Moderator Guidelines and Contributor Rules

[Privacy]

@Thanatos_Prime "I'm here to mostly make sure that someone doesn't go nuts deleting stuff and to try to catch the big stuff" with only 3 approvals required for a change to be made, yet alone a deletion...

I agree with your other statements. I've revised my suggested edits; let me know what you think.

Edited November 4, 2019 by Vloshko

[Jason Carr]

@Vloshko Thank you for that. I'll get that first post updated here soon. Need to review some things to make sure it's all still accurate.

[Privacy]

59 minutes ago, Jason Carr said:

@Vloshko Thank you for that. I'll get that first post updated here soon. Need to review some things to make sure it's all still accurate.

@Jason Carr (last ping) 

Any chance we could have revision for allowed Wikipedia links specifically in regard to rom hacks (RH) and homebrews (HB) stated in the text?

The majority of RH's and HB's either have a website or forum post created/written/updated by the creator(s) dedicated to the RH or HB with all the information that one would need in regard to their content. 

In all the cases I have come across of dedicated websites and forums posts (by the creator), one is unable to find a link to ROM, since nobody enjoys receiving a C&D. 

Plus, it's necessary in some cases to avoid game breaking bugs.

If it's a hard "no" to dedicated websites and forum posts by the creator, how about google docs?

Finally, I've tested it and had no issues from a non wikipedia site, as typed here (my test was with a google doc):

 

Edited November 4, 2019 by Vloshko

[Jason Carr]

3 minutes ago, Vloshko said:

Any chance we could have revision for allowed Wikipedia links specifically in regard to rom hacks (RH) and homebrews (HB)?

The majority of RH's and HB's either have a website or forum post created/written/updated by the creator(s) dedicated to the RH or HB with all the information that one would need in regard to their content. 

In most cases of dedicated websites and forums posts, one would be unable to find a link to ROM, since nobody enjoys receiving a C&D. 

What # on the list are you referring to?

[Privacy]

18.

A lower number would work, but that requires more effort on your part, unless you have someone do it for you.

[Jason Carr]

1 minute ago, Vloshko said:

18.

A lower number would work, but that requires more effort on your part, unless you have someone do it for you.

I'm so confused lol. #18 isn't even on the list...

[Privacy]

5 minutes ago, Jason Carr said:

I'm so confused lol. #18 isn't even on the list...

Correct.

3. would be a slightly better choice due to it coming before the "overview"/"description" in the DB UI and this would be reflected in the guidelines. However since everything is already out of order, adding #18 stating something along those lines would be the least amount of work. 

Edited November 4, 2019 by Vloshko

[Jason Carr]

2 minutes ago, Vloshko said:

Correct.

3. would be a slightly better choice due to it coming before the "overview"/"description" in the DB UI and this would be reflected in the guidelines. However since everything is already out of order, adding #18 stating something along those lines would be the least amount of work. 

I'm still not following. I'm referring to the list I posted on the first post of this topic (the one you typed up originally).

[Privacy]

I Didn't realize you have already added 1-12. Regardless, my apologies for the confusion. Instead of a revision, add a rule with something along the lines of this example:

18. Appropriate links for the Wikipedia field are: Wikipedia, Gamepedia, Fandom Wiki, (I'm probably forgetting something)

a. ROM Hacks and Home Brews may have a creators website, forum post, or google doc added if none of the above sources have content pertaining to their creation.

b. ROM Hacks may have a creators website, forum post, or google doc added if it contains a download link to a .UPS, .IPS, or .BPS file. 

c. ROM Hacks may not have a creators website, forum post, or google doc added if it contains a download link to a ROM of a licensed game.

Edited November 4, 2019 by Vloshko

[Jason Carr]

4 hours ago, Vloshko said:

I Didn't realize you have already added 1-12. Regardless, my apologies for the confusion. Instead of a revision, add a rule with something along the lines of this example:

18. Appropriate links for the Wikipedia field are: Wikipedia, Gamepedia, Fandom Wiki, (I'm probably forgetting something)

a. ROM Hacks and Home Brews may have a creators website, forum post, or google doc added if none of the above sources have content pertaining to their creation.

b. ROM Hacks may have a creators website, forum post, or google doc added if it contains a download link to a .UPS, .IPS, or .BPS file. 

c. ROM Hacks may not have a creators website, forum post, or google doc added if it contains a download link to a ROM of a licensed game.

Where are 13-17?

[Thanatos_Prime]

Jason, I think the thrust of what Vloshko is asking for is to have a field where you can put an informative website link that will allow users to say, "Go here to learn more about this game".

Currently people try to use the Wikipedia field for that and we've been cautioned that this is for image retrieval and not for links to websites outside of Wikipedia.

Edited November 5, 2019 by Thanatos_Prime
for better clarity

[Privacy]

21 hours ago, Vloshko said:

......

13. Full list of every official ratings board:

14. Game ratings should reflect what is on the box.
a. There is no guess work or making up ratings. If one doesn't exist, then one does not exist.

15. The United States, Canada and Mexico use the ESRB. 
a.   K+A rating was changed to E. In this case make the rating E. 
b.   The database will denote that before 1998 E used to be K+A for historical 
accuracy. 
c.   Official ESRB Ratings: .   UK used the BBFC until 2010 then changed to PEGI. In this case, unlike KM to E, there are too many cases where simple footnotes are sufficient. Use the appropriate rating. 

16. UK used the BBFC until 2010 then changed to PEGI. In tis case, unlike K+A to E, There are too many cases where simple footnotes are sufficient. Use the appropriate rating.

a. BBFC Ratings - only for games released from 2009 and previous and where applicable. (Not every game even got a rating)
b.   Official PE I Ratings (2010 onward)

17.  Japan uses CERO. Japanese games released from 2002 and onward received a CERO rating. 
a.   Official CERO Ratings: 
b.  Japanese PC games (Including Mature games) are rated via EOCS (Ethics Organization of Computer Software). 
c.   Official EOCS Ratings:
 

13-17 @Jason Carr I wonder why you couldn't see these below #12 in my original post of the typed text:

 

https://forums.launchbox-app.com/topic/28825-moderator-guidelines-and-contributor-rules/?do=findComment&comment=331582

 

Edited November 5, 2019 by Vloshko

[Jason Carr]

I see; I forgot that I omitted that stuff because it didn't appear to be relevant, as we only have ESRB on the games database currently. In the future I plan to add the other rating types from other countries, but as for right now that stuff doesn't exist.

We can add a field for citations and such later on as well.

[Privacy]

2 hours ago, Jason Carr said:

I see; I forgot that I omitted that stuff because it didn't appear to be relevant, as we only have ESRB on the games database currently. In the future I plan to add the other rating types from other countries, but as for right now that stuff doesn't exist.

We can add a field for citations and such later on as well.

Since the field for Wikipedia already exists, could you add what I wrote above:

https://forums.launchbox-app.com/topic/28825-moderator-guidelines-and-contributor-rules/?do=findComment&comment=331643

 or a modified version using your own words or something to that degree as #13? 

 

In addition the following is still relevant and should not be omitted:

14. Game ratings should reflect what is on the box.
a. There is no guess work or making up ratings. If one doesn't exist, then one does not exist.

<!--revision suggestion: 14. Game ratings should reflect what is found on https://www.esrb.org .-->

<!--revision suggestion: a. There is no guess work or making up ratings. If one doesn't exist, then select "Not Rated".-->

<!--revision suggestion to 14: b. K+A rating was changed to E. In this case make the rating E.-->

 

Edited November 5, 2019 by Vloshko

[Privacy]

Anyone have any ideas to propose for making game deletion more difficult than "9. Game entries require 3 approvals or 3 rejections in order to proceed in either direction"? Approval for submitting a new game is no issue, but DELETING, I feel should either require more approvals for deletion, or there should be a system that alerts the moderators if mass deletion is attempted and requires them to give the "okay", regardless of the number of users that have hit "Accept" vs "Reject". Of course I have zero idea what is going on under the hood (more of a note to devs).

Edited November 7, 2019 by Vloshko

[Jeffe]

I'm tackling the Arcade platform and wanted to throw some ideas out to the community to see what everyone's thoughts are:

1. Game titles with parentheses or brackets should be removed since it conflicts with the scraper and it makes it difficult to find in a search in LaunchBox. Does anyone know of any other ASCII characters we should avoid in game titles?
2. I've run across several games with the same name in Arcade but they are different games (Badlands, Super Dodge Ball, etc.) I posted to change them to "Super Dodge Ball: Neo Geo" and "Badlands: Atari" because if the game title is the same name, the metadata won't differentiate in LaunchBox. This is the method I used, but I'm curious if anyone has better ideas.
3. I also started migrating all games from platforms that are now being used as playlists (Sega Model 2, 3, Naomi, Sammy Atomisewave, etc.) and putting them all in Arcade since the Sega Model 1 platform is empty and the Namco System 22 is empty. I stopped doing that since several contributors were against it and I'm making sure the Arcade platform has all the metadata and media that is found in other arcade system board platforms. What is everyone's thoughts of removing platforms that are now playlists? Could we remove Sega Model 2 and Namco System 22?
4. Could we create a platform to move all the casino/fruit games out of Arcade since they are not arcade games?

Please let me know what everyone thinks. Together we can make this the best videogame database on the internet!

-Jeffe10

[DOS76]

I'm going to be honest here there are some many things going on development wise that you can ask for DB changes until you are blue in the face but they aren't likely to happen any time soon. The DB is sort of the red head step child when it comes to getting things added to it. So basically good luck.

[Jason Carr]

9 minutes ago, DOS76 said:

I'm going to be honest here there are some many things going on development wise that you can ask for DB changes until you are blue in the face but they aren't likely to happen any time soon. The DB is sort of the red head step child when it comes to getting things added to it. So basically good luck.

The good news is we just hired Christian (our new developer). I do have plans to clean some things up with the games database and website here soon.

Per #1, I never even thought about parenthesis in titles lol. Is that even a thing? Are there any games that officially have parenthesis in their titles?

Per #2, I'm not sure about changing the titles in that case. I know it's a problem, but hopefully they would have different release dates, at least. I believe the MAME importer in LaunchBox does properly differentiate between these games. Let me know if anyone can prove otherwise, and I'll look into it.

Per #3, I am in agreement that we need all arcade games under the Arcade platform, because that is what the platform is. However, I don't see anything wrong with duplicating them also in there subcategory "platforms". That way users can choose which approach they want and it should work well for both. I know we're missing a lot of subcategory platforms currently though.

Per #4, that would be a massive job, identifying all of them, and we'd end up having arguments about what goes where lol. I do see the benefit of it, but honestly, that one's not likely to happen.

Thanks for the feedback though @Jeffe. These are some good points.

[Jeffe]

22 hours ago, Jason Carr said:

The good news is we just hired Christian (our new developer). I do have plans to clean some things up with the games database and website here soon.

Per #1, I never even thought about parenthesis in titles lol. Is that even a thing? Are there any games that officially have parenthesis in their titles?

Per #2, I'm not sure about changing the titles in that case. I know it's a problem, but hopefully they would have different release dates, at least. I believe the MAME importer in LaunchBox does properly differentiate between these games. Let me know if anyone can prove otherwise, and I'll look into it.

Per #3, I am in agreement that we need all arcade games under the Arcade platform, because that is what the platform is. However, I don't see anything wrong with duplicating them also in there subcategory "platforms". That way users can choose which approach they want and it should work well for both. I know we're missing a lot of subcategory platforms currently though.

Per #4, that would be a massive job, identifying all of them, and we'd end up having arguments about what goes where lol. I do see the benefit of it, but honestly, that one's not likely to happen.

Thanks for the feedback though @Jeffe. These are some good points.

That's great to hear!

Per#1: Very rarely do game have parentheses in the title, but right now some games do in our database. I wanted to know if there are other ASCII characters that are best to avoid in the title

Per#2: Not just for arcade but any platform with identically named games won't differentiate media even with different release dates. In my own collection I was changing the names to split the media apart. (For example:  Pac-Man and Pac-Man: Tengen on NES instead of Pac-Man (TENGEN). A better example would be Ms. Pac-Man on NES. There are two different games called Ms. Pac-Man. When you search in Launchbox, only one shows up and only one gets scraped. When trying to create 2 games with the same name in my collection, they merge media and can't tell the difference. I would love to know if anyone has ideas of a better way to for launchbox to know the difference.

Thanks again for the feedback!

Edited November 14, 2019 by Jeffe

[Jason Carr]

On 11/14/2019 at 6:01 AM, Jeffe said:

Very rarely do game have parentheses in the title, but right now some games do in our database. I wanted to know if there are other ASCII characters that are best to avoid in the title

I'm not aware of any other than square brackets; I believe everything else (that exists in titles at least) should be safe. Parenthesis and square brackets are specifically searched for and removed in file names due to ROM file names often using them for version or region information, etc.

On 11/14/2019 at 6:01 AM, Jeffe said:

Not just for arcade but any platform with identically named games won't differentiate media even with different release dates. In my own collection I was changing the names to split the media apart. (For example:  Pac-Man and Pac-Man: Tengen on NES instead of Pac-Man (TENGEN). A better example would be Ms. Pac-Man on NES. There are two different games called Ms. Pac-Man. When you search in Launchbox, only one shows up and only one gets scraped. When trying to create 2 games with the same name in my collection, they merge media and can't tell the difference. I would love to know if anyone has ideas of a better way to for launchbox to know the difference.

Good to know. I'll add an item on my list to see if I can figure out a solution. It may be a while though.