VGScans - High Quality Video Game Scanning Project

[Special T]

VGScans Project Page

What is this project about?

The ultimate goal of this project is to provide a high resolution scan of everything included in a game package.

We are targeting a level of quality that's not far away from the original files and documents, before they get printed. That's why the scans are edited, cleaned and even restored.

All the high resolution images will be available in 2 formats:
1) Screen format (compressed in .jpg between "normal" and "maximum" quality)
2) Print format (original size, 300dpi, uncompressed .png)

What each game package will contain?

Every game package contains typically the following structure:


GAME - Information
- Informations.txt = Content: Informations about the game.
- Preview.png       = Content: A preview image of the game in its original box, barcode included.


GAME - Screenshots
- Image#01.png/.gif = Content: Screenshots of the game.
- Image#02.png/.gif - Typically, the title screen + several gameplay images.
- ...etc 


SCAN - Booklet (Print)
- XXX - Page#01.png = Content: Booklet(s) of the game, generally the manual. Pages are independant.
- XXX - Page#02.png - Print format: Real size, 300dpi, uncompressed, correct page imposition.
- ...etc                      - Purpose: Print and reproduce the booklet(s) with a very high fidelity level.


SCAN - Booklet (Screen)
- XXX.pdf = Content: Same as above, but compressed in a .pdf file.
               - Screen format: Real size, 300dpi, jpg quality "normal".
               - Purpose: Read the booklet(s) directly with your computer.


SCAN - CD Case (Print)
- XXX.png = Content: Packaging of the game, typically Case Front & Inlay, Disc label.
- ...etc      - Print format: Real size, 300dpi, uncompressed.
                - Purpose: Print and reproduce the packaging with a very high fidelity level.


SCAN - CD Case (Screen)
- XXX.jpg = Content: Same as above, but compressed in .jpg.
- ...etc     - Screen format: Custom size, 72dpi, jpg quality "maximum"
              - Purpose: Watch the game packaging directly with your computer.


SCAN - Other (Print)
- XXX.png = Content: Everything else that's not included in the above categories.
- ...etc      - For example: the registration and spine cards of the japanese games.
               - Print format: Real size, 300dpi, uncompressed.


SCAN - Other (Screen)
- XXX.pdf = Content: Same as above, but compressed in .jpg.
- ...etc    - Screen format: custom size, 72dpi, jpg quality "maximum".

Here are examples of edited and cleaned pages compared too their unedited originals (sorry for the small size, it doesn't do the project justice, but it will at least it gives you an idea):

Here is an example of some of the material that will be in each package

1)  SCAN - CD Case - Case Front (12 x 11,9 cm)



2)  SCAN - CD Case - Case Inlay (15 x 11,7 cm)



3)  SCAN - CD Case - Disc Label (11,8 x 11,8 cm)



4)  SCAN - Booklet - Manual (24 x 11,9 cm) (just a couple of pictures, you get the idea)







5)  SCAN - Other - Spine Card (7 x 12 cm)



6)  SCAN - Other - Registration Card (This isn’t the correct registration card for this game but you get the idea) (10 x 14,8 cm)

Here is a quick synopsis of how we scan everything

Scanning Method
1. at least 300 dpi
2. scan size 100 % of the original  (for printing purposes)
3. the image would need to be in .png or .psd format (lossless format to ensure quality)
4. When scanning the manuals we are (carefully removing) the staple from the middle and scanning each page front and back. This reduces the glare on colorful pages and makes it easier to edit and clean (then once done you can reinsert the staple and the manual is left undamaged).

Also to save everyone time, their will be no need to edit the scanned images. They can be uploaded to our team as-is and we will edit the images for you! It can't get easier than that, right?


Lastly I have created an excel spread sheet that will contain a list all scanned games, that way we don’t keep rescanning the same images. That file can be found

HERE

The File contains 5 tabs. The PC Engine & PC-FX tabs represent my games (I have A LOT more games but they’re for other consoles, I just haven’t created the master lists for them yet). The other tabs with the (ML) after their names indicate they are the master list of games for those consoles (every game ever released). The Playstation (ML) might not be 100% up to date but I’ll look into it more later.


PM me for details about how to upload the scans to the FTP server and I’ll be happy to walk you through the process!

Well let the scanning begin!

[Talbain]

This... is probably breaking several copyright laws.

[Nightcrawler]

This is not ROM hacking related in any way. It doesn't get a home in personal projects. It also eerily feels like advertising to me. 

[Kitsune Sniper]

Sure, why don't we make it easier for the bootleggers to have quality scans of the products they're copying?

Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid...

[DarknessSavior]

I think its a good idea for those of us who wound up buying games without all of this related material. I'd like to get a nice printout of the FFIV and VI manual someday (2 and 3, obviously I want the US manuals).

But yeah, bootleggers would probably use it too.

~DS

[byuu]

Sure, why don't we make it easier for the bootleggers to have quality scans of the products they're copying? Bang Head

Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid...

Whaaaaaat? So, it's okay to distribute the part you actually buy a game for ... the game itself. But someone uploads images of the manual, and it's 'whoamg bootlegs'? How many people really try and reproduce these things? Does anyone know of any successfully made bootleg Saturn games that will run on an unmodded console? I'd expect to see lots more Radiant Silvergun and SF3-3 auctions if so. How about for any Saturn/PSX or newer console? Maybe Dreamcast, but even those are stripped of content and stuck on PC-readable CDs. And even the highest quality scans are going to require some serious printing power. Anyone who really wants to bootleg won't have a problem buying the game one time and using what is no doubt more serious scanners to get this job done.

I think this is a neat idea, it preserves the manuals for future generations. That's probably the worst part about emulation. You lose the box, you lose the manual, you lose the game cart itself ... you just have a file on a hard drive. If you're going to use the 'buy the game' argument, a) that's not going to be possible forever as these games continue to become more scarce, and b) that's no better argument than buy the game to get the ROM in the first place. Or are we all opposed to anyone posting ROMs online now, too?

Not related to RHDN, true. I can agree with that. But calling a few JPEGs 'aiding bootleggers' when we have no problems with downloading new GBA releases to try before we buy is pretty silly.

[Maegra]

heh, this is nice IMO, i can finally print out things for my games (the ones i own.)

i mean come on, when you were younger, all you cared about was the game, screw the box and manual, and most likely tossed them.

whish i hadn't done that, I've got a ton of SNES and Gens games (still got 1 or 2 genesis boxes.) that are naked (no box, no inserts, no booklets.)

[SidGallup]

It's a great idea, ive been looking for manuals and boxarts since my emu-begginings, so i think it's just as "illegal" and "piracy aid" as to dump the Roms...

If we have a Comic preservation and Mame bezzels project... why is this any different ??

[Vyse the determined]

I've actually been doing this for a little while now with stuff I own. I don't think I would scan the ENTIRE manual (that seems like overkill), but I do like to grab the illustrations and stuff. I think it is a good idea though.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Sure, why don't we make it easier for the bootleggers to have quality scans of the products they're copying? Bang Head

Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid...

Whaaaaaat? So, it's okay to distribute the part you actually buy a game for ... the game itself. But someone uploads images of the manual, and it's 'whoamg bootlegs'? How many people really try and reproduce these things? Does anyone know of any successfully made bootleg Saturn games that will run on an unmodded console? I'd expect to see lots more Radiant Silvergun and SF3-3 auctions if so. How about for any Saturn/PSX or newer console? Maybe Dreamcast, but even those are stripped of content and stuck on PC-readable CDs. And even the highest quality scans are going to require some serious printing power. Anyone who really wants to bootleg won't have a problem buying the game one time and using what is no doubt more serious scanners to get this job done.

I think this is a neat idea, it preserves the manuals for future generations. That's probably the worst part about emulation. You lose the box, you lose the manual, you lose the game cart itself ... you just have a file on a hard drive. If you're going to use the 'buy the game' argument, a) that's not going to be possible forever as these games continue to become more scarce, and b) that's no better argument than buy the game to get the ROM in the first place. Or are we all opposed to anyone posting ROMs online now, too?

Not related to RHDN, true. I can agree with that. But calling a few JPEGs 'aiding bootleggers' when we have no problems with downloading new GBA releases to try before we buy is pretty silly.

I see lots and lots and lots of bootlegs around. You're forgetting, I'm from Mexico. We put bootlegs on TORTILLAS, for cris'sakes.

I actually obtained high quality scans of Samurai Pizza Cats' manual and box, and I was planning on making English versions, but decided against it because of, you guessed it, bootleggers.

Am I against scans? No. I'm just very, very leery of seeing such things on the internet, where people can make a profit out of them.

[byuu]

Am I against scans? No. I'm just very, very leery of seeing such things on the internet, where people can make a profit out of them.

Yeah, true enough. It's depressing, really. You just have to deal with the fact that people are going to be opportunistic, self-centered jackasses who try and sell other peoples' works. Once it's on the internet, someone's going to sell it. In fact, I'd bet money that there's someone selling your avatar blown up and printed on a T-shirt right now somewhere (eBay, Cafe Press, etc).

I worry about that with all the software and stuff I release. So I just make it so slow and feature-lacking as possible so as to make it not be worth anything on the market (hahah).

[Panzer88]

if we didn't create anything bootlegers could take advantage of then we wouldn't have many games

[tomaitheous]

 Hey Special T, this is a great idea.

 My only complaint is that you can get that (new) manual smell :/  But I guess I could have a spare manual laying around that I could smell while looking at those pics, completing the simulated experience of owning the original 

[Kitsune Sniper]

Am I against scans? No. I'm just very, very leery of seeing such things on the internet, where people can make a profit out of them.

Yeah, true enough. It's depressing, really. You just have to deal with the fact that people are going to be opportunistic, self-centered jackasses who try and sell other peoples' works. Once it's on the internet, someone's going to sell it. In fact, I'd bet money that there's someone selling your avatar blown up and printed on a T-shirt right now somewhere (eBay, Cafe Press, etc).

I worry about that with all the software and stuff I release. So I just make it so slow and feature-lacking as possible so as to make it not be worth anything on the market (hahah).

Bwahahaha. Right. Immelmann (the guy who made my icon) may be kinda famous but he's not that famous yet. :p

But now you know why I feel like that. I'm sure the intentions are good, but someone always fucks things up.

[Special T]

I'm glad people for the most part are supportive of this, honestly this project will take years to finish, especially if I don't have much help (so far only 2 other people are serious about helping)... which will most likely be the case but I'm doing it for myself as much as everyone else. So one I get a large amount of scans done, I'll create a website (hopefully) that will house this information for people to download freely.