[Actually this is one day early...but I have to work on New Years]

Congratulations!
To the new 2009 MobyUsers that have made it to ...
The 2009 Top Contributors Hall of Fame:

Patrick Bregger German member since Apr 04, 2009 with 13517 points;
Charly2.0 German member since Apr 17, 2009 with 13128 points;
Duduqaz Brazilian member since Mar 12, 2009 with 4577 points;
Mok Polish member since Apr 03, 2009 with 1964 points;
comper United States member since Apr 19, 2009 with 1911 points.

The MG 2009 Hall of Fame consist of:

13 Americans (+1);
7 Germans (-1);
4 Russians (+1);
4 Swedes (-1);
3 Brazilians (0);
3 Belgians (+1);
3 Canadians (+1);
2 Dutch (0);
2 Poles (0);
1 Australian (0);
1 French (+1);
1 Greek (0);
1 Israeli (0);
1 Romanian (+1)
1 Spaniard (+1);
1 Ukrainian (0)
1 Worldwide (+1);
And there's Mat who is now claiming he's Japanese (+1).

United Kingdom and Greece have been demoted from the 2009 list.

Top #1 Game Contributors 2009:

New Game Entries: Patrick Bregger (new member) submitted 570 games and their descriptions (335 in by Big John WV in 2008);
New Game Credits: Sicarius submitted 92 credits entries (117 in 2008);
New Game Cover Art: joyvalley submitted 5587 cover art entries (3970 in 2008);
New Screenshots: Macs Black submitted 9509 screenshots (4550 in 2008);
New Reviews: NeoJ (new member) submitted reviews 47 (39 by vicrabb in 2008).

Sorry, can't seem to find the stamina to update the complete list. Must be an aging thing. :p Hope someone else can complete it.

Have a lovely New Year 2010.

It was a wonderful year, the amount of new game entries, cover art sets and screenshots was immense...

Here's a little treat of something (a css redesign) that may or may not happen. Likely the latter, or in a very different form, so I'll just throw it in for fun.

Where can I get the "Edit this game" link? :p

In your dreams =)

Pretty! And congrats all!

Congrats to all on having way too much time on their hands!

And boo to you for not mentioning me! :P

Congrats to Kit on surviving all those earthquakes! =)

So you heard about the 5.8er (which was followed by a 4.8) that hit us earlier today, huh? I didn't think Brazil cared. :P

And yes, those quakes were about 10 miles away from my hometown. What's worse, there's people actually living in that area!

A big well done to Patrick Bregger, coming in as a new user and topping the charts.

And I want to put myself in the Hall of shame. I did not contribute much this year, I should of done much more :(

Me too :(

The MG 2009 Hall of Fame consist of:...

Why did you leave me out of your list?

1 Israeli.

And I guess nobody will ever notice that I have 70000 points? And that I'm all-time Nr. 2 now? And that I scored 17000 points in 3 months?...

Well... I'll try to care less for that. It just feels damn unfair, especially since I posted so many of those congratulations news to other people.

I congratulate your for your awesome work. It is always a pleasure to read about these Asian games which I have never heard about and will never play. I also like your screenshots descriptions.

Well Unicorn, I personally and sincerely congratulate you for your solid contributions as a fellow Japanese game freak. But really, while I understand your frustration, that's what you get for contributing to a database that seems to put member rankings before quality contributions.

It's been a long pet peeve of mine, but this year's hall of fame has definitely convinced me that this database is primarily made by US people for US people. I had my doubts before and couldn't understand why MG would be so biased and ill-informed about Japanese machines. As you know, I consider filing PC-98 games under DOS as informative as filing CPC games under CPM. In my little gaming freak circle, we even started meeting people complaining that their PC-98 "ROMs" don't work under DOSBox, although MG mentioned those were "DOS" games. We had some good laughs!

I personally consider your work as quality contributions. It's just a shame that the efforts you put into informing uneducated gamers are not supported by a proper infrastructure. I resumed my participation to MG lately -- mainly mundane and generic corrections. But, amongst other things, I still and will always refuse to add PC Engine games under the TurboGrafx category. It just doesn't make any sense, plain and simple.

While I see and support your point with PC-98, I don't understand this. PC Engine and TurboGrafx are the same. Japanese and American games run on either (with the correct adapters and/or region lockout hacks, of course). This includes CD games.

Do you also refuse to add Japanese Mega Drive or Famicom/Super Famicom games because MG lists them as Genesis and NES/SNES?

Sorry, but no. I don't think an US-centric site would hold so much D size screenshots. ;o)

As you know, I consider filing PC-98 games under DOS as informative as filing CPC games under CPM

There have been plenty of discussions concerning the PC98. I do agree that classifying it under a separate platform is more precise. However, there are also arguments in favor of classifying PC98 games under DOS. The operation system of PC-98 for gaming purposes was MS-DOS. Don't forget that even most self-booting PC-98 games still have io.sys, msdos.sys, and command.com files on their disks. Many others run with MD-DOS installed on the hard drive.

The main problem here is that we have DOS as a platform, generally. If this platform was named "IBM PC", and DOS, Windows 3x., and Windows reduced to tech specs - then I would 100% support classification of PC98 as a separate platform. But we don't have "IBM PC" platform. We have only games running under DOS, and since PC98 do run under DOS (Japanese), then they go there.

If you browse Japanese sites, you should know that many of them don't make any distinction between PC98 and DOS. They still refer to the old PC98 games as "DOS games". Because for the Japanese, PC98 is the equivalent of IBM PC in the West.

As I said, I totally see your point; I even started a new discussion about this recently on the forums. I'm still able to see arguments from both sides, though.

In my little gaming freak circle, we even started meeting people complaining that their PC-98 "ROMs" don't work under DOSBox, although MG mentioned those were "DOS" games. We had some good laughs!

Well, this is not an argument. PC Engine games won't run on a TurboGrafx. Super Famicom games won't run on a SNES. Japanese PS2 games won't run on a US PS2, unless the machine is modified. That doesn't make them all separate platforms. And why should ROMs that were specifically created for a certain emulator work under a totally different one?

Have you actually tried installing a Japanese DOS on an IBM PC compatible machine and running PC98 games this way? I can't do it because I don't have a computer that can run pure DOS.

I personally consider your work as quality contributions. It's just a shame that the efforts you put into informing uneducated gamers are not supported by a proper infrastructure.

My motto is: games first, infrastructure later. In my opinion, it's much more important to get the games into the database than to have a perfect infrastructure. Of course, I'd love a perfect classification system, and there are plenty of things in MG that make very angry - don't think you are the only one :)

But don't overlook the whole picture. MG began as an attempt to document a private collection of IBM PC games. It is, quite simply, amazing, that the site has grown into what it is now. We are like democracy: flawed, but there is still nothing better.

And that applies to documenting Japanese games, as well. There is no other site, no matter in what language, with so much information concerning Japanese-only games.

We can always correct the classification later. As an example: 5 or 6 years ago, there was no RPG main genre in MG. Just like that. Every RPG had to have another main genre (action, adventure, whatever). After a prolonged discussion, a new genre was introduced. Now we have RPG as the main genre. It's not that hard to change the infrastructure, but it is hard to document games, particularly writing good descriptions etc. That's why I focus on that.

There are over 200 PC98 games in the database now (I think I added all of them), with at least 200 more coming. It is more important that they are there, with acceptable descriptions and release info, than the fact they are classified under DOS with a PC98 tech spec.

But, amongst other things, I still and will always refuse to add PC Engine games under the TurboGrafx category.

Yes, I understand that many people are shocked because names like PC Engine, Famicom, and even Megadrive are totally absent in MobyGames. And personally, I agree that we should at least have short descriptions of platforms with alternate names. Why we have alternate titles in all languages for games, but no alternate titles for platforms is beyond me. But let's keep suggesting this feature, and maybe one day it will happen!

You know what's funny, though?

Recently, a couple of copies of Windows 98 for Japanese computers came into my hands. And guess what - they're for PC/AT and PC-98 systems. What do we do in that case?

And guess what - they're for PC/AT and PC-98 systems. What do we do in that case?

That's pretty much what I was talking about. You can install Windows on a PC98. As long as it's Japanese, it will work. Same goes to DOS. Japanese usually called DOS for PC98 simply "DOS", while Japanese DOS for IBM PC (very rare, I don't think there were exclusive games for it) was called "DOS/V".

Meaning that IBM PC and PC98 have lots of things in common. Also hardware wise: they use the same processors, RAM, hard drive, floppy discs, etc.

Graphics and sound are different, though. That's one of the reasons to consider PC98 a separate platform.

I actually came across a reference to DOS/V earlier today while looking up info on a Koei game on JP Wikipedia, and had no idea what it was. Though considering Koei's platform carpet-bombing tactics I guess I shouldn't be surprised they made games for it. :P

I actually came across a reference to DOS/V earlier today while looking up info on a Koei game on JP Wikipedia, and had no idea what it was.

DOS/V is basically Japanese DOS on IBM PC. Surprisingly, it was made only in 1992 or 1993, if I'm not mistaken, maybe even later. Meaning that until that time all Japanese DOS games were for PC98 only, because it's impossible to run a game in Japanese under non-Japanese DOS.

After DOS/V appeared, several games could run under it as well as under PC98 DOS.

Oh, you should well know by know we're ALL biased. We all have our own little pet projects that we want to see implemented. Depending on how it is presented, it may get accepted, rejected or simply ignored. We fight to our elbows in the approver forums about every little feature there is. If the argument is solid enough by either party, a consensus is made.

Basically when it comes to anything and everything in MG, live to fight another day: Just because it isn't acceptable now, doesn't mean it won't be accepted later. Basic rule is, just don't hold your breath. Find another pet project in the meantime. :)

The representation between between US Americans and Europeans on the top 50, based on population statistics, is almost equal. There is one US contributor in the top 50 for each 23.63 million Americans in the States, while there is one European contributor in the top 50 for each 26.65 million Europeans. And this is ignoring the Brazilians, Israeli, Australians, etc.

These statistics are based on those given by the CIA, however, which according to Eurostat is out of date. It gives the population of Greece, for example, as being 10.73, while Eurostat gives 11.26.

As for Brazilians, we have 1 Brazilian contributor for each 64.1 million Brazilians.

I win. I represent 200 million dodo's. :p

Oh, get over it Oleg. Israel (you :p) is already there. Besides, we're a bit too old for ego demands all the time, time for the young ones to shine.

Next year I'll put you under "Hentai" instead of "Israel", so your brain won't misread it next time. :)

Next year I'll put you under "Hentai" instead of "Israel", so your brain won't misread it next time. :)

Ouch... :)

"Why did you leave me out of your list?

1 Israeli.

And I guess nobody will ever notice that I have 70000 points? And that I'm all-time Nr. 2 now? And that I scored 17000 points in 3 months?...

Well... I'll try to care less for that. It just feels damn unfair, especially since I posted so many of those congratulations news to other people." -Oleg-

Why is always about you? Goodplay Mr. Modesty.

Why is always about you? Goodplay Mr. Modesty.

How should I answer this question without hurting your tender feelings, Mr. Megid? Indeed, why do I get more points and more positive attention than you? Err... Maybe - just maybe - it is because I add quality entries, while you submit bad fanboyish reviews with way, too, many, commas?

Oh, and maybe also because I don't try to submit reviews that bad-mouth other people?

Good come back geek! Why are you so full of yourself? Did your Mommy tell you how special you were?

Or did your uncle spoil you, for not telling people where he touched you?

Besides the post is top NEW members. Are you a new member? No. So that is why you are not on here. Read the topic first next time.

Okay, that's it. I asked the admins to deal with this little pisser.

I prefer Jacob Quinn to this Megid guy. Jacob Quinn doesn't try to hide that his life is an unfunny joke. ;(

I prefer Jacob Quinn to this Megid guy. Jacob Quinn doesn't try to hide that his life is an unfunny joke. ;(

You see, whenever you start thinking it just can't get worse, it does.

Besides, Jacob Quinn uses better punctuation.

And I guess nobody will ever notice that I have 70000 points? And that I'm all-time Nr. 2 now? And that I scored 17000 points in 3 months?...

Well... I'll try to care less for that. It just feels damn unfair, especially since I posted so many of those congratulations news to other people.[/Q]

Calm down dude it's only game reviews, most people on here only do this as a hobby not to be idolized like a God are you that emotionally needy that you need recognition for things you did?

Plus honoring peoples achievements on the site should be done as a nice gesture not so they can owe you a favor later.

Congratulations! Well done and happy new year, full of contributions twice as much.

As for new redesign: shiny!

And speaking of reviews, I want to give kudos to Kadath Bird, my favorite moby-reviewer of 2009 and, of course, the ever-green Unicorn Lynx. Your reviews are always a pleasure, guys.

On the whole, however, it appears to me that less reviews were written in 2009 in comparison to other years. Can someone confirm that?

Congratulations everyone!

That new CSS looks nice!

Congratulations, MobyTeam... and a Happy New Year for all! :-D

Dr. or St. or whoever Martyne is, he is the best forum participant of all times. Congrats pal, personally!!!

Happy New Year to my Ukrainian fellow and to all people around the world. 2010 is a magical number. I wish to all of us multiplication of everything that was good in our lives by 2 at least and to divide by 2 everything that was evil or bad. So, BE VIGILANT! (sorry, if it is (r) quote from BASS, but it is very actual in our times).

Six kids or more? Oh noooooooooo... :o)

But first and foremost, congrats to all the busy contributors, and a happy new year to all.

Thank you, my fellow countryman!

Unfortunately, apart from being an awesome forum member I kinda neglected my contribution duties this year. So, I cover my head in shame with the rest of underachievers here.

Nevertheless, thanks for your kind words. And, of course, seeing a Ukrainian in the Top is always a pleasure. Congratulations!

Not quite sure how to confirm this...but as of this post:

838 Approved
119 Pending
31 Rejected
327 Work In Progress

Er...is this for 2009 or since MG was founded?

Well, I'm not claiming anything. But on MobyGames under that field it doesn't say "Nationality" but "Current location", and I change that field accordingly. At the moment I'm living in Tokyo, Japan, but when I return to my country I usually update the location field. At the moment, my location is Japan, my nationality is not, but there is no field asking that question, just to clarify on any confusion I may have inadvertently caused you :)

Hehe. Just my sense of dry humor, mate. Closest thing we'll ever have to a real Japanese I suppose.

Those stats are for 2009. They're far Higher than I otherwise would have assumed.

Ah, the first flame of 2010. Not much has changed. :p

I'm in the list :D! Thanks to all the people who approved my reviews, even with my annoying english...