Little bugs in the database 2

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

Moderators: druellan, pavero

Post Reply
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=14280 - Taranovsoft is not a company, but alias of Dmitriy Taranov (Russia, Rostov-on-don)
✓ Reviewed
Ralf
Rick Dangerous
Posts: 2279
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:59 am
Location: Poland

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by Ralf »

Taranovsoft is not a company, but alias of Dmitriy Taranov
Thanks for the info.
I believe however that our rules here say that if he used such name in his productions, it should remain as publisher's name.

Publisher in ZXDB doesn't have to be a "real" company. It can be a name thought up by some teenage boys, or as in this case
a name thought up by a single person.

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
R-Tape
Site Admin
Posts: 6353
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:46 am

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by R-Tape »

Ralf wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:48 pm
Taranovsoft is not a company, but alias of Dmitriy Taranov
Thanks for the info.
I believe however that our rules here say that if he used such name in his productions, it should remain as publisher's name.

Publisher in ZXDB doesn't have to be a "real" company. It can be a name thought up by some teenage boys, or as in this case
a name thought up by a single person.
That's my understanding too — a 'company' doesn't have to rank on the FTSE100 to qualify as a publisher in ZXDB.

Useful info though, as Dmitriy can now be listed as the owner of Taranovsoft if [mention]druellan[/mention] can add it to the list.

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

In my opinion generally it's a right thing to have persons and their aliases as publishers since this describes the reality. However, this was more like a personal alias than the "virtual" company, because Dmitriy was a part of Earpsoft group (Russia, Rostov-on-don). Imho, Earpsoft fits the "company" better than the Taranovsoft. There were many people having "soft" as a part of their personal nickname, and I think most of them had no intention to imitate a company, but I may be wrong.
User avatar
bobs
Microbot
Posts: 106
Joined: Thu Dec 28, 2017 8:26 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Bob’s Stuff site links

Post by bobs »

FAO whoever maintains the database entries...

A while ago I moved all my ZX81 and Spectrum titles over to Itch.io, and as a result will likely be shutting down my original website at some point in the future. When that happens the database entries for my games will have broken links. It would be great if those links could, at worst, be updated to the point at my main page on the itch.io site - https://bobs-stuff.itch.io/ - and at best have each title link to its own sub-page - i.e. https://bobs-stuff.itch.io/farmer-jack-in-harvest-havoc

Why have them on Itch and not directly on ZXDB? Because having them all hosted on Itch makes it much easier for me to maintain and keep track of download numbers and interest in the titles, and also provide a single repository for all my games across various platforms.

Many thanks :)

Bob
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
R-Tape
Site Admin
Posts: 6353
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:46 am

Re: Bob’s Stuff site links

Post by R-Tape »

bobs wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2019 8:23 pm FAO whoever maintains the database entries...
Just moved this—it's a ZXDB correction, rather than a 'website' one :)
User avatar
8BitAG
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1487
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by 8BitAG »

The entry for 'The Tebbit' needs to be updated...

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10296

Currently this is listed as Never released with the following notes:
This was to be a political satire on Norman Tebbit, in the style of The Hobbit. The game was advertised by Applications along with their game Denis Through the Drinking Glass. The description of the game was thus:
"Join the magical quest for the elusive monetarist dream, in which you, a humble Tebbit must seek the assistance of Magdalf and Tomkin-Gee, to find and defeat the ferocious (and balding) Scarg".
The Games That Weren't website states that there are two rumours why this game was never released: the first being that the game was finished but withdrawn because of poor sales of Denis. The second is that the game was considered too sensitive after the bombing in 1984 of the Conservative party conference when Norman Tebbit was injured. They say, though, that this second reason is unlikely as Applications' adverts disappeared from magazines around May 1984 when the bombing didn't take place until October 1984.
That doesn't reflect the current The Games That Weren't entry which has clarified both the release of the game and firmed up the reason for withdrawal, thanks to an interview with the author by Tony Bridge in C&VG. https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/the-tebbit/

The article in question is below...

Image

So, the following changes need to be made...

Original release year changed to 1984
A 'Missing in Action' tag added.
Author added... Roger Taylor https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12546

Updated notes section... Perhaps along the lines of...

The Tebbit was the second game in a planned trilogy of politically satirical text-adventure games. Themed as a parody of The Hobbit, The Tebbit spoofed the UK politician Norman Tebbit. Playing as The Tebbit, you had to defeat the ferocious (and balding) Scarg [ [Arthur Scargill].

Once regarded as 'never released', the Games That Weren't website points to a C&VG interview by Tony Bridge with the author who states that it was released (or at the very least, it was completed), but later withdrawn from sale due to the Brighton bombing, with any existing stock (and the masters) destroyed. A third game in the series Kinnochio (presumably spoofing Neil Kinnock) was planned.
✓ Reviewed
8-bit Text Adventure Gamer - games - research.
User avatar
Frankie
Manic Miner
Posts: 212
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:09 am

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by Frankie »

Both New Cylon Attack and Chuckie Egg 2 from A'n'F Software, states that they were made by the R&D Team, which seems to be an in-house programming team. That can be added to both games :)

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
druellan
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1466
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:19 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by druellan »

Casino Royal https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=834 is compatible with Currah Microspeech system.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
StooB
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1073
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:03 am
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by StooB »

User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by Einar Saukas »

Is Skate Wars really turn-based?
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
StooB
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1073
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:03 am
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by StooB »

Allison Kerr, author of 1983's Spectrum Darts should be listed in the team Mr Chip Software rather than Magnetic Fields as Mr Chip wont become Magnetic Fields for another five years.

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

S.A.V.E seems to be the same person. The signature on the loading screen is almost identical (check Power Pyramids and International Cricket re-release).
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12811
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12810
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... bel_id=420
Adrian Sumera (Sauron) is not the author of:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=12728 - Ten Fingers
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=12817 - Doom.

Not sure about Pink Pills - Manic Moritz and the Meds. If the game music is taken from the public archives then it's most likely to be the other Sauron. Th other Sauron is Alexander Vasilyev, from Digital Reality group, Velikiy Novgorod, Russia
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=3686 - Denis Ryabtsev, not Ayabcev
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=3052 - D.J.Dens is alias of Denis.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12328 Rind.Wasquez is not a real man.
These are two people:
https://zxart.ee/eng/authors/r/rind/ - Rind, Dmitriy Danilov, Moscow, Russia. Sometimes - Rind Soft.
https://zxart.ee/eng/authors/w/wasquez/ - Wasquez, Maksim Morozov, Moscow, Russia

Both are from same group - Legion Of Steel Warriors, Moscow, Russia.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=13142
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=13145
Sergey Hanzis and Sergey Khantsis is the same person, just different transliteration
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

Last edited by moroz1999 on Mon Aug 19, 2019 12:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12068 - Egons Upītis, Latvia, Ogre.
There was also "raver" from Moscow, Russia, but that's the other one.
✓ Reviewed
User avatar
8BitAG
Dynamite Dan
Posts: 1487
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:25 pm
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by 8BitAG »

The entry for Magic Treasure Adventure needs correcting...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6632

As referenced in the magazine links to Popular Computing Weekly #17 - 1984/4/26,

Magic Treasure Adventure should have a publication date of at most 1984. It was originally a separate release (not a compilation) at the price £2.95 from T. D. Frost directly. (Not yet calling himself Tartan Software)

There is a further reference to this game in Micro Adventurer issue 11 and various references to the game being Tom's first in two of Samara's Sinclair User adventure columns.

✓ Reviewed
8-bit Text Adventure Gamer - games - research.
User avatar
Stefan
Manic Miner
Posts: 792
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:51 pm
Location: Belgium
Contact:

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by Stefan »

moroz1999 wrote: Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:37 pm https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11863 R.B. is Richard Beston.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11917 this RB is also Richard Beston
How to handle this in the database? It looks like RB 'only' created the loading screen for the Zeppelin Games Deathchase re-release - so he should not be attributed 'author' status on the original.

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
Einar Saukas
Bugaboo
Posts: 3070
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:48 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by Einar Saukas »

Stefan wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:27 pm
moroz1999 wrote: Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:37 pm https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11863 R.B. is Richard Beston.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11917 this RB is also Richard Beston
How to handle this in the database? It looks like RB 'only' created the loading screen for the Zeppelin Games Deathchase re-release - so he should not be attributed 'author' status on the original.
This is tricky. A publisher is associated to each specific game release, but an author is associated to the game itself. There's no concept of "author in certain re-releases only".

For now, I suggest adding him as "load screen" author, and adding a comment like "Original load screen by ?, Zeppelin load screen by Richard Beston". Kinda like we currently differentiate between multiple music authors using comments like this:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=30148

If we find out later that there are many entries with authors of specific releases only, then I will modify the ZXDB model to support this information. However it's not worth it to increase ZXDB complexity if that's something that only happens in very few cases.

✓ Reviewed
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12148 Renascence is a group from Ukraine (Luganskaya district).

According to info from War of Old World:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=15187 - Vitaly Gerasin used alias "Underlain", part of Renascence. Lysychansk, Ukraine.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... bel_id=599 - Alexander Boloto used alias "Alex Bat". Pryvillia, Ukraine
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=13124 - Sergey Gura used alias "Dexter". Pryvillia, Ukraine
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=15198 - Vlad Cheremison. Lysychansk, Ukraine.

✓ Reviewed
Last edited by moroz1999 on Mon Aug 19, 2019 10:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

Einar Saukas wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:12 pmIf we find out later that there are many entries with authors of specific releases only, then I will modify the ZXDB model to support this information. However it's not worth it to increase ZXDB complexity if that's something that only happens in very few cases.
According to my practice this is only required for cracks and unofficial re-releases in 99% of cases.
User avatar
moroz1999
Manic Miner
Posts: 329
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:22 pm

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12333 - RinsSoft is not a company, it's an alias of Stanislav Nikonov, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.

✓ Reviewed
Post Reply