kurzih

Just wanted to inform anyone interested in on what's new in the database that I'm mostly done with my missing games contributions for this year (and probably going a lot slower from now on - unless we might see some additional platform entries in the database ). I basically started to contribute missing entries early 2020, during this very challenging time. I simply thought of sharing all the media/metadata from the my local collection I had already collected for a long time, making it accessible to everyone using the database. I never thought I'd go through a total of 171917 submitted changes + quite a lot of moderation on top of it. This has included a lot of Japanese entries, like PC-88, PC-98, FM-7, FM Towns, Sharp X1, MZ-2500 and many other older computers (Acorn, Apple, CPC, Atari ST, filling missing gaps from Commodore models etc. ). Of course I haven't been the only one doing this, but those were the focus point I had. Many many others have managed to even complete or almost complete some hugely populated platforms this year like the PS1 and Nintendo DS. So please update your collections with the latest metadata and you'll find that you'll get a bit more ID hits than a year ago The latest batch I put up: Pinballs. They've got some really beautiful flyers, the oldest ones from the 30's(!!) and for example on the emulation side Visual Pinball's VPX tables look and play just amazing. And on the other note: I've seen different "hard" claims on the database (not the best place to make claims to be honest, use the forum for discussions please). And lately one of these claims was about the Wikipedia Field. I just double checked from Jason and he told me that this has been clarified before, so once again based on that information: the Wikipedia Field is ONLY for Wikipedia URL's, anything else shouldn't be accepted. Even if there is no Wikipedia URL available. It's quite natural when you think about it, since we have nowadays a "Wikipedia Link" button in Launchbox and you'd expect it to go right there . You can of course always discuss this, that's one reason we have the forum and we have super cool devs that are actively joining the discussions with the community. Anyway, I wish everyone safe and Happy Holidays and GAME ON!

My stand on this one is that no deletion should ever be accepted without a good explanation written in the reason field. And second, if the reason is just "dupe" or similar, then the reason field should also include the link to the other entry it is duplicated from to let the moderators make the right decision. Usually that's what we see, but not always. Please also be aware that some deletion are done because the game has duplicate regional entries while having different title names in different countries (we use regional alt names and regional media for a single game entry). Explaining this in the "Reason Field" + linking the other entry makes things clear for moderation. Most moderation and new content put on the database is top notch, but there are sometimes rare attempts that have no merit or are reasoned with even false claims. That's why double/triple checking different sources, not only for deletions, is most important and as well not relying blindly in just one source. Like sometimes it seems Moby Games is the "only" source information, even if it has it own hiccups and some inaccuracies as well - everyone should consider source criticism there too. I personally recommend for older games the combo of Moby/Wikipedia/Gamefaqs + dedicated website of the platform in question. And in addition for newer/recent games the publisher's/dev's game page.

Those two images are a bit of a bad example, both of them would be rejected because they do not meet the minimum required size, which is: Fan art must be at least 1280 x 720 for Background based art. Made a quick test: I saved your PNG as a maximum quality settings JPG file and made the canvas size 1920x1080 on Photoshop. Those noises around the edges didn't appear, not even on fullscreen as they do in the JPG version above (launchbox / big box would use background images in fullscreen anyway, so the forum isn't the best place to show examples). Those noises only seem to appear when the image I tested is converted as a smaller image (for example as a thumbnail by this forum software). But that scenario shouldn't happen in BigBox/Launchbox since the image is used as big as it is (native reso I guess, right?). I think the point with background images is that they should be by default and by rule big enough in resolution that they look good in fullscreen and are not converted to a smaller image size. And I believe JPG is in most cases best for background images as long as they are saved as high/maximum quality JPG instead of auto-conversion/resize/re-save from a different format where there might be quality loss if the default conversion settings do not give the best option. To put this simple I'm always asking myself two questions for submitting content to the database on top of keeping it inside the rules: Is this the best for the community and how would it (the image in this case) work/look like when it's used by Launchbox / BigBox. But in the end, as I've said before. I'm just HOPING that people would prioritize background images using the JPG format. PNG is by no means against the rules and might be in some cases a good alternative depending on the source and image type (limited colours, 8-bit style etc.). That's why those two questions above I use as a personal guideline are open for different solutions. And I also would prefer a PNG backround image rather than none (BG images for me at the moment are "only" taking around 11GB of HD space + cache space), still some space to bare! If there would be a vote: Backgrounds = JPG FTW Screenshots for older games = PNG FTW Please, anyone who's more graphical-tech-savvy (most of you I guess :P), please correct me or comment on this, thank you!

Yes I agree, but I thought this was related enough to continue the discussion in this thread with an issue with screenshots that is occurring right now on the database. Just moved this "new" discussion here:

I got bumped from a related thread since this was not really in the center of that discussion: Just recently I'm seeing moderator changes/replacements from native PNG resolution to slightly upscaled JPG screenshots - with older games like from the Spectrum ZX etc., claiming that it's "better quality" making a bigger sized JPG screenshot. I think that is misleading and a bad mistake to approve those changes/replacements. Why is that? Because JPG files when saved (or should I say auto-scaled by Launchbox/BigBox) into a different resolution will add grain/noise especially around texts etc. PNG has lossless data compression and looks great auto-scaled in HD of whatever resolution (smaller or bigger) and it will also preserve the colours. No user should need to make screenshot image bigger than what they are in their native resolution if they are saved in PNG. I don't mind if someone upscales a PNG image (even if it's not really of any use), but changing perfectly fine PNG screenshot files into JPG is making the quality worse, not better - especially with BigBox. I'm sure there's people here in this forum who are very familiar with these formats and I'm quite sure they would voice it for PNG as a preferred format for screenshots. And anyone can google more about the benefits of PNG and problems with JPG for screenshots or in general, like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics. Even if the database allows both JPG and PNG image file formats, I think we should focus on what's best for what image type and avoid any false moderation claims and stop replacing perfectly good, already approved, native resolution PNG images. I'm emphasizing "screenshots" here. I don't wish people to start changing Box - Front/Back / Flyers images from JPG to PNG. Since that would only fill everyone HDs. High/Maximum Quality JPG files are OK for these kind of files but are not good for screenshots (especially old games with low native resolution).

Sorry neil9000, but I have to debate this. I'm on @Freestate side of view on this one. And bringing this topic back on. Just recently I'm seeing moderator changes from native PNG resolution to slightly upscaled JPG screenshots - with older games like from the Spectrum ZX etc., claiming that it's "better quality" making a bigger sized JPG screenshot. I think that is misleading and a bad mistake to approve those changes. Why is that? Because JPG files when saved (or should I say auto-scaled by Launchbox/BigBox) into a different resolution will add grain/noise especially around texts etc. PNG has lossless data compression and looks great auto-scaled in HD of whatever resolution (smaller or bigger) and it will also preserve the colours. No user should need to make screenshot image bigger than what they are in their native resolution if they are saved in PNG. I don't mind if someone upscales a PNG image (even if it's not really of any use), but changing perfectly fine PNG screenshot files into JPG is making the quality worse, not better - especially with BigBox. I'm sure there's people here in this forum who are very familiar with these formats and I'm quite sure they would voice it for PNG as a preferred format for screenshots. And anyone can google more about the benefits of PNG and problems with JPG for screenshots or in general, like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics EDIT: I'm emphasizing "screenshots" here. I don't wish people to start changing Box - Front/Back / Flyers images from JPG to PNG. Since that would only fill everyone HDs. High/Maximum Quality JPG files are OK for these kind of files but are not good for screenshots (especially old games with low native resolution).

I guess you might have tried this already, but just to make sure: did you try to remove the ID in the Edit window (red button next to the ID) and then clicked on "Search for Metadata" - also making sure it's the correct platform when it finds the game from the database? It's possible the ID has changed, if for example the game had a duplicate entry and the other ID has been removed.

Sounds to me like a misunderstanding. Did you write what you were planning to do in the "Reason" field? I warmly recommend to use it to avoid any confusion. Sometimes it might be hard for moderators to guess if there's something not so obvious to everyone. Thank you for using your time to add missing backgrounds, they really make a difference especially in BigBox! One more thing on this background topic: I don't know who doesn't do it, but I would personally hope that backgrounds (and back/front cover arts for the matter) would be uploaded in JPG instead of PNG. Those are taking a huge amount of space right now - I'm talking about cases like 0,7MB versus 4MB per image. Screenshots and pictures with a "transparent background" (3D Boxes, logos, discs etc.) are those that really need to be PNG for good upscale and keeping the background transparent. JPG is fine with rectangle shapes otherwise

Does anyone know when we will have more platforms added to the database or should we wait for the next community vote? Just wondering how much down this is on the priority "to-do" list. I have quite a lot of local game media ready to be added as soon as we get more platforms in.

Just a quick comment on my part: I would first look at the cover/back cover (priority North American) information as the main source for the publisher's name as we do for the title name. And my opinion is that companies usually use a shorter version of their trade name for external communication to consumers for example. And for legal contracts, agreements, manuals, contact details etc. they use full trade names. I don't think this community driven database requires the full legal trade names of publishers and what type of business (limited, public, co-operative, private etc.) the company it is. I'd stick with the simpler approach. But that's just my opinion. Big gaming databases like Gamefaqs (simpler) and Moby Games (gathering all possible regional versions, type of business) are total opposites in Company naming. There's truly nothing wrong or more right about this. The question is, what do we want? (I know that I'm going to take a break from moderation if someone starts to change every publisher's that's already out there ?)

Please read this thread below (it's not an old thread, you could actually have posted there before making a new thread about the same kind of topic), there's been quite a lot of discussion about this and the reasoning is good - so let's PLEASE not go back and forth on the database and rather keep to the image tags as they are mentioned and explained:

Sorry Pike, I should have been more clear about Game & Watch being from Nintendo My first touch to gaming back in the 80's .What is really cool is that they are bringing a brand new model with the Super Mario 35th Anniversary in 2020. Hopefully at some point the Database Platform list will be tidied up (removing duplicate / empty ones) and will have some brand new (well, actually old) platforms too. There's a thread for new platforms here:

Some of them are (intentionally) mixed up in the Game & Watch Platform: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/platforms/games/166 I think they are meant to be there, since they don't have any other place (kind of a unwritten thing, probably because there's a core in retroarch that had them mixed up and a tutorial for that): I'm using that platform to get metadata from the Database and have them as separate platforms for: Bandai Electronics Konami Hanhelds Misc Handhelds Tiger Electronics So we would need NEW platforms to get those database entries moved where they would belong. The question is of course, what to call the platforms. "Easier" ones are probably Electronic games by Bandai, Tiger and Konami:

I've been pretty happy with the free "Bulk Rename Utility". Has a nice preview option too before kicking it into action.

Looks like this numbering change of mine to the correct naming got someone confused: Wizardry versions for the Japanese Game Boy Color have part II and III switched around compared to most version (Famicom has it too). No one knows why ASCII did that. Read here for the history: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/wizardry-llylgamyn-trilogy-version-comparison/ they also confirm what I'm saying. I'd like to remind that: a) The database rule #2 "Game names should reflect the box of the game, with the exception of games that break scraping in LaunchBox" b) do not blindly trust fan-submitted websites. double check and triple check from different sources. Many of us have noticed that even the very good Moby Games has had incorrect information (like region info). c) the same information about cover name priority can be found when adding new games: And as told before, this game was not released outside Japan for the Game Boy Color - thus the numbering is correct on the covers: Hopefully this is now crystal clear, I really don't like my time getting wasted with back-fixing entries that have been corrected.

I made the changes yesterday, so the Wizardry games should be fine now. Also deleted the cover you asked to.

No problemo! I actually noticed that there is also an issue with the numbering with the Japanese Game Boy Color version of the game, they should be vice versa: III is actually II. You can double check by looking at the roman numerals on the cover images.

For future similar cases: you can use the "EDIT"* option to replace a wrong image that has already been uploaded & approved. Then the wrong image doesn't need to be deleted if it's simply replaced (and no need to upload a new image either). This will save time and make the change faster too. *EDIT button is found on the bottom left corner after you click on an image you want to replace. Then you simply select a new image for a replacement with "select image file to upload". You can also delete an image from the edit window, with the "delete image" option. Screencaps for EDIT option with replace or delete in mind: EDIT: The numbering is actually wrong, database rules says that the name should be the one from the cover art. And the name from the cover art for the Japanese version is: Wizardry II: Llygamyn no Isan / Wizardry II: Legacy of Llylgamyn (I know confusing, since western version this would be III). There is no other version than the Japanese version. As you can see "The Knight of Diamond" is the version III for the Japanese version:

While adding entries to the DB for Fujitsu FM-7 I noticed that one entry "ate" another one: "Flight Simulator Space Bee" took it's ID to "Flight Simulator". So I need to submit the "Flight Simulator" as its own separate entry in the DB*. I wanted to make sure it's really not the same game and it wasn't. FM7 Cassettes need to be booted with a command line, so here's another addition for this list EDIT: *it was actually a double-feature release with two games: Flight Simulator AND Space Bee. Fujitsu FM-7 Cassettes: fm7 -skip_gameinfo -autoboot_command "LOADM”“,,R\n" -autoboot_delay 4 -cass Note! Same thing with Sharp X1 the ”“ after LOADM are not the same as "", Mame will just quit if it's wrong. And unfortunately this machine does not auto-play the cassette unit automatically so you'll need to play the tape yourself within MAME after you see "Searching" after the autoboot command has been executed. (To my understanding FM7 disks boot right away, so no need for an autoboot for them.)

Wouldn't a Playlist work as a "Collection"? https://forums.launchbox-app.com/files/category/22-playlists-playlist-media/ EDIT: check more content on subcategories on the right There's some pretty cool theme videos/media etc. already for many themes/series you can use for your custom playlists.

Would be nice to know for sure if they are really hurting something with the themes and how. I would also start rejecting those if there isn't any concrete example for not having them in the DB. There's a lot of space for alt names. In the other hand I doubt they are much useful for scraping/importing, since most filenames are in Latin Alphabet. But if we flip the coin: I can see the benefit having Katakana/Hiragana/Kanji in the DB. For example with very limited Japanese language skills, I have found a huge amount of content when searching in Japanese letters.

Please go to page 1 to (re-)read the rules, especially rule 6 posted in 2016. As I said before, database moderators go about changing/fixing correct title names, wikipedia links, region tags, image types, overviews etc. But somehow it feels that rule 6 doesn't apply to everyone? I may personally dislike this rule too, but I do care about Launchbox and have big respect to the people behind it - it's rare for developers to be this active with its users and discussing in an online forum and respond this fast. Let's leave them to do what they do best and the rest of us stick to the rules, OK? I have one FINAL point to make: Launchbox is highly customizable: you can have what ever you want in your own local collection. You can have platforms that do not even exist on the Launchbox Database (maybe we could get more of those instead of arguing this matter). Here's below a few examples of what I've done - and since I started using Launchbox I had one specific goal: "No game shall be without a front cover image" (yeah, I know showing off as well ) . That said, you can have whatever you want, what kind of pictures you want in your local Launchbox. And also any kind of custom gamelist/platform. And more, if anyone's interested. I can also share those media or submit new entries when we get those and other new platforms opened in the database.

I know I have some of them in my local collection, happy to send them to you if we get a green light from Jason about self-censoring. Please ask him and I'll get back to you. Please keep in mind that the answer might be negative, as you know there are many issues with censoring. For example, where do we cross the line? Do we just hide the naughtiest bits or what happens in cases like: - no sexual implication, but has mild nudity - nudity is a way of humour - back cover with raping, tentacles all over the place etc. (I guess you'd need to fill that cool looking red star 99% of that imagery) - sexual intercourse - artistic nudity Who makes the call? And how would we know which countries (especially the US) requires what kind of censorship. I certainly don't know. To be honest I really hate censorship especially in the way that it can make a situation much worse than what it would be uncensored, like cursing on (US?) TV and replacing it with a beeps etc., I'm happy we don't have that problem in my country. I think censorship provokes and takes much more attention when it shouldn't need to and can even make your imagination think of the worst alternative for the "BEEP". I say Frak it (They chose a cool alternative in Battlestar Galactica ) But enough from me about this topic ?. I'm going back to actually submit more games that are missing from the database.. EDIT: Just remembered that Jason actually replied earlier to me that, as I thought, self-censoring wouldn't work. But let's wait and see if there's anything else/new that needs clarification or could be allowed (I doubt it though).

I get it, personally as a European I'm OK with nudity and much more against violence in any form. But this is about Launchbox's rules - we go ahead with rules about Region tags, colons, title naming etc. but suddenly when there's nudity, it's a debate? @harryoke, remember the European cover for Barbarian II? I think that was actually banned in Germany. We could go on foreever and ever about this topic, but please guys: Jason asked for help and we have written rules. That's not too hard, is it?

The request for help and instruction from Jason was very clear:" We do have a very strict no-nudity policy for the media, however, primarily to protect kids and keep us out of hot water because we have no age checks on the games database website. Please keep that in mind and never upload any images with nudity to the site." "I could really use the community's help to mark any images with nudity in them for deletion." Self-censoring is not a solution, who would even be qualified for that ? What if there is a legal problem one day, all that crap would go to Unbroken Software, since it's their website platform. We can only help them to avoid a situation like that and stick to the rules I did suggest an "Adult tag" - but Launchbox is not my creation and don't want to argue against the people working hard on this software. Please see first page of this thread: Rule number 6: "Adult games are allowed on the Database, but nudity and partial nudity is not allowed. Adult Language is allowed as long as it is not obscene." Personally I think violence is more an issue than nudity, but again - you've been here long enough to know this: we have rules for contribution. You should quote/talk to Jason if you don't agree. Don't argue with me - I've decided to follow the rules. Simple as that.