Does it drive you crazy that the official database uses the 'developer' as the manufacturer data some of the time, and then the publisher other times? Do you like accurate data, free of mistakes and typos? Do you like consistency? Do you like the idea of someone sitting down with the official Sega Saturn database, and spending 2 days doing research, making sure that the manufacturer data reflects not the developer, not the distributor, but the publisher?
Well look no further, this is that database. The manufacturer field is the *only* thing changed from the official database.
9 times out of 10, the publisher will match the name on the box. However, there were some oddities with this particular system. For example:
1. Quake has 'id Software' on the box, but was published by Sega. I debated putting 'id Software/Sega' as the manufacturer but decided on Sega.
2. Some games, the publishers didn't bother to put their logos on. (VR Soccer, VR Golf '97). One could easily come to the conclusion that Sega in fact published the games, but did not.
3. Three very well known Capcom games, "Mega Man X3," "Street Fighter - The Movie" and "X-Men - Children of the Atom" were published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Acclaim Entertainment Inc., and Acclaim Entertainment Inc., respectively. But it didn't sit well with me, putting those companies in the description, so I solved this little dilemma by putting "Capcom/Virgin Interactive Entertainment", and "Capcom/Acclaim Entertainment, Inc." This is one of those instances where a judgement needed to be made on whether to make things 'black and white.' Capcom published the games originally, and the games are well known Capcom games. So I made it a point to make mention of them in the 'manufacturer' field.
I do not mean to step on anyone's toes by releasing this or any other database. Database work is thankless, tedious work, and I'm guessing that most of the official databases were done by just a few people.
If I were personally doing 30+ systems, I wouldn't be spending a whole lot of time researching and fact checking.
But since this particular system (and the few other databases I've re-done) is important to me, I decided to put in the extra effort. The 'official' HyperSpin artwork standards are very high. So are mine, when it comes to fact checking. I would not be making this available for download if I was not willing to stand behind it, and make the claim that the manufacturer field is ~ 98% accurate, and substantially more accurate than the original that I altered. The original used the developer most of the time, but was not consistent, and would occasionally use the publisher instead. And, it had a lot of errors.
So I consider this to be a substantial improvement, and I'm betting you will too, especially if you believe, as I do, that the publisher - the name on the box - should be the standard for the 'manufacturer' data.
