Tips

Tip #18

Creating a user account allows you to contribute to the database and get a warm fuzzy feeling at the same time. :-) If you haven't already done so, click on "Create New Account" on the left-hand column to get started. You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Tip #29

Just because an entry already exists in the database doesn't mean you can't snag some contribution points for it. :-) Many entries still don't have screenshots, trivia, box covers, or developer credits. Go to any of these entries and click "contribute" to get started.

Tip #52

When adding credits that contain a "Jr." (like 'Robert D. Leonard, Jr.'), don't include the comma. If you do, it gets split up into 'Robert D. Leonard' and 'Jr.' as two different people. Simply omit the comma before the Jr. and it will get added correctly.

Tip #60

Clicking on the Technical Specs. for a game and then the ESRB rating (if there is one) will give you a list of all games in that rating. Cool! Especially for those who want to limit their selection list to those suitable for just kids (or just adults) etc.

Tip #51

When adding credits that contain a "Jr." (something like 'Robert D. Leonard, Jr."), don't include the comma. If you do, it gets split up into 'Robert D. Leonard' and 'Jr.' as two different people. Simply omit the comma before the Jr. and it will get added correctly.

Tip #40

Occasionally, a slip of the finger creates a duplicate developer entry. If you come across people in the database that are listed separately but are actually the same person, let us know by submitting a developer correction from one of the developer pages so that we can merge them together. Having one entry for one person is very important, for reasons of referential integrity and proper correlations to other games and developers.

Tip #34

If you're having trouble determining the exact year a game was published, check the title screen of the game, then the manual, then the fine print on the box. If those are unavailable, look at the dates of the files themselves. When all else fails, crack open a hex editor and start looking through the game code -- programmers usually jam copyright strings and other useful information in the game executable.

Tip #27

Entering a game and don't know what to enter in a particular field or checkbox? Aren't sure what the exact system requirements are for a game? Just leave it blank--we'll take care of it. :-)

Tip #73

If you use FireFox for your browser you can add a MobyGames Search Plug-in for it.

Tip #11

Early games had such simple graphics that screenshots were not effective in marketing the game, so conceptual illustrations were used instead. For an example of this, take a look at boxes from IBM or Funtastic games--then compare them to their screenshots. (This is not to say that Funtastic and IBM games aren't fun--they are--we're just using them as an example.)