PLAY NOTE
Cover art helps recognition, but it is not the game
How catalog imagery should support identification without replacing accurate descriptions and playable information.
· 4 min
Recognition comes first
A familiar cover helps a player distinguish titles quickly, especially when several games share characters or a series name. The image works as an identifier. It cannot explain platform, revision, controls, or whether the listed file launches.
A filename is not alt text
Accessible image text should name the game cover rather than repeat storage details. Long filenames, hashes, and bucket paths are useful to systems but noisy to readers using assistive technology.
Do not let imagery carry the page
A large cover above two generic sentences creates a thin entry. The useful material is the objective, play style, input demands, verified edition details, and a route to corrections. Artwork supports that information instead of substituting for it.
Broken images need a fallback
When an asset disappears, the title and page structure should still make sense. Reporting the broken cover separately from a failed game launch helps maintainers repair the right record.