Is there a database for pc games?

[Mercykilling81]

I have noticed all the other games have nice info about them, and I was wondering if there was a pc database yet that would do the same thing for the computer games.

Thx in advance

[greatflash]

I have noticed all the other games have nice info about them, and I was wondering if there was a pc database yet that would do the same thing for the computer games.

Thx in advance

No, I am afraid there is not. I really do not know how you could implement one? Current DB's take a known rom name and match it to a rom name that you select in gameex, then displays the info. A PC game is not stored as a rom or iso and is usually an executable in a directory, or worse if executed through dosbox or other.

Sorry that i cannot be of any help.

[bkenobi]

If the game had a consistent link name, it would be possible to have a directory of links to PC games that drew info from a database though, right?

[greatflash]

If the game had a consistent link name, it would be possible to have a directory of links to PC games that drew info from a database though, right?

It would be possible in theory, but too involved to manage as a DB. As well as that the DB would be practically never ending... I don't know how you would get it to work as a 'PC game' under GameEx. The best way would be for someone just to make a custom background containing the info (if that is possible - have not used the PC game option)

[bkenobi]

No, I agree with you that it's not a realistic database to make due to maintenance if nothing else. I was mainly trying to say that it is technically feasible. I think it would be much easier to make a custom DB for the games you have or, as you said, make a custom background for individual games.

[Mercykilling81]

Thx for the answers, but how could I make my own database for the games I do have?

I'm still new to it all, I think someone mentioned you have to have some kind of special editor..

I am just trying to get game-ex showing everything (screenshots,info) for everything I have. Nit picking I know....

[bkenobi]

Well, there is a special program that people (primarily Flash at this point) are using to build a set of databases for GameEx. That's not necessary for what you need though. If you want to try your hand at building a database for this, you must first have MS Access or a program that can create/edit an Access database. Next, I would suggest taking a database that has been built (preferably one of the new ones that have just been released) and using it as a template. Delete all the data and put in your own info for each game. When you have all the data in, create a .lnk file for each game's exe and put it in a directory. Point a custom emulator to that directory and set the filter to "*.lnk". Put your new custom PC database in the database directory for GameEx and point that custom emulator to it. If all goes well, you *should* see all the data you entered.

Now mind you, I have not tried this, but I think it should work. This is probably more work than you are willing to put in, but it might pay off.

[Mercykilling81]

Thank you, bkenobi.

Actually I wouldnt mind the work at all. I have already got my pc games setup in game-ex, now I am about to get some snaps made for them. Then I am going to try to make the custom database....just hope editing the fields arent hard.....all I want to add is a brief description and the year it was made...putting company and category isnt important.

Then after that, I would like to have it play certain music while browsing through the pc games. Like actually music from the games which is a lil harder to find than I thought...unless you like midi versions of the music which just sound horrible to me.

The custom background idea for each game isnt bad...but my artwork and theme editor skills suck, so that would take me an eternity. Especially if I have all my pc games installed...

[IMBerzerk]

Thank you, bkenobi.

Actually I wouldnt mind the work at all. I have already got my pc games setup in game-ex, now I am about to get some snaps made for them. Then I am going to try to make the custom database....just hope editing the fields arent hard.....all I want to add is a brief description and the year it was made...putting company and category isnt important.

Then after that, I would like to have it play certain music while browsing through the pc games. Like actually music from the games which is a lil harder to find than I thought...unless you like midi versions of the music which just sound horrible to me.

The custom background idea for each game isnt bad...but my artwork and theme editor skills suck, so that would take me an eternity. Especially if I have all my pc games installed...

Is there any info on how to do this? I have a few emulators with many games missing info that I'd like to add to. Where does GameEx pull this info from.

Thanks,

IMBerzerk

[greatflash]

Is there any info on how to do this? I have a few emulators with many games missing info that I'd like to add to. Where does GameEx pull this info from.

Thanks,

IMBerzerk

The data is stored in GameEx/DATA/EMULATORS/

They are individual files with the extension .mdb. These are access database files and can be edited to add games to them using Access or several other programs (google) available.

It is a lot of work to do. The databases are all being worked on and updated, this does take a long time - but they will be available in future GameEx releases.

So, either have a crack yourself or wait and hope the db you want is next in the list to be completed!

[IMBerzerk]

The data is stored in GameEx/DATA/EMULATORS/

They are individual files with the extension .mdb. These are access database files and can be edited to add games to them using Access or several other programs (google) available.

It is a lot of work to do. The databases are all being worked on and updated, this does take a long time - but they will be available in future GameEx releases.

So, either have a crack yourself or wait and hope the db you want is next in the list to be completed!

Thanks for the info on this... I'll pass. I'm not a very good DB guy. I don't have a brain for that (or anything else... ).

How about the history and info that comes up on the page when you select the game. I'd like to add a lot more to my Intellivision and Atari games if I can. Many are just blank. I'd be happy to make anything I add to available, but I don't know how that's done either.

Thanks again... I'm learning... and I do have to add that this front end really rocks!!!

IMBerzerk

[greatflash]

Thanks for the info on this... I'll pass. I'm not a very good DB guy. I don't have a brain for that (or anything else... ).

How about the history and info that comes up on the page when you select the game. I'd like to add a lot more to my Intellivision and Atari games if I can. Many are just blank. I'd be happy to make anything I add to available, but I don't know how that's done either.

Thanks again... I'm learning... and I do have to add that this front end really rocks!!!

IMBerzerk

I'm afraid everything is in the DB's. I have an Intellivision DB nearly ready for release, so that will sort out that problem for you at least

[bkenobi]

Thanks for the info on this... I'll pass. I'm not a very good DB guy. I don't have a brain for that (or anything else... ).

The database work isn't hard, it just requires text entry. Basically the framework is there and all that's required is selecting all the data and hitting delete. Then, you simply type in what you want. There's no fancy or complicated interface to do this and really it just looks like working in Excel (just a bunch of cells). Build your own or not, either way. I'm just saying that there's no need to be afraid of taking a look because it's a database.

EDIT: I should clarify slightly. The work Flash is doing is using a program HK put together. What you would be doing if you created a custom database would be in Access (or free clone) and would look similar to Excel. If you are just editing content that's already in a database, that's even easier. You just select the field (or cell if you will) and edit the text. SIMPLE!!!

[IMBerzerk]

I'm afraid everything is in the DB's. I have an Intellivision DB nearly ready for release, so that will sort out that problem for you at least

Ah-ha... that explains why I can't find it anywhere. I've been looking in every folder for each emulator with no results.

Thanks for all your work, I'm looking forward to the new Inty DB.

IMBerzerk

[IMBerzerk]

I'd like to try it, adding in my own slew of stuff. How do I start, and where are the files.

I've done a lot of DB work on the game I've been working on, but it was cutting and pasting, like you mentioned. All of it dealing with aircraft slots, and Ace information.

Maybe I'll try it.... see how it goes.

IMBerzerk

[Tempest]

The database work isn't hard, it just requires text entry.

BK - I know you didn't mean this negatively...

It is amazing to me that Flash is putting all of the time that he has into the databases. It is very obvious that he is very passionate about gaming in general, and for a relative newcomer to dedicate that much time to a Gameex project is truly something that I am sure that most of us will never understand...

Hats off to you Flash!

<wipes tear from eye>

(That's my Indian name )

[Adultery]

More fisably, you *could* just create a DB in MS Access that has your PC games in it, and maybe snag the game descriptions from GameSpot or Moby? Is that a workaround that could be explored? In a case like that, your naming conventions wouldn't matter since it's set up on a game-by-game basis. Or am I completely wrong about this?

[bkenobi]

BK - I know you didn't mean this negatively...

Nope, I was trying to keep from scaring people by saying the "D" word. There are a lot of people who think it's magic. The databases that banks use are pretty damn complicated and might take some time to figure out, but the databases used here are single table each. There's nothing but text in them anyway, so no need to worry.

On the other hand, it could have been taken like I was calling him out for being lazy... Not my intent, but I see how it could be interpreted that way.

I personally think Tempest is just trying to rile people up!

[greatflash]

Nope, I was trying to keep from scaring people by saying the "D" word. There are a lot of people who think it's magic. The databases that banks use are pretty damn complicated and might take some time to figure out, but the databases used here are single table each. There's nothing but text in them anyway, so no need to worry.

On the other hand, it could have been taken like I was calling him out for being lazy... Not my intent, but I see how it could be interpreted that way.

I personally think Tempest is just trying to rile people up!

Bk, are you trying to rile people up?

The DB's for GameEx are not hard.. Time consuming - yes, hard - no. The only thing that can take a while is finding dates and descriptions for obscure games.

A pc database would not really have that problem and just take a bit of time and effort.

Open and existing DB, (a small one is best), clear out all the data leaving the headings intact and save as say "PC Games".

The headings you need to worry about are:-

Name - This is used to hold the name to display if you set gameex to display "database names"

goodname - This is the name of the 'rom' that gameex will pass to run the game i.e "Doom", check runitgame.bat for the name used in the command.

year, publisher, and description - these are obvious.

That is all you need in the DB (minimum) to test it works!

PS. Thanks Tempest for the mention earlier, have you had one too many of them happy pills i hear you Americans get prescribed

[Tempest]

We call it beer. What's really strange is that we like it cold. I take mine out of the fridge, and put it in the freezer for 30 minutes, you take yours out of the fridge, and leave it on the counter for 30 minutes.

I wasn't trying to rile anyone up, I just know that some positive feedback goes a long ways...

[IMBerzerk]

How about a Commodore 64 database? I'd like to work on my own. What do I need to start out?

[bkenobi]

Don't we have a C64 database already? Maybe it's one of the older DB's. Basically it would be the same procedure as with the PC games as Flash described. Take a complete DB, delete the data, add your own. If there is a completed database, then you can either use that one or copy the data to the new format (I would just use the old one). I think what we had was pretty complete, so that should be all you need.

[greatflash]

Don't we have a C64 database already? Maybe it's one of the older DB's. Basically it would be the same procedure as with the PC games as Flash described. Take a complete DB, delete the data, add your own. If there is a completed database, then you can either use that one or copy the data to the new format (I would just use the old one). I think what we had was pretty complete, so that should be all you need.

A new C64 database is in the works. It is to suport Gamebase64 v5 romsets mostly (also tosec and no-intro), but it will contain all 20,000 Gamebase64 roms. this is a db I am adding to every time I update the Vidsnaps I am also working on. I am afraid it is quite a way off.

Intellivision is first in the list to complete and then I may get to work on a Nintendo or another sega one.

[IMBerzerk]

A new C64 database is in the works. It is to suport Gamebase64 v5 romsets mostly (also tosec and no-intro), but it will contain all 20,000 Gamebase64 roms. this is a db I am adding to every time I update the Vidsnaps I am also working on. I am afraid it is quite a way off.

Intellivision is first in the list to complete and then I may get to work on a Nintendo or another sega one.

I don't know if I can ask this, but where do you get the Gamebase 64 romsets? For years I've been pulling them from Arnold64. That sounds a lot easier.

Also, I guess the info coming on about the game would have to do with the game name and database matching? That's probably one of my issues. I tend to rename my ROMS to something more recognizable.

best,

IMBerzerk

[bkenobi]

You can't ask where you get the roms (that's in the rules), but you can ask about what sets people use, how they use them, etc.