Zombient68 Posts: 24 Registered: 8/21/2017
zombient
# 1 - Posted on 10/10/2017 23:06:34

There ever going to be an option to log what consoles you own?

bezbot Posts: 19 Registered: 8/14/2017
nobboysbro
# 2 - Posted on 10/11/2017 0:14:15

Yeah I would kinda like that too along with different controllers. I own more than one 3DS and GBA systems (different color and variations) and own tons of different types of controllers. I've seen other sites do this like VGCollect and having a section for the hardware wouldn't seem hard to add.

Zombient68 Posts: 24 Registered: 8/21/2017
zombient
# 3 - Posted on 10/11/2017 0:24:18

That's true. I have a couple unique NES controllers that I'd like to log too. Different colors and shapes.

moho_00 Curator Backer Posts: 6844 Registered: 6/10/2011
moho_00
# 4 - Posted on 10/11/2017 16:13:05

This is definitely coming at some point! It's not as simple as you might think though. For starters, there are a lot of consoles out there. And it gets even crazier when you factor in accessories. I've been looking into this for a while now and it's just a matter of determining the best way to incorporate them into our database. Here are a few factors that come into play:

  • Colors - We sort of handled this with the "toys to life" lines by having separate entries for each color / variant, rather than relying on users to enter the appropriate "edition", so I suspect consoles will follow suit here
  • Regional differences - While essentially the same, the NES is certainly different from the Famicom, so does that warrant two separate entries? We don't do this for games and merely supply an alias name to have it pop up in searches, but that doesn't seem right for consoles, at least if the physical appearance and name are different.
  • Component breakdown - Again, using the NES as an example, it was released in the USA in a variety of packages. Some included two controllers, a lightgun, and TV / power cables. Should the individual items (console deck, controllers, lightgun, cables) be separate entries here and then we create compilation entries for things like "NES Action Set"? Or maybe skip accessories in the context of a console, so you'd need to manually load those in? What about cables, is that too granular / insignificant to even worry about? What about third party stuff, the list gets ginormous?
  • VGPC integration - We use VGPC to provide an estimated value, but that only works if our data matches what they have. I haven't looked in a while, but I seem to recall their data not lining up very well with hardware. While it's important we model the data so it fits here more than anything else, this is still something that comes into play.

Once all of that stuff is figured out, then we have to track down a full list of the stuff we want to load...then find images...then add them all on here. Unfortunately, it all just takes time, including lots of research.

That being said, I've sort of sprinkled in some hardware-related stuff like VMUs, certain controllers, Gamesharks, etc..so we're branching out, ever so slowly

Zombient68 Posts: 24 Registered: 8/21/2017
zombient
# 5 - Posted on 10/11/2017 22:01:29

That's really awesome. I figured there would be a lot more complicated than what it seems. Looking forward to it!

bezbot Posts: 19 Registered: 8/14/2017
nobboysbro
# 6 - Posted on 10/12/2017 1:10:07

I see how it can be tricky making all those decisions and figuring out everything. Thanks for taking it into consideration for the future.

Suede53 Posts: 11 Registered: 7/2/2018
# 7 - Posted on 7/27/2018 23:08:27

At the risk of raising a thread from the dead, I'd really like to see this added as well. If there's anyway I can could help, I would be more than willing.

loomdog32 Posts: 37 Registered: 11/11/2019
# 8 - Posted on 11/20/2019 3:46:24

I understand this is technically necroing a thread that is just over a year old, but it was only 12 threads down from the top...

This is a functionally I would definitely be looking for (as far as the NES/FC/FDS is concerned).
But yeah, VG.com doesn't even list all the licensed accessories for the NES, let alone all the other unlicensed stuff and other consoles.

Just being able to add the hardware, even without a "value" attached would be awesome! Having the "value" attached is icing on the cake!!

moho_00 Curator Backer Posts: 6844 Registered: 6/10/2011
moho_00
# 9 - Posted on 11/21/2019 0:59:20

I know it's been over two years since my post, but hardware is still something I plan to add to the site I've mainly been focusing on the platform libraries, but have been sprinkling in some accessories every now and then.