Which Database to use? Questions added 3/14.

[Darth Sensei]

I want to get serious about my NES, Genny, and 2600 collections.

I know this site has a collectors DB (tho I don't know where). RFGeneration and IGN have them too.

What I want is very simple. I want to be able to easily enter my games, manuals, and boxes into it and be able to nearly automatically generate a list of games, manuals, and boxes to complete my collections.

Which of these or any others out there are the best?

Anyone use that Game Collectors Software from collectorz.com? Is it worthwhile?

[Flack]

I know this site has a collectors DB (tho I don't know where).
Click on your profile. Left hand side near the bottom there's a header called "Collector's Pages". That's where you can build your Collection, Wanted and For Trade lists.

[Darth Sensei]

I know this site has a collectors DB (tho I don't know where).
Click on your profile. Left hand side near the bottom there's a header called "Collector's Pages". That's where you can build your Collection, Wanted and For Trade lists.

and does the DP guide generate a list of what I need by part (cart, box, manual) by default for a want list?

[Speedy_NES]

RFGeneration allows you to make your own want list and then match it with other users' for sale/trade lists to see if others have a game for trade/sale that you still need. On each game's gamepage you can also find links to show which users own the game, want the game, or have one for sale/trade.

You can also sort your collection list (as a whole or for a particular system) by carts, boxes, and manuals, so that you can find out which ones you still need.

Hence, I use RFGen :)

[captain nintendo]

I know this very same question was brought up not to long ago. But I cant seem to find the thread.


I have to agree with Speedy. He pretty much nailed what I was going to say.

[tynstar]

I use RFGen's. If there is a game missing it is easy to get added. I tried to get games added to IGN for almost a year before I stopped useing their collection tool.

And from what I have used of the DP collection tool it is not as user friendly as the RFGen one. It took me a few to even find where I could look at the games in my collection.

[johno590]

Add another to an RFGen user. :)

[Leo_A]

RFGen, DP and IGN's are missing far too many games to make it worthwhile.

[Vectorman0]

RFGen, DP and IGN's are missing far too many games to make it worthwhile.

You should head on over to the collectors guide forum and help out with getting the " far too many missing games" added.

[Leo_A]

I'd like to, but no time to. Wouldn't be able to regularly contribute. Plus the holes are in the modern games, so much stuff comes out it's excusable.

[Massimiliano]

Could I suggest http://www.guardiana.net for the megadrive collection ?
Once entered, your collection would look like this:
http://www.guardiana.net/members.php?id=115
Different colors for different conditions of the games (green=complete, brown=game+box,blue=factory sealed etc etc etc), many ways to sort the collection out (including the game's condition, which would help you to have a list of boxes and booklets needed), and moreover, a very big database including more than 3200 versions (you shouldn't own a game that is not in the database. and if you did, we would make sure to add it the same day you mentionned it on the boards 8-) )
The only counterpart is that we are still working on a feature giving you the list of games you are missing (which would be very useful for the hardcore collectors looking to get complete sets :D )
Oh, and btw, the site is french but all the registration pages, collection's edition and wathsoever is also available in english, so it shouldn't matter :D

[Kitsune Sniper]

I use MobyGames. It's got a good database (which I've helped build) but still doesn't have entries for many games.

[Darth Sensei]

My problem with all of them mentioned so far is that none of them will do the simple thing that I want to do. At least AFAIK.

I want to enter my NES collection and be able to easily link in some way someone to ONLY the items I still need for a complete collection. Carts, Manuals, Boxes.

I am really flabberghasted that nobody features this already.

Any other ideas?

[Damaramu]

I've been pretty pleased with the database at Video Game Rebirth.

Check it out here (http://vgrebirth.org/).

[Neo Rasa]

I was content with IGN's, I'll try out these other suggestions though.

I haven't submitted to add a game to IGN for a long time now, they always seemed to update it VERY quickly whenever I did though.

I've tried cracked/demo versions of a lot of the pay software that does this and as far as video game ones go, they're not really worth it.

[Neo Rasa]

Christ, this RF Generation set up blows away IGN, thanks guys. :D

[Flack]

My problem with all of them mentioned so far is that none of them will do the simple thing that I want to do. At least AFAIK. I want to enter my NES collection and be able to easily link in some way someone to ONLY the items I still need for a complete collection. Carts, Manuals, Boxes. I am really flabberghasted that nobody features this already. Any other ideas?
Limitations in other people's software is what caused me to write my own. Maybe someday I'll VB it and release it.

[whoisKeel]

My problem with all of them mentioned so far is that none of them will do the simple thing that I want to do. At least AFAIK.

I want to enter my NES collection and be able to easily link in some way someone to ONLY the items I still need for a complete collection. Carts, Manuals, Boxes.

I am really flabberghasted that nobody features this already.

Any other ideas?

I'm actually writing a java program for a list right now. It's pretty much finished, but having some problems with the GUI.

The way it works is that you type up your list in an excel file. And then it generates html based on this.

The cool thing about excel is that you can do the kind of stuff you want to do.

For instance I have columns:


NAME Cart Instructions Box
SMB C I
SMB3 C B



Then on the next sheet over I make an if statement like
=IF(ISERROR(FIND("I",Games!E92)),Games!B92,"")
and that'll tell me if I need that manual. Of course there will be large gaps in the excel file for ones I already have, but when generated to html it looks good.

The only bad thing, of course is that you manually have to enter everything into excel yourself. Here's my WIP excel sheet and I think it'll make a little more sense. Excel sheet (http://www.whoiskeel.com/junk/gamelist4.xls) Look at the formulas on sheet 3.

The html output is very clean, everything has classnames so you can use CSS to format it nicely (or just use the CSS i made)

ie, clean html output:

<table class="myTable">
<!--
Begin NINTENDO
//-->

<tr class="header">
<td colspan="6">
<div class="title3"><h3>NINTENDO</h3></div>
</tr>

<tr class="first">
<td class="Number">1</td>
<td class="Game">1942</td>
<td class="Notes"></td>
<td class="C">C</td>
<td class="I"></td>
<td class="B"></td>
</tr>

<tr class="even">
<td class="Number">2</td>
<td class="Game">10-Yard Fight</td>
<td class="Notes"></td>
<td class="C">C</td>
<td class="I">I</td>
<td class="B"></td>
</tr>

<tr class="odd">
<td class="Number">3</td>
<td class="Game">Adventures of Bayou Billy, The</td>
<td class="Notes"></td>
<td class="C">C</td>
<td class="I"></td>
<td class="B"></td>
</tr>

<tr class="even">
<td class="Number">4</td>
<td class="Game">After Burner</td>
<td class="Notes">Unlicensed</td>
<td class="C">C</td>
<td class="I"></td>
<td class="B"></td>
</tr>


Note that the classes Number, Game, etc. etc. are USER defined in the excel file so you can use this program for DVD lists, beanie babie lists, whatever. The output looks something along the lines of http://catalog.whoiskeel.com/games/ (which is my old version based on php) so you can make your own titles (with an border in the excel file, the way NINTENDO, SUPER NINTENDO, etc look on that web page.)

PM me if interested. Maybe you can help me test it.

[Poofta!]

i use a piece of retail software (although i have to admit i didnt purchase it) called Game Collector (http://www.collectorz.com/game/)
its nice, gives lots of space to enter your own things, pics etc. try it out. i love it.

[Massimiliano]

My problem with all of them mentioned so far is that none of them will do the simple thing that I want to do. At least AFAIK.

I want to enter my NES collection and be able to easily link in some way someone to ONLY the items I still need for a complete collection. Carts, Manuals, Boxes.

I am really flabberghasted that nobody features this already.

Any other ideas?

For the megadrive, you can tell which manuals and boxes you need. As I said, we are working on an easy way to add a feature for the games you miss. Something like "us games I need" or "pal games I need".

[Sothy]

I like to be all... Do I have that game already?

I might.... So offer the guy way less than hes asking.. "OK 3 bux"

Get home. Nope didnt have it.

huh

[Darth Sensei]

i use a piece of retail software (although i have to admit i didnt purchase it) called Game Collector (http://www.collectorz.com/game/)
its nice, gives lots of space to enter your own things, pics etc. try it out. i love it.

I've looked at it but I don't think it offers what I asked for. In your experience, does it?

[ghsqb]

Cart Commander can do what you want, I love that software.

Use the Master List to give you a complete list of all games on the system.

Add your own titles by simply checking them off from the Master List.

There are check boxes for box, manual, overlays etc.

Then export what you have, what you need etc...

You can find it here: (http://www.arcaderestoration.com/index.asp?OPT=10&DATA=10&CBT=20)

[Massimiliano]

Ok boy, good news.
After a day of work, our webmaster has added some great features.
Here is my own collection as an example:
http://www.guardiana.net/members.php?id=21
If you click on the "title" stuff, you can sort the games by many ways.
Let's choose "game's condition".
Click on "hide the list" to see which color means what. You will know what cards, booklets or instructions you need to complete your collection.

But the big stuff is there:
let's click on "Missing games of the member compared to the database"
We arrive there:
http://www.guardiana.net/myguardiana/gamesleft.php?id=21
You just need to select which system and which region to see, for example, what japanese 32x games I still need or what us megadrive games I still need.

I think that it's exactly what you were looking for, no ?

[Darth Sensei]

Anybody else using cart commander?

[Poofta!]

i use a piece of retail software (although i have to admit i didnt purchase it) called Game Collector (http://www.collectorz.com/game/)
its nice, gives lots of space to enter your own things, pics etc. try it out. i love it.

I've looked at it but I don't think it offers what I asked for. In your experience, does it?

honestly it does, you can even create your own fields (for instance, i have a field called 'complete' and as each game is listed, at the end it says either C, CB, CI, or CIB, i also added the field 'rarity' so i use the DP rarity guide). check out the trial, itll let you enter up to 50 games and see how you like it. it gives you a LOT of freedom on how you want everything set up. i also enjoy the statistics feature, you can look at the statistics of your collection such as percentage of R5+ games or RPGS.

[Funk Buddy]

Anybody else using cart commander?

I do.

[Darth Sensei]

Anybody else using cart commander?

I do.

And what do you like/dislike?

[Funk Buddy]

I like that it's pretty simple to use and has some customizable features.

I don't like that it's not supported anymore and that the full game lists are not available for all the systems covered. I assume that it would be easy enough to make my own lists, but I have not tried. Yes... I'm computer illiterate.

It uses excel files so you could modify them pretty easy if needed. It also will do several charts and reports.

- edit

Here a link that descibes what it can do.

http://www.arcaderestoration.com/index.asp?OPT=10&DATA=10&CBT=20

[Darth Sensei]

More questions.

Those of you who use Gametz, will that site do what I want? If I put in my collection, will it automatically generate a want list for the items I'm missing?

If I choose to just create my own database, can anyone point me to where I can find complete NES, 2600, and Genny lists in some format imported into Microsoft Products? (Excel, Access, etc)

[Nature Boy]

I actually use Excel these days, although I do maintain an online list on IGN that I might move to RFGen after I take a look at it. It's pretty daunting moving 700+ entries though.

Maintaining my own lists in Excel makes it easy to enter whatever I want to however I want to. One simple 'status' field lets me seperate my haves from my wants (and I've included a simple count field in the header of each list so I quickly know how many games I own versus how many games exist for the system). I like colour coding each tab based on the manufacturers company colours too (just looks cool IMO). Plus I maintain databases for my other hobbies anyway (like comics), so it's good to have everything in a consistent format that I can copy to other machines and open instantly (since everybody has Excel).

[anagrama]

Guardiana (guardiana.net) (for Genny/MD stuff) and VGRebirth (vgrebirth.org) (for everything else) are head & shoulders above any others I've seen.

[Kamino]

you can see what i use here.
www.templeofinsanity.com/gameslist.htm

This is done using HTML tables. quick to edit and incredibly easy to use, and rather slick looking if I do say so myself.
I don't have time to horse around with online tools anymore.

[Mac-Abre]

I was looking at this myself. I don't really care for online databases... I want to have something local and export it to HTML. I've been looking at this GameCollectorz as well, but they only use an internal and Amazon database, plus it's $40.