A note from the staff of RF Generation

Thank you for expressing an interest in contributing to RF Generation and its growing database. These guidelines will help you understand how our database works and hopefully answer all your questions as to how to submit games and game information. The more we all use these guidelines, the faster the submission review process goes for everyone involved.

Every bit of information is important and we appreciate all you do. Whether your submission is a small bit of info or a completely filled out page, we give credit on the game page to each item contributed. It's our way of saying thanks to the community and making each member a part of this website.

One thing to note however, is that we do not accept submissions of pirated games or illegal homebrews. Licensed or legal homebrews, however, are permitted.

If you do not understand something you see here in this guide, or have questions of any kind, please PM a staff member. We are here to help you and are all well-versed in how these submission scripts work.

What kind of game submissions are there?

In the top menu of the site under Submit Game Information, you have several links to scripts where you can add games and game information. Here's an explanation of each one in detail:

Add Game Additions - This is where you add new games if they aren't found after searching the database. Adding as much information as you can will greatly improve the time it takes for staff to review and approve them. Be careful of your spelling while you perform a search, often it's a minor spelling error that prevents you from finding the game you are looking for.

Add Game Variation - When you have a game that is similar but doesn't quite match the listing in the database, it may be a variation. After clicking the link you can search for the existing game you wish to make a variation of, then when you see the search results, choose the game you want and you'll be taken to the add game script that will have the title filled in for you. Examples of variations are Player's Choice/Greatest Hits/Platinum Hits titles, "Not for Resale", demos and others such as Limited or Collector's Editions.

Label variations, cover artwork differences, etc are not considered variations, but should be submitted as scans under the Add Game Image link for the game in question.

Also, if you have say for example an Italian language version of a U.K. game, or say a bilingual Canadian version of a North American game, this is where you submit it. If you have a game that appears to be a regionwide release but has extra manuals and/or covers wrapped around the original ones, submit that as extra media for the regionwide listing.

Add Game Edit - This is where you can add game information and extras such as reviews, trivia, etc to a game listing. You can also make corrections such as spelling, year correction, and anything else on the game page that may be incorrect.

Add Game Image Use this script to add scans to game listings and extra media as well. Each category is named for ease of use, but if you have scans you're unsure where to place, PM a staff member to help you.

What do each of the fields mean?

Title: This is where you type the title of the game your submitting. Must be the exact name of the game as shown on it's case. Also to make searches easier, we ask that you place "The" at the end of the title and before a subtitle where applicable. An Example is Legend of Zelda, The: Four Swords Adventures. If you have Limited or Collectors editions, see below.

Variation title: Mainly used for variation information such as distinguishing demos from retail releases, Player's Choice types versus original, and Limited Editions versus regular. When adding a new game currently not in the database using the "Add Game Addition" script, you shouldn't need to use this. If you find an exception or are not sure of the game you want to enter, PM a staff member to help you.

Alternative Title: Sometimes a game has a slang name or alternate title which some people may use for searches or discussion. An example would be Extreme G 3 versus XGIII. Something not technically an accurate name but nevertheless used by gamers. This alternate name, when typed in the search, will lead to the game listing with the proper name. Not every game has one, so don't feel obligated to find one for each title.

Console: This is where you choose the game system your game belongs to. If you have a game that was made for multiple systems like one made for both PC and Mac, submit it for the system you own it for. Feel free to submit it under the other system(s) it is listed for as well.

Country / Region: Take special note, as this one can get tricky from time to time. Regions are the geographic locations where a certain version of a game is released. Nine times out of 10 a game is a regionwide release. So when choosing region, make sure you look for that listing in the script i.e. North America (region wide), or Europe (region wide), as opposed to the country you live in. If you are absolutely sure you have a game released in only one of the countries of that region, then choose it, but only if you're 100% positive.

Also, if you live in a country or region that doesn't show up on our list, PM one of the admins. We can add the country or region for you.

*If you've selected the wrong country by mistake, or are adding a variation and need to choose something different, hold down the Ctrl key (or the Command key if you're using a Mac) and click the region listed. It will de-select it and bring you back to the main country list again. The same works if you've chosen the wrong rating.

Year: This is where you type in the year in which the game was released. Keep in mind that a year displayed on a title screen may not be the year it was released.

Part number: Sometimes as collectors and consumers we like to be super-accurate and detailed about our games. Other times we need detailed information for reference while purchasing or trying to make a game complete in box. That is why we have part numbers. They identify a game as well as help in determining what release they belong to, and if there are supposed to be multiple discs and sometimes even what region they are from. Part numbers can be found printed or stamped on the games themselves, and sometimes the manuals, cases and any extras a game comes with. As a rule of thumb, always submit the number found on the game itself first and foremost, since each part usually has its own number. That way, it's fair to those who may have loose games. Should there be multiple part numbers, place them after the first one with commas between them.

If a game has no part numbers at all, you can use ISBN numbers in their place. These are generally found, though not restricted to, the UPC box just above the scanner code. Sometimes there are two types, ISBN 10 and ISBN 13. If that's the case, choose the ISBN 10 number over the 13. If a game already has a part number or an ISBN 10, you can submit the ISBN or ISBN 13 as game trivia instead.

Here's an example of a game having an ISBN number above the UPC on the back cover scan added as trivia because of an existing part number:
http://www.rfgeneration.c...16/bb/U-016-S-05780-A.jpg

UPC / Barcode For decades, game boxes and cases have had UPC/barcodes on them. Beside the obvious retail usage, they provide us with another means to identify a game that is unique to each title. If you search for a game and it has a UPC listed on its page that doesn't not match yours, you may have a variation or perhaps the one listed is. If so, PM a staff member who works for one of the game database teams of that region that game is from and they will help you. When you add a UPC to a game addition or game edit, please make the number one long string i.e. 663593320121. If there are more numbers like 00100 in the upper corner, hit the space bar and add them in parentheses like this: (00100). As we standardize the database and bring uniformity to its listings, sometimes we have to go back and edit old entries to bring them up to standard. So if you see UPCs that don't follow this standard, such as spaces between numbers in the UPC, feel free to submit a page edit fixing them.

Also, if a game predates UPCs or simply doesn't have one, then type N/A in the UPC field to specify that it doesn't have one. Be 110% sure that it doesn't before you do!

Developer: This is where the company or individual who made the game gets their due. Not to be confused with the publisher. If you're unsure, type in who you think developed it and the staff will review it and change it if necessary. If the developer is the same as the publisher, simply copy/paste the same name into this field as well.

Publisher: Echoing what was written for the developer field, this one is for the publisher of the game. This is usually the name displayed most prominently on the front of the box in most instances. Again, if you're unsure, type in who you believe published it and the staff will review it and change it if necessary.

Genre: Here you choose the type of game it is. Pretty self explanatory but there are a few exceptions. A demo's genre is "Demo", and you can select its true type as its subgenre. A game that has two or more games on it is a "Compilation" and you can specify its type under the Subgenre field as well. If you haven't played the game before, don't make a random guess. Please either leave it untouched or look the game up online. The staff will always review this field as they do all others and make changes only when necessary.

Subgenre: Sometimes the Genre field is too vague, or only half-describes the type of game it is. When that happens, use the Subgenre field to choose another descriptive term. For example, if you have a game like Final Fantasy Tactics, it is a Genre: Strategy Subgenre: RPG, or a game like Super Mario 64 which is a Genre: Action/Adventure Subgenre: Platformer. Not every game needs or has a subgenre, so use your judgment in each case.

Players: This is where you type in how many players the game supports. Whether it's 1, 1-2, 1-2 Co-op, 1-16 Online etc., this is where it goes. Also, if a game requires a multitap for more than two players, add it as well i.e. 1-4 (Multitap) or whatever the name of the peripheral may be. If a game requires something not specified and needs a special note, add it to the instructions field further down the page with a page edit after your game has been added to the database, or as a page edit of an existing game.

Control Scheme: Unless the game requires a specialized controller, always use Standard Controller as your entry here. If it requires something unique, or supports something unique, add it to the field as well.

Here's a few examples for reference. Super Mario Bros.: Standard Controller, Guitar Hero: Standard Controller or Guitar Controller, Silent Scope: Standard Controller or Light Gun, Excite truck: Wii Remote, Super Mario Galaxy: Wii Remote + Nunchuk, Brain Academy DS: Stylus, Doom II (PC) Keyboard + Mouse.

As far as handheld game systems like the Game Boy, Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket Color etc., use System Controls as its control scheme. Sometimes this field can be a bit tricky as well, so PM a staff member if you need help.

Media Format: Another straightforward field, this is for the type of media a game comes on and is pretty self explanatory when you look through the list. Remember too that you can scroll the list, as there may be specific media types like "Wii Optical Disc" that should be chosen over "DVD". Also don't confuse 5.25" floppy for the 3.5" floppy. The 5.25" floppies are the large ones used in the 80's and early 90's while the 3.5" floppies are the ones we have all used up to just a few years ago.

Media Quantity: If a game has more than one disc/disk/cartridge/cassette etc., enter that number here. By default, it is automatically set to 0 because most games have a single media item and it keeps the "x1" which is unnecessary, off of the game page.

Game Rating: For many years games have had ratings to determine age-appropriate content in many parts of the world. From the ESRB in North America, to the ELSPA/PEGI in Europe, CERO in Japan, OFLC in Australia/New Zealand and many others specific to individual countries. There are also outdated rating systems like the RSAC, VRC etc, made by game companies to rate their own titles. This information benefits RF Generation not only as a reference for members when buying games, but also as a way to determine if a game has been entered into its proper region. For example, a staff member can determine that a game with a USK rating is German in origin, and its scans do not belong in the game listing for North America.

Not every game has a rating however, as it didn't become a common practice until the early 1990s. So when looking for the rating, keep that in mind. If a game is unrated, leave the Rating field blank. The game scripts also detect, based on region, what ratings system to use. So all you have to do is select the rating from the dropdown list and select the descriptors (if necessary) by clicking each one while holding down the "Ctrl" (or "Command" if you're using a Mac) key. If a game you're adding is missing its region's rating system or descriptors, PM one of the admins and they will add it.

Alternate Version IDs: This is where you can add IDs for other region versions of the same game. Let's say you're filling out information for the European version of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. You can add the IDs of the US (U-027-S-06330-A), Japanese (J-027-S-00080-A) and Canadian (U-027-S-06331-A) versions of the same game to this field. Using the "|" character to separate them, it'll look like this: U-027-S-06330-A|J-027-S-00080-A|U-027-S-06331-A. On the game page, the three versions of the game will be listed. This way, everyone will be able to click on them and it'll take them to each of them separately.

Overview: This is where you describe the game and its features. Not to be confused with a review, this is a summary of what the game is. You can choose to write it yourself or as many here do, type what is found on the back of the box/case. If you have a game with multiple languages, please feel free to type them too, the members who speak and read those languages will thank you for it.

Although it should be obvious, we hope that you will use caps, punctuation and HTML when needed, but the staff will review them and help out wherever they can. So don't feel intimidated if you don't know HTML, it's easy to learn, easy to use, and we'll help you figure it all out. You can also go to a game page that is filled out, click the submit info button, and view the methods and codes used to fill these fields out.

Review: Do you love the game? Hate it? Let us know. Keep in mind that we don't want people filling out hate reviews or fanboy rants, but good, honest perspectives on the game. Both positive and negative reviews are welcome and if a gamepage already has one, you can still add another to it. One other thing we ask is that you don't copy/paste someone else's review. Each part of a submission gets credited to whoever submitted it and it's not fair or right to steal someone else's hard work, in many cases it's actually illegal.

*Don't forget to add your name to your review like this page so we can keep multiple reviews separate!

Extra Media: Not a field you need to be concerned with when doing game page edits, this is part of the image section and is where the HTML of the Extra Media scans/pics are shown.

Related games: Does the game have a prequel, a sequel or a spiritual successor? This is where you can list that title. How it works is that each game in the database has its own ID. For example, the North American version of Ghostbusters for the NES has an a sequel called Ghostbusters II. Since they are related, you take the ID found on the game page for Ghostbusters II which in this case is U-027-S-02570-A and you add it to the "Related Games" field. If you have more than one to add, separate each one with the "|" character like this: U-027-S-02900-A|U-027-S-02910-A

Game Trivia: Fun facts and interesting tidbits of a game go here. Like specifics on its original retail price, release date, title changes during development, celebrity involvement, removed content, etc. Basically the kind of information you may not hear about anywhere else, but adds character to a game and its history.

FAQs / External Links: If you have a guide to beating the game or a walkthrough of a section or boss, feel free to place it here. As long as it's your original work and/or have the original author's permission it's accepted. Copy/pasting someone else's work is both illegal and immoral.

You can also link to the original publisher/developer websites or fansites devoted to the game in question, but the choice to include these links will be the prerogative of staff as we will have to check these sites for ourselves to protect RFGen's best interests. As with all other fields of contribution, you will be credited for any works linked or typed here.

Instructions: This field is used to listed the directions for playing the game. What buttons do what, what combos and how they are performed, that sort of thing. Sometimes a member will have a loose game with no manual or a sealed game, and they want to know what's printed in the manual so they can play it. This is the part of a game page they look at to find out how. If you have trouble with the HTML, just PM any staff member to help you. It's easy to do and you'll catch on in no time at all.

Easter Eggs: Hidden rooms, references to other games, programmer secret messages, that all goes here. A bit similar to the Game Trivia field, this one is solely for in-game, hidden content.

Game Credits: This is where we give the developers/programmers their due. Everyone from producers, artists, sound engineers, voice talent, programmers, you name it, they get listed here. When you make the list, make sure you specify what each person was responsible for doing.

Contribution: When you've reached the bottom of the page during a page edit, this is the last field you see. Here you type out what you have contributed to the site i.e. Part number, Year, Developer, Genre, Review, etc. How you type it is an indication of how the info credits attached to your name will be displayed on the game page. The scripts automatically add your name to the submission, so remember this field is where you type what you've done, not your name.