Little bugs in the database

This is the place to request ZXDB corrections (add missing data or fix incorrect information)

Moderators: druellan, pavero

Post Reply
User avatar
MatGubbins
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1238
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:45 am
Location: Kent, UK

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by MatGubbins »

R-Tape wrote: Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:31 pm Well spotted Juan. It's nice to see the archive being used.

These have been logged ready for the next update. It's going to be a biggy!

EDIT: why the hell were you looking at Howard the Duck?!!
Probably trying to find if that Lea Thompson scene made it into the game.
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Another issues I came across in several entries:

In many games, for example in Star Wars Droids or Booty, there are inlays from both archive.org (WoS) and SC's own inlays.

The SC inlays are generally in better condition than the archive.org's ones (better scanned: colour, resolution, inclu...) so why keep all those archive.org inlays if there are better inlays in here in SC? I find it 'redundant'.

Image

Image

Would it be too tedious to remove them from the database?
User avatar
pavero
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 11:49 pm
Location: The Czech Republic
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by pavero »

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:11 am Another issues I came across in several entries:

In many games, for example in Star Wars Droids or Booty, there are inlays from both archive.org (WoS) and SC's own inlays.

The SC inlays are generally in better condition than the archive.org's ones (better scanned: colour, resolution, inclu...) so why keep all those archive.org inlays if there are better inlays in here in SC? I find it 'redundant'.


Would it be too tedious to remove them from the database?
Exactly. There is also my opinion.

I tried to communicate with Einar several times about this topic, but I never got any answer.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't remove them from ZXDB, because these informations can be still useful for someone else. So I would add a new attribute e.g. Archive and all inlays with Archive=1 wouldn't display at SC.

I have the list of all inlays which should be hidden, becuase they were replaced by better version. So it would be very easy to realise it.
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

pavero wrote: Sun Oct 14, 2018 5:03 pm
Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:32 am Next games have a 'scanned instructions' feature in the database. But what we see is the scanned inlay again. It seems it's been scanned the wrong side:

- Black Lamp
- Dark Sceptre

I'll post here if I find more
It was a bug in my script which generated spreadsheets for adding inlays.

These inlays in ZXDB have wrong filetype, they should have ID 4=Cassette inlay not 29 (Scanned instructions).

1067;CORE.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
I just realized there's a thing with this inlay...

Image

The database says it was first released by AnF. Then, re-released by Argus Press among other companies.

Sorry for being a bit 'fusspot'... but in that inlay, in the back side, the Argus Press logo appears... maybe it must considered a 're-released cassette inlay' ?
User avatar
pavero
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 11:49 pm
Location: The Czech Republic
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by pavero »

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:35 am
I just realized there's a thing with this inlay...

Image

The database says it was first released by AnF. Then, re-released by Argus Press among other companies.

Sorry for being a bit 'fusspot'... but in that inlay, in the back side, the Argus Press logo appears... maybe it must considered a 're-released cassette inlay' ?
I don't believe there is any re-released version by Argus Press. There is only one original release from AnF+Argus Press and re-release by Bug-Byte.

https://www.retrogames.co.uk/023608/Sin ... ore-by-AnF
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

pavero wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:39 pm
I don't believe there is any re-released version by Argus Press. There is only one original release from AnF+Argus Press and re-release by Bug-Byte.

https://www.retrogames.co.uk/023608/Sin ... ore-by-AnF
In that case, I think the 're-releases' field should be corrected, as it displays Argus Press, Bug-Byte and Mind Games.

The weird thing is that AnF, Argus Press and Mind Games seem to be the same company (or group of companies)... :?:
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

According to Mobygames, there are only two releases for the Spectrum...

https://www.mobygames.com/game/core/release-info
User avatar
Rorthron
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1644
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:35 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Rorthron »

Argus Press acquired several games publishers in the 80s, including Bug-Byte. I wasn't aware that A&F was one of them, but the Core inlay is strong evidence that it was. If so, I think we should delete Argus Press and just use the subsidiary labels.

The alternatives are just to use the parent label (in this case Argus Press) or use both parent and subsidiary labels (all three). Problems with both of these approaches is that a lot or even most of the time we don't know who the parent company is, and the parent company often changed over time. An additional problem of the former is that we lose a lot of information and the ability to distinguish between releases. An additional problem of the latter is that you end up with the confusing situation (as here) where you have a publisher without a release.

It might be worth trying to put together a separate table of publisher affiliations, though.
User avatar
pavero
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 11:49 pm
Location: The Czech Republic
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by pavero »

There is possible to define more than one Original Publisher in ZXDB.

Version from Mind Games is Spanish re-release, it will probalby exist a different cassette inlay for this version.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

pavero wrote: Sun Oct 14, 2018 5:03 pm
Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:32 am Next games have a 'scanned instructions' feature in the database. But what we see is the scanned inlay again. It seems it's been scanned the wrong side:

- Black Lamp
- Dark Sceptre

I'll post here if I find more
It was a bug in my script which generated spreadsheets for adding inlays.

These inlays in ZXDB have wrong filetype, they should have ID 4=Cassette inlay not 29 (Scanned instructions).

1067;CORE.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
2354;Hostages.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
551;BlackLamp.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
1168;Crosswize.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
1259;DarkSceptre.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
1530;DruidII-Enlightenment.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
2194;Gyron_Front.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;
2194;Gyron_Back.jpg;29;Scanned instructions;

I already sent it to Einar (19/07/2018) but he probably overlooked my e-mail.
Fixed! It will be in the next update.

Sorry that I missed it before!
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Mon Oct 15, 2018 6:55 am Another supposedly wrong loading screen:

Howard the Duck by Activision:

Image

It's from the Hello! Games re-release.
Fixed! This will be in the next update.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:34 am Booty shows this loading screen:

Image

It seems from a re-release version. It isn't the beautiful original screen.
It's from a compilation, not a re-release.

Right now, there's no way to differentiate screens from compilations, in either ZXDB or WoS. I will need more time to consider the best solution to this issue...
User avatar
R-Tape
Site Admin
Posts: 6353
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:46 am

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by R-Tape »

Einar Saukas wrote: Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:22 pm It's from a compilation, not a re-release.

Right now, there's no way to differentiate screens from compilations, in either ZXDB or WoS. I will need more time to consider the best solution to this issue...
If it's not easy to prioritise them, couldn't the compilation screen be removed entirely? The only loading screen worth seeing in Booty is the one with the ship.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:11 amThe SC inlays are generally in better condition than the archive.org's ones (better scanned: colour, resolution, inclu...) so why keep all those archive.org inlays if there are better inlays in here in SC? I find it 'redundant'.
As you wrote, they are generally better. Not always better.

Someone would need to check them all, one by one, to see if there's any difference to justfy preserving both. Then compile a detailed list of all redundant files that should be removed.

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:11 amWould it be too tedious to remove them from the database?
If someone provides me a list (or spreadsheet) of all redundant inlays, I can remove them easily.
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

pavero wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:28 pmExactly. There is also my opinion.

I tried to communicate with Einar several times about this topic, but I never got any answer.
Sorry, that's my fault! I thought I answered it already, but it seems I didn't :(

pavero wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:28 pmNevertheless, I wouldn't remove them from ZXDB, because these informations can be still useful for someone else. So I would add a new attribute e.g. Archive and all inlays with Archive=1 wouldn't display at SC.
Don't worry. Files originally imported from Martijn's WoS are NEVER deleted from ZXDB. Whenever one of these files is considered obsolete for any reason, the reference to this file is moved to a separate table called "extras", together with an explanation for the reason it was moved ("replaced by updated version", "redundant loading screen", "corrupted file", etc). This way, if anyone gets any backup from Martijn's WoS and doesn't see the file in ZXDB based sites, the person can look at "extras" to find out the reason this file is not available anymore.

pavero wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:28 pmI have the list of all inlays which should be hidden, becuase they were replaced by better version. So it would be very easy to realise it.
Please send me the list!
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

R-Tape wrote: Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:24 pm
Einar Saukas wrote: Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:22 pm It's from a compilation, not a re-release.

Right now, there's no way to differentiate screens from compilations, in either ZXDB or WoS. I will need more time to consider the best solution to this issue...
If it's not easy to prioritise them, couldn't the compilation screen be removed entirely? The only loading screen worth seeing in Booty is the one with the ship.
I don't like the idea of throwing away any content from the database, just to improve visuals. I'm sure we can figure out a better solution!
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

pavero wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:39 pmI don't believe there is any re-released version by Argus Press. There is only one original release from AnF+Argus Press and re-release by Bug-Byte.
Are you sure? The archive contains different tapes for A'n'F, Argus, and Bug-Byte releases...
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Einar Saukas »

Rorthron wrote: Fri Oct 19, 2018 9:10 amIt might be worth trying to put together a separate table of publisher affiliations, though.
ZXDB already contains this information. If you vist the CORE page at SC page, then click on either Argus or Bug-Byte, you will see they are both owned by Grandslam.

Can anyone suggest a better way for SC to display this information?
User avatar
StooB
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1073
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:03 am
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by StooB »

Einar Saukas wrote: Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:03 pm
pavero wrote: Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:39 pmI don't believe there is any re-released version by Argus Press. There is only one original release from AnF+Argus Press and re-release by Bug-Byte.
Are you sure? The archive contains different tapes for A'n'F, Argus, and Bug-Byte releases...
According to tzxlist, CORE.tzx.zip is from "Spectrum Games Compilation" (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=14685).

CORE(ArgusPressSoftwareLtd).tzx.zip is the original version, however Argus are only doing the 'marketing' according to this review.

The final two A'n'F releases after CORE are Xeno and WIbstars which were also marketed by Argus but are shown as published by A 'n' F in ZXDB.

Finally, the Bug Byte re-release year should be 1987 according to the reviews.
User avatar
Alessandro
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1908
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:10 am
Location: Messina, Italy
Contact:

La Città Fantasma

Post by Alessandro »

La Città Fantasma is not only wrongly spelt ("Fantasimo"), but being a hack translated and sold as an original game, as it was common in Italy back in the day with the infamous "tape magazines" (Load 'n' Run - which also included original software coded by readers, however this is not the case -, Program, Special Program, Special Playgames, Tutto Spectrum etc.), should not be hosted in the archive.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Alessandro
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1908
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:10 am
Location: Messina, Italy
Contact:

Death Pit/Doom Pit entry integrations

Post by Alessandro »

The entries for Death Pit and Doom Pit should be integrated with a notice specifying that both are sold together by Monument Microgames as a physical media compilation (two distinct tapes, printed manuals and CD-ROMs in fact) for the price of 22.00.

Currently, the entries state that Doom Pit only is sold on tape at that price, and that Death Pit is not available as physical media. The loading screen for the 2018 release of Death Pit is also different from the 1985 one:

Image
User avatar
8BitAG
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1487
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:25 pm
Contact:

The Golden Locket

Post by 8BitAG »

The entry for The Golden Locket says it was created using The Quill.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6376

It was actually created using Tartan's Adventure Builder System (see the Zenobi instructions and the in-game intro program)
✓ Reviewed
8-bit Text Adventure Gamer - games - research.
User avatar
Alessandro
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1908
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:10 am
Location: Messina, Italy
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Alessandro »

Al's Double Bill: The entry lists a "map" which is, in fact, the map for the old 48K version of Lost In My Spectrum. Please remove it from the entry.

Lost In My Spectrum and Apulija-13: Please change the license from "Free (Creative Commons)" to "Freeware".

Funky Fungus: The archive still hosts the old 1.0 version, which has been superseded for more than five years by now :P Please substitute it with the newer 1.1/Plus version (which also has a re-worked loading screen).
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Einar Saukas wrote: Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:37 pm
Juan F. Ramirez wrote: Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:11 amWould it be too tedious to remove them from the database?
If someone provides me a list (or spreadsheet) of all redundant inlays, I can remove them easily.
At a first view, it seems almost every Firebird, Encore, Beyond, The Hit Squad & Mastetronic title has a redundant inlay. I'll post if any other company has the same issue.
User avatar
Juan F. Ramirez
Bugaboo
Posts: 5102
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:55 am
Location: Málaga, Spain

Re: Little bugs in the database

Post by Juan F. Ramirez »

Another issue:

Whenever I try to find the game https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=2446 typing the correct name (I.C.U.P.S., with every point) no entries are displayed. It has to be typing 'ICUPS' or 'icups' to get the desired game.

The same with the game C.O.R.E. (A'n'F, discussed some posts above). In this case, if I type 'core' 5 pages of games are displayed.
Post Reply