Database Navigation Guide: Difference between revisions

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==Downloading DATs==
* Go to the "Download" section
* Choose the system you want to download the dat for, or choose "Daily" to download a daily-generated pack of DATs.
* Change the settings from the defaults, if you want. Click the download button and follow the on-screen instructions.
==Looking up status/info on ROMs==
===Download a CSV (spreadsheet)===
* Go to the "Download" section
* Choose "dumplog"
* Choose the system you want to check
* Click download
===Manually===
* Go to the "Search" section
* Choose the system you want to look up your game for, and pick "Search".
* Input the title of the game you wish to check the dump status for and click "Search" again. Note: Be sure your syntax is correct for the title, otherwise it won't pop up.
* You may see a few entries for the title, this can be region or revisions. ROMs will be in three basic categories: verified (two or more trusted dumps), Not verified (one trusted dump, and/or one or more untrusted dumps) or bad.
* Bad ROMs and and Not verified ROMs need to be redumped. Sometimes it is also useful to redump already trusted dumps, if the dump doesn't have much info (like no photos of the PCB).
==Definitions==
==Definitions==
* Scene Dump = Dump originating from a scene release by the warez/piracy scene
* Scene Dump = Dump originating from a scene release by the warez/piracy scene
* Verified = ROM has two or more Trusted Dumps
* Verified = ROM has two or more Trusted Dumps
 
* Locked = DATs are locked to prevent edit conflicts when someone is doing a lot of edits. In the future DoM may be reworked so that DATs can still be viewed/downloaded while they are locked.
==Add a new ROM==
* Licensed = The original console manufacturer (like Nintendo) approved that game for sale for that console at some point. Preproduction builds count as approved for sale. Official re-releases inherit the licensed status of their original release, and have an additional tag to distinguish them.
* Choose the system from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
* Unlicensed = Any game that wasn't approved for sale for that console by the original console manufacturer at some point. If there was no approval process, then go by the Aftermarket Start Year (see the [[Aftermarket Guide]]).
* Click "submit" at the top of the page to display the archive creation form.
* Aftermarket = Any unlicensed game that was first distributed after the last-known original licensed game released for that platform. All aftermarket games must be unlicensed because they were all originally released after the console's licensing period ended. Aftermarket is intended to be a general barometer of console lifespan to help us distinguish unlicensed indie homebrew games released after the console was discontinued. Please see the [[Aftermarket Guide | Aftermarket Guide]] for more info.
* Fill out the fields following the [[Naming Convention]].
* Pirate = Unlicensed games using assets that have been used without consent of the owner.
* Click "Submit"
* Beta = Pre-release build of a game that was eventually completed.
* [[{{PAGENAME}}#Add a new source|Add a new source]]
* Prototype (Proto) = Pre-release build of a game that was never finished.
 
* Private = Games released for new platforms, or recently-released (<10 years old) unlicensed games for legacy platforms that were paid at the time of datting. Please see the [[Aftermarket Guide | Aftermarket Guide]] for a decision tree.
==Add a new source==
* MIA = Short for Missing in Action. Refers to ROMs that can't be found on the web.
* In the archive, click "Submit new dump"
* Fill out the fields as follows
====Section====
* Trusted Dump = Origin of dump is clear, dumper provides enough info on the dump, dumper don't seem trustworthy etc
* Trusted Modification = Modification of an existing dump. Same sort of criteria as Trusted Dump, but usually done by the datter themselves, not someone else.
* Third Party = Origin of dump is not clear, not much information provided, dumper don't seem trustworthy etc
 
====ROM status====
* Blank = Good dump (to the best of your knowledge)
* Bad = Corrupted dump, wrong format etc
* Hacked = Modified to fix bugs, add new game features etc
* Cracked = Copy-protection removed/modified
* Tagged = Dumper/group name added in intro or tag
* Trimmed = Unused bytes at end of ROM removed
* Trained = Cheats added to ROM
* Other = Misc. You should use this for redumps that are taken from Virtual Console and similar re-releases, so they increase the "cart verification count".
 
====Dump date====
When the dumper says the ROM was dumped. Set as "unconfirmed" if they or you aren't sure.
 
====Release date====
When the ROM was released. Leave blank if ambiguous or set to "!n/a" if ROM wasn't released (that also includes redumps for ROMs that were released before). Set to unconfirmed if you aren't sure.
 
====Dumper====
Who physically dumped the ROM.
 
====Project/Association====
Who/what the dumper is accoicated with. Can simply be the site they posted it to (e.g. Twitter, https://example.com).
 
====Link 1====
Link to where the ROM or ROM information came from, like the submission thread/post on No-Intro, the page on the web for a prototype release etc. Don't just link to any site that has a copy of the ROM like p2p/pirate sites.
 
====Link 2====
Same as Link 1, but for if you have another link. If this still isn't enough, put extra links in Comment 2.
 
====Dump tool====
What hardware, firmware and software was used to dump the ROM. Make sure to include version information for each of those.
 
====Dump origin====
What type of media the dump came from. Leave it blank if it is the "default" thing for that dat (e.g. Retail cart). Other examples: Dev cart, Dev board, Wii Virtual Console.
 
====Comment 1====
Explain the ROM status here, how the ROM was modified if it is a Trusted Modification, how the ROM differs from the previous dump (make sure to mention which dump by size + hash) if it differs.
 
====Comment 2====
Misc information. E.g. Add information on the media the ROM is from, if out of the ordinary, and where the ROM or ROM information was shared.
 
====Region====
The region this physical media was released in.
 
====Original format====
The format the dump tool made the dump in. Only relevant if the dat uses multiple dump formats.
 
====Title on media====
I think this is deprecated. Not sure of its original purpose.
 
====Physical media serial 1====
Usually on the label on the front of the cart. With all of these serials/barcodes/etc, make sure they match what you can see in the photos.
 
====Physical media serial 2====
For DS, 3DS and Switch, this is on the back of the cart.
 
====Physical media serial 3====
Don't think this is used much.
 
====Physical media stamp codes====
Indented text, usually found on back or front label on retro systems' carts.
 
====PCB serial(s)====
Serial(s) found on the printed circuit board inside the cart. Usually just one. Comma-seperated.
 
====ROM Chip serial(s) 1====
Serial(s) found on the first software ROM chip inside the cart. Usually just one. Comma-seperated.
 
====ROM Chip serial(s) 2====
Serial(s) found on the second software ROM chip inside the cart. Usually just one. Comma-seperated. Put serials for subsequent software ROM chips, if there are any, in Comment 2.
 
====Lockout serial(s)====
Serial(s) of the lockout chip. Comma-seperated.
 
====Chip(s) serial(s)====
Deprecated. Replaced with the "ROM Chip serial(s)" fields above. Serial(s) found on the software ROM chips inside the cart. Comma-seperated.
 
====Box serial(s)====
Serials found on the game box. Don't include publisher/developer specific serials - put those in Comment 2 instead. Comma-seperated.
 
====Box barcode(s)====
Barcodes found on the game box. Put "[Box barcode read with barcode reader]" in Comment 2 if you also scanned it to check if the actual barcode matches the text written under it. Provide details in Comment 2 if it doesn't match.
 
====Physical media top image====
Photo/scan of the top of the cart. Not always taken by dumpers, but can be useful as SNES carts have the title written there, and it can be useful for identifying fake DS carts.
 
====Physical media front image====
For all of the following images, make sure the serials are clear.
 
====Physical media back image====
...
 
====PCB front image====
No need to insist about this for DS/3DS/Switch carts, as you can't really get them open cleanly, and the most important info is on the front/back of the cart anyway.
 
====PCB back image====
...
 
====Boxart 1 image====
Deprecated for the "Boxart [side] image" fields. Often used for misc images.
 
====Boxart 2 image====
...
 
====Boxart 3 image====
...
 
====Boxart front image====
...
 
====Boxart back image====
...
 
====Boxart top image====
...
 
====Boxart bottom image====
...
 
====Boxart left image====
...
 
====Boxart right image====
...
 
====Document====
Used for attaching extra info like a text file containing ROM metadata or dump logs. Only used for certain systems.
 
==List all archives==
[to do]
 
==List bad dumps==
* Click on the Search tab.
* Choose the system using the drop-down list under the banner.
* Search for [b] in "archive name".
 
==List "suspected missing revisions"==
[explain what this does]
 
* Click on the Search tab.
* Choose the system using the drop-down list under the banner.
* Click on Reports.
* Select "2. Selected missing revisions" from the the "Choose report:" drop-down list.

Latest revision as of 16:08, 13 August 2024

Downloading DATs

  • Go to the "Download" section
  • Choose the system you want to download the dat for, or choose "Daily" to download a daily-generated pack of DATs.
  • Change the settings from the defaults, if you want. Click the download button and follow the on-screen instructions.

Looking up status/info on ROMs

Download a CSV (spreadsheet)

  • Go to the "Download" section
  • Choose "dumplog"
  • Choose the system you want to check
  • Click download

Manually

  • Go to the "Search" section
  • Choose the system you want to look up your game for, and pick "Search".
  • Input the title of the game you wish to check the dump status for and click "Search" again. Note: Be sure your syntax is correct for the title, otherwise it won't pop up.
  • You may see a few entries for the title, this can be region or revisions. ROMs will be in three basic categories: verified (two or more trusted dumps), Not verified (one trusted dump, and/or one or more untrusted dumps) or bad.
  • Bad ROMs and and Not verified ROMs need to be redumped. Sometimes it is also useful to redump already trusted dumps, if the dump doesn't have much info (like no photos of the PCB).

Definitions

  • Scene Dump = Dump originating from a scene release by the warez/piracy scene
  • Verified = ROM has two or more Trusted Dumps
  • Locked = DATs are locked to prevent edit conflicts when someone is doing a lot of edits. In the future DoM may be reworked so that DATs can still be viewed/downloaded while they are locked.
  • Licensed = The original console manufacturer (like Nintendo) approved that game for sale for that console at some point. Preproduction builds count as approved for sale. Official re-releases inherit the licensed status of their original release, and have an additional tag to distinguish them.
  • Unlicensed = Any game that wasn't approved for sale for that console by the original console manufacturer at some point. If there was no approval process, then go by the Aftermarket Start Year (see the Aftermarket Guide).
  • Aftermarket = Any unlicensed game that was first distributed after the last-known original licensed game released for that platform. All aftermarket games must be unlicensed because they were all originally released after the console's licensing period ended. Aftermarket is intended to be a general barometer of console lifespan to help us distinguish unlicensed indie homebrew games released after the console was discontinued. Please see the Aftermarket Guide for more info.
  • Pirate = Unlicensed games using assets that have been used without consent of the owner.
  • Beta = Pre-release build of a game that was eventually completed.
  • Prototype (Proto) = Pre-release build of a game that was never finished.
  • Private = Games released for new platforms, or recently-released (<10 years old) unlicensed games for legacy platforms that were paid at the time of datting. Please see the Aftermarket Guide for a decision tree.
  • MIA = Short for Missing in Action. Refers to ROMs that can't be found on the web.
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