Category talk:Video game articles requesting identifying art

Latest comment: 5 years ago by 208.47.202.254 in topic Requests
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Aliens (Konami video game) edit

The closest thing to box art for this arcade game would probably be the cover of the flyer, but I can't tell if the US or Japan version was released first, or if they were released at exactly the same time. --tronvillain (talk) 12:56, 30 October 2018 (UTC)Reply

I can't see an issue with using either; I'd tend towards the USA one. I personally believe arcade machines should have images of the arcade cabinet rather than promotional material. The article title doesn't fit the MOS, so I've updated it. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 13:01, 30 October 2018 (UTC)Reply
Tronvillain - I suggest this image [1]. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 12:51, 31 October 2018 (UTC)Reply
Seems reasonable. In some ways I think arcade articles could support two identifying images when one is a shot of a 3-dimension object, using something like:

{{Non-free 3D art}} {{Non-free use rationale | Description = "Z" arcade machine ©19xx by Y | Source = Derived from a digital capture (photo) of an arcade machine | Article = Z | Portion = The entire machine viewed from one angle, a small portion of the commercial product. | Low resolution = Yes. The image is of ''vastly'' lower resolution than the entire arcade machine. | Purpose = The image serves as the primary means of visual identification of the subject (the entire arcade machine). | Replaceability = There is no free equivalent of the art on this machine, so the image cannot be replaced by a free image. | Other information = The use of the image will not affect the value of the original work or limit the copyright holder's rights or ability to distribute the original. In particular, copies could not be used to make illegal copies of the machine. }}

--tronvillain (talk) 13:14, 31 October 2018 (UTC)Reply

Though this one might be better. --tronvillain (talk) 13:21, 31 October 2018 (UTC)Reply
You are probably right. Sadly, I don't know a great deal on the copyrights; might be better bringing up this specific issue on the WP:VG. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 14:43, 31 October 2018 (UTC)Reply

Articles unable to find art edit

Hi all, I'm going to update here reasons why I cannot find art for various articles. If anyone has these particular game boxes, or can find a version online, please upload/let me know, and remove from the list.

  Done Ben · Salvidrim!  15:48, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
  Done Ben · Salvidrim!  15:48, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
I suspect that it never came in a box and thus never had box art. It was distributed as shareware, and the documentation with the game says (about the full version of the game): "You will receive a disk with a copy of the game, which includes many additional features." I'll probably just add the title screen as the image. --tronvillain (talk) 15:54, 31 October 2018 (UTC)Reply
I confirmed with the developer that there wasn't a box, just a disk and a manual. Original research, but we probably don't need to keep looking. --tronvillain (talk) 22:28, 2 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
tronvillain - WP:OR is only confined by the text of an article. This limitation to my knowledge is not founded onto things like this. Good job! Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 09:40, 5 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Yes, I just meant that it couldn't be used to add actual article text. --tronvillain (talk) 13:59, 5 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
This may all be irrelevant since it's nominated for deletion, but we'll see how the discussion goes. --tronvillain (talk) 19:32, 9 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Done. I hesitate between the actual boxart and the full original art from whicht he boxart was made and opted for the latter for now. Ben · Salvidrim!  20:54, 4 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Done Ben · Salvidrim!  20:54, 4 November 2018 (UTC)Reply

Requests edit

If anyone is in the mood to take requests for retro games, here are some games that I would like to see images for, if you feel like grabbing any to complete!  :) 208.47.202.254 (talk) 20:05, 31 October 2018 (UTC)Reply

Working my way through these. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 10:50, 5 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
In Progress
Is this different to the Operation Thunderbolt arcade game?
Yes, it's part of the Jaunt Trooper series which can help with searches. I've found the discs but following up a lead for the cover CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
I've heard back from User:MegaCorp (creator of Mission Thunderbolt) and he's stated that this is a cropped variant of the cover which I think should be good enough. Any objections? CrimsonFox talk 12:04, 8 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Is this a notable video game? Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 16:06, 15 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Not sure but attempted to following up with the creator. CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Name has me defeated sadly. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 16:06, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Contacted developer CrimsonFox talk 21:58, 9 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Searched but no results
Couldn't find a cover for either the first or second games. I did add an infobox for the series. BTW, we wouldn't usually have an infobox for each individual game in a series article like this. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 16:14, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Sadly no cover I could find. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 16:15, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Nothing found CrimsonFox talk 14:46, 8 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Alternatives found (Discussion may be required)
Found this advertisement which might be the closest we'll get CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Not entirely sure there is a cover art for this. Looks like it was a floppy release, but the closest I've found was this on WikiVisually, or this main screen page Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 12:23, 5 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
  Done Ben · Salvidrim!  15:48, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
I found this which is a page from Adventure International (1981). The images they use tend to be close to or the actual cover art from the issues I've checked. CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
  Done - Instruction manual CrimsonFox talk 21:58, 9 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Found a cassette image but yet to find any cover. CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
I could only find the manual here Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 12:39, 5 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
https://videogamegeek.com/image/3864125/starfleet-orion was the closest I got. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 15:45, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
I uploaded a page; not sure if cover art or manual. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 16:21, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply

CrimsonFox talk 22:44, 8 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

CrimsonFox talk 23:00, 8 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

Nothing found CrimsonFox talk 14:46, 8 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
  Done Instruction manual

CrimsonFox talk 21:58, 9 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

CrimsonFox talk 20:37, 13 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

  • Time Trek   Done - Manual scans are too low quality, advert is probably the next best option
  • Labyrinth (1980 video game)   Done - Image from manual/hint sheet, and yes, that's a typo in the creators name.

CrimsonFox talk 10:44, 14 March 2019 (UTC)Reply


Done
This game had a poor title, so I moved it. I also think it should be merged with the primary topic of Trek-80. Incidently, this is probably the correct cover: [2] Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 12:23, 5 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
  Done Ben · Salvidrim!  15:48, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Is this done? The article only has the main title screen in the infobox. Archive link for Lee's image CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Couple of reverse image searches and here's the original size version of the one User:Lee Vilenski found   Done CrimsonFox talk 15:10, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
I put it the series logotype. Alternatively we could use the comic cover I guess. Ben · Salvidrim!  16:02, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
I think series logotype fits perfectly like Halo (franchise) and Final Fantasy, I would say   Done CrimsonFox talk 18:51, 8 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Merge   Done CrimsonFox talk 21:01, 10 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

One more I was wondering about: Serpentine (video game) has an image, but it is much smaller than the pictures found in most infoboxes. Is it appropriate to replace with a larger one? 208.47.202.254 (talk) 19:30, 15 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

Colour quality is poor and it's not very legible. I've found a better version.   Done CrimsonFox talk 10:03, 16 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
No idea. Sorry, couldn't find. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 15:17, 16 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
Originally called DragonBlade. Attempted contact with the creator. CrimsonFox talk 10:17, 7 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Added cover/Promo art from Ryan Best CrimsonFox talk 08:27, 9 April 2019 (UTC)Reply

I've added more, but the bot wants to sign for me. :) 208.47.202.254 (talk) 00:41, 13 April 2019 (UTC)Reply

Great sources edit

These two pinterest boards by a Japanese collector gathers a lot of hard-to-find retro game covers, lot of Apple II, sure to be useful: https://www.pinterest.ca/anz1230034/ Ben · Salvidrim!  15:47, 11 March 2019 (UTC)Reply

Coordination edit

Thanks again to Lee Vilenski for help with organizing the drive to reduce the backlog in this category, and to Adam9007, Alucard 16, Evad37, Izno, KGRAMR, lowercaserho, Reach Out to the Truth, Salvidrim!, SoWhy, tronvillain, X201, and Zackmann08 for participating in discussions and/or adding images.  :) It was suggested on the WP VG talk page that this would be a good place to conduct discussions about coordinating efforts to reduce the backlog, so if you are interested then you may want to add this category page to your watchlist! 73.168.15.161 (talk) 03:22, 1 November 2018 (UTC)Reply

A think a larger proportion of the thanks needs to highlight Evad37's lightning-fast creation of a cover upload user script. :D Ben · Salvidrim!  04:11, 1 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
100% credit should be aimed towards Evad37, who has allowed us to make a dent in this.
I think it's important to list games that we have already attempted to find cover art for, and list reasons why this might be difficult - especially if the only image would be on the case itself. Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 08:17, 1 November 2018 (UTC)Reply
I've been thinking about this and thought that adding the information to the WPVG template might be a good solution. Currently it's got "cover=y" to indicate the need for a cover, to expand on this I'n thinking we add three things
  1. cover=none to indicate no art can be found
  2. cover=alt to indicate alternative identifying art has been used
  3. A second option, "covernote=<short note>" which can be used to either indicate details about a search for the art or details about the alternative art
It means the information can be readily available for anyone looking at the talk page and we can have a couple of extra categories to better organise. Any opinions? CrimsonFox talk 19:20, 12 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Well, there's nothing that states the image in the infobox has to be a cover art piece. Personally, if it can't be found, something pertinent should be placed instead. In these cases, we should remove the tag from the article. I suggest putting a message on the main WT:VG page about this suggestion. Best Wishes, Lee Vilenski (talkcontribs) 19:45, 12 March 2019 (UTC)Reply
Thanks, I will do, I just wanted to see if anyone here had an opinion as you've been working on this longer than I have, it's just what I've noticed over the short time doing it (I also didn't want to go in with a half baked suggestion which has an obvious problem I hadn't noticed!). I definitely agree on the fact it doesn't have to be cover art though I do believe for the sake of consistency that's what should be the first preference (as that's what seems to be the case already) and maybe MOS:VG needs to reflect or mention alternatives, order of preference and situations such as re-releases, 2nd editions etc. Thanks for the input, CrimsonFox talk 20:36, 12 March 2019 (UTC)Reply