It's been a long time coming, but I'm trying to finalize an approach for how we can support console hardware in our database. This is a deceptively complex problem to solve, but I have somewhat of a foundation in my head and I wanted to reach out for community feedback to make sure we're heading down the right path.

Generally speaking, I think we would have individual item entries for the main piece of hardware (i.e. control deck / console / handheld / whatever), accessories (controllers, memory cards, etc), and then separate compilation entries for hardware "bundles" (i.e. what you would buy at retail).

For example, let's talk about the NES. Perhaps one of the most well-known hardware "bundles" is the NES Action Set, which comes with two controllers, a Zapper, and Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt. We would therefore have a compilation entry called "NES Action Set" that would contain the following items:

• NES Control Deck
• NES Controller
• NES Controller
• NES Zapper
• Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt

These compilations would NOT include things like power cables, A/V cables, instruction manuals, etc. We'd only look for hardware, accessories, games, demo discs, and certain magazines (like strategy guides...which will be new as well )

So yeah, the NES Action Set seems pretty straightforward, right? Well, it's a little more complicated because there are actually three NES Action Set bundles that were released in North America (I think). One had a gray Zapper, one had an orange Zapper, and the third one also had an orange Zapper, but was released later on with a different box.

The NES had a variety of other bundles, such as the Challenge Set (with Super Mario Bros. 3...and two different versions), NES Deluxe Set (with R.O.B. and some games...plus a second version with Stack-Up), etc. Then on top of that you have NES "Top Loader" hardware revision, which had its own hardware bundle.

All told, I have 14 or so NES hardware bundles...for the USA alone! And that brings me to another point: it's A LOT of work to research and track things down to get them accurately loaded (which is why it's taken me so long to even get to this point)

Some systems are a bit easier, like Virtual Boy or Sega 32X. But others like PS1 and N64 are larger and more complicated. PS1 in particular is a pain because of the many hardware revisions. Should we have separate entries for "Sony PlayStation (1001)", "Sony PlayStation (5001)", etc? What about regional differences like "Sony PlayStation (1000)", which was Japan-only? How granular do we want to be? For other systems, what about things like microphones, head phones, link cables, etc?

But anyways, I just wanted to get this out there to start collecting some feedback since this has been a frequently requested feature (you'll find various threads sprinkled throughout the forums)

Bundles and collections always gotta be making things much more challenging, eh? Otherwise, this seems like it would be much more straightforward. I'm guessing hardware bundles are going to be similar to game compilations where you'll be stuck doing the brunt of the work to add them?

I'd always envisioned the hardware collecting user flow as something to the effect of:
Add Hardware -> Select Hardware Type (console/controller/etc...) -> Select Model # (and/or colour/style variations)

Since game manuals are tracked along with the games themselves via a checkbox, would it make sense to do the same, or similar, with the hardware manuals and tie it to the console entry itself rather than the bundle?

edit: I could see a case for "official" accessories like headphones, remotes, etc... as a starting point, but I wouldn't want to open the floodgates to the innumerable 3rd party items out there. The site's focus has always been games first, after all.

For different versions of the same thing like the PlayStation example, I'd say have one entry, but also a version field that's like the 'edition' field in the menu for the games.

Yep, from a collector's standpoint, I think having compilations with "verified" contents is the best approach. That inherently allows anyone to just add an NES Control Deck or NES Controller to their collection.

I do think there will need to be some changes to the Game Add / Edit modal depending on if your adding software or hardware. Things like format , achievements, status / %, backlogged, and now playing don't really make sense for things like consoles, accessories, and even toys to life entries. I could see having the various "condition" fields, but they would likely be different for hardware (or at least maybe we drop box / case and cart / disc?)

As for model numbers, the Edition field could definitely be used in some cases, but I'd rather the site split out colors (like N64 consoles), so that would sort of splinter things a bit (some things using separate entries and others relying on user input). I could potentially add a new Model Number field that's only available for hardware collection items, so maybe that's a good middle ground to start.