Video Game Collectible Catalog / Archive

[phpworm]

Hi everyone, first time here and not sure if this type of post is accepted. A friend of mine has been working on a website intended as a resource for video game related collectibles: https://vgc2.com/catalog

It's basically an archive for action figures, statues, props and replicas. If you contribute a missing item you will also be entered into a giveaway. Just wanted to share this tool and encourage you to share your collections there, and hopefully you find it useful!

Of course, if you have any feedback I'll be sure to pass it along

[Mar-l-Aoutat]

Nice website. Still a lot to do.

I've been looking for something like that since I started collecting. Now all it needs is to be a little more complete, and it'll become an interesting tool.

Let me add some entries. You'll see what I mean...

[phpworm]

Yes, that's what I keep hearing - that it just isn't useful without being more complete, which is exactly why I'm trying to help spread the word. Thanks!

[Mike1888]

The site definitely has a lot of potential. My suggestions:

1. Simplify the submission process. People are not going to want to catalog their collections when they see 25 inputs for a single item. I realize only some are required but title, game, category, photo, description; that's all that you really need.

2. Profiles/collection feature. Collectors like showing off their collections and looking at the collections of others. Perhaps this site is aimed strictly at the utility of an archive, but I think it needs a community to be sustained. There needs to be connections between the users and the collectibles:
-Profile/username tied to your contributions
-Collection feature. Obvious one - users can add items from the catalog to a collection (can have multiple), wishlist, for sale list, etc. on their profile.
-Users can upload photos of their general collection to their profile.
-Items have an "Owned by: " list
-Maybe even have a dedicated section for collections? I'm just picturing how sweet it would be to flip through a list of "Mosavon's GTA Collection", "Liuken's Uncharted Collection", "Lemur's Steelbook Collection", etc.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head but you see what I'm getting at.

3. Value estimation. One of the main reasons I went on sites like Diesnake (MGS collectible database) back in the day was to check out the estimated value of items. The "What's the value of...?" thread on this forum is of the most popular. I think the site would really increase its utility by providing this information, though I'm not sure of the best way to implement it given value fluctuation, bias, etc.

4. More categories. There is no general promotional category in the submission form but it does appear in the catalog so I assume it will be added. Off the top of my head, I would consider adding categories for press kits, cases (steelbooks, metalpaks, etc.), collectible/limited physical copies of games (these are becoming really popular right now), and art prints/posters.

[phpworm]

> 1. Simplify the submission process. People are not going to want to catalog their collections when they see 25 inputs for a single item. I realize only some are required but title, game, category, photo, description; that's all that you really need.

There are less than 20 inputs, 11 of which are required. It is a challenge to keep it minimal for proper categorization, while also allowing additional information. Technically the only input really needed is the product title and manufacturer (and possibly a picture), but then that defeats the purpose of the reward system. Every contribution earns you credits towards a giveaway so it makes sense you should have to work a little bit for it.

> 2. Profiles/collection feature. Collectors like showing off their collections and looking at the collections of others. Perhaps this site is aimed strictly at the utility of an archive, but I think it needs a community to be sustained.

This is on the to-do list: "Allow users to save items from the catalog to their own personal collection, with a shareable link" but the first priority is filling up the catalog with useful data. The social / connection features will come later, after the website has proved its usefulness. You can currently choose a username which is associated with every one of your contributions.

> 3. Value estimation. One of the main reasons I went on sites like Diesnake (MGS collectible database) back in the day was to check out the estimated value of items. The "What's the value of...?" thread on this forum is of the most popular. I think the site would really increase its utility by providing this information, though I'm not sure of the best way to implement it given value fluctuation, bias, etc.

This is another idea on the to-do list For example, use Ebay's API to check recently sold items with a similar title, omit the high and low prices and average the rest. That would be pretty accurate but will take some planning to reduce false-positives, and it wouldn't work for everything.

> 4. More categories. There is no general promotional category in the submission form but it does appear in the catalog so I assume it will be added. Off the top of my head, I would consider adding categories for press kits, cases (steelbooks, metalpaks, etc.), collectible/limited physical copies of games (these are becoming really popular right now), and art prints/posters.

Press kits, promotional, etc all currently fall under "special edition." Adding physical games, consoles, handhelds, hardware accessories, arcade machines, etc becomes more of a challenge. In order to not overwhelm ourselves it was decided to focus primarily on action figures and replicas first, and if there is enough demand for it, the other stuff can be added later.

All great feedback, thank you! Yes, there are a lot of features planned ahead but right now the focus is building a more comprehensive database and just trying to take things one step at a time. It's not going to happen quickly.

[Mar-l-Aoutat]

Originally Posted by Mike1888

The site definitely has a lot of potential. My suggestions:

1. Simplify the submission process. People are not going to want to catalog their collections when they see 25 inputs for a single item. I realize only some are required but title, game, category, photo, description; that's all that you really need.

2. Profiles/collection feature. Collectors like showing off their collections and looking at the collections of others. Perhaps this site is aimed strictly at the utility of an archive, but I think it needs a community to be sustained. There needs to be connections between the users and the collectibles:
-Profile/username tied to your contributions
-Collection feature. Obvious one - users can add items from the catalog to a collection (can have multiple), wishlist, for sale list, etc. on their profile.
-Users can upload photos of their general collection to their profile.
-Items have an "Owned by: " list
-Maybe even have a dedicated section for collections? I'm just picturing how sweet it would be to flip through a list of "Mosavon's GTA Collection", "Liuken's Uncharted Collection", "Lemur's Steelbook Collection", etc.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head but you see what I'm getting at.

3. Value estimation. One of the main reasons I went on sites like Diesnake (MGS collectible database) back in the day was to check out the estimated value of items. The "What's the value of...?" thread on this forum is of the most popular. I think the site would really increase its utility by providing this information, though I'm not sure of the best way to implement it given value fluctuation, bias, etc.

4. More categories. There is no general promotional category in the submission form but it does appear in the catalog so I assume it will be added. Off the top of my head, I would consider adding categories for press kits, cases (steelbooks, metalpaks, etc.), collectible/limited physical copies of games (these are becoming really popular right now), and art prints/posters.

In the future improvements, he said he wants to ''Allow users to save items from the catalog to their own personal collection, with a shareable link''
that would definitely be a great feature to add.

When the database will be more complete, I think this website could be an usefull tool in several ways:

-Organise your collection.
By saving items to your collection, you are creating a digital list of every collectible you own. Which is usefull, because as a big collectors, it can be hard to remember every single items we own. As Mike said, a wishlist would also be usefull. That way, we could see more globally what items we want to buy next, how much they cost, which ones to buy first, etc.

I also agree that you should add more categories. I'm thinking of a ''book'' category, maybe even subdivise to ''strategy guide, artbook, notebook'', etc.

-Show off your collection
That's if you allow users to have profiles on the website, with as Mike said the possibility to see their saved items, their credits (contribution to the website) etc. Sometimes it's fun to see how big people's collections are.

Myfigurecollection does that in a very good way, you should check them out. Users can add entries to the website, save them to their collection as wished, ordered or owned. They can add the price they paid for the item in the database. They can add pictures of the actual items to the entries. They can comment about the entries (which creates a community for the website). Sadly they do not accept non-japanese stuff in their database.

-Get to know about the latest releases
That's if the website is updated reguarly. Also, as I said to phpworm, I don't think people will visit the website each day just in case something new is added. That's why you should add a ''subscibe to list'' feature. For exmaple, if someone wants to know all the latest stuff made for Destiny or Dark Souls, he can subscribe to the Destiny list, or Dark Souls list, and he will receive an email each time something new is added in the catalog for these games. That way, that person is saving a lot of time without missing something.

I know it does not take a day or two to add these features, but they would be a great addition to the website!

[phpworm]

Just a quick update, registered users (who have requested a username) can now add items to a personal collection or wishlist:

example 1, example 2

[Mar-l-Aoutat]

Originally Posted by phpworm

Just a quick update, registered users (who have requested a username) can now add items to a personal collection or wishlist:

example 1, example 2

Nice addition Just requested a username...but...how do you add something to your collection?

[phpworm]

The links appear after your username is approved, under the images for each individual item. You can also go to the user info tab and access your lists there

[Mar-l-Aoutat]

Originally Posted by phpworm

The links appear after your username is approved, under the images for each individual item. You can also go to the user info tab and access your lists there

Thanks just saw the link