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For the API results, what would be better: displaying a comma separated list of crc values within a single xml element or a group of elements for each crc value.

Example A:
<CRCValues>1234abc, asfe2145</CRCValues>

Example B:
<CRCValues>
<Value>1234abc</Value>
<Value>asfe2145</Value>
</CRCValues>

second. that's the xml way. in fact i would have ditched the surrounding tag entirely and just had multiple <crcvalue> tags

jas8340 Wrote:For the API results, what would be better: displaying a comma separated list of crc values within a single xml element or a group of elements for each crc value.

I don't see why you will need the crc in the result set.

I think you will have something like this as request:

Then you have to check this request against the crc values in the database. But I don't think it is necessary to have the crc as result.

But anyway you may have other items that can occur multiple times (genre for example). So you have to decide how to implemement these ones. Then I go with spiffs suggestion.

Alright, I modified the Game API calls to accept crc values as input parameters but the crc values aren't displayed within the XML.

Along those lines, should the crc values be displayed on the website itself? From what I understand, it seems to be a fairly static. Does it only apply to rom files or is it extended to isos as well?

I should be promoting these changes either today or tomorrow.

Quote:Along those lines, should the crc values be displayed on the website itself? From what I understand, it seems to be a fairly static. Does it only apply to rom files or is it extended to isos as well?

Yes, they should be static. It is no bad idea to have them on your site and make them editable I think.

Not sure about isos. They are much bigger than roms and computing the crc value takes a long time. So I don't know if they are used often. But I think I have seen that the crc value property has been used as a placeholder for other unique keys in the synopsis files (folder name for example).

there's really no reason to hash the entire iso.. just enough to be certain you have done some unique data.

hashing entire isos is not really a need here no. for roms it's rather different as there are different versions of the game (different rom file versions). Ofcrs there could be different versions of an ISO game aswell, but no need for the crc value there i believe.

I would however look for a unique identifer liker Spiff mentions so it will be possible to add another entry. Example:

Fable PC ISO vs Fable Game of the Year PC ISO

Updates:

Website

• Added functionality to associate a player type with a game.
• Added lightbox support for fanart images.
• Minor bug fixes.
  

API

• Added a Master Rating Search request.
• Added a Rating Board Search request.
• Modified Game Detail request to include a Player element.
• Modified Game Search request to include a CRC Value parameter.
• Modified Game Detail request to include a CRC Value parameter.
  

I've also added a floating Feedback Tab to the right side of the site. You can now report questions, ideas, problems, and praises directly from the site. All submissions will be displayed and made available discussion on http://getsatisfaction.com/thevideogamedb. I realize most of the ideas and questions will come from this thread and I'm cool with it staying that way. I just wanted to add something for the general public.

I still need to figure out some way to make CRC values viewable on the front end. I'm also going to try another import soon that will put some CRC values into the database.

one blatant "hole" in your api is the lack of language support. while i can see why this is not a priority atm, this should be taken into consideration before the xml is too establish. one simple solution is to use an attribute like <Desc lang="en">..</Desc>. i realize there's the region support, but this seems to be more for alternative titles in different regions.

I imported all Virtual Boy games (including CRC Values) and added CRC Values for 32x games.