Regarding database entry names

[zcal]

I've been wondering how names for dumps are decided, especially when they appear to conflict with the name given on the physical media.

Take Street Fighter Zero 3, for example.  I have both the Saturn and PlayStation versions.  On the discs themselves and on the case media, there is no space between "Zero" and "3".  In fact, you can even see in the header of the Saturn dump that the game name is listed as STREET FIGHTER ZERO3.

https://redump.info/disc/2494/

Contrast this with Street Fighter Zero 2, in which there is an explicit space between "Zero" and "2" on both the case media and in the disc header.

https://redump.info/disc/1459/

So why should we label Street Fighter Zero 3 as such instead of "Street Fighter Zero3"?


Another such case would be Virtual On: Cyber Troopers.  Both the case media and header hyphenate Virtual-On, yet in both the Japanese and North American database entries for the Saturn versions of the game, it's listed as "Virtual On".  The weird placement of "Cyber Troopers" on the disc and case media also makes it unclear whether this should precede the "Virtual-On" part of the title.

https://redump.info/disc/20396/
https://redump.info/disc/1625/

And to further this inconsistency, the followup game on the Dreamcast is listed as "Virtual-On", following both the case media, disc media, and header.

https://redump.info/disc/5915/


So how do the structure of these names get decided in the first place?  Is there any way for a pedantic guy like me to argue for changes to these names?

[Deterous]

So why should we label Street Fighter Zero 3 as such instead of "Street Fighter Zero3"?

As all bibliographic database do, we standardize titles. Removing a space between ZERO and 3 is a stylization, which is retained in the foreign title like in this case, or sometimes as an alt title in the comments. Other common standardizations are removing stylized capitalization (ZERO -> Zero, unless it is an acronym) and add punctuation ('BIG TITLE' followed by a 'small title' on the next line becomes 'Big Title: Small Title'). Generally follow this page for more about capitalization in main titles: https://wiki.redump.info/index.php?title= … _Standards

As for the Virtual On example, I'm not sure about this case, you'd have to check the title on the disc/case (including spine), and also the in-game title. Often the in-game title screen is prioritized (not always).

So how do the structure of these names get decided in the first place?

Redump mods have a guide we generally follow, mostly based on existing library standards. But the general idea is to remove "stylization" from the main title and follow proper title case and english rules. Except when the title is not english, in which case we follow romanization rules for each language. The foreign/alt title field is intended to be the title as-is, so you will often see e.g. the main title be "Wipeout" while the alt title is "WipEout".

If there's a specific case you want to point out, make a fix thread with evidence (pics of disc/case/in-game). If it's just because of stylization, please don't make a fix thread.

[zcal]

Thanks for the detailed response.

Removing a space between ZERO and 3 is a stylization, which is retained in the foreign title like in this case, or sometimes as an alt title in the comments.

I can accept that the space could be removed per a preferred stylization standard.  Are you saying that the application of that standard here is because of it being the third game in a series, or because of the translation of a non-English title?  If it's the latter, does the case/game media, disc header, or title screen showing the game's name in English hold any weight on the stylization decision?

Redump mods have a guide we generally follow, mostly based on existing library standards.

Is that guide publicly accessible?  If not, could it be shared?  I have a library science background and would love a peek behind the curtain. 

Edit:
Scratch the above, I should have more thoroughly perused the wiki.  I'm assuming everything under Moderation Guides and Notes is what you're referring to.

[Deterous]

I can accept that the space could be removed per a preferred stylization standard.  Are you saying that the application of that standard here is because of it being the third game in a series, or because of the translation of a non-English title?

Put simply, ZERO3/Zero3 is not a word. Spaces always get added between words and using title case, unless it is an acronym (NASCAR Racing) or a compound word (whether a real one, or a made up one).

Is that guide publicly accessible?

Most stuff is on the wiki but there's a small work-in-progress sheet that we've been working on with specific cases and examples. It's not formalized yet, not on the wiki.

[zcal]

Put simply, ZERO3/Zero3 is not a word. Spaces always get added between words and using title case, unless it is an acronym (NASCAR Racing) or a compound word (whether a real one, or a made up one).

Okay, makes sense.  Thanks for the info.