Versions & storefront duplicates

[Johnnydement]

is there any way to manage versions of the same game besides not importing deleting?

 

i would like to be able to have different versions in same entry.

 

for instance, Final Fantasy VI... have the original SNES, PSX, GBA and PC pixel versions in just a single entry

 

or games I've got in steam, epic and gog...

Edited Saturday at 04:58 PM by Johnnydement

[JoeViking245]

33 minutes ago, Johnnydement said:

is there any way to manage versions of the same game besides not importing deleting?

i would like to be able to have different versions in same entry.

for instance, Final Fantasy VI... have the original SNES, PSX, GBA and PC pixel versions in just a single entry

How are you planning to access these?  I understand right-click, play version.  But you need to get to FF-VI somehow.

e.g. Go into SNES. Find FF VI and right-click?  But also, be able to go into PSX and find the game, right-click?  This would be feasible, but a lot of manual work. As in, there's no automatic way to do that cross-platform.

One way to manage games cross-platform would be to create a playlist called Final Fantasy VI and then have all the different console versions in there [separately].  This (and the others you create) could go under a platform category of your choosing.   But that would defeat the request to have a single-entry-game.

If you wanted to create a [new] platform containing these combined [single-entry] games, you could create a new platform (e.g. Single Entries).  Go to All games and filter for "Final Fantasy VI" to see them from all the platforms.  Then select all those games, press Ctrl+E to start the bulk edit wizard set the platform to Single Entries.  aka, change the platform they belong to.  The problem with this is you then need to go into each game (in the new platform) and [especially if they use RetroArch]  edit the emulator section, check the box and set the Custom command line parameters.  This is because they don't belong to that original platform and RA doesn't know which core (parameters) to use.  Once that's setup and they all work, select all the FF-VI games, right-click one of them and select Combine Selected Games.  Wash, rinse and repeat for other games you wish to combine cross-platform.

[Johnnydement]

24 minutes ago, JoeViking245 said:

How are you planning to access these?  I understand right-click, play version.  But you need to get to FF-VI somehow.

e.g. Go into SNES. Find FF VI and right-click?  But also, be able to go into PSX and find the game, right-click?  This would be feasible, but a lot of manual work. As in, there's no automatic way to do that cross-platform.

One way to manage games cross-platform would be to create a playlist called Final Fantasy VI and then have all the different console versions in there [separately].  This (and the others you create) could go under a platform category of your choosing.   But that would defeat the request to have a single-entry-game.

If you wanted to create a [new] platform containing these combined [single-entry] games, you could create a new platform (e.g. Single Entries).  Go to All games and filter for "Final Fantasy VI" to see them from all the platforms.  Then select all those games, press Ctrl+E to start the bulk edit wizard set the platform to Single Entries.  aka, change the platform they belong to.  The problem with this is you then need to go into each game (in the new platform) and [especially if they use RetroArch]  edit the emulator section, check the box and set the Custom command line parameters.  This is because they don't belong to that original platform and RA doesn't know which core (parameters) to use.  Once that's setup and they all work, select all the FF-VI games, right-click one of them and select Combine Selected Games.  Wash, rinse and repeat for other games you wish to combine cross-platform.

So there's no easy way?

Guess this becomes a FR then

Really believe this should be explored; versioning is each passing day more habitual (just with the repeated free games you get from prime, epic,...). If you rely on auto-importers, you can get a dozen of repeated games. 

In Playnite you've got the Duplicate Hider extension that prioritizes one and lets you pick the rest in dropdown: felixkmh/DuplicateHider

As well as UI integration for theme devs, I find this a pretty good approach.

 

I was thinking of something similar to the new "versions" support for movies in Kodi.

When you add a movie already existing, it asks if it's a separate entry or a "version".

Then you can either treat it like a folder (a collection), or when clicking on the movie, it asks you which one you want to play.

For games, I envision it as somewhat more difficult, as, in a perfect image, I would like FF to appear with an SNES cover when browsing SNES games and a GBA one when browsing those ^^'. Maybe tagging a version with a cover? dunno.

[JoeViking245]

10 minutes ago, Johnnydement said:

Really believe this should be explored; versioning is each passing day more habitual (just with the repeated free games you get from prime, epic,...). If you rely on auto-importers, you can get a dozen of repeated games. 

Are you talking different versions (v1.0, v1.1, v2.0 and US, EU...) of the game? Or different ports (SNES, PSX...)? 

If versions, during import you can check the box to combine different versions. 

 

If ports, that's kind of difficult because during import, you're importing into a specific platform.  There is however the option (under Tools < Options < Visuals < Game Details) to show possible ports that list the game from other platforms in the game details.  This might suffice for the intent of what you were originally after.

 

27 minutes ago, Johnnydement said:

For games, I envision it as somewhat more difficult, as, in a perfect image, I would like FF to appear with an SNES cover when browsing SNES games and a GBA one when browsing those ^^'. Maybe tagging a version with a cover? dunno.

Not really following here.  If you're in SNES, it'll show the SNES cover for it.  Same for when in the other platforms.  My image above kind of shows that if you look at the different platforms LaunchBox found it in.

 

In the end, you always have the option to request a feature that isn't already available.  At the very top of this page, click Help & Support and select Request a Feature. 

That'll take you to the Feedback site where you can also view other forum member's requests.  If you see one you like, be sure to vote for ("upvote") it.  

[Johnnydement]

4 hours ago, JoeViking245 said:

Are you talking different versions (v1.0, v1.1, v2.0 and US, EU...) of the game? Or different ports (SNES, PSX...)? 

If versions, during import you can check the box to combine different versions. 

 

If ports, that's kind of difficult because during import, you're importing into a specific platform.  There is however the option (under Tools < Options < Visuals < Game Details) to show possible ports that list the game from other platforms in the game details.  This might suffice for the intent of what you were originally after.

 

Not really following here.  If you're in SNES, it'll show the SNES cover for it.  Same for when in the other platforms.  My image above kind of shows that if you look at the different platforms LaunchBox found it in.

 

In the end, you always have the option to request a feature that isn't already available.  At the very top of this page, click Help & Support and select Request a Feature. 

That'll take you to the Feedback site where you can also view other forum member's requests.  If you see one you like, be sure to vote for ("upvote") it.  

I just found I can audit the games and "combine" them, so guess you can manage a bit

On the other hand, this made me aware launchbox is tagging incorrectly games due it relaying only in launchbox game database. For instance, it tagged both Duke Nukem I (240160)  & Duke Nukem 3D (359850) as Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition - LaunchBox Games Database that also exists in Steam, but is neither the games I have (225140)

And whatever I tried to edit, it would just go back to the 6 versions of the game listed in launchbox Games Database, instead of picking metadata from Steam...