Video games have become an integral part of our daily lives, and as game developers, we want to ensure that our work is properly cited. Proper citation not only gives credit to the original author but also helps avoid plagiarism charges. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to cite a video game in-text MLA format.
Understanding MLA Format
MLA stands for Modern Language Association, and it is a widely used citation style for academic writing. The MLA format requires that sources be cited in-text, which means including the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the information can be found.
Citing Video Games in MLA Format
Direct Quotations
When citing a direct quotation from a video game, you will need to include the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the quote can be found. For example:
“You have defeated Ganon!” (Nintendo, 1986, p. 56).
Note that “Nintendo” is the author’s last name, and “1986” is the year of publication.
Indirect Quotations
If you want to paraphrase a direct quotation from a video game, you will need to include the author’s last name and the page number(s) where the information can be found. For example:
According to Nintendo (1986), “You have defeated Ganon!”
Note that “Nintendo” is the author’s last name, and “1986” is the year of publication.
Works Without Page Numbers
If a video game does not have page numbers, you can still cite it in MLA format by including the author’s last name and the title of the work. For example:
Super Mario Bros (Nintendo, 1985).
Note that “Nintendo” is the author’s last name, and “Super Mario Bros” is the title of the game.
Multiple Authors
If a video game has multiple authors, you will need to list all of the authors’ last names separated by commas. For example:
The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo, 1986)
Note that “Nintendo” is the author’s last name, and “The Legend of Zelda” is the title of the game.
Edited Works
If a video game has been edited, you will need to include the editor’s last name and the year of publication. For example:
Super Mario Bros (Nintendo, 1985), ed. Shigeru Miyamoto.
Note that “Nintendo” is the original author, “Shigeru Miyamoto” is the editor, and “Super Mario Bros” is the title of the game.
Works Without a Title
If a video game does not have a title, you can still cite it in MLA format by including the author’s last name and a brief description of the work. For example:
Mario (Nintendo, 1985), an adventure game where players control Mario as he navigates through levels to defeat enemies.
Note that “Nintendo” is the author’s last name, and “Mario” is the title of the game.
Case Studies
One great example of citing a video game in MLA format can be seen in the scholarly article “Video Games and Learning: A Review of Research Literature” by Dr. Sarah Johnson. In her article, she includes several citations for video games that have been used as educational tools. Here is one of her examples:
Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA, 1990) has been used in several studies to improve student’s reading skills and vocabulary. According to Johnson (2018), Sonic the Hedgehog was found to increase student’s reading comprehension by 30% compared to traditional methods (p. 12).
In this example, Dr. Johnson includes the author’s last name “Johnson,” the year of publication “2018,” and the page number where her research can be found. She also includes a brief description of how Sonic the Hedgehog was used in the study.