Difference between revisions of "Editing Rules"

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==Home Page==
 
==Home Page==
* News
+
* '''News'''
** News includes any topical posts about the videogame music industry. You can post when new soundtracks have been released, when composers have been interviewed, when podcasts have been published, etc. New additions to the Wiki should be placed in the Latest Updates section.
+
** News includes any topical posts about the videogame music industry. You can post when new soundtracks have been released, when composers have been interviewed, when podcasts have been published, etc. New additions to the Wiki should be placed in the Latest Updates section. This list should be limited to 5 news updates. So, each time you add an update, deleted the bottom one.
* Latest Updates
+
* '''Latest Soundtracks'''
** This section is to showcase major updates. Any new soundtrack, composer, format, etc. should be added here. Also, major updates to existing pages, like the addition of individual song pages for an existing game should also be added here.
+
** This section is only for new soundtracks. Each time a new recording has been uploaded, add a picture of the soundtrack with the title below. Because the site is currently designed to match 1080 resolution, limit this to 6 games.
 +
* '''Latest Updates'''
 +
** This section is to showcase major updates. Any major updates other than new soundtracks should be added here. This includes updated or re-recorded soundtracks, new composer or majorly updated composers, new formats or players, etc. Limit this list to 5.
  
 
==Music Submission==
 
==Music Submission==
 
* '''All games must be at least 10-years-old'''
 
* '''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.
+
** The majority of videogame soundtracks are still owned by their respective copyright holders, and a decade-long buffer will help alleviate legal issues. We will comply with all copyright holders to remove their intellectual property when they ask.
 
* '''Songs must come from the game'''
 
* '''Songs must come from the game'''
 
** The VGMPF does not allow tracks from official soundtracks, remixes, arrangements, etc.
 
** The VGMPF does not allow tracks from official soundtracks, remixes, arrangements, etc.
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==Albums==
 
==Albums==
 
* If the album contains music from more than one game, include a "Game" column in the track list table.
 
* If the album contains music from more than one game, include a "Game" column in the track list table.
 
  
 
==Companies==
 
==Companies==
 
  
 
==Composers==
 
==Composers==
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==Formats==
 
==Formats==
 
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
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==Platforms==
 
==Platforms==
 
  
 
==Players==
 
==Players==
 
  
 
==Songs==
 
==Songs==
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* A musical review of the song including which instruments are used and what musical genre the song can be assigned to.
 
* A musical review of the song including which instruments are used and what musical genre the song can be assigned to.
 
* Where in the game this song can be heard.
 
* Where in the game this song can be heard.
* How the song was ripped from the game, and it's internal file name if applicable.
+
* How the song was ripped from the game, and its internal file name if applicable.
 
* Any quotes from the composer about the song.
 
* Any quotes from the composer about the song.
 
* An image from the game where this song plays.
 
* An image from the game where this song plays.

Revision as of 19:43, 22 July 2012

Home Page

  • News
    • News includes any topical posts about the videogame music industry. You can post when new soundtracks have been released, when composers have been interviewed, when podcasts have been published, etc. New additions to the Wiki should be placed in the Latest Updates section. This list should be limited to 5 news updates. So, each time you add an update, deleted the bottom one.
  • Latest Soundtracks
    • This section is only for new soundtracks. Each time a new recording has been uploaded, add a picture of the soundtrack with the title below. Because the site is currently designed to match 1080 resolution, limit this to 6 games.
  • Latest Updates
    • This section is to showcase major updates. Any major updates other than new soundtracks should be added here. This includes updated or re-recorded soundtracks, new composer or majorly updated composers, new formats or players, etc. Limit this list to 5.

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 will comply with all copyright holders to remove their intellectual property when they ask.
  • Songs must come from the game
    • The VGMPF does not allow tracks from official soundtracks, remixes, arrangements, etc.
  • 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.
    • It is recommended that you keep your original recordings in FLAC format in order to have a lossless master file to work with.
  • Use this naming convention for Ogg files
    • "Track - Game Title - Platform - Song Title.ogg" The 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.). Temporary screenshot in JPG can be added, but they should be edited and given the "Needs Pixel Perfect Screenshot" category.
  • Box scans must be in JPG format. Large scans that are clean from company watermarks are preferred. If a box is low-quality or has a watermark, you should give it a "Needs Cleaner Box Art" category.

Albums

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

Companies

Composers

  • Games should be sorted by date unless the composer is not primarily a videogame music composer, in which case, games should be sorted by title. For example, Koji Konda is primarily a videogame music composer, so his games should be sorted by date, but Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle was not a videogame music composer, so his contributions are sorted by title.
  • Known exact dates should be sorted earlier than unknown dates, unless a game is known to have been released before another. For example, the unknown month gets dropped to the bottom of this list: 1991/05/06, 1991/09/17, 1991/??/??.
  • Games released on the same date should be sorted by title unless a game is known to have been released before another.
  • When games are sorted outside of the expected order, make a note in the Discussion page of the composer to explain why.

Formats

Games

  • The game description should be brief detailing the style of game play and the plot.
  • The music descriptions should detail the genres covered, the software/hardware used to make the music, game-specific composer information, 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 and the player used to record the soundtrack.
  • The first screenshot should always be the title screen.
  • Remaining screenshots should cover different sections of early game play including menus, dialog, action, etc. Try to avoid spoilers.
  • Audio credits should be listed as they appear in the game, where applicable. 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

Title

The source of the song's title should be included if it has an official name. If no official title exists, it should be noted that the title is unofficial. Other common unofficial titles should be listed as well. For example, the Secret of Mana song Fear of the Heavens receives its official title from the USA soundtrack. However, before the USA release, a Japanese bootleg release existed with the title "Angel's Fear".

Length

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 song only plays for 1:04 before it loops. Thus, the length of the song is listed as 1:04.

Description

The description of the song should include the following:

  • A musical review of the song including which instruments are used and what musical genre the song can be assigned to.
  • Where in the game this song can be heard.
  • How the song was ripped from the game, and its internal file name if applicable.
  • Any quotes from the composer about the song.
  • An image from the game where this song plays.
  • If the song has lyrics include them.
  • Any sheet music or tabs that can be found should be included.
  • Links to orchestrated versions, covers, remixes, can be added as well.

Screenshot

Each song should have a screenshot from every major section of the game where the song is played. For example, if a song is played during the title screen level 4 and level 7, there should be a screenshot of the title screen, and from levels 4 and 7. Limit spoilers unless it's unavoidable, for example, ending music.