Difference between revisions of "Editing Rules"

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(Songs)
(Music Submission)
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==Music Submission==
 
==Music Submission==
* Games must be at least 10-years-old to be featured in the VGMPF. The majority of videogame soundtracks are still owned by their respective copyright holders, and a decade-long buffer will help alleviate legal issues. We realize that copyrights last for 95 years after publication, but some bending of the rules is made in order to prevent this music from falling into obscurity.
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* '''All games must be at least 10-years-old'''
* Music should be recorded using the software that offers sound quality most accurate to the original.
+
** The majority of videogame soundtracks are still owned by their respective copyright holders, and a decade-long buffer will help alleviate legal issues. We realize that copyrights last for up to 95 years after publication, but some bending of the rules is made in order to prevent this music from falling into obscurity.
* Music that loops in the game should also be looped in the recording. Include 2 total plays through the track (one full time through, and then a full loop). The third time through should be a 10 second fadeout.
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* '''Music MUST be recorded into Ogg Vorbis format'''
* If the music is over 2 minutes in length, just include a 10 second fadeout without looping the music.
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** Unlike MP3, Ogg Vorbis is a truly free sound format so we'll never have to worry about paying royalties. It also compresses better than MP3.
* Music should be recorded into FLAC format if possible, if not, use Ogg Vorbis. Files uploaded in MP3 will be transcoded into Ogg Vorbis and a quality loss will be incurred.
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* '''Use this naming convention for Ogg files'''
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** Track - Game Title - Platform - Song Title.ogg Track should be two digits with leading zeroes, and the platform is all caps.
 +
** For example: "05 - Chrono Trigger - SNES - Memories of Green.ogg"
 +
** Don't forget to update the meta tags.
 +
* '''Timing is important'''
 +
** In order to offer a nice listening length, music that is looped in a game should be recorded with two loops (one full play through, and then one full loop) and then a ten second fade out. However, if a single loop is over 2 minutes long, then don't bother with the second loop, just have a ten second fade out when the second loop starts. This will keep songs at a tolerable length.
 +
* '''Strive for the most accurate sound'''
 +
** Because this site is meant to preserve videogame music as a historic media, all music should be recorded using the software that offers sound quality most accurate to the original.
  
 
==Graphics==
 
==Graphics==

Revision as of 11:59, 24 August 2010

Music Submission

  • All games must be at least 10-years-old
    • The majority of videogame soundtracks are still owned by their respective copyright holders, and a decade-long buffer will help alleviate legal issues. We realize that copyrights last for up to 95 years after publication, but some bending of the rules is made in order to prevent this music from falling into obscurity.
  • Music MUST be recorded into Ogg Vorbis format
    • Unlike MP3, Ogg Vorbis is a truly free sound format so we'll never have to worry about paying royalties. It also compresses better than MP3.
  • Use this naming convention for Ogg files
    • Track - Game Title - Platform - Song Title.ogg Track should be two digits with leading zeroes, and the platform is all caps.
    • For example: "05 - Chrono Trigger - SNES - Memories of Green.ogg"
    • Don't forget to update the meta tags.
  • Timing is important
    • In order to offer a nice listening length, music that is looped in a game should be recorded with two loops (one full play through, and then one full loop) and then a ten second fade out. However, if a single loop is over 2 minutes long, then don't bother with the second loop, just have a ten second fade out when the second loop starts. This will keep songs at a tolerable length.
  • Strive for the most accurate sound
    • Because this site is meant to preserve videogame music as a historic media, all music should be recorded using the software that offers sound quality most accurate to the original.

Graphics

  • Screenshots must be in PNG format at the same resolution of the game in native mode (do not use scalers, anti-aliasing, color enhancement, etc.).
  • Box scans must be in JPG format. Large scans that are clean from company watermarks are preferred.

Albums

  • If the album contains music from more than one game, include a "Game" column in the track list table.


Companies

Composers

  • The composer's gameography should include every unique title for each game. For example, Wario's Woods and ワリオの森 are the same game, but they have different titles that may be searched for.


Foley Artists

  • The foley artist's gameography should include every unique title for each game. For example, Wario's Woods and ワリオの森 are the same game, but they have different titles that may be searched for.


Formats

Games

  • The game description should be brief detailing the style of game play and the story.
  • The music descriptions should detail the genres covered, the software/hardware used to make the music, and any special information about the music itself.
  • The rip description should include the method used for extracting the music from the game's data files.
  • The first screenshot should always be the title screen.
  • Remaining screenshots should cover different sections of early game play including menus, dialog, action, etc. Screenshots should not contain spoilers.
  • Audio credits should be listed as they appear in the game, where applicable, but real names should be added when an alias is used by a composer.
  • Release information should display the full publication name found at mobygames.com (e.g., Nintendo should be listed as "Nintendo, Co., Ltd." or "Nintendo of America, Inc.", not just "Nintendo")
  • Accurate release dates can be obtained from gamefaqs.com

Platforms

Players

Songs

  • The length of the song should be the rip's length at a single play. It should not include the length of a second loop or fadeout, unless the fadeout is part of the original song. For example, the recording of the Bionic Commando Theme is 2:19 long, but that includes two total loops and a 10 second fade out. However, the NSF rip only goes for 1:05 before it loops. Thus, the length of the song is listed as 1:05.
  • The song's title should be sourced, and any variations should be noted. For example, the Secret of Mana song Fear of the Heavens is sometimes also translated as "Angel's Fear". If a suitable official source (album, meta-tag, etc.) cannot be found for a title, the song should be noted as an unofficial title.