That is all. Now back to your regularly scheduled programme...
(Correct spelling and capitalization is important so that the system can properly link games together based on people's names.)
As with everything you contribute, you get contribution points for adding developers. Each developer added is 1/4th of a point, but you get 2 points right off the bat for contributing developers. So, if you added 8 developers to an entry, you'd get 4 points: 2 for being willing to contribute developers, and 1/4th of a point for each developer.
We've retroactively granted more contribution points to people who have been willing to send them in, so check your contribution rating--it might have jumped up.
Being a historical preservation project, we try to track down rare covers, since they serve as a historical barometer of what gamers were looking for (and what companies were marketing). For example, we're trying to amass all of Electronic Arts' "flatbox" boxes; check out Pinball Construction Set, Music Construction Set, Starflight, or Timothy Leary's Mind Mirror for some examples (be sure to click on "More Covers").
Now is probably a good time to mention that off-site backups of the code and database are made about once a week, so even if the server that housed MobyGames literally exploded, it could be reconstructed.
C'est la vie, I guess.
- The Top Ten has now been expanded to the Top Twenty, and requires 5 votes to appear on it.
- Game Groups have been added. This is one of the most potentially powerful core features of MobyGames--it is now possible to relate games together with almost any criteria. For example, there are some games based on H. P. Lovecraft that should have been linked together, but weren't because they weren't sequels or prequels. Now they will. Watch for these "game groupings" in the upcoming weeks and we think you'll be as excited as we are.
- The Feature Article of the Month code is in place. Look for our first Feature article in the next 36 hours.
- You can now not only view past polls, but vote in them as well.
- The past Tips of the Day can now be viewed; same goes for Game of the Week.
- The ability to grant extra bonus Contributions Points exists. This feature will be used sparingly by us to grant recognition to those who contribute in ways directly unrelated to the database itself, such as a physical donation of games, writing a feature article, etc.
- "Platform" is clickable in the rap sheet.
- Users can choose which Rating Categories are relevant when adding a game entry. This is best illustrated when you add a game using the Game Wizard, so add a game today to see what we mean.
And, according to Brian, "a few nasty bug fixes that I should have rolled out a long time ago" for good measure.
Also, a quick reminder that we're happy to take requests. Someone wrote in describing a game that we recognized as Flightmare, so we added it to the database.
And, of course, if you run a fan site and don't see your favorite game here, add it! Or tell us to add it.
Multi-Platform Support: Moby now represents five gaming platforms: Booters (no OS), DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95/98/NT/2000, and Linux. Seperating each platform allows us to track additional information about the games and also add a whole new class of games to Moby--Linux games! If a game was released for multiple platforms, there's only a single game entry to the database. Within the game, the ratings, requirements and reviews are associated with a particular platform.
MobyGames Giveaway: Jim and Brian have created the MobyGames Giveaway! We're giving away a portion of our personal game collection to people who have helped out above and beyond the call of duty. It basically boils down to this: free games. Check it out for details.
Game Trivia: Users can now contribute trivia about a game through the "Contribute" link on the Rap Sheet. Each trivia item contributed earns one contribution point. (Don't worry; the previous trivia items were converted and the original game contributors were retroactively credited.) A game can have as many trivia items as needed, so please feel free to share those interesting bits of information with everyone else.
Companies: Ask and ye shall receive: Users can now add companies to the database. If when adding a game you enter a company that doesn't exist in the database, you now have the option of adding it. Each company added earns one contribution point.
Login System: We have made a slight change to the logon system which will prevent the "Auto-Logout" problems that some users were experiencing (especially AOL users).
We are really excited about this new code rollout and invite everyone to try out the new features and modifications.