The site includes a Game Names database where games that have been submitted and/or published to the site are automatically added. This database can be edited using the Game Names Editor.
Each game, whether individually released or part of a multicart, has its own numbered entry. For example, Super Mario 64 has its own page, and so do Super Mario All-Stars: SMB3 and Quattro Adventure: Treasure Island Dizzy. The entries are sorted by console, specifically by the date of each platform's implementation into the site, and then by game name in alphabetical order.
Why is maintaining the database via the GNE important? Items in the Game Select drop-down menu on Userfiles and the movie submission page are directly taken from the available game name entries. Besides that, the YouTube tags listed for each entry have an impact on Google and YouTube search priority for our runs and game pages, enabling more curious people to find TASes of their favorite games.
It is the responsibility of vested editors and staff to keep the game names correct, the YouTube tags relevant, and the list free of unacceptable games.
Despite the importance of contributing via the Gamenames Editor, it can be daunting and frustrating to figure out how. This guide aims to ease the process by explaining how to add to and edit the page.
Table of contents
Getting started
First, you should familiarize yourself with the layout of the page. From left to right, each game entry consists of:
- The game ID number
- The name of the game
- The information column
- A link to the page for that game
- Links to edit parts of the entry
Now let's go over the columns of the GNE and what each one means.
ID #
The number by which the site recognizes a game. It can only be edited by those with access to the site code.
Name
The full title of the game, beginning with the platform it runs on.
Data
This information is also shown in the "Information" and "Related games" tabs of a game's Game Information page. You can edit these fields by clicking the Info and Relations links. The "Search key" is the URL for the game's homepage, generated using the game name.
Info
The Info page link is to the game's homepage, where all game information appears. If the game has a published movie, the link will open to a "Current publications" tab by default. Otherwise, it will open to the "Information" tab.
Edit
This column is only visible for vested editors and staff.
The Info link allows you to edit everything in the Name and Data columns.
The Relations link allows you to connect related games and add games to groups. These relations will appear as new rows in the Data column and a new tab on the game page.
Editing the Entries
Info
The System is the platform the game runs on. The consoles are listed in order of their date of introduction to the site. To find a system more easily, click to open the menu and type out a console's name or abbreviation to jump right to it.
The Goodtools name is the name of the game listed in the GoodTools suite. The GoodTools suite doesn't always use the official game name, so the name might be different than you think: the GoodTools name for A Boy and His Blob is actually "Boy and His Blob, A". Make sure you always check GoodTools or do an Internet search for the ROM name to find this.
The Display name should be the full title of the game, with no abbreviations or nicknames. For example, this game's title is Super Mario Bros., not SMB or Mario. If you don't know the full title of a game, check its submission or publication page or do an Internet search for it.
The Abbreviation is the most commonly used abbreviation for the game. For example, Mega Man 2 is often abbreviated "MM2" by both gamers and TASers. If the game doesn't have a common abbreviation, you may make one up.
The Resource page field should contain a link to the GameResources page for the game, if one exists. The link will only be valid if it is in the format "GameResources/(System)/(Gamename)". For example, for this page, you would type "GameResources/N64/MarioKart64".
The Youtube tags allow people to find YouTube encodes of TASes for the game through Google and YouTube's search feature. Include keywords from the game name and popular abbreviations, broken up into one or two-word groups. This will make the game easier to find for people who only remember part of the name or only know a very different international title. Tags should be separated by commas, with no extra spaces in between.
When you've filled out all of the fields, press the Save button to return to the GNE's main page.
Relations
Relations is where you add games that are related to the game you're editing, if applicable. These options mark your game entry as something "of", "from" or "to" the related game.
Let's say the entry you're editing is Game X:
| Option | Relation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hack of | The base game of the hack Game X | Super Mario 74 would add "Super Mario 64" |
| Hack | A hack that has been made from Game X | Mega Man 2 would add "Rockman no Constancy" |
| Another platform | A very similar version of Game X on another platform | NES Super Mario Bros. would add "GBC Super Mario Bros. Deluxe" |
| Related | A similar, but not identical version of Game X | NES Battletoads would add "GB Battletoads"[1] |
| Multirun | A multirun that includes Game X | Mega Man X2 would add "SNES Mega Man X & X2" |
| Multirun of | A game played by the multirun Game X | Super Mario Bros., 2, The Lost Levels & 3 would add "Super Mario Bros. 2" |
| (No relation) | This clears all relations with that game |
The Link both ways checkbox will add the corresponding option to the related game as well. For example, when editing Super Mario Bros. and adding "NES Air 2 (Hack)", the checkbox will add "NES Super Mario Bros. (Hack of)" to Air 2's Relations page. This will save you the trouble of having to set the same relation for the other game yourself.
Remember to click the Modify button to save each related game to the entry.
Groups is where you add games of a series or unique gameplay style to a group.
To add a game to an existing group, select the group from the drop-down menu and click the Add button. If the group isn't named quite right, you can rename it by selecting the group name, typing a new name in the field to the right, and clicking the Rename button.
You can also create a new group by selecting "(New entry)" from the drop-down, typing the group name in the field to the right, and clicking Add. But beware: group entries cannot be deleted, so you first need to make sure that:
- The group does not already exist under a different name
- There are at least two games that could fit into the group
- The group would not be better as a larger group, like Puzzle League and the Tetris group[2]
- The group would not be better as a smaller group, like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck instead of one big Disney group
- The group is not attempting to connect games that are a certain genre or level of brokenness, or otherwise group what a movie class already groups
If you created a group by mistake, you can repurpose it. However, the amount of grouping you can do is limited by the number of ungrouped game franchises on the site (there are few left), so it's best to just avoid creating unnecessary groups.
Each change to this page is saved without automatically returning to the GNE, so you can either click the Back button in your browser or the "Back to main level" link to return there.
Beyond Editing
So now that you know how to edit game entries, what's next?
Creating New Entries
Someone starting a new TAS might post a WIP under the "(Default)" game entry. If it looks like the TASer might upload more WIPs and could benefit from organizing them under a new game entry, you could create one for them!
At the very bottom of the GNE, you'll see a link to "Create a new entry". You can click it and fill out the fields to create a new game entry for anyone to use!
When you're done, make sure to press the Save button. This is what tells the site to create the new entry.
(As a matter of courtesy, you can also let the author(s) know about the new entry by posting in the game's forum thread or private messaging them.)
Repurposing Entries
If an unimpressive hack or otherwise unacceptable game is rejected for not (ever) being publishable, you can completely revamp that game entry into a new entry for a game that could really use one.
This makes the Game Select list more efficient. By removing games that could never be seriously TASed, like video player carts and test programs, you make it easier for users to find TASable games on the list.
This power should be used sparingly. If the game has any chance of being published on the site, through something that barely makes it eligible for the Vault or surprisingly makes for an entertaining playaround, you should keep the entry. Take some time to decide what to do if you're not sure, or ask for a second opinion.
When you repurpose an entry, be sure to clear any submissions linked to it by editing the submissions and changing their Game Select field to "(Default)". Note that this only removes them from the GNE and Game Select list, and doesn't damage the submissions' legacy or impact on the site in any way.
If you are looking for a game to change an entry into, the best candidates are 1st edition games with TASes waiting to be published. These games normally have an entry created for them upon publication anyway, so you would be doing so early while getting rid of a bad game choice at the same time.
Also, game entries cannot be deleted, just like groups, so this would be a good way to deal with any entries or groups that were created by accident.
Game Descriptions
You can also add a description for each game on its respective game page. The description is found in the Description tab, and you can edit it by clicking the Edit link inside the tab.
Try to briefly explain the story and game mechanics, and perhaps the process of TASing the game (i.e. luck manipulation) too. There are many games that still need descriptions, so anything you can write would be appreciated!
Linking to Game Pages
You can link to a game's page using the formats "http://tasvideos.org/Game/(platform)-(search key)" and "http://tasvideos.org/(game ID #)G".
For example, "http://tasvideos.org/Game/nes-kirbys-adventure" and "http://tasvideos.org/41G" both lead to this page.
Feel free to link to game pages and groups when editing movie descriptions and wiki pages. Game pages give visitors all the information they need to know about a game, and automatically display the newest publications of even hotly-contested games. And groups can introduce visitors to more runs that they would enjoy watching – the ultimate "click for more" link!
It is our goal to utilize these pages to improve the interconnectivity of the site.
TODO
Let this page not be an orphan Game Database.
[1] The Game Boy version of Battletoads has the same gameplay as the NES game of the same name, but different levels. Therefore, it gets this specification of "Related" instead of "Another platform". Do note though that the game NES Battletoads exists on Game Boy under the name Battletoads in Ragnarok's World, and can get the "Another platform" setting.
[2] Puzzle League is one of many different style puzzle games released under the Tetris title. It is also known as Tetris Attack.