Editorial Policy

How We Write Game Content

This page explains how content on Retro Games Online is researched, written, reviewed, and updated. We publish this policy so visitors, rights holders, and search engines can understand our editorial standards and how we balance breadth (thousands of retro titles) with accuracy.

Content Sources

Game pages combine information from several sources:

  • Public retro gaming catalogs and databases for release years, regions, publishers, developers, and content classifications (official / hack / prototype / homebrew / translation).
  • Community-maintained references such as ROM collector databases, preservation groups, and hack documentation by the creator where applicable.
  • Editorial writing for descriptions, gameplay summaries, how-to-play guides, and FAQ blocks.

AI-Assisted Writing

We use large-language-model (LLM) assistance — currently OpenAI GPT-4.1 family — to draft portions of game descriptions, how-to-play guides, and FAQ entries. Every AI-generated draft is produced with strict prompts that require:

  • No invented facts. If the AI is not confident about a date, developer, mechanic, or storyline, it must say so or leave the field null rather than fabricate a value.
  • Per-game variety. Eight distinct description templates, six how-to-play templates, and a rotating pool of FAQ questions prevent every page from reading identically.
  • Per-platform accuracy. Controls are mapped against the correct console buttons (NES has 2 action buttons, Genesis has 3, PlayStation uses Cross/Square/Triangle/Circle, etc.).
  • Transparent structure. Controls blocks are replaced post-generation with a verified per-platform HTML layout so that technical details are consistent across every game page.

We believe AI assistance, used with guardrails, lets us cover thousands of titles at a quality level that manual writing alone could not scale to. When we spot errors, we fix them — see the corrections section below.

Content Classification

Every game page is labeled with a content type so readers know what they are looking at:

  • Official Release — the original commercial title as released by its publisher.
  • ROM Hack — a fan-modified version of an existing official game.
  • Mod — a larger fan modification or conversion.
  • Prototype / Beta / Demo — pre-release or promotional builds.
  • Homebrew — fan-made original software for retro platforms.
  • Fan Game — standalone fan creation inspired by an existing IP.
  • Translation — a language localization patch, usually by fan translators.
  • Demake / Revision / Compilation / Unlicensed — other less common categories where context is relevant.

For non-official releases we also attribute the creator or team and, when applicable, the base game that the work is derived from.

Attribution of Official Games

Each official release page lists the original publisher (e.g. Nintendo, Konami, Sega, Capcom) and, when known, the development studio (e.g. Rare, HAL Laboratory, Treasure). These fields feed into our Schema.org structured data so that search engines can correctly associate games with their rightful creators.

Corrections and Updates

We welcome corrections. If you see an error — a wrong release year, misattributed developer, inaccurate description, or broken feature — please reach us through the Contact page. Every correction request is reviewed and, when accurate, applied to the affected game pages.

Page timestamps are updated when content is regenerated or corrected. Each game page exposes a dateModified schema field so search engines see the freshness.

Copyright and Takedowns

If you are a rights holder and believe specific content on this site infringes on your rights, please see our DMCA / Copyright page for the formal notice-and-takedown process. We respond to all valid notices.

Privacy and Transparency

Visitor behavior data is used only to understand which games are played and to improve recommendations. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for specifics about what is collected, how it is stored, and how to opt out.

Editorial Independence

Retro Games Online is an independent site. We are not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Atari, NEC, Capcom, Konami, or any other rights holder mentioned on the site. Our editorial decisions are not influenced by third parties.

Last updated: 2026-04-17. This policy is reviewed periodically; material changes will be dated at the top.