Scratchpad

This page is a scratchpad/sandbox to be used by VNDB moderators for drafting guidelines before they are moved to the proper pages, keeping track of proposals and tasks and whatever else may be useful but doesn't quite fit on one the existing pages.

d2: Adding/Editing a Visual Novel

1. Screenshots

At least half of the images should be actual screenshots of the game. That is, they should include character sprites or some form of dialog or user interface. Plain event CG images without any text or interfaces are allowed to demonstrate the drawing style, but should not dominate over the other screenshots. Screenshots showing menus, UI and title screens without sprites, background, CG, gameplay or choices are also allowed if they are kept to a minimum; preferably 2 or less, and these can be replaced at any time. (https://vndb.org/t20768)
Do not post different language versions or different drawing styles of the same screenshot, this is not a comparison gallery. (https://vndb.org/v67/)
Do not upload screenshots from non-edited MTL versions, even official ones. Screenshots from English edited machine translations are allowed, but keep in mind these can be replaced at any time with other screenshots, even if they are in a different language. Do not replace existing screenshots with ones from MTL, official or not. (https://vndb.org/t20800.2)
In contrast with PC screenshots, mobile and console editions do not have a specific resolution requirement. However, there are still some rules when uploading from those platforms: (https://vndb.org/t20835)

. Screenshots should not be resized.

. Screenshots based on the console or mobile resolution screen (?) (I don't know how console resolution works) are allowed. However, if known, the native resolution is still preferred if the user has the capability to take such screenshots.

. For emulators, while screenshots with graphical enhancements/mods are allowed, it's still preferred to take screenshots in the original console resolution or the game's native resolution, using the least amount of graphical improvements.

2. DLCs

DLC (Downloadable Content) is is a game addon that requires the presence of the base game in order to install and play.

Some DLCs add new content to the existing story (e.g. new routes, post-game epilogues, etc.), while others are self-contained separate stories.

All DLCs should be marked as patches, as they require the base game to play them. Software that is erroneously labeled as DLC by the publisher, but does not require the base game to play shouldn't be treated as a DLC but rather as a normal release entry.
The DLCs that add content to the existing game should be put as releases under that game's VN entry and should be labeled 'partial'.
The DLCs that are self-contained stories should have their own VN entries instead and should be labeled 'complete'.
Uncensored patches should not be treated as DLCs, despite sometimes being labeled as such by the publisher. They should be put under the main VN entry and be labeled 'complete' if they restore all of the censored content, and 'partial' if only part of the censored content has been restored.