Black Squirrel

Nice work on the cleanup of some articles out there, I also thought that we should had use the original title screen and not one from a port in the info part. - User:Elratauru 11:00, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

For convenience

This Japanese chap has been kind enough to buy and review all sorts of Mega Drive related hardware, and from the looks of things, he's still actively doing stuff

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.yahoo.co.jp%2Frig_veda%2Ffolder%2F1499935.html&sl=ja&tl=en

Bubble Bobble 2

I changed the name to what is on the title screen. Does the boxart actually only translate to what you posted and not whats on the title screen?

Traditionally the game's just known as "Rainbow Islands". Nobody's really paid attention to the subtitle before (and by nobody, that means wikipedia, mobygames and numerous other databases). There's also a bit of confusion to be had, as there are other games called "Bubble Bobble II" or "Bubble Bobble Part II". And to make matters worse, Parasol Stars is sometimes called "Bubble Bobble III" or "Rainbow Islands 2". It's easier on everybody if the games are just called "Bubble Bobble", "Rainbow Islands" and "Parasol Stars".

The European Master System box actually calls it "Rainbow Islands: Story of THE Bubble Bobble 2". So I'm really not all that sure. -Black Squirrel 21:29, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

Well, on Sonic Retro we go by what's on the title screen. An example is calling the game Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball rather than just Sonic Spinball. I'm sure that still applies over here.--MathUser 21:32, 6 November 2010 (UTC)

TeamPlayer

I tried to make sense of why there are 3 wires. Correct it if I'm mistaken on my guess.

About old logos (MD ones for example)

I believe that the main problem about these logos...is that it seems that according to what I have read over the years, these logos were not vectorial (At least the EU and US Megadrive logos). I mean, these logos were painted by hand like any other old Sonic logo. Letter by letter, and shadow by shadow.

Even so, I examined the cover for the Megadrive Collections they released...and they used the same logo I uploaded here... The "Collection" words looked really really vectorial, but all the other logo parts looked the same old hand painted (and kinda low quality for its resolution) logo.

For now, I believe that'll be nice to have SVG's for now like I said, I also retraced the logos following everything the most accurate I could too (I took pics from boxes, so I'd not even miss a detail.)-Elratauru 18:42, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

I think it's very unlikely that you'll ever find vector versions of the US and EU Mega Drive logos. But we're not desperate for them since Sega Retro has some massive PNGs already. The Japanese one, however, is very simple, and simplistic logos tend to suggest that somewhere there's an official vector-based copy. I haven't done a lot of research in the subject, but I think most professional logos use the EPS format, which has been around since the mid-1980s. Don't know how Sega work, but there's always a possibility the raw copy exists somewhere.

I a lot of the logos I've uploaded were rippped from PDFs, which I believe is often the format used for creating manuals and covers these days. So if Japan were to get a Sega Mega Drive collection and a PDF replacement manual was hosted on Sega of Japan's website, we might get lucky.

But I don't think we should be endulging in fan-made works, partly because we don't allow fan-made scans and partly because it's never a good idea to spread wrong data. -Black Squirrel 19:10, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Do I pay you via PayPal?

I hope you don't mind correcting the list; it did give me an excuse to make more unlicensed game articles... in fact - Andlabs 11:12, 29 March 2011 (CDT)

I don't mind at all =P. I only made it a user page out of fear it might be too big for the the current Sega Mega Drive page. It'll need to be shifted to somewhere more meaningful at a later date-Black Squirrel 11:15, 29 March 2011 (CDT)

SMS cart scans

I see you put one of the carts scans I've just done into place. =P I've put most of the rest up but 3 elude me due to alt box covers:

• CastleOfIllusion SMS EU Cart.jpg
• 
• RescueMission SMS EU Cart.jpg
• 

Any thoughts? Overlord 16:53, 2 January 2012 (CST)

This is why I stopped after Aerial Assault, I figured you'd know better =P

(Castle of Illusion also has this problem by the way)

I would imagine there were no changes to the cartridges (or at least, the front of them) between EU releases. They might even be identical to the US versions too. The only one I'm not sure about is that OutRun Europa cart, because it's a third-party one.

this image suggests a red version of OutRun Europa exists, and assuming that cartridge is both legitmate and came in that box, this would suggest that the white label one goes with this (though honestly, it feels like it should be the other way around). There's a few similar U.S. Gold releases which probably follow similar rules... unless SMS Power have the answer I'll have to check this all up at a later date since I'm short on time at the mo -Black Squirrel 17:08, 2 January 2012 (CST)

Fair enough. I've added Castle of Illusion above - best to leave it I think until it's verified rather than rush into it and make a mistake we never end up fixing. These are the only loose carts I've got, just annoying that half of the buggers have alt covers! Overlord 18:09, 2 January 2012 (CST)

Black Squirrel, Do you like acorns? --Supersonic Bros. 14:49, 24 March 2012 (CDT)

Question from Scaredy Squirrel

Do you like acorns? Supersonic Bros. 10:33, 15 April 2012 (CDT)

This piqued my interest

"Most Dreamcast scans are fake - see spine for product code, PAL games =/= jewel case " — are we talking region-specific here?. I know most of the US ones are crap, but the EU collection I have seems to check out. Have I been mislabeling?

The PAL set here is fine (although it might be missing a few language variants), it's just that at the time of writing that note, our collection was incomplete and image searches were throwing up more fake covers than real ones. I also spotted one or two dodgy covers on Sonic Retro back in the day too so people must have been getting caught out

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=dreamcast+pal+cover&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=Nus8UfrVCKzb7AbB4ICwDw&biw=1920&bih=951&sei=N-s8UYznFYqe0QX7koHICg

you don't have to scroll down very far until the fakes turn up - a few months ago fakes were more common than the real things (thankfully though, easy to spot because we had crazy boxes unique to the DC). The US/JP set isn't quite as lucky, and in fact a few fake covers managed to slip through:

• http://segaretro.org/File:CeasarsPalace2000_DC_US_Box_Front.jpg
• http://segaretro.org/File:WetrixPlus_DC_US_Box_Front.jpg
• http://segaretro.org/File:TXRFCover.jpg
• http://segaretro.org/File:TXRBCover.jpg

(IIRC non-fake scans of these games suck even worse than these four, which is why I haven't bothered to replace them)

Sites like GameFAQs and Giant Bomb were all using fake covers at the time too (and probably still are) so it easy to be misled -Black Squirrel (talk) 15:28, 10 March 2013 (CDT)

Saturn spines

With IF+XM, they pulled the old "there's no interpunct" stunt... although the logos are actually drawn like that, and I'm going to start using them. With Souky, pretty much everything related to the game writes it that way, and as much as I'd like to override that, this is not my wiki. Obviously, if whatever English spine starts cutting out subtitles (this goes way beyond Saturn spines), we override that. With Garou Densetsu 3, the announcer says the subtitle because they always did in the originals; Sega simply didn't see the subtitle as important, or it was a mistake that stuck around. I'm actually seeing a bigger problem with the logo of GD3 always using "ROAD TO THE FINAL VICTORY", even as the announcer says the Japanese form. In fact... Despatche (talk) 14:43, 15 April 2013 (CDT)

oh

ok --Uno10 (talk) 09:12, 4 August 2013 (CDT)

Victory Goal credits

Hi! You added the credits for the game, can you tell me which source you used? Regards.--Hydao (talk) 08:08, 15 April 2014 (CDT)

IIRC it was a video on YouTube, and I think I had to do some digging to find it. It was a while ago - good chance the video has been removed since.

Doubtless it needs double checking - most things do. -Black Squirrel (talk) 08:27, 15 April 2014 (CDT)

Oh that's ok, if you used the video, then it's fine. The names are correct. I was just not sure about the "Nifty-Serve Soccer Forum", but no big deal. Thanks.--Hydao (talk) 09:58, 15 April 2014 (CDT)

My Uploads

Hi. What are you doing with my uploads?) If I understand correctly, adding to them This image is a scan, photo or promotional image of a Sega 32X video game box etc.. Second question - what about deleting old versions of files, like worse scans? Third - about upload resolution limit. I mean - for example in wiki scan - 600x800, 500Kb. I have 1200x1600, 2Mb - upload like new file version?Depressor (talk) 14:39, 19 June 2014 (CDT)

When you upload a file, MediaWiki automatically creates a page for it, which in turn is treated like any other page on the wiki. I'm adding this template which we use to categorise those pages/files (there are tons for all sorts of systems and scan types).

"Upload a new version of this file" is the way to replace an old file with a new one. There's an incredibly tedious bug on Sega Retro which means the thumbnails don't always update straight away - sometimes it can take days for the wiki to wake up, but the file will have been replaced. The wiki keeps track of old revisions just in case we need to revert back to an earlier version - they hang around indefinitely (there's no point in deleting them because doing so doesn't actually remove things from the server - you can't do that from this end, it just blocks access).

There shouldn' be a resolution "limit" - we aim for 300dpi because that generally brings out all the detail, but 600dpi is often better and above that can be good too. But usually it gets to a stage with scans where you reach an artificial limit - when the scanner stops picking up extra "art" and starts picking up the really tiny patterns caused by ink droplets and the like. When you start scanning more dots per inch than what the original printer could print.

There also shouldn't be a super strict file size limit (if there is, contact an admin because it shouldn't be there) - we aim for something along the lines of the highest quality JPEGs with scans and photos. Lossless PNGs, which we use for screenshots, don't lend themselves well to big images (by their very nature scans are imperfect, so it's pointless to losslessly preserve the imperfections), and low quality JPEGs distort the picture too much. Typically (and this isn't scientifically accurate) that leads a really good Mega Drive cover scan around the 5-10MB mark, so if you're exceeding 20MB on an image like that you're probably doing something wrong. There's plenty of space on the server, regardless.

p.s. sign comments with "-~~~~" -Black Squirrel (talk) 12:59, 19 June 2014 (CDT)

Thanks For Answer... One more. Adding this template - it's kind of verification from you, or i can add it too? And another one - the sequence of files influences their display? I mean scans - |front=, |back=, |Spine= looks like |front=, |Spine=, |back=, ?Depressor (talk) 14:39, 19 June 2014 (CDT)

You can use that template - when you first upload a file, the initial "summary" becomes the page contents, so it can all be done in one go

And no the order doesn't matter -Black Squirrel (talk) 15:29, 19 June 2014 (CDT)

New day - new questions) What about hardware manuals? I have scans of manuals (Sega Megadrive 32X (1994)(E), Sega Genesis 32X Instruction Manual (1994)(U)) & other texts (Genesis Super 32X Overview & Hardware Reference (1994)(U), MIDI Converter v1.30 (1994)(U)). Upload? And if "yes" - there i can show them like game manuals?Depressor (talk) 09:38, 20 June 2014 (CDT)

Yep. For consoles there are new-ish pages like this one that should accommodate for any documentation, be it manuals or ammendments or leaflets or flyers or whatever. But even if we don't have a page for them right now, it's better to upload and have them sit on the wiki rather than sit on a private hard drive somewhere. Stuff can always be accessed through categories and the like. -Black Squirrel (talk) 10:24, 20 June 2014 (CDT)

What about scans of official hints for Master system? Is there are tag or template for them? And where i can place them? Gallery, or beside manual? Depressor (talk) 09:04, 27 June 2014 (CDT)

Gallery, for now. The Scanbox templates are used to keep track of stuff that came with the release of a game (e.g. carts, manuals, box scan, maps. etc.) - everything else should be stored outside. And we can worry about categories and templates and whatever later, no worries there -Black Squirrel (talk) 10:13, 27 June 2014 (CDT)

Another Day - Another Questions) 1 - If game were released in several regions, from which version i can make a title screenshot for her page? 2 - I have some scans of our russian very unlicensed cartridges (one-game cart & some multi-cart) - where i can place them (if i can, of course) 3 - In-game screenshots - only for big articles about game, or i can place some in gallery? -Depressor (talk) 09:52, 28 June 2014 (CDT)

We try and have title screen screenshots match the name of the page... so if we're using the US title, we use a screenshot from the US ROM. Titles are chosen based on which is the most popular name, then, failing that, US -> EU -> JP -> whatever. Although to be honest the situation really depends on the game - Langrisser for example uses the Japanese title, because "Warsong" felt out of place when every other entry in the series used the original name.

Multi-cart scans are good, as are scans for these sorts of unlicensed games. As for pirated copies of "legitimate" releases or bootlegs or whatever your choice of words are, I'm genuinely not sure what the stance is. Technically mass-produced knock-offs are within this project's scope, but there are thousands of Mega Drive cartridges and I wouldn't begin to know how to document them all. Russian stuff in particular is a problem because I get the impression cartridges are still being produced today - it almost feels as if you could fill another wiki with that stuff.

In-game screenshots are fine - most pages don't have them because nobody has put themselves forward to talk about games in great detail. Organisational stuff can be handled later - getting content on the wiki is more important. -Black Squirrel (talk) 10:27, 28 June 2014 (CDT)

I have some scans of Magazines & Books, especially on Russian, each about 50-250 MB. So...
1) What about uploads of full scanned Magazines & Books? In both pdf & cbr formats.
2) If i create page - name it on English - translate or just translit (i mean book 52 Игры Для Sega Megadrive, page - 52 Games For Sega Megadrive or 52 Igri Dlya Sega Megadrive)
3) Why create empty templates for game versions or empty line (like cart=)? Such many TW or AU SMS games - there are nothing in them.
4) Little offtop) I have some manuals for sonic games, but i think i cannot pass validation on sonicretro) Any other ways to upload this stuff?
I hope I don't look silly) I just think that if i take more from internet i must give something instead. -Depressor (talk) 09:27, 16 July 2014 (CDT)

Don't bother with the CBR versions - that was the "old" format before introduced better PDF support

"52 Igri Dlya Sega Mega Drive" would be preferable

Empty scan templates are for the scan tracker (http://andlabs.sonicretro.org/scans/), so we have a better idea of what is needed

I can upload Sonic Retro stuff on your behalf -Black Squirrel (talk) 10:45, 16 July 2014 (CDT)

Cartridge images

Hi,

I've uploaded my own shot of File:Phelios_MD_US_Cart.jpg, which I believe is clearer. Is this the correct practice? I should be able to take shots of a similar quality of File:Columns MD EU Cart.jpg (my cart is in better condition), File:Toki MD EU Cart.jpg (Better condition + neutral background), and others games in my collection, if it is wanted. LTom (talk) 10:56, 29 June 2014 (CDT)

Yep

Generally scans are better than photos (although this isn't always clear cut with cartridges because they're not always "flat"), but good photos are better than bad scans... and good photos are of course better than bad photos. -Black Squirrel (talk) 11:05, 29 June 2014 (CDT)

Posters

Maybe for posters make something like for Gallery? I mean separate them from cover\cart\manual scans. Many of SMS posters have games catalog in their back that have no connection with the games in this catalog... And those posters was on sale without games, present on them. -Depressor (talk) 09:23, 5 July 2014 (CDT)

The ScanBox template is meant to house any material that came with a game, and as most of these posters came with games, their best place is in the template. It can make things a bit messy if a release shipped with a bazillion addendums, and promotional material is likely to be duplicated, but it's the best option we have right now.

This is particularly true of generic Sega posters which effectively just advertise a system. If a game like Fantasy Zone which saw two separate US releases, has two different posters/catalogues/whatever, it can get a bit tricky to describe the differences in a gallery, because you're having to explain exactly which US release received what. There's a German release of Fantasy Zone and a pan-Euro one - Germany is in Europe, but it doesn't mean it received the same stuff as the rest of the continent, and you might find yourself having to re-explain that, etc. -Black Squirrel (talk) 09:41, 5 July 2014 (CDT)

IMHO, of course, but template with posters\cover\cart for every region looks little... big) And strange to see R-Type, for example, with poster After Burner & Catalog on its back. Maybe another way - make wiki page for back scan-catalog and then place hyperlink on game page... Little offtop - where i can place scanned SMS catalogs not in poster format? -Depressor (talk) 10:00, 5 July 2014 (CDT)

Most of the scanbox templates are arguably too small because they're incomplete =P

As for categories, upload first and we'll deal with the admin stuff later -Black Squirrel (talk) 10:23, 5 July 2014 (CDT)

OK. I have about 20 GB scanned materials (mainly manuals from all around internet) only for Sega consoles... Too sad, most of manuals are double-pages scans and all of them - converted from pdf to cbr. Another little offtop - i have some covers for Korean SMS games (45 Hap, Geim Moeumjip 188 Hap, Janggunui Adeul, Jang Pung 3) but cannot find pages for this games. And, if i figured things right - i cannot create game pages. -Depressor (talk) 10:41, 5 July 2014 (CDT)

All registered users can make pages - you need to search for a page title, and when the wiki doesn't return any results, it will ask if you want to create a page with the title you've just searched for. Alternatively click on red links (e.g. 45 Hap). -Black Squirrel (talk) 12:35, 5 July 2014 (CDT)

I looking for button "Create Page") Ok. Will try it.

About Errors

I see those pages like on this screen - [1]. Error in creating miniatures. In Opera 12 & FireFox. That's why i edit this pages.

This was flagged up a while ago - nothing to worry about -Black Squirrel (talk) 03:41, 6 July 2014 (CDT)

Need New Category)

Can you add some new category for scans? Scans->Catalog Scans->SMS Catalog Scans & Scans->Advert Scans-> SMS Advert Scans - something like that & maybe something for Garantee Scans & Epilepsy Warning Scans

We've been classing guarantees and warnings and things of that ilk as manuals - I can't imagine there'll be enough to justify their own categories.

As for adverts... eehhh I might have to think about that one. If they're individual pages from magazines they might be superseded by full magazine scans at a later date. If it's a slip of paper from inside a game box or something I might end up classing it as something else (at some point someone will have to come up with a plan for special or collectors editions of games - the ones that might come with toys or odd things) - I'm thinking of a general "miscellaneous" category to handle all of this extra tat but I'm not sure yet -Black Squirrel (talk) 13:48, 12 July 2014 (CDT)

I divide my collection of scans on manuals and other stuff) So maybe other or something similar for optional things it's the right category -Depressor (talk) 14:38, 12 July 2014 (CDT)