Versions Guidelines

A version is a representation of the characteristics of a certain publication of a game. Included in these characteristics are the title printed on the box, an identifying name for the version (a "nickname"), any alternate names also published on or in the package, the publisher, the artist, the year of publication, the publisher's product code, the dimensions of the package, the weight of the package, and the language of the rules or instructions to the game.

What defines a different version?

If there are two games that are of the same name that are side by side but are not completely identical, those are different versions. Some are easy -- different box, different title, different publisher, different language. Some are more subtle -- e.g. a standard printing v. one with a Spiel des Jahres mark on the box. The goal of the whole version system is so that users can have knowledge and specificity about exactly which version they have in their collection. This is applicable for greater clarity in collection data, facility in trading, and identification of what versions of a game exist for collectors and buyers.

Version Fields

Name

The name in the primary box should be the name on the actual box or booklet of the game. These generally should already be the alt-names of the base-game entry, so you should find the appropriate one in the drop-down menu.

If you are adding a version and the box-name is not in the drop-down menu, then it is not yet listed as an alternate name for the game. Select (Create New Name) to submit a new alternate name along with your version, which will be added to the base-game when your version is approved. Creating a new name will cause the name to aggregated to the main game entry page, so it is most-efficient to add a name in the version submission process rather than to submit an alt-name as a correction and then wait for the name to be approved before adding a version.

Nickname

This is the shorthand identifier for the version, and it must be in English. A default for this one could be First Edition, though games with more than one version should have version names that make the edition readily identifiable. This, along with the cover image, will be the primary means of identifying a version in a game entry.

In a general sense, the nickname should be able to fit into this sentence.

"This is the [nickname] (version/edition) of [game title]."

Nickname Conventions

Nicknames should begin with primary identifying information of Publisher, Language, or Number. Following primary identifying information, other descriptive information can be used to further clarify an edition.
If it is necessary to include publisher, numbering, language, and/or year in a nickname entry, order them:

Publisher, Language, Numbering, Other identifying information, "edition", Year.

When naming an edition by number, use words instead of numbers (e.g. First edition, not 1st edition).
If the nickname includes the name of a publisher, spell out the publisher's name instead of using initials (e.g. Rio Grande instead of RGG, Fantasy Flight instead of FFG). If the publisher's name includes "Game", "LLC", "Inc.", et c., these may generally be omitted from the nickname.
Use discretion when using publisher, language, or year in creating a nickname as these elements are already present as part of the version information.
The names of the languages can be included when there are one-to-three of them in the game package, but with four or more use "multi-lingual". Many games with multiple languages are nicknamed as "international", but that term is disfavored.
Words to avoid: Avoid using words like "Original", "Standard". "Revised", "Special", "Reprint", "Limited", and other comparative descriptors; it is preferable use a number ("First", "Second") or a different descriptor.
Also avoid temporal descriptors like "New", "Old", "Antique", "Vintage", et c. unless they are specifically relevant to identify the version.
Attempt to avoid terms about how the version was obtained, such as "Promotional" or "Freebie" -- focus instead on describing the version.
Avoid identifying a version merely by year; year can be an element to a descriptive nickname, but it cannot stand alone as the sole identifier
Product codes or catalog numbers should not be part of a version nickname.
A country of origin or distribution is not primary identifying information and should be prefixed with primary identifying information.
Additional identifying information in nicknames should refer positively to version aspects instead of negatively. E.g., a nickname would refer to "Second edition with SdJ Mark" instead of "First edition without SdJ Mark". Referring to what is not present is a confusing way to identify a specific version.

Suggested Hierarchy of Nicknames

The only version of a game only published by one publisher -- First edition
Multiple editions of a game only published by one publisher -- First edition, Second edition, et c.
Multiple editions of a game only published by one publisher, each edition in a different language -- (Language A) edition, (Language B) edition, et c.
Multiple editions of a game published by multiple publishers, each publisher publishing in a different language -- (Publisher) (Language A) edition, (Publisher) (Language B) edition, et c.
Multiple editions of a game published by multiple publishers, only one edition by each publisher -- (Publisher A) edition, (Publisher B) edition, et c.
Multiple editions of a game published by multiple publishers, some publishers publishing the game in multiple years -- (Publisher A) edition (year), (Publisher A) edition (year), et c.
Multiple editions of a game published by multiple publishers, complete number of versions unknown or a commonly known name is used for a particular edition -- descriptive name or unique identifier in addition to publisher information, e.g. [publisher] Long Box edition, [publisher] Fat Box edition, [publisher] Butter dish edition, et c.
A version produced as a Print & Play game or a printable PDF -- Print & Play edition

Alternate names

Generally, versions will not have alternate names, because only one title is printed on the game box or on the rules. Notable exceptions include the Haba games that are called 3-6 names within one package (e.g. Tier auf Tier, Animal upon Animal, Pyramide d'animaux, Dier op dier). Alternate names are not part of the version submission form, but can be added to the entry through Submit Corrections.

Publisher

Include all the publishers that are listed on the box. For example, Rio Grande publishes a lot of games in conjunction with alea, so both would be listed. Publishers added to version submissions that were not already present in the main game entry are aggregated to the main game entry.

Artist

This field is to specify which artist is responsible for the graphic design of the listed version. Artists added to version submissions that were not already present in the main game entry are aggregated to the main game entry.

Year published

This should be the actual year that edition came out, if known. Generally, this should be ascertainable from the copyright date, but that's not always definitive. The purpose for the year of publication is to further identify the particular printing, and to build a time-line for the game's production. In the versions section of a game's page, the default view lists versions from newest-to-oldest with undated versions appearing at the end of the list.

Product code

This would be a catalog number, or what designation the publisher has for the product.

For clarity. product code should be the publisher's designation for the game, not the UPC, EAN, or ISBN.

Dimensions

Actual measurements of the outside of the box. Where something is almost-but-not quite the same size, make a judgment call on what to do and whether to use the existing measurements. N.B. the Power Grid size box is standard for a lot of games, but some like Rio Grande's El Grande and HiG's Euphrat & Tigris are deeper than the standard box (2" v 2.75"). The system allows you to add measurements in centimeters or inches, please choose the appropriate drop-down.

The dimensions are stored in the system as Imperial measure, though the version submission form does allow for measurements to be input in metric. The system will convert metric measure to Imperial if the drop-down box is selected as metric. At present, there is no method to submit corrections in metric, so metric measure must be converted to Imperial before correction submission.

These dimensions presume a cuboid package, or at least a rectangular shape. There are no set conventions on how to record information from non-cuboid packages.

Weight

This is the weight of the punched game with only the included components in it, i.e. no additional components or organizers outside of plastic baggies. The actual difference between punched and un-punched weight shouldn't be that great, but to try to keep consistency we should shoot for punched weight where we can. That doesn't mean you need to crack open your shrink-wrapped copy of a long out of print just to get the punched weight,

The weight is stored in the system as Imperial pounds, though the version submission form does allow for the weight to be input in kilograms The system will convert kilograms to pounds if the drop-down box is selected as metric. At present, there is no method to submit corrections in metric, so kilograms must be converted to pounds before correction submission.

Languages

Include all of the languages included as rules in the box. Generally there will be only one, but some publishers include a variety of rule-sets. If a game exists in two editions that have different titles but the same rule sets included within, they are two different editions though all of the components are near identical.

Representative Image

An image can be linked to a version in the creation process, and more images can be linked to a particular version after approval. The image is an identifying characteristic for the version, so do not link images to a version that are not specifically of that version, as this will create confusion over the appearance and contents of a particular version.

Description

Not much needs to go into the description unless there is a lot of information about how a particular version is different. As with game descriptions, the version description must at least contain an English description.

[What Links Here]