:TITLE:Adding/Editing a Release :INC:index :SUB:When to add a release

A 'release' is a product - either physical or digital - containing (parts of) the visual novel. This excludes soundtracks, drama CDs, fandisks, and other products that do not contain the visual novel itself.
All releases should be added seperately. For example, a limited and a regular edition shouldn't be combined into one release, even if they share the release date and contents. For commercial games, separate releases can be distinguished by their JAN/UPC/EAN number.

:SUB:General info
Type
Is the release complete, partial or a trial version? Complete releases have everything. Partial releases have most of the game, but there are things still waiting to be released. Trial versions are heavily cut down and free releases so that you can experience a game before you buy it. Sometimes, trial versions are cut down for web transmission and do not completely represent the finished product.
In the case of a translation patch, the type should indicate whether it translates the full game (Complete), or just parts of it (Partial).
Patch
Use this checkbox to indicate that the release is a (translation) patch, used to patch an other release.
Freeware
Check if this box if the game is downloadable (or otherwise distributed) at no cost.
Doujin
Published by a doujin circle, amateur group or individual, as opposed to a legal entity such as a company. This field is ignored when the release type is set to patch.
Title (romaji)
The name of the release, in the Latin character set (using Romanisation or translation)
Original title
If the name is officially under a different title (usually because of different character sets), put the original title here.
Language
What language is this release? Use the language that the majority of the game is in.
JAN/UPC/EAN
The GTIN code of the product. Often called "JAN" for Japanese releases, "UPC" for USA and Canada and "EAN" for Europe. The system will automatically detect the type from the code and use the appropriate term on the release page.
Catalog number
Catalog number as assigned by the producer. Often used to identify releases on webshops, and can usually be found somewhere on the packaging of the product.
Official website
URL of the official homepage for this product. Note that, even though VNDB does not support piracy, it is allowed to link to a homepage or forum that does in the case it is the only official source of information for this release.
Release date
For commercial games, the sale date. For all others, the date on which the release was first available. If it was posted on a website, the date on which the post was public.
Age rating
The minimum age rating for the release. On most releases, this is specified on the packaging or on product web pages.
Notes
Anything miscellaneous and useful. Generally, extras (but not preorder bonuses) and progress information go here.
:SUB:Format
Resolution
Primary/native screen resolution of the game.
Voiced
Indicates whether this release includes voice acting in the VN/ADV parts of the game. Fully voiced indicates that all characters (usually excluding the protagonist and some minor characters) are voiced in all scenes. Only ero scenes voiced speaks for itself, and Partially voiced should be used when there is some voice acting, but only for the main characters or only in some scenes.
Animation
Whether the game has any animation can be specified with two seperate options: one for the normal story mode and one for the ero scenes, if the game has any. With Simple animations, we refer to (usually looping) effects like falling leaves or snow in the background or animated facial expressions like blinking eyes and a moving mouth. Fully animated scenes refers to non-looping anime-like scenes. Some games are entirely like this, others only have a few scenes that are fully animated. Effects like moving sprites around the screen, basic zooming and shaking background images are not considered as "animations". Minigames or other gameplay elements are excluded as well, only the (ADV/VN-like) story parts and ero scenes should be considered.

NOTE: The resolution, voiced and animation fields have no meaning for patches, and should be left empty for those releases.

Platform
The platforms that the product was released for. Does not include emulated platforms (e.g. Playstation 2 games on Playstation 3) or WINE. DVD Player refers to games playable as a normal DVD Video (DVDPG) and should not be confused with the DVD as a medium.

Media

Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disk, typically 30-60GB+. Requires a Blu-ray Drive. Playstation 3 are normally Blu-ray.
CD
CD-ROM, typically 700MB.
DVD
DVD5, typically 4.5GB, or DVD9, typically 9GB. DVDPG games are DVD.
Floppy
5 1/4" or 3 3/4", no greater than 1.44MB.
GD
Dreamcast games are normally GD disks.
Internet Download
Anything without a physical box, i.e. obtained by downloading it over a network.
Memory Card
Any SD (Secure Digital) Card variant or MMC variant, Compact Flash or "USB Sticks". The Main difference between this and Cartridge (below) is that Memory Cards are re-writable (RW).
Cartridge
Compare with Memory Cards (above). Read-only. Famicom (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES), Game Boy Advanced (GBA) and Nintendo DS use cartridges.
Nintendo Optical Disk
Non-CD or DVD optical disks used by various Nintendo consoles.
Other
Any format not considered to be any of these mentioned should take this media. However, it should not be used liberally, and it's inclusion may need to be justified.
UMD
Universal Media Disk, typically 2.2GB. Playstation Portable uses this format.
:SUB:Producers

The companies/groups/individuals involved in the development or publishing of this release. Does not include distributors. The following roles can be selected:

Developer
The producer involved in the creation of the game itself, not necessarily of this specific release. Keep in mind that producers that have made modifications to a game but have not made the game itself should NOT be listed as developers.
Publisher
The producer responsible for publishing this specific release. The publisher may have made modifications to the game (e.g. translating all text or porting to a different platform), but was not involved in the creation process.
Both
When the release is developed and published by the same producer. This is often true for doujin games and the first releases of commercial games.

:SUB:Visual novel relations

The visual novels that this release (either partially or fully) covers.