Topics

1

Video Game Database Discussion / COA numbers

« on: February 21, 2023, 02:13:03 pm »

Someone please explain COA (Certificate of Authenticity) numbers as it relates to video games.

The COA 14-digit number appears meaningless for identification purposes.

Identical Xbox 360 games have different 9999x-xxx-xxx-xxx numbers. I've seen at least 10 different 14-digit numbers for the same game.

The other number, Xxx-xxxxx, is definitely not unique. For example, X11-40710 appears on at least 100 different Xbox 360 games.

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Video Game Database Discussion / Database Spring Cleaning

« on: June 10, 2019, 08:46:28 pm »

I just finished updating data for the Game Boy Advance [NA] section. It is now more complete and accurate than either the GameFAQs or MobyGames sites. In my spare time, it took 7,000+ edits over 100 days. If I’d known it would have taken that long, I never would have attempted it. For now, my focus will return to the data for the games in my collection. It sure would be nice if others would “adopt” a section and update it’s data or, at the least, for the games in their collection. I know a few others have already done so, and I greatly appreciate their efforts. If so inclined, always follow the Style Guide, and for those not familiar with it, please read it.
https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,22.0.html

3

Site Feedback / My Genre Primer for Some Folks

« on: March 14, 2019, 08:56:18 pm »

The Primary (Root) Video Game Genres:

Action: Games which focus on and require player skill and reflexes to play.

Action Adventure: Games with elements of both action (reflex, timing, button-mashing) and adventure (puzzle-solving, inventory management) games - a hybrid of the Action and Adventure categories. (A GROSS EXCLUSION BY THIS SITE)

Adventure: Games that require primarily logic and problem-solving to complete in the context of a narrative, with little (if any) action game mechanics.

Miscellaneous: Games that don't fit into any other categories or are an un-categorizable
 mix, including board games, collections, and applications.

Puzzle: Games that focus on the player's logical and thinking skills, often solving problems outside of the context of a narrative.

Racing: Games that focus on controlling a vehicle or other avatar in a race against a time limit or other vehicles/avatars.

Role-Playing: Games that put the player in the role of a customizable hero (or heroes) to complete goals or quests.

Simulation: Games that put the player in the role of controlling a virtual object - a ship, a plane, or even a life.

Sports: Games that simulate real or imagined sporting competitions.

Strategy: Games that focus on careful and skillful thinking and planning in order to achieve victory, and the turn-based or real-time action scales from world domination to squad-based tactics.

4

Video Game Database Discussion / Publisher vs. Distributor

« on: March 07, 2019, 09:44:12 pm »

I have a quandary about when two publishers are involved in a game. It is not unusual for one publisher to distribute the game of another using the distributor’s UPC. As an example, F1 2002 [NA] for GBA shows both EA Sports’ and Destination Software’s logos on the front. On the back it states “Destination Software, Inc. is an authorized Electronic Arts distributor.” It also has Destination Software’s UPC which is always in this format: 8-02036-xxxxxx-x. An EA Sports UPC would have been 0-14633-xxxxxx-x. My question is which publisher should be entered in the “Publisher” field?

My preference is to use the distributor in the “Publisher” field since it coincides with the UPC. Maybe the Administrators can make a clarification of this situation in the Style Guide.

5

Video Game Database Discussion / A, An & The

« on: February 28, 2019, 12:13:50 am »

After reading through the Style Guide, it is implied by exclusion that, if a game title begins with the articles “A” or “An”, it should be listed that way. I understand how to handle game titles beginning with “The”, but why were the other two articles exempted from that rule? Was it an accidental omission?

6

Site Feedback / Need clarification on barcode entries.

« on: January 30, 2019, 09:38:38 pm »

Official Style Guide regarding UPCs, “Enter the numbers only, without spaces or dashes.” Since when did we start disregarding the “no spaces” rule? I’m referring to recent game creations by one the Staff.

7

Site Feedback / Attention: PlayStation Portable [NA] Collectors

« on: July 12, 2017, 07:28:09 pm »

After 26 days, 2100+ edits and several creations (thanks, Canada), the PSP [NA] section is in great shape… for now.
Members might want to check if their variant is now listed.

8

Site Feedback / Attention: Newbies & Others

« on: July 06, 2017, 12:24:19 am »

If you haven't already, please read the OFFICIAL Style Guide before entering or editing data fields. It's obvious many of you are not familiar with it. Thank You.
https://vgcollect.com/forum/index.php/topic,22.0.html

9

Video Game Database Discussion / Still Confused About Accuracy

« on: June 30, 2017, 12:37:01 am »

I still don’t understand why we can’t name games the legitimate way they are stylized by the publisher, developer and game historians. Instead you only allow how some moronic graphic artist has portrayed the name on the front or spine artwork. For example, the name should be "LittleBigPlanet" and not "LittleBIGPlanet" for the PSP.  At least it’s stylized correctly FOUR TIMES on the back cover!!!

The Style guide only states, “Use the item's regional release title, written in the language written on the case…". I can’t find any reference stating we can only use the information on the front and spine. Are we to ignore what is printed on the back of the case or dismiss a game’s trademarked name? To hell with legal accuracy, right?

10

Video Game Database Discussion / Rejection of game description edit.

« on: June 12, 2017, 02:29:25 pm »

infamous Collection - PS3 [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/43946
Please explain why my deletion of "This was a 2 disc pack-in that came included with the PS3 slim bundle" in the Description field was rejected. This is a standalone game, and I would appreciate the clarification.

Also for Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi - Limited Edition - PS3 [NA]
https://vgcollect.com/item/60087
This redundant information is not needed in the Description field since it is more accurately described in the box text. Please clarify.

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Video Game Database Discussion / Regarding name change corrections that were rejected.

« on: June 05, 2017, 03:11:15 pm »

In the interests of continuity (see other listing for these games) and the correct representations of the names as shown on GameFaqs and Wikipedia (the predominant authorities), please change the following names or come up with a good reason for not doing so.

SingStar: Queen [NA] -> SingStar Queen
SingStar: ABBA [NA] -> SingStar ABBA

There are also a load of [EU] SingStar games incorrectly using the colon which I did not touch.

By the way, I am also still occasionally getting rejections for developer/publisher changes even though I never attempted those changes. I thought that issue was fixed.

Also, where is my 15,000+ edits badge... just kidding! 

12

Video Game Database Discussion / Code Book Category

« on: March 28, 2016, 11:05:25 pm »

Books with compilations of game hints and passwords are considered Strategy Guides. In which category do Game Genie, Action Replay, and GameShark code books belong? The Swag category seems inappropriate to me. Please, only replies by Administrators. I already know what one of you thinks. 

13

Video Game Database Discussion / General Questions from a Curious User

« on: March 16, 2016, 04:33:24 pm »

I have a few questions?

1. What is the average age of the administrators?
2. In what countries do they reside?
3. What is the administrator male to female ratio?
4. What is the registered users male to female ratio?
4. Who owns the site?
5. If some entity offered to buy the site, who makes the decision to sell? Who would get the money?

I have no ulterior motives for asking. It’s just out of curiosity because I love this site, and I envision it as having great potential.

14

Site Feedback / Premature Creations

« on: February 11, 2016, 04:32:23 am »

Why do some users feel compelled to create a game’s data several months before its actual release and include the unofficial image? Is it a lack of self control? A desire to boost their edit numbers? Maybe that’s why we amass so many ESRB-RP images that end up being overlooked. It also causes confusion, at least for me. I thought I had missed a couple of releases, but as it turns out, they still haven’t released. And those examples were created in VGCollect several months ago! Anyway, after a day of editing, I tend to get a bit cranky, and I was just wondering about this.

15

Site Feedback / Shoot-’Em-Up Subgenre Confusion

« on: February 03, 2016, 07:48:24 pm »

There seems to be some confusion as to what defines a “Shoot-’Em-Up” game. I’m writing because I recently received another unwarranted edit rejection of this genre. In the last 10-15 years, new Shoot-’Em-Up games are created much less frequently than in previous years, and yet I see this subgenre incorrectly given to too many games. Here is an excellent explanation as to which games should be assigned to this subgenre:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot_%27em_up

Wikipedia also has in-depth explanations with historical context for all the video game genres/subgenres. These articles will be very helpful anytime someone feels uncertain about a genre. Users just interested in game history will find a lot in there too. Depending on what genre you’re searching for, you may have to start typing “video game” after the genre name before it shows in the drop-down list.

While you’re at it, I suggest checking out the definitions for “Adventure”, “Survival Horror”, “Simulation”, “Beat-‘Em-Up”, and “Platform”. I see a lot of misunderstanding about those also, ESPECIALLY “Adventure” and “Beat-‘Em-Up.”

Usually I just shake my head and give up, but I thought I would try a post this time. In a few days, I’m going to resubmit the rejected data and see what happens.