Official System Names

[headkaze]

[Arcade] American Laser Games
[Arcade] Arcade (FB Alpha)
[Arcade] Arcade (HBMAME)
[Arcade] Arcade (MAME)
[Arcade] Arcade (Model2)
[Arcade] Arcade (Nebula)
[Arcade] Arcade (Raine)
[Arcade] Arcade (WinKawaks)
[Arcade] Arcade (Zinc)
[Arcade] CAVE
[Arcade] CAVE (CAVEUI)
[Arcade] Capcom Play System II
[Arcade] Capcom Play System II (Nebula)
[Arcade] Capcom Play System III
[Arcade] Capcom Play System III (CPS3)
[Arcade] Discrete
[Arcade] Discrete (DICE)
[Arcade] Laserdisc
[Arcade] Laserdisc (Daphne)
[Arcade] Namco System
[Arcade] Namco System (Mjolnir)
[Arcade] Namco System 22
[Arcade] Namco System 22 (viva nonno)
[Arcade] Nintendo Arcade System
[Arcade] Nintendo Vs System
[Arcade] Radikal Bikers
[Arcade] Radikal Bikers (Radikal Bikers)
[Arcade] Sammy Atomiswave
[Arcade] Sammy Atomiswave (DEmul)
[Arcade] Sega Chihiro
[Arcade] Sega Model 2
[Arcade] Sega Model 3
[Arcade] Sega Naomi
[Arcade] Sega Naomi (DEmul)
[Arcade] Sega ST-V
[Arcade] Sega System 1
[Arcade] Taito Type X
[Arcade] Triforce
[Arcade] Vector
[Arcade] Vector (AAE)
[Console] Amstrad GX4000
[Console] Amstrad GX4000 (MESS)
[Console] Amstrad GX4000 (WinApe32)
[Console] Apple Pippin
[Console] Apple Pippin (MESS)
[Console] Atari 2600
[Console] Atari 2600 (MESS)
[Console] Atari 2600 (Stella)
[Console] Atari 2600 (Z26)
[Console] Atari 2600 Demos
[Console] Atari 5200
[Console] Atari 5200 (Atari++)
[Console] Atari 5200 (Jum's A5200)
[Console] Atari 5200 (MESS)
[Console] Atari 7800
[Console] Atari 7800 (MESS)
[Console] Atari 7800 (ProSystem)
[Console] Atari Jaguar
[Console] Atari Jaguar (Virtual Jaguar)
[Console] Atari Jaguar CD
[Console] Atari XE Game System
[Console] Bally Astrocade
[Console] Bally Astrocade (MESS)
[Console] Bandai Playdia
[Console] Casio Loopy
[Console] Casio PV-1000
[Console] Coleco ColecoVision
[Console] Coleco ColecoVision (ColEm)
[Console] Coleco ColecoVision (MESS)
[Console] Coleco ColecoVision (Meka)
[Console] Coleco ColecoVision (Virtual Colecovision)
[Console] Commodore Amiga CD32
[Console] Commodore Amiga CD32 (WinUAE)
[Console] Commodore CDTV
[Console] Commodore CDTV (WinUAE)
[Console] Emerson Arcadia 2001
[Console] Emerson Arcadia 2001 (WinArcadia)
[Console] Epoch Super Cassette Vision
[Console] Fairchild Channel F
[Console] Fairchild Channel F (MESS)
[Console] Funtech Super A'can
[Console] GCE Vectrex
[Console] GCE Vectrex (MESS)
[Console] GCE Vectrex (ParaJVE)
[Console] Interton Electronic VC 4000
[Console] Interton Electronic VC 4000 (Winarcadia)
[Console] Magnavox Odyssey
[Console] Magnavox Odyssey (ODYEmu)
[Console] Magnavox Odyssey 2
[Console] Magnavox Odyssey 2 (02EM)
[Console] Mattel HyperScan
[Console] Mattel Intellivision
[Console] Mattel Intellivision (Bliss)
[Console] Mattel Intellivision (Nostalgia)
[Console] Microsoft Xbox
[Console] Microsoft Xbox (Cxbx)
[Console] Microsoft Xbox 360
[Console] NEC PC-FX
[Console] NEC PC-FX (MagicFX)
[Console] NEC PC-FX (Mednafen)
[Console] NEC SuperGrafx
[Console] NEC SuperGrafx (Mednafen)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx CD
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx CD (MagicEngine)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx CD (Mednafen)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx CD (Ootake)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx-16
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx-16 (MagicEngine)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx-16 (Mednafen)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx-16 (Ootake)
[Console] Nintendo Famicom Disk System
[Console] Nintendo GameCube
[Console] Nintendo GameCube (Dolphin)
[Console] Nintendo GameCube (SuperGCube)
[Console] Nintendo N64
[Console] Nintendo N64 (1964)
[Console] Nintendo N64 (Project64)
[Console] Nintendo N64 (Project64k)
[Console] Nintendo NES
[Console] Nintendo NES (FCE Ultra)
[Console] Nintendo NES (Jnes)
[Console] Nintendo NES (MESS)
[Console] Nintendo NES (Mednafen)
[Console] Nintendo NES (Nessie)
[Console] Nintendo NES (Nestopia)
[Console] Nintendo NES (RockNES)
[Console] Nintendo NES (VirtuaNES)
[Console] Nintendo SNES
[Console] Nintendo SNES (BSNES)
[Console] Nintendo SNES (MESS)
[Console] Nintendo SNES (SNESGT)
[Console] Nintendo SNES (SNEeSe)
[Console] Nintendo SNES (Snes9x)
[Console] Nintendo SNES (ZSNES)
[Console] Nintendo Wii
[Console] Nintendo Wii (Dolphin)
[Console] Nuon
[Console] Panasonic 3DO
[Console] Panasonic 3DO (4DO)
[Console] Philips CD-i
[Console] Philips Odyssey
[Console] Philips Odyssey 2
[Console] RCA Chip-8
[Console] RCA Studio II
[Console] SNK Neo Geo
[Console] SNK Neo Geo (Nebula)
[Console] SNK Neo Geo (WinKawaks)
[Console] SNK Neo Geo CD
[Console] SNK Neo Geo CD (Nebula)
[Console] SNK Neo Geo CD (NeoGeo CDZ)
[Console] SNK Neo Geo CD (NeoRaine)
[Console] SNK Neo Geo CD (neocd)
[Console] Sega 32X
[Console] Sega 32X (Fusion)
[Console] Sega 32X (GENS+)
[Console] Sega CD
[Console] Sega CD (Fusion)
[Console] Sega CD (GENS+)
[Console] Sega Dreamcast
[Console] Sega Dreamcast (Demul)
[Console] Sega Dreamcast (nullDC)
[Console] Sega Genesis
[Console] Sega Genesis (Fusion)
[Console] Sega Genesis (GENS+)
[Console] Sega Genesis (Gens32 Surreal)
[Console] Sega Master System
[Console] Sega Master System (Dega)
[Console] Sega Master System (Fusion)
[Console] Sega Master System (GENS+)
[Console] Sega Master System (Meka)
[Console] Sega SG-1000
[Console] Sega Saturn
[Console] Sega Saturn (SSF)
[Console] Sega Saturn (Yabause)
[Console] Sega Super Control Station (SF-7000)
[Console] Sony PlayStation
[Console] Sony PlayStation (PCSXR)
[Console] Sony PlayStation (Xebra)
[Console] Sony PlayStation (ePSXe)
[Console] Sony PlayStation (pSX)
[Console] Sony PlayStation 2
[Console] Sony PlayStation 2 (PCSX2)
[Console] Sony PlayStation 3
[Console] VTech CreatiVision
[Console] VTech V.Flash
[Console] WoW Action Max
[Console] WoW Action Max (Singe)
[Fruit] Fruit Machine (BFM)
[Fruit] Fruit Machine (MFME)
[Handheld] Atari Lynx
[Handheld] Atari Lynx (Handy)
[Handheld] Atari Lynx (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Bandai WonderSwan
[Handheld] Bandai WonderSwan (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Bandai WonderSwan Color
[Handheld] Bandai WonderSwan Color (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Bandai WonderSwan Color (Oswan)
[Handheld] Creatronic Mega Duck
[Handheld] Entex Adventure Vision
[Handheld] Entex Adventure Vision (MESS)
[Handheld] GamePark GP32
[Handheld] Hartung Game Master
[Handheld] Nintendo DS
[Handheld] Nintendo DS (DeSmuME)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game & Watch
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy (BGB)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy (VBA-M)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy (VisualBoyAdvance)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Advance
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Advance (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Advance (VBA-M)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Advance (VisualBoyAdvance)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Color
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Color (BGB)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Color (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Color (VBA-M)
[Handheld] Nintendo Game Boy Color (VisualBoyAdvance)
[Handheld] Nintendo Pokemon Mini
[Handheld] Nintendo Pokemon Mini (Pokemini)
[Handheld] Nintendo Virtual Boy
[Handheld] Nintendo Virtual Boy (Reality Boy)
[Handheld] Nintendo Virtual Boy (Red Dragon)
[Handheld] Nokia N-Gage
[Handheld] SNK Neo Geo Pocket
[Handheld] SNK Neo Geo Pocket (Mednafen)
[Handheld] SNK Neo Geo Pocket (NeoPop)
[Handheld] SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color
[Handheld] SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color (Mednafen)
[Handheld] Sega Game Gear
[Handheld] Sega Game Gear (Dega)
[Handheld] Sega Game Gear (Fusion)
[Handheld] Sega Game Gear (GENS+)
[Handheld] Sega Game Gear (MESS)
[Handheld] Sega Game Gear (Meka)
[Handheld] Sega PICO
[Handheld] Sony PSP
[Handheld] Sony PSP (JPCSP)
[Handheld] Sony PSP (PCSP)
[Handheld] Sony PocketStation
[Handheld] Tapwave Zodiac
[Handheld] Tiger Game.com
[Handheld] Tiger Gizmondo
[Handheld] VTech V.Smile
[Handheld] Watara Supervision
[Handheld] Watara Supervision (MESS)
[Mobile] Google Android
[Mobile] Google Android (Bluestacks)
[Mobile] NTT DoCoMo DoJa
[Mobile] Qualcomm BREW
[Mobile] Symbian
[Mobile] Synergenix Mophun
[Other] MUGEN
[Other] OpenBOR
[Other] Touhou Project
[Other] WoW ActionMax
[PC] APF Imagination Machine
[PC] Acorn Archimedes
[PC] Acorn Atom
[PC] Acorn BBC Micro
[PC] Acorn BBC Micro (BeebEm)
[PC] Acorn Electron
[PC] Adobe Flash
[PC] Amstrad CPC
[PC] Amstrad CPC (WinAPE)
[PC] Apple II
[PC] Apple II (MESS)
[PC] Apple IIGS
[PC] Apple Macintosh
[PC] Atari 8-bit
[PC] Atari 8-bit Demos
[PC] Atari 800
[PC] Atari ST
[PC] Atari XE
[PC] Big Fish Games
[PC] Camputers Lynx
[PC] Casio PV-2000
[PC] Commodore 128
[PC] Commodore 128 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore 64
[PC] Commodore 64 (CCS64)
[PC] Commodore 64 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore 64 Demos
[PC] Commodore 64 Standard
[PC] Commodore Amiga
[PC] Commodore Amiga (DemoBase)
[PC] Commodore Amiga (GameBase)
[PC] Commodore Amiga (SPS)
[PC] Commodore Amiga (WHDLoad)
[PC] Commodore Amiga (WinUAE)
[PC] Commodore Amiga Demos
[PC] Commodore C16
[PC] Commodore C16 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore CBM-II
[PC] Commodore CBM-II (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore MAX
[PC] Commodore PET
[PC] Commodore PET (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore Plus_4
[PC] Commodore Plus_4 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore Plus_4 Demos
[PC] Commodore VIC-20
[PC] Commodore VIC-20 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore VIC-20 Demos
[PC] Dragon 32-64
[PC] Enterprise
[PC] Frets on Fire
[PC] Fujitsu FM Towns
[PC] Fujitsu FM Towns (UNZ)
[PC] GOG
[PC] Games for Windows
[PC] IBM PC
[PC] Jupiter Ace
[PC] KaraFun
[PC] MGT Sam Coupe
[PC] MGT Sam Coupe (SimCoupe)
[PC] MGT Sam Coupe Demos
[PC] MITS Altair 8800
[PC] MITS Altair 8800 (Altair32)
[PC] MUGEN
[PC] Mattel Aquarius
[PC] Memotech MTX
[PC] Microsoft DOS
[PC] Microsoft DOS (DOSBox)
[PC] Microsoft MSX
[PC] Microsoft MSX (MESS)
[PC] Microsoft MSX (blueMSX)
[PC] Microsoft MSX 2
[PC] Microsoft Windows
[PC] NEC PC-88
[PC] NEC PC-98
[PC] OpenBOR
[PC] PC Booter
[PC] Philips VG 5000
[PC] PopCap Games
[PC] ScummVM
[PC] Sega Computer 3000
[PC] Sharp MZ-700
[PC] Sharp MZ-800
[PC] Sharp X1
[PC] Sharp X68000
[PC] Sinclair ZX Spectrum
[PC] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (Spectaculator)
[PC] Sinclair ZX80
[PC] Sinclair ZX81
[PC] Sord M5
[PC] Steam
[PC] Stepmania
[PC] Tandy TRS-80
[PC] Tangerine Oric
[PC] Tatung Einstein
[PC] Texas Instruments TI-99_4A
[PC] Thomson MO5
[PC] UltraStar Deluxe
[PC] Z-Code Interactive Fiction
[PC] Z-Code Interactive Fiction (Windows Frotz)
[Pinball] Future Pinball
[Pinball] Visual PinMAME
[Pinball] Visual Pinball

[Draco1962]

We also need to be mindful of avoiding certain "special" characters in the names that have specific meaning to the OS (/ or \ , < o r> for example).

[headkaze]

Yes you're right Draco there can't be any filename unfriendly characters in the name.

[Draco1962]

To be honest, I think that [PC] Adobe Flash is applicable and preferable to [Other]. I have added [Other] Z-Code Interactive Fiction although most will use Windows Frotz as the interpreter so [PC] Z-Code Interactive Fiction would work if we follow my recommendation for Adobe Flash.

I did not do the various Atari 8-bit systems as it was rather redundant. While there were some XL/XE titles that were designed with them in mind and not playable on the 400/800, they are far and few between and aptly handled by the more popular emulators with no differences noted.

[headkaze]

I'm happy for Adobe Flash to go under [PC]

I think the other tricky thing is we need to match the emulator profiles with the database names. So we're going to need to rename either the profiles or databases that don't match.

[Crylen]

Awesome stuff Headkaze! Glad to see someones spear heading a naming standard, it's something I struggled with when putting the finishing touches on the Aeon theme.

I'll go through the list of stuff I came up with [Aeon list, post #2] and see what isn't listed, then properly organize it.

[Crylen]

So here's where I'm at. Hopefully you guys can provide some input. See italics for notes regarding questionable systems

New Systems

Arcade

[Arcade] Taito Type X

[Arcade] Sega ST-V (Only emulator other than MAME is SSF but compatibility isn't great. Not sure if this belongs?)

[Arcade] Sega Model 2 (GameEx categorizes Model 2 under MAME)

[Arcade] Sega Model 3 (Currently listed as Sega System 3, I think Model 2/3 is the more correct naming convention?)

[Arcade] Sammy Atomiswave (Also listed in GameEx database)

[Arcade] Sega Naomi (Also listed in GameEx database)

[Arcade] American Laser Games (Usually Daphne is used for these. Should they be under general arcade?)

Console

[Console] Nintendo Satellaview

[Console] Atari Jaguar CD (Figured this belonged since there's a Sega CD category)

[Console] Nuon

Handheld

[Handheld] Nintendo Game and Watch (Changed "&" to "and" to avoid naming issues)

PC

[PC] Casio PV-2000

[PC] APF Imagination Machine

[PC] Texas Instruments TI-99_4A (Does a calculator count as a PC? What about the naming? A lot of weird characters here)

[PC] Commodore MAX

[PC] Commodore 16

Other [i like the idea of adding an Other category for other oddball systems]

[Other] MUGEN (MUGEN is just homebrew fighters made with the Mugen software. I think its still best to go by that name)

[Other] Fruit Machines (There's a bunch of slot machine emulators out there. Fruit Machines seems to be the going name in the emulation community)

[Other] OpenBOR (Same as MUGEN, it's an open source based homebrew streets of rage 'emulator')

[Other] Touhou Project (Honestly, I don't know much about Touhou. I think it's a homebrew for shumps? I just made it for the theme since someone requested it on a previous project)

[Other] WoW ActionMax (VCR based games played through Daphne. Not really a console so I guess it belongs here?)

Redundant

Taito Type X2 [Not sure about this one. Taito Type X just uses hacked EXEs to launch. Very little distinction is made between X1 and X2. I think it would be better to just have them all under one umbrella]

Regional Names

NEC PC Engine CD

NEC PC Engine

Nintendo Super Famicom

Magnavox Odyssey 2

Magnavox Odyssey

Exe Launchers

GFW

Gog

Big Fish Games

General Arcade Emulators

AAE

Cave

Daphne

DICE

Final Burn Alpha

HBMame (This is for hacked MAME roms. Maybe it has a place in the main list? I'm not sure)

Raine

WinKawaks

Zinc

Atari 8-bit family

Atari 400

Atari XE

Atari XL

[Draco1962]

I'm happy for Adobe Flash to go under [PC]

I think the other tricky thing is we need to match the emulator profiles with the database names. So we're going to need to rename either the profiles or databases that don't match.

I think that PopCap Games should be under [PC] as well as Steam, GoG, etc.

Other [i like the idea of adding an Other category for other oddball systems]

[Other] MUGEN (MUGEN is just homebrew fighters made with the Mugen software. I think its still best to go by that name)

[Other] Fruit Machines (There's a bunch of slot machine emulators out there. Fruit Machines seems to be the going name in the emulation community). Fruit Machines should stay under [Fruit] or [slots]

[Other] OpenBOR (Same as MUGEN, it's an open source based homebrew streets of rage 'emulator')

[Other] Touhou Project (Honestly, I don't know much about Touhou. I think it's a homebrew for shumps? I just made it for the theme since someone requested it on a previous project)

[Other] WoW ActionMax (VCR based games played through Daphne. Not really a console so I guess it belongs here?) Recognized as a Console in most settings.

Redundant

Taito Type X2 [Not sure about this one. Taito Type X just uses hacked EXEs to launch. Very little distinction is made between X1 and X2. I think it would be better to just have them all under one umbrella]

Regional Names

NEC PC Engine CD

NEC PC Engine

Nintendo Super Famicom

Magnavox Odyssey 2

Magnavox Odyssey

?? Not sure where you are going with that for certain... Some of these are distinct from one another. IMO should leave as is.

Exe Launchers

GFW

Gog

Big Fish Games - All of these Under [PC] along with Steam and PopCap Games. The goal is to try to categorize but towards simplicity.

Atari 8-bit family

Atari 400

Atari XE

Atari XL - Other than some minor chip and exterior differences, all of these are pretty much the same and no more need to split out separately than Atari ST (520, 1040, Mega).

[Crylen]

?? Not sure where you are going with that for certain... Some of these are distinct from one another. IMO should leave as is.

I was just going through the list in post #2. The duplicates from the main list were removed, the ones that weren't duplicates were sorted. Those ones are under "Redundant - Regional Names". Meaning they shouldn't be used because they're the same systems but with a different regional name.

Hopefully that makes more sense =)

[nullPointer]

I think that PopCap Games should be under [PC] as well as Steam, GoG, etc.

I just had a quick comment regarding GOG. I'm not really sure it needs it's own category. GOG is essentially just an online games retailer. Sometimes they've made updates to games so that they will run on modern systems, but there's very little separating a game I bought from GOG and a game I bought off the shelf / from amazon / from somewhere else. They're not technically a developer, distribution or gaming platform.

Steam fits into it's own category since the games are all launched via the client, and Steam incorporates some other whiz-bang functionality (online community, achievements, etc.). Having said that does anyone actually still run Steam as a dedicated emulator in GameEx? The integrated functionality has been rocking my world since day one.

I've never messed around with PopCap games, but unless they incorporate a common launcher, or represent a specific gaming platform I'd say they could also be shoe horned into one of the other broader categories.

[Crylen]

I just had a quick comment regarding GOG. I'm not really sure it needs it's own category. GOG is essentially just an online games retailer. Sometimes they've made updates to games so that they will run on modern systems, but there's very little separating a game I bought from GOG and a game I bought off the shelf / from amazon / from somewhere else. They're not technically a developer, distribution or gaming platform.

Yeah I agree with this. Same goes with PopCap/Big Fish, they're just EXE launchers. I included them in the Aeon theme because I already had assets and it wasn't too much effort. They definitely don't need their own category though.

Other EXE launchers like OpenBOR and MUGEN require some discussion. They're also just EXE launchers but all share a common theme and homebrew base.

[nullPointer]

@Crylen I meant to mention that none of this discussion is geared towards questioning the fantastic job you've done with Aeon Inspiriat. Quite the opposite actually. The job you did with Aeon Inspirat was so good (and complete) that it provides a good starting point for this discussion.

I definitely think that MUGEN and OpenBOR are distinct categories. In order to play a MUGEN fighter you need to run it through MUGEN and nothing else is capable of running it. Same with OpenBOR. I'm not terribly fond of the [OTHER] label since it's very broad and not very desciptive, but I could probably be convinced. In terms of MUGEN and OpenBOR I could see adding [PLATFORM] as a category (or something along those lines). MUGEN is the platform used to develop MUGEN games and also the platform necessary for playing MUGEN games. (Same with OpenBOR).

In many ways the [PLATFORM] label could also be applied to Steam. It doesn't really fit under [PC] since most of the systems in the [PC] list refer to either hardware systems or OS architectures. Obviously Steam games aren't developed using a "Steam Platform," but Steam is the platform necessary for playing games within Steam.

ScummVM is an interesting question. It's neither a hardware system nor an OS, so I'm inclined to say that it's also closer to a Platform. Many of those games were developed under the SCUMM platform (and whole host of others if we're being completest regarding ScummVM), and ScummVM is the platform used to play those games (although they would also be playable on older systems I believe).

[Draco1962]

Kind of a grey area as most of the Gog games are re-releases of older DOS games with a DOS-BOX loader... Platform? Some of Steam's releases are also on DOS-BOX but launched via the Steam launcher. I don't know that games launched through Steam, DOS-BOX, or ScummVM are really platformers when in the same vein as OpenBoR or MUGEN. That is why I have no problem categorizing them as [PC].

[nullPointer]

I had to go back and look but I don't think any of my GOG games use the DOSBox loader (ironically most of my GOG games aren't that old ... although that might be my own age talking . ... Some of them aren't all that good either.). I can buyin on sticking with the existing naming for Steam, ScummVM, and the others especially since we already have databases following that naming convention. I would still contend that GOG doesn't belong in that group since it's not a development or gaming platform. The next thing you know we'll be creating sections for [PC] Amazon and [PC] Wal-Mart.

I guess the distinction I would make is that with GOG I download an installer which I can run to install the games anywhere on my system. In other words I have complete freedom over the installer and the game doesn't have any sort of 'integration' with GOG. For all intents and purposes it's a run-of-the-mill Windows game.

With something like Steam the installation process is transparent as an integrated component of the Steam client, but I can't choose where to install the games, and for the most part will be running those games through Steam (even if I'm running in off-line mode).

So to me Steam seems like a platform (or [PC] Steam) whereas GOG seems like a store.

[Draco1962]

I have found that some (not sure if all) of the older games I have bought through Steam can be run outside of the Steam launcher. I had purchased the Commander Keen series a long time ago and play them both ways (although it is easier through Steam). IDK, I guess I see PC as the platform regardless of the launcher or service. Steam also has offerings for Linux and, if using Linux would see that as the category for the game itself exclusive of the launcher/service. Likewise if they had something for Mac.

[nullPointer]

I actually should have amended my previous statement to say that I can totally see [PC] Steam as viable, but I'm not so convinced that GOG belongs in the same category. Naturally this wouldn't stop anyone from creating a custom GOG database and/or theme elements, but my vote would be to avoid codifying it as a 'standard' category.

[Draco1962]

Agreed. GoG and Stardock's Impulse (actually GameStop App now) are distribution channels only and do not warrant the treatment/differentiation that Steam and potentially others should have. Since PopCap games can be bought through almost anyone of these, they do not require their own distinction except at the user's discretion in a custom menu setup.

[headkaze]

Okay I've decided that I will have to manage the list myself because I need to have it synced with my local copy and FTP. So if you need any changes or additions please just make a post.

I've added some of Crylen's extra systems.

I've merged the emulator profile list with the emulators added in brackets. The reason for this is because it is an official system list I think we should include emulators. It will also mean people can make emulator specific layouts if they wish.

[DazzleHP]

I would like give some info regarding Touhou Project if i may. This is a tricky one to categorize as Touhou 1-5 are actually only available for the PC-98 and therefore require an emulator (usually Anex86). Touhou 06 to present are just normal .exe's though and can be launched like any other PC game (using .lnk's etc). That info may have made things more complicated, but at least now you know

[KRC]

NEC PC 88

[Tom Speirs]

I've merged the emulator profile list with the emulators added in brackets. The reason for this is because it is an official system list I think we should include emulators. It will also mean people can make emulator specific layouts if they wish.

I think we should simplify things and not do that or have a global system without brackets work if a specific emulator one does not exist. Make sense?

EDIT: Sorry I see you have already accounted for that.

EDIT 2: I still think we should simplify and restrict things and not have specific emulator layouts. Themes will work across a broader range. I can't see many people wanting specific support for emulators so I don't think we should allow it to keep things simpler. It should be based purely on system.

[headkaze]

If you don't mind Tom, at least for now, I'd like to keep the emulators in. We can always shorten the list and remove them later. I think it will be nice to have the emultor logos in there just incase as I may need it just to test support for them (even if we remove them from the default theme). Also I need them in the list to make sure the emulator profiles will match.

This thread is not just for the new theme format but a definitive naming convention for everything system related in GameEx from the name passed into plugins, emulator profiles to the database names.

[nullPointer]

There's another aspect to keeping the emulators present that may be beneficial. When you add a new emulator profile in the Setup Wizard it uses the [CATEGORY] System (Emulator) notation. Granted, this discussion is more focused on theme elements, but whatever naming convention is applied it would be extremely nice to utilize the same naming convention throughout the system. Naturally the Setup Wizard could be changed to follow some other naming convention but if it is to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future I would suggest keeping the current "Emulator" style naming. Just my 2p.

[headkaze]

That's a great point null and I think we really need to add another parameter to all the emulator profiles which is the hard-coded name that matches the official list. At the moment we're using StartPageName but this is a value that users can change and therefore is useless for identifying the actual system and emulator in things like the plugins. So yeah I will be renaming all the emulator profiles to match as well as adding a new parameter for this purpose. Also some of the databases will need to be renamed to match the list. It's going to be a bit of work to get all this right but once it's done it should make everyone's life a lot easier in the long run

[starbuck]

[Arcade] Arcade (Misfit Mame)

[Console] Sega Super Control Station (SF-7000)

[PC] Sega Computer 3000 (SC-3000)

[Other] Beats of Rage

[Other] FretsonFire

[Other] UltraStar Deluxe