What Data To Be Most Prominant in Game Database?

Post by **racketboy** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:52 am

I'm trying to tweak the design of the game database entry pages.

I want to have the most important and useful information be viewable and easy to find at the top and have less important, but still valuable information lower on the page.

If you rank what data or functions you would want to have availible in order of most important to least important, that would be very helpful to me.

Here are some ideas for data to be included:

Cover Art
Screenshot
Link to Gameplay Video
Overall Game Rating
Links To Reviews/Review Excerpts
Genres
Description
Current Value of Game
Year of Release
Publisher
Developer
Number of Players
ESRB Rating
Add to Owned/Want List
List Game For Sale/Trade
Related Games
Other Ports of Games
Developer Information/Game Credits
Anything else you might think of....

Post by **4ppleseed** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:57 pm

Title
Cover Art - Screenshot
Year of Release
Publisher
Developer
Other Ports of Games
Genre
Description
Related Games
Developer Information/Game Credits
Number of Players
ESRB Rating
Overall Game Rating
Link to Gameplay Video
Links To Reviews/Review Excerpts
Current Value of Game
Add to Owned/Want List
List Game For Sale/Trade

Post by **ott0bot** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:48 pm

A youtube or video link of actual gameplay would be cool.
I think listing all games in the "universe" of that game would be helpful.

I think you've got the rest covered covered!! awesome! I'm psych'd!

Post by **Curlypaul** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:32 am

You could expand on the number of players field eg if games use tap, LAN or the internet for their multiplayer features. Perhaps also you could list if the games use any special peripherals like steering wheels, twin sticks, fishing rods or maracas?

For display order I think I would go:

Title
Year of realease
Add to want/owned list
List game for sale
value
ESRB Rating
Genre
Publisher
Developer
Screenshot
Cover art
Description
Number of Players
Methods used for multiplayer
Peripherals used
Description
Review
Gameplay video

Post by **selfdestroyer** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:20 pm

ott0bot wrote:A youtube or video link of actual gameplay would be cool.
I think listing all games in the "universe" of that game would be helpful.

I think you've got the rest covered covered!! awesome! I'm psych'd!

The only problem I would see with putting a youtube link.. they don't last to long anymore.. seems like videos are going down quicker these days. You just don't want to put the time in entering youtube address' in the database only to see that they are dead links.

Post by **racketboy** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:51 pm

selfdestroyer wrote:
ott0bot wrote:A youtube or video link of actual gameplay would be cool.
I think listing all games in the "universe" of that game would be helpful.

I think you've got the rest covered covered!! awesome! I'm psych'd!
The only problem I would see with putting a youtube link.. they don't last to long anymore.. seems like videos are going down quicker these days. You just don't want to put the time in entering youtube address' in the database only to see that they are dead links.

Really? Are you referring to gameplay videos?
Do they give a reason for taking them down?

Post by **selfdestroyer** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:59 pm

racketboy wrote:
selfdestroyer wrote:
ott0bot wrote:A youtube or video link of actual gameplay would be cool.
I think listing all games in the "universe" of that game would be helpful.

I think you've got the rest covered covered!! awesome! I'm psych'd!
The only problem I would see with putting a youtube link.. they don't last to long anymore.. seems like videos are going down quicker these days. You just don't want to put the time in entering youtube address' in the database only to see that they are dead links.
Really? Are you referring to gameplay videos?
Do they give a reason for taking them down?

Im not 100% sure .. I just always hate to inject items into my databases that are out of my control. I just know how much work it takes to enter in information. But maybe these gameplay videos will remain the life of YouTube.

Post by **racketboy** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:17 pm

selfdestroyer wrote:
racketboy wrote:
selfdestroyer wrote: The only problem I would see with putting a youtube link.. they don't last to long anymore.. seems like videos are going down quicker these days. You just don't want to put the time in entering youtube address' in the database only to see that they are dead links.
Really? Are you referring to gameplay videos?
Do they give a reason for taking them down?
Im not 100% sure .. I just always hate to inject items into my databases that are out of my control. I just know how much work it takes to enter in information. But maybe these gameplay videos will remain the life of YouTube.

I've had the same thoughts, but I'm not sure what the alternatives would be... Unless there is some pre-existing server software that allows you to upload various videos and have them converted into streaming flash. I could probably pull off hosting myself, but the software to bring it all together would be tricky.

Post by **ott0bot** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:38 pm

racketboy wrote:
selfdestroyer wrote:
racketboy wrote: Really? Are you referring to gameplay videos?
Do they give a reason for taking them down?
Im not 100% sure .. I just always hate to inject items into my databases that are out of my control. I just know how much work it takes to enter in information. But maybe these gameplay videos will remain the life of YouTube.
I've had the same thoughts, but I'm not sure what the alternatives would be... Unless there is some pre-existing server software that allows you to upload various videos and have them converted into streaming flash. I could probably pull off hosting myself, but the software to bring it all together would be tricky.

If you post the videos yourself, which you could gather from willing donors, they should stay up on YouTube, if not maybe another site will. I'll look into it and see if there are any other free posting options that won't delete you're stuff.

I've heard this site is good, and you can manage your own videos and what not. Don't know what the limit is, since you may have alot of videos, but maybe you could just have links for some of the best.

Just and idea, I always read reviews and people tell me: "You'll love this game!" But when I actually see the game play I know for sure it's what I'm into. This is especially helpful when trying to find shmup imports.

Post by **selfdestroyer** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:45 pm

I'm definetly all for videos .. I think it would be a great asset.. but I just wanted to share my experience with data that you do not have a control over. It can he disheartening to spend the time only to see that youtube or some other service changed the way they do the URL information or video ID's.

As far as converting video, there are many applications that can turn any source into a flash stream. I can send one over for you to try if you like Racketboy.