standard APA citation format for case studies or personal narratives. For example:

Smith, J. (2021). My Experience with Super Mario Bros. [Personal Narrative].

Research or experiments can also be cited separately using the standard APA citation format for research studies or experimental designs. For instance:

Johnson, S. C., & Lee, M. H. (2021). The Effects of Super Mario Bros. on Cognitive Development in Children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(4), 567-580.

Finally, real-life examples of video games can be used in academic writing to illustrate key points and make the work more engaging for readers. These examples should be cited using the appropriate APA citation format for the type of source. For instance:

Nintendo. (2021). Super Mario Bros. [Game]. Retrieved from https://www.nintendo.com/games/switch/super-mario-bros/, Level 8: “World 8”.

In conclusion, citing a video game in APA may seem daunting at first, but with practice and guidance, it can be a straightforward process. By understanding the basic elements of an APA citation and applying the appropriate format to different types of sources, developers can properly credit the original authors of their video games and avoid plagiarism. Additionally, by including case studies, personal experiences, research, and real-life examples in their work, developers can make their research more engaging and accessible to a wider audience.