kurzih

Did you grab the screen from where faeran suggested? It's further down in the menu:

Sounds nice! More options would be always welcomed - especially for cassette tapes (C64 etc.!) - someone had made a really nice template on the database . Perhaps a transparent options for the DVD cases as well (Nintendo Switch etc.)? But I have to say that this latest update is fantastic! I had high expectations, and the devs delivered! (I actually downgraded from the previous version before this release, I wasn't too happy with the lack of 3D options and the quality in game view). Now we have the option to turn on/off 3D models (I like them off in game view) and to be able to click the 3D model open with the controller in fullscreen for best quality. I love it! I'm glad I uploaded hundreds of missing spines 😎 I hope many will follow and also hopefully upload them as untouched as possible, because the effect of "slightly used" boxes with at least 8-bit - 32-bit computer games look really realistic and genuine when you rotate them in 3D. Thank you guys for your efforts, I'm sticking with auto-update now

This isn't the worst case, but I think most of us would agree that NONE of the original artist artwork should be handled like this: Come one ... looks now like Spider-Man has a back pain or something... So many other cases can easily be found: real proportions: force stretched: It's really stands the most when there's supposed to be a rounder object (like the moon/sun)... or dig dug's enemy: I've seen just about too many background images where someone had a weird fixation to FORCE-FIT/FORCE-STRETCH a perfectly good image into a certain size. Please, keep the proportions intact at all costs. There are a millions of way to make an image fit a size of, for example 1920x1080, without force-stretching it (like cropping, adding a frame, fading, getting/scanning a HQ source etc.). Thankfully I've seen also people doing it properly. But this force-stretching habit is one of the reasons I'm keeping my own image folders protected, I wouldn't want "updates" like that. But I guess some of us don't care that much about a little stretch here and there. But these kind of changes shouldn't be accepted to begin with, wouldn't you agree? Arnie would:

Could you please stop with this nonsense? I can still see some absurd behaviour on the database. And it's causing some unwanted side-effects: For example in the Commodore 64 section, there's a few games named the same that have been made in DIFFERENT TIME by DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS in both EUROPE and NORTH AMERICA - something like "Aliens (European Version)" "Aliens (US Version). These versions are NOTHING alike. And now someone has this foolish idea of trying to delete them because they are "regional" and the "same" and should be put under one entry. That's just BS. I think if you're not familiar with a platform and its history - please stay away from it. And this seems more like someone just getting mad, because by simply using some common sense and looking at the screenshots you'd understand that they are not the same version. I've been trying to add MISSING IMAGES these past days. Instead of going back and forth with this feud, could you please help me instead? There's THOUSANDS of missing Spines - we'd like to see those 3D models looks sublime. But now the database seem stuck with this "Regional mayhem and debates" and on top of it someone deleting hundreds of his fan-art discs (consider NOT uploading temporary things in the database, instead use the forum and offer them as optional downloads instead).

I think that's the main issue here: Alternative names. The database code has a bug where you can't see what the person has written on the comment field. Everyone time you submit a new or edit an old / remove alternative name you always see an empty comment field as a moderator. I know that I've used "trolling" a few times this week, which I normally only use with the cases MJF described. But the reason for that was the absurd back-and-forth time wasting nonsense of the same entries, again and again. The correct word I should have used for that would have been "spamming", instead. There is a point where enough is enough. People seem to use the database comment field as a debate forum - which it's not designed for. In my part at least if that was one of my comments, there was no intent of disrespect, but a short comment of the situation at hand, instead of a long explanation. And here's a critic for some moderators from my part as well: PLEASE, finish your moderation queue before you make new changes. Too many times have I seen someone trying to change information (like a regional tag) that someone had already changed/been approved, instead of checking from his/her queue that the change is not already in motion. That would in some level be considered as spamming, or at least a total waste of moderation time since there's no (more) change to approve. Another point worth considering: do not blindly trust what Moby Games has, they do have mistakes/inaccuracies, and there's no point in transferring those here. It's a fan-submitted database as well. In priority I suggest using a) official sources, b) the games own sources (play the game, read what's on the front/back covers/manual) and c) use Moby Games in parallel with platform-specific fansites that are usually even more accurate. Moby Games is great, but I'm also not 100% sure we can copy 1:1 content from there without their permission: https://www.mobygames.com/info/terms I recently added a huge amount of missing media/entries, and I do moderation in tandem while I do that. But those cases above are one of the many reasons I'm not motivated anymore in doing this voluntary work (no pros being paid here). I think many things would be better (and people would avoid getting personally hurt, as it looks you did - and sorry for that if that happened to be my comment) if the database would get a total overhaul in the near future.

That's perfect! I think what I'll do is copy the content of all of my banner directories, because for me they are all box spines to begin with, then script them on Photoshop with the correct orientation and then just copy them to the Box - Spine directory and refresh in LB. Should be quick enough and can't wait for the next Launchbox update with the new 3D options/enhancements! Thanks 👍

Does it matter if the spine is uploaded vertically or horizontally on the database? There's kind of tons of spines already online, but they are marked as "banner" - would be easy to change their image types unless horizontal is out of the question?

Indeed. Rules are rules and everyone should follow them. Unfortunately someone just moments ago tried to replace a HQ Super Famicom scan with a "scratch fix", instead of uploading it separately as a reconstruction. Although this example has minor(ish) changes, there has been other major edits I've seen replacing authentic images, especially in the SNES section: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/22456 (I don't know if the cover has been replaced already by this "fix", lets hope moderators are awake and follow the rules) On the left the original scan with a scratch, on the right a (poor) fix attempt using blur effect (click the image for full-size). If the original image is replaced by a random person's edit (and this edit actually stands out more than the scratch to be honest), which image can you then choose from? You can't with that kind of selfish behavior. I doubt this is what the developers had in mind when they gave us the different image types and database guidelines/rules, right @Jason Carr? And why the blurring on the blue background/corner? I could find and show hundreds of example even worse than this, but frankly I will not use more of my time on this "replace & destroy" issue. Thank you for reading anyway! 😅

Some of you have already have heard my opinion about this. In most parts I support Retrofrogg's and many others views - we like the way things looked originally as close as possible, we used to be the kids playing those games back in the days. For me it's really disturbing to see the traces of edits and unfortunately I can spot them quite easily. The best reconstruction in my opinion would be one that you can't spot the changes. Worst of all are those AI enhanced images that boost image size and put some super-weird filter (waifu2x or whatever) that look horrible up-close, especially with text elements. I also think that "paint bucketing", for example a reflective golden/silver box with a monochromatic color is bad. But it gets really bad if you then overwrite the original image that was previously uploaded and accepted to the database: For me the main issue is a small number of persons taking away the choice of the Launchbox users of what image they can choose from when someone replaces a really good (scanned or not) image with a clearly reconstructed image - just because of the thought of it being the "default" image on the online database. That feels like an ego issue that should have no place here. Those different image types are there for users to choose from. In your own Launchbox you can choose reconstructed images as the main image with image priorities if you like so. You shouldn't have the right to choose what other can have when you overwrite different image types on the online database. Sure, there are images, scanned images for example - or even worse, photographed images (with flash, reflections of the photographer) that are of poor quality. But what stops anyone for getting a better source for the image that is still authentic? I've done that countless times. In most cases you save a tone of time searching or producing (scanning?) a better image, than trying to fix it on a image edit software. Not too long ago I uploaded a few super-high-quality, good looking Famicom scans. Unsurprisingly a few weeks later someone "had" to REPLACE those good scans with those personal edits. Not bothering to upload it separately as a reconstructed image (SNES and NES platforms for some reasons are targets for reconstructions overwriting scanned images as soon as one emerges). That kind of behavior doesn't motivate uploading good quality, authentic images. In the other hand, there are a persons doing it respectfully the right way, for example in the Amiga section, kindly uploading the work as reconstructions to others who enjoy that alternative. Sadly I've lost interest in using the online database for updating my media and also uploading there as much as I did before. I'm just trying to protect what I have now locally and I'm super happy to have at least 99% of authentic (old school) and official source material (games of today) as good quality as I can and as Faeran said, as close to the original experience as possible, whether it's a scan or not.

Hi, this has happened before. For some reason the Games Database latest changes are not downloading into Launchbox. They usually are available after 24 hrs at least. For example I've added these missing games days ago, but are still not showing up: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/details/167794 https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/details/167795 Could you please check and fix, thank you!

Isn't there really any way to send a Adobe Reader command line for viewing PDF manuals in BigBox? Like /A "pagemode=FullScreen" (without adding PDFs as apps/roms and using Adobe Viewer as an "emulator"). Fullscreen is the only setting that cannot be set as default within Adobe Reader, the rest is easy (two-page view, single view for cover, fit screen in Fullscreen etc.).

Yes, there is huge potential to make the online database better (in both logic, content and reliability), it hasn't had any major changes for years. I really hope someone will take over it's development to have a shiny "2.0" out of it. A long time ago I also tried to ask about the idea of commercial/official game version separation vs. hacks, translations etc. it didn't get any push though... more of an inconvenient idea having multiple entries/databases for basically the same "base" game.

This has been an issue when a duplicate game has been replaced in the database by a completely different game (because the deletion doesn't seem to always work the first try on the online database): For example I had a DS game, which was eventually a regional duplicate. The same ID it had used was replaced with a game that had nothing to do with that platform, but it had some media files that my entry didn't have. Then when I updated media/metadata it downloaded the "missing" media files. Then the entry was a mix and mash of the media I already had and the media I didn't have but was for the wrong game (that's how I realized I had a regional duplicate and had to re-search for the correct entry and delete the wrong media files). I would prefer that no one would replace those games that don't seem to delete, with a game not in the database yet - they WILL delete eventually. It's more problematic to have ID's that completely change content than a duplicate than just flows around in the online database (as long as it's renamed as a duplicate or something - so it will not scrape as it shouldn't).

Thank you C-Beats! I think Launchbox has progressed immensely during the years. This is the first time I'm reverting (for now). Demanding customer, eh? 😁 Here's what I captured from my post above: Note, this visual issue is on 13.0, not 12.6 It has this weird fat-thin effect (box-dvd) even if the games are higher than wider. And is that correct that the 3D model doesn't render with the same image quality/resolution as the flat 2D? For example: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/123333 the front looked fuzzier in 3D modeled than flat 2D in BigBox (Old Default Theme). EDIT: Actually these (old) Theme issues got me inspired to use Visual Studio. I'm quite happy with the collection I have, now it's time to dive into some coding

I think I'll wait for more updates on the 3D Models (great potential there! but too many downsides at this stage for my usage). Since there is no option to turn them off, or is there? (using old default theme on BigBox) I wanted to go to the previous version. But back with 12.16 gets me this error: is there a file I should delete to get things running again? EDIT: Is the 3D model with (old) Big Box theme displayed at a lower resolution than the original flat 2D image, or am I mistaken? It does feel a bit fuzzy visually with some covers. Any chance of having a quality settings for 3D boxes (for high end pc's etc.) if that's the case? And it looks kind of weird with the transition to the next game, I'll try to post a video (basically changes from wide to thin in a sec, like starting box size and going to the proper dvd size).

No I don't, you're correct. I guess I'm just too fast sometimes! 😅 I press CTRL+E instantly when I switch to the next game I want to edit.

I'm afraid it doesn't look to be theme related: I tried to replicate the error with the same title on that screenshot, but haven't been able to. Really weird... random bug maybe 😤 By the way, the only reason I'm not using the new default theme is the lack of title name in text without the need to click: Some games have funky logos and for Japanese games I'd rather see the name in Latin alphabet (I can read some Japanese, but very slow). Any chance of having an option to have the title always displayed in text below the cover? I also liked that we could see the developer as well without the need to click:

Hi, Can't tell which version the bug has been there, but it's been for quite a while: This happens when at least manually renaming a title that has a video attached to it. For me it looks like the video file is locked (opened, but not running on the game information side on the right). But that shouldn't be how it works, more like a bug. I'm trying to fix names according to how they are written on the cover (as it's meant to be regarding database guidelines). But almost each time I rename a missing name, this what happens with the video - I have to rename it by hand as well since it remains with the old name. Could you please look into it? Thanks! EDIT: I haven't reported this before, because it seems random, sometimes easy to reproduce and sometimes nothing happens out of the ordinary.

Oh, and I think @Jason Carr should interfere or someone will destroy a big chunk (at least over 100) of perfectly complete entries in the database - I mean, why is it so hard to use some common sense?? "Hmm.. why is there so many other handhelds in the G&W section .. I shall delete them, and not ask why is that so!" EDIT: and this is not even something new, we've talked about it ages ago:

I'm sure that's something that will be done when the website database will get a major update / push or finding someone to do it (Jason should know the latest status, I haven't asked for a while). Many platforms are still missing etc. The good thing is, that it will be super easy to just change the "Platform" field since we have so many entries for misc handhelds. In the meanwhile you can make your own Electronics platforms in Launchbox and scrape using the G&W portion of the database - that's the beauty of Launchbox, so much flexibility. Here's what I've done for example:

I'm afraid it's very old database bug. I've tried to troubleshoot it a lot, but no one seems to know the specific reason. It's possible that there are too many moderators at the same time accepting/rejecting or someone slower than others resulting in a fully accepted entry when it's like 3-0 and then the slower moderation re-creates an entry without media files? Just a thought, can't be sure. It's happened to me too many times when I've added a huge number of missing games during 1-2 weeks for example.

Had the same issue, have you tried this in BigBox: a. Choose "Theme-Specific Options" b. Choose "Old Default Theme" c. Choose "Views" And then check that you have the correct views you had before the update (ie. Platform Wheel 1), I had some weird stuff in there and when I changed them back the way I had it originally, it displayed the platform details again. Although the new default theme has some great upgrades, for me it has some downgrades on the visuals with Platform Wheel 1 and Text List with Details, especially with those rounded/cropped cover arts. Some covers are special sized and they don't look nice cropped and with the corners rounded. Also the platform background videos are just too grey, so still sticking with the more colorful and box cover intact old default for now, thank you for keeping it intact! What I would really like, and pay for it separately, is a simple GUI based BigBox Theme Editor/Maker without the need to do much (or any) coding, just choosing elements (clock or manual, map, game guide icons from additional apps for example!) and putting them in place, setting your own visuals/gfx style etc. Basically either making a new theme or editing your favorite theme with some custom made changes or additions.

That is precisely the issue. I've tested and seen this quite a long time ago, but here goes again to see if this has been fixed: I've just added this comment: "IMPORTANT!! Testing if the alt name comment field works. Please answer to the forum if you can read this comment! forums.launchbox-app.com/topic/66676-how-to-provide-a-reason-for-alts/#comment-415596" While I added the Japanese alt name for Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/details/159309 There's a moderation queue of about 400 cases, so this will take a while. But if no one answers, then it clearly does still not work. Let's hope it does!

Yes, you should be able to do that. ScummVM is based on multiple platforms - and if the game is on the database the you can select which platform you would run on ScummVM for the most accurate metadata/images. First select your ScummVM platform from plaftorm category list and then Just use the "add" button on the bottom right and make a search for the game you want added in your ScummVM list. After getting the metadata and downloading images you can also "disconnect" the launchbox id (red-white cross after the ID, where the search button was before) and update it again if/when someone submits a ScummVM specific entry in the database. The other option would be to request someone to add the missing entries (or add it yourself) in the ScummVM database platform: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/platforms/games/143

The comment field on alt names is broken I'm afraid. No moderator is able to see what you have written there - thus difficult to moderate to be honest. You could try a workaround, I've seen some people using other fields to comment on their alt name changes. But it looks like someone will soon(?) take more care of the database code according to the "we're hiring" message earlier.