Topics

76

Video Game Database Discussion / Common Name Exception Poll #1: Formula 1

« on: September 11, 2018, 12:25:46 pm »

F1/Formula 1 games currently do not work properly with out naming system, due to the fact that our reference sites are at odds with each other or even with themselves.

This is specifically for F1/Formula 1 games that have the combined logo, as can be seen here:
https://vgcollect.com/item/60430

GameFAQs uses this name: Formula One Championship Edition
Mobygames uses this name: Formula 1 Championship Edition
However, on some other releases, both of these sites may use (interchangeably) Formula 1, Formula One or F1
And in our own database, we use all sorts of combinations.

Now that we have a dedicated post for Naming exceptions, let us use it to handle this situation.

The options are:
1. F1 (this is the abbreviated name)
2. Formula 1 (This is the official name of the company)
3. F1: Formula 1 (logo with workmark)

There are potentially more combinations possible, but we should use the number 1 instead of the word one, as games with this 1994 and newer logo use the number and not the word.

Reminder: This is only for instances where their logo contains both the F1 and Formula 1 mark, and not any instances pre-1994 and any that use just the F1 logo on its own without the Formula 1 workmark.
Reference: http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/Formula_One

EDIT: Added 4th option to just follow existing naming policy and not create a naming exception. The reason why I bring this up is because if we follow existing naming policy with these games, there will be games with Formula 1, F1 and Formula One (all using the same logo) having different naming conventions in the same category.

Poll will run 7 days, users can change their votes, you can see results after voting.

77

Video Game Database Discussion / Spider-Man PS4 name

« on: September 11, 2018, 10:31:05 am »

Let's talk about the new Spider-man game that is on PS4. GameFAQs has the name as Marvel's Spider-Man however this particular name does not show up on the front or back of the US game case. If anyone has this game, can you post a picture of what is on the spine?

Is it the same as the front, the Marvel logo and the Spider-Man text, or is there actually a possessive present?

Ref: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps4/191635-marvels-spider-man/images/1619251

PS: if you have other releases of this game from other countries, you can post it also.

EDIT: The NA and "EU" game are already renamed, according to our game naming policy.

78

Site Feedback / Character limit reached on Item name field

« on: September 05, 2018, 11:45:15 am »

It had to happen eventually. A Playstation 3 game released in Japan has a name too long to be entered into the name field.

This is OK: Daisenryaku: Dai Toua Kouboushi 3: Dai-ni-ji Sekai Taisen Boppatsu! Suujikugun Tai Rengougun Zensekaisen
https://vgcollect.com/item/149511

However, there is a Limited Edition, but it won't fit! It goes to:
Daisenryaku: Dai Toua Kouboushi 3: Dai-ni-ji Sekai Taisen Boppatsu! Suujikugun Tai Rengougun Zensekaisen - Limited Editi

So two characters too long in this name.

79

Video Game Deals, Sales and Promotions / PS4 game found at TJ Maxx

« on: August 28, 2018, 02:46:40 pm »

Just a report. It doesn't seem to be a thing that store typically carries.

I found Titanfall 2 for PS4 at TJ Maxx for $7. It was in the shelf with the childrens books.

Maybe someone else will find games at TJ Maxx? GL!

80

Video Game Database Discussion / Style Guide Poll #3: Game Titles

« on: August 02, 2018, 11:23:36 am »

Please read the entire thread before choosing a poll option. Poll will run for 7 days (give or take) and the results will win out and become the rule. Rules in the Style Guide can be voted on again in the future or new ones can be brought. You can submit additional ideas to bring up for voting in this thread:
https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,8361.0.html

This poll is specifically to put into the Style Guide what names for games we should actually be using. This is to clarify the "regional release title" as specified in the Style Guide. This will not change any of our existing formatting rules for descriptors, packs, TLDs or transliteration. This is due to the current inference that items in the database need to use the full front title, using blanket conditions created by the practice of putting Disney/Pixar onto titles where they commonly are not used on other websites. This had led to confusion among many as to what names should actually be used on games, as often the name a game is known as does not match what is printed on the cover.

Games using stylized logos that may merge two words into one.
Example: Mega Man X4 uses a logo that has no space, effective cover title is Megaman X4.
https://vgcollect.com/item/6971

Games using a front title that has a full title that is not used in common practice.
Example: .hack//Quarantine has a front title of .hack Part 4: Quarantine: The Final Chapter
https://vgcollect.com/item/22240
https://vgcollect.com/item/1325

Games that have a logo design that does not match the game's actual title:
Example: Resident Evil 4 has a stylized logo as 4 Resident Evil
https://vgcollect.com/item/1065

Games that have extra text in titles that are used for copyright or advertising purposes.
Example: The Last Airbender to avoice confusion with other Avatar (but not James Cameron Avatar) title is
M. Night Shyamalan The Last Airbender
https://vgcollect.com/item/29485
This also applies to games that have the company logo on or near the title, including Disney or Dreamworks or whoever else.

The example list can go on forever.

Current Style Guide:

Game Titles:

Use the item's regional release title, written in the language written on the case, but in the Latin alphabet (the letters we commonly use). If the title is in Japanese, use the most recognized transliteration.

• Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (NA)
• Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King (EU)
• Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi (JP)

*Option 1 in the poll would enforce the rule that all video game titles would use the full title as represented on the front of the box or case. You can see examples of this in the previous examples above the quote box.

**Option 2 in the poll would enforce common names with exceptions. Common names will be referenced to other sources of reference. This would also eliminate "colon gate" situations... hopefully...

Exceptions would need to be added for certain titles such as these examples:
- Resident Evil VII: English logo clearly has the roman numeral VII in the name and does not use the number 7. Game is known on most websites as Resident Evil 7. Example:
https://vgcollect.com/item/133930

- Mega Man Legacy Collection + Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is usually referred to online as Mega Man Legacy Collection 1+2.
https://vgcollect.com/item/143739

- .hack//Quarantine is referred to online as .hack//Quarantine Part 4. This is an error as it is Part 4 of the .hack// series not Part 4 of the Quarantine series. So Part 4 would be omitted in our title.

Other examples. Games with studio marks in titles would not be required, with the exception that there would be two games with the same title. Disney typically gets to refer to their movies as Disney's Whatever because they often make movies based on properties in the public domain. Disney did not make Aladdin, as anyone can make an Aladdin movie, cartoon, video game, but Disney's Aladdin is their own thing with unique blah blah blah.

Disney, Disney/Pixar, Dreamworks, M Night Shamalamabingbong, etc would not be required in item titles. Author possessives would be, such as James Cameron's Avatar or Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six.

Marketing descriptors for game titles would not be required. These are used by the rights holder to eliminate confusion when they release video games based on other properties (such as movies) that are selling in the same region at the same time. Again, the only exception of this would be if we had two different games in the same category with the same name, so one would need to be "The Game" if it does says so on the packaging. Otherwise, the year or publisher descriptor should be used.
Example:
Iron Man not Iron Man: The Game
James Cameron's Avatar not James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

These particular errors in titles from other websites, as well as full front titles (in addition to spine, cart or in-game menu titles) should be put into alt-name and not be on the main item title.

If you have any recommendations for other game title sources, feel free to post them. We specifically would need sources for specific platforms not already covered.

81

Site Feedback / Website email not working

« on: June 21, 2018, 10:21:07 am »

I have not received emails for PMs.
Other users have reported that they do not get the email for password reset, and that new users do not get the confirmation email when registering a new account.

82

Video Game Database Discussion / Feedback: Nintendo item numbers

« on: April 19, 2018, 12:21:48 pm »

This thread will be to discuss an update to the style guide in reference to Nintendo game/hardware item numbers. After feedback is received about these different issues, if there is no full agreement then I will make the polls and we can vote like we have done for other things in the past.

As always, if there is some other topic you want us to bring to a poll, post it into this thread here:
https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,8361.0.html

Onto the topic at hand. Our standard practice (although not explicitly defined) regarding item numbers as a whole are the "primary identifying" number. As laid out in the style guide, this is typically associated directly with PS2/PS3 games having the specific number on the spine. For Nintendo games, outside of NES or Famicom games, it is a bit more complicated. Since we give priority to the packaging, rather than the cartridge or disc, the number on the back of the boxes are typically used... although we are also fully aware that MANY Nintendo game entries have the media item number on them.

But, since most Nintendo games and hardware have a more "generic" item number on the backs of the boxes, and a more specific number elsewhere (typically on the box flap), we should determine which number we should be putting into the item number field, and which go into description. It is my thought (and some other members here also that have brought this up) that we should be using the item number that specifically relates to the release in that field, instead of the general number that is on the back. So this would be the preferred order:
1. Game item number
2. Specific item number
3. media item number

Where as 1-3 in priority, and all others go into the description field. UNTIL A TIME when we can assign multiple numbers to an item or its parts.

The main issues with the box item number is that it is in the flap, which is not in view in a sealed or the typical boxed scenario.

Examples.

Doom Troopers - SNES [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/50811
Item number on the entry is for the cart.
Larger reference images:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/564300-doom-troopers/images/145596
https://ebay.com/itm/202004772977

Actuals:
Box item number from flap: M/SNS-AM9E-USA
game number from back of box: SNS P SM9E
cart item number: SNS-AM9E-USA

Should we use the box back item number in the item number field and put the box flap item number into description, or vice-versa?

This example for SNES should suffice for most of Nintendo's boxed games, including N64, Game Boy and hardware, as they all follow this same pattern.

Gamecube
US Gamecube games only have the game item number on the back. For example:
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 has DOL P GTIE
However, EU Gamecube games have two numbers:
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 [EU] has DOL-P-GTIP and DOL-GTIP-UKV
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 [FR] has DOL-P-GTIP and DOL-GTIP-FRA
In this case we can see the first number is the "game" number and the second number is the release number.
We should likely prioritize the release number in the case of Gamecube, if the game has a number like that.

This also applies to Wii [EU] games but not

Wii [NA]
Wii games in US/Canada have two item numbers. In this example, Alien Syndrome US release has these two numbers:
- game number: RVL RLSE
- other number? 65004A
Even though there are different versions for US and Canadian version of Alien Syndrome, they both have these same two numbers. I think we should use the game number on these, akin to NES/FC games, and the other number can be added to description field... BUT it would not be required.

There is also some Japanese games that have two item numbers on the back, one with a (JPN). I'm drawing a blank as to which console those are from.

Anyways, let us know what you think!

83

General / April 2018 - Recently Added to Collection/Recently Purchased

« on: April 05, 2018, 12:28:01 pm »

New thread for April!

Is the market shrinking? No posts until the 5th? What's happening?

84

Video Game Database Discussion / MOVED: Complete Collections For Certain Series

« on: April 02, 2018, 09:59:53 am »

This topic has been moved to General.

https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php?topic=8975.0

85

Video Game Database Discussion / MOVED: My collection triplicated somehow? HELP!

« on: March 27, 2018, 12:18:48 pm »

This topic has been moved to Site Feedback.

https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php?topic=8967.0

86

Video Game Database Discussion / Help to identify these Black Ops (PS3 EU) releases

« on: February 22, 2018, 10:16:57 am »

This has been reported as a dupe, but I do not have the ability to fully research it at the moment, so I am posting a thread in case anyone else has an idea or the time to do some research.

Original entry: Call of Duty: Black Ops PS3 [EU]
https://vgcollect.com/item/39154
Cover rating: PEGI 18
spine item number: BLES-01032
EAN: 5030917111549
back: ?? (above EAN), "Not for sale in UK" ?? (text between copyright blocks)
disc: no rating

Other entry created by jjfly
https://vgcollect.com/item/134769
Cover rating: PEGI 18
spine item number: BLES-01031
5030917085772
back: 84004202UK (above EAN), "Not for sale in UK", "Licensed for sale only in Europe, The Middle East, Africa, India and Oceania."
disc: BFFC rating

Now the original entry has a couple of problems:
- the front art has a watermark and will need to be replaced
- the barcode was added by apholyon after the fact

I can confirm that both of these releases exist, but obviously we need to determine what is different between these two so that we can have the titles changed appropriately. Neither of these are the UK version, nor any of the localised EU versions such as France, Italy, Spain. And the one that jjfly created is the one that is sold in say, South Africa (ZA TLD).

I think since jjfly has the one in the newer entry, we need to find someone who has the one in the original entry. Specifically the text between the two copyright paragraphs on the back, which I suspect indicates it is NL version, but I can't find a clear enough picture of the one with that barcode to read it to confirm.

87

Video Game Database Discussion / Lunar: The Silver Star (Sega CD)

« on: January 23, 2018, 11:43:57 am »

I have made it so all 7 of the Sega CD release of Lunar: The Silver Star are in the db. There was only one entry and likely people have different versions. The original entry was changed to the normal release. I have found the main differences (only going by the front and disc) however I do not know what to call these entries. I have named them the best I can think of, and including some form of image for each disc, although the black background disc images should be replaced. I was not able to find a real list with names of what each are, and I do not know who the characters are.... It should end up being like the PlayStation names but without the term "variant" in the title.

Regular release:
https://vgcollect.com/item/9440

Battle artwork:
https://vgcollect.com/item/138989

field artwork:
https://vgcollect.com/item/138987

full art (same art as the regular release)
https://vgcollect.com/item/138986

profiles/glass art:
https://vgcollect.com/item/138990

red stripe art:
https://vgcollect.com/item/138991

yellow art:
https://vgcollect.com/item/138988

All of the art variants have the embossed cover. The normal release where the art only covers the data portion is in the regular cover with the gray Sega CD text. The Embossed version has more art printed on the disc than the regular version.

If anyone can, get some better names for these versions, and if you have this game in your collection, adjust it appropriately.

88

Site Feedback / Barcode starting with 00 cannot be put onto entry

« on: January 16, 2018, 11:56:34 am »

Dungeon Master II: Skullkeep on Sega CD [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/9403

The barcode on the entry is: 9119920513
The barcode on the item is: 009119920513.

Trying to put in the actual barcode shows the "edit pending approval" message on the page but never actually gets submitted as an edit.

However, some items in the db do have a barcode starting with 00, such as this Mega CD [EU] version:
https://vgcollect.com/item/83968

89

Video Game Deals, Sales and Promotions / Toys R Us clearance (US)

« on: January 09, 2018, 03:25:04 pm »

Likely varies by store.

Skylanders are 50 cents each.
Playmation figures $2
Animal Crossing amiibo Festival (Wii U) with Isabelle and Digby amiibo and 3 cards $6
Chibi Robo Zip Lash with amiibo (3DS) $8
Disney Infinity Star Wars starter packs (various consoles) with the 2 figures $6
PowerA Wii U Ultra Sensor Bar $4

90

Video Game Database Discussion / The War on Bundles

« on: January 03, 2018, 12:40:27 pm »

The term "bundle" is, 76+% of the time, a retail marketing or fan term. As such, it should not be used on an item title or alt-name on a VGCollect entry. If a retailer has advertised a particular item, special edition or whatever, using this term, this can be noted in the description field. I was asked to try to fix this naming issue in the DB and I was able to shrink the search results from 26 to 6 pages. Just some points on this particular subject, as well as some other observations that I had working in the db.

1. Some games have the term Bundle in their name.
Racing Bundle on PS2:
https://vgcollect.com/item/89008
Prototype Biohazard Bundle on PS4:
https://vgcollect.com/item/113251

2. Xbox and some PS3 NFRs in EU use the term Bundle Copy or Bundle Product.
Forza Motorsport 3 (Bundle Copy) Xbox 360 [EU]
https://vgcollect.com/item/119298
Fable II / Halo 3 (Bundle Copy) Xbox 360 [EU]
https://vgcollect.com/item/123235
FIFA 12 (Bundle Product) PS3 [EU]
https://vgcollect.com/item/91447
Sega Superstars Tennis (Bundle Copy) Xbox 360 [EU]
https://vgcollect.com/item/105975

The use of this term in an item title should only be to differentiate the item from another in the same category so there should not be a naming collision. There are some unknowns to me, as there seems to be a bunch of Xbox 360 double packs in the EU that have the Bundle Copy mark on the front that may not actually have standalone releases. Such as this Gears of War / Gears of War 2 release:
https://vgcollect.com/item/117858

3. There is no info in the style guide for naming accessories.
Should they be named as games or as hardware? The Hardware heading in the style guide talks strictly about consoles.

Sony PlayStation Move Bundle - Sports Champions (PS3 Accessory)
https://vgcollect.com/item/23330

The term bundle could be removed from this title still, but this game matches the naming convention we use for consoles. [NA] not present in the title as all of the "Move Bundles" in the DB are NA releases. Here is another item that follows the hardware naming rules:

DreamGear Dual Glow Sabers 3in1 Bundle - Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
https://vgcollect.com/item/39277

Then there are the items that prominantly feature a game and not the hardware. This is quite common even in older releases such as the PS2 GunCon 2 game packs, Lethal Enforcers and the DDR games.

Rock Band Rivals - Jaguar Bundle [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/135464

4. There are many accessories in game categories
I had started doing it about half-way, to move Accessories out of the game category, but some are still left. And remember I was only looking at entries with the word bundle in search results. We do not put consoles in a game category, even if it contains a game, so we should not put accessories into the game category for the same reason. The above Rock Band Rivals is correct now, but all the DJ Hero 2 turnables are in the game category, ie:

DJ Hero 2 - Turntable Bundle (Xbox 360) [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/21718

This is the case for a lot of items, moreso in modern game categories. For example, many Wii games came with Wii Remotes but are in the Wii category. They should get their TLD put onto them and moved into Accessory.

5. Consoles should only have the term Bundle in the title if the word is on the box, and only to avoid a naming conflict.
The style guide already says how to name consoles, Manufacturer Console - Set Name/Game. There is no reason to add Bundle onto this name as it is not needed. Even the case where some consoles (PS3 and PS4 it seems) do use this term on the box itself. Xbox and Gamecube consoles seem difficult as their boxes are quite generic but we can take these on a case by case basis.

6. Limited Run retail listings have a single entry on VGC.
See other hot-topics such as Collector's Editions coming with all the extra stuff separate from the game box. This "appears" to also be the case with Limited Run sets, where they are offered as a single order on their website, but you end up receiving two different things. Since I do not own any of these or have seen what they look like out of the shipping box, I decided not to do anything with them. If they are indeed two separate items, they should not have a combined entry in the DB. If the two things are say... shrink wrapped together, then it is ok.

Astebreed - Soundtrack Bundle (PS4) [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/122221

Here is an example of a game being sealed to an additional item, an artbook. This picture was hard to find, but it shows the item was indeed originally packaged in this manner and as such is fine to have a single entry.

Game of Thrones (with Artbook) PS3 [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/92182

I leave this Limited Run issue to you guys who are big into those games to hammer out amongst yourselves.

Other categories I didn't both with and there are entries in Guides, Swag and digital categories.

7. Console sections are a MESS.
We all knew this already. I hate to look into those categories because I have my memories of doing nothing but looking up PS2 consoles for 3 months. It will have to be worked on eventually, telly is working on the Gamecube section so if you want to tackle a project like this you'll have to pick something else! :p