ExtendDB, Extend lb database from 150K Games to 300K including NSFW. [Current state : Proof of concept]

[Nixx]

What does this plugin do?

Normally, LaunchBox uses its own metadata database located in the LaunchBox/Metadata folder, which is around 400 MB (LaunchBox.Metadata.db).

This plugin forces LaunchBox to ignore its original database and use an alternative one instead.
In my case, the plugin points to a 2.5 GB database (LaunchBox.Extended.Metadata.db) that contains many more games and images.

This is currently a proof of concept.
Do not try to use it on your full library yet. If something breaks, that’s on you 😉
The implementation relies on some very creative workarounds, so bugs are to be expected.
The goal for now is simply to demonstrate the idea and prove that it works.

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Why this plugin exists

I was a bit annoyed that LaunchBox allows games where you can blow someone’s head off with a shotgun but refuses others just because the protagonist shows boobs.

So I spent way too much time trying to fix that — and here we are.

On the server side, I built a system that generates a unified metadata database using data from:

• LaunchBox
• Steam
• VNDB
• ScreenScraper

Matching games across multiple databases is… complicated.
Game names, editions, regions, and IDs don’t always line up nicely, so it’s definitely not all sunshine and rainbows.

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Current limitations & notes

• Only images are supported for now
  (videos and manuals will be added later).
• ACTIVATE World REGION !!! All images previously without region are now set as World, so if you dont add this region you wont get shit.
• Many menu options are not implemented yet (and some will be tossed away)
  → only “Overview Priority” currently works.
• Planned features:
  • CRC matching to identify ROMs based on file signatures
  • Translated overviews depending on country / language
• For best performance:
  • Store the LaunchBox image directory on an NTFS drive
  • Install Everything (the search tool), so the plugin can use its API instead of slow I/O calls

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This project is still experimental, but it shows that LaunchBox can be extended far beyond its default metadata limitations.

https://mega.nz/file/57502LbL#yiFZWtyftfTgPFXMWWe2MWg4ah80XELjJhXLnyg2Jfg

Edited 4 hours ago by Nixx

[Retrofrogg]

This sounds very interesting, but I'm not clear from the description what it is or what it does exactly! Maybe add in an ELI5?

[Nixx]

My original post was quickly done before going to bed, i will rewrite it.