


SGIL - SOMAC Game Intelligent Listing Introduction:
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An easy text human readable game database for all unique games for several classic machines.

Just read the SGIL txt file and you'll see what I mean.



Logic people make logic databases, namely SGIL:
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SGIL database was constructed using own programmed tools to automatically/batch derive information from respective databases on the internet for classic gaming systems. A few thousands screenshots were snapshotted by myself for various systems.

The SGIL database is part of my homebuilt Arcade Console - SOMAC (Stone Oakvalley's Multi Arcade Console 2000) project!


The goal behind SGIL was to skip the rest, and leave the best. Keep the Genre specification down to a minimum and have IN-Game screenshot of every game available. 1-2-3.

It's seen from a gamer's perspective, not a collector or a "must_have_it_all" perspective.

It's not also a very good frantic collector's tool list or whatever, the SGIL Database is strictly based on "what do I want to play today, and how does it look. GIMME GIMME GIMME!"


High-up for SGIL:
* Covers a multitude of hardware <sett inn maskiner eher)
* Covers 28000 games split on mentioned hardware above.
* Most simple info needed to illustrate a game for a user. (Titlename, Genre, 1 x IN-GAME Screenshot)
* World's first 9 Genre Logic. (see below)
* Database available for everybody as a plain parsable text file (write your own tools if you want)
* Screenshots only as PNG (due to best compression), no JPG shit as these drastically increases the file size and the quality.
* Optimized screenshots with labeled titlename for quick loading purposes in own directory.
* Entires in the SGIL database is considered to be 90% correct in terms of
  Titlename, actual game filenaming, genre placing, and in-game screenshots.
* Filenames was verified with the respective tools needed. MAME (tm), Amiga, GoodTools, Dats, TOSEC etc.
* Titlename with ", The" was edited to be placed under the letter T instead. Also applies for ", A". why da heck not?!
* SGIL database is sorted Alphabetically on titlename.
* SGIL database contains a unique ID for each filename, except Amiga games which have same_ID multidisks with own separator
  for NUM_OF_DISKS. ID numbers are applied as this is much easier to search through, both manually and automatically.
* No file extension in the filename entry. This allows the files to be .SMC, .BIN, .ZIP or whatever you want. 
  The file extension you have control of in your own tool for instance. Like I did for my 3D Matrix Core Menu for SOMAC.

Low-down of the SGIL: (some are still positive, in respect of simple database rules)
* Titlenames not verified (as this is taken automatically from either gamename.zip or from databases on internet)
* Genre's may not reflect the soul of the game (as this is taken automatically from databases on internet)
* Actual filename inside SGIL may not be the "correct" one in respect for Goodxxx tools, TOSEC, DATS etc.
* Clones and duplicated titles (like [H1] [A1]) etc were removed when found, as this serves little purpose for a clean
  database. Either the game works or it don't. Don't give a sqaut if the game uses MEMBANK 1 instead of MEMBANK 2!
  Also makes it confusing when searching for and playing games. 
* SGIL was a 3months project that will not be updated after NOV 2005. This because the database
  was created ONLY to supply my Arcade Menu System with a proper database, and I do not intend to spend the rest
  of my busy life doing this. This database was given free to the world, just because it will provide
  a good starting point for other's that would like to continue the best logic database in the world. Or similar :)
* Foreign games are not that supported. They were removed as these give me absolutely nothing.
  German, French, Japanese etc. The SGIL was slightly reduced, but yet again: The SGIL format was made
  for my own purpose (SOMAC) and this action may seem ignorant to other people. If you feel this is not good,
  download the SGIL and starting including them yourselves. It's up to you. SOMAC is happy where it's at.
  SGIL was created and maintained by a European..me that is. I'm limited and only understand scandinavian and
  english languages..haha!
* No MD5 checksum supported. But this can easily be added by yourselves by inserting a new separator.
* SGIL database for C64 only included the first disk, multidisk entries was not included due to limited time on coding.


Really, I don't care what you do with the SGIL. Credit me should be in place, but putting your name on it would be wrong! It was a free gift to the world, and a UP-YOURS to people for making uncomplete/unlogic//messy/complicated game databases.

I had to make something anyway for SOMAC, and the focus was not to supplement the world forever, so I had
no issues releasing it for free. If you find it totally useless, it's your case. You've found another way
of organizing your games. No problem, and good for you. Use it or loose it.


Genre Logic: 
Think of a game that can not be placed in any of these below categories. Easy, it's impossible!

1: Action / Shooting
2: Fighting
3: Driving / Simulation
4: Platform
5: Sports
6: Maze / Adventure / RPG
7: Mindgames / Puzzle
8: Tabletop
9: Miscellaneous

Examples of logic behind the SGIL database structure:
Mahjong games are table based. Pinball games are MISC. Strategy is close to RPG.
Yes, chess may be considerd a sport, but this is placed in Tabletop, since its played on a table.
Quiz games are Mindgames.
Tetris based games are considered as a mindgame.
A action game (seen from above/perspective) with story being told is considered to be a Adventure.

It's not that hard to simplify game genres at all. Just use some logic. Not dwell too much into details.
In the end, the IN-GAME screenshot is all what will interrest a user to try a game, so suddenly genres
may not be of importance for the user anyway.

Hope that cleared a bunch of shit out!


Regards www.stone-oakvalley-studios.com

(This logic behaviour is Copyright Stone Oakvalley Studios 2006)