Pixels and Panels [ A Game x Manga Blog]

While the backloggery system seems pretty straight forward at first, the ability to mark things in different ways creates some ambiguities. Here is basically an in-dept look at how I have organized my backloggery account, for those curious.

About Game Status:

[null] – Games that I cannot finish or play. Usually this means the game doesn’t really have any sort of achievement I can mark down as worthy of calling it beaten or it’s broken so I literally cannot finish it (the latter has yet to happen). I also null duplicate copies as calling them beaten or completed isn’t quite right yet unless I really like the game, chances are I won’t be replaying it again.

[unplayed] – Just like it sounds, any games I haven’t even started playing. Having a rather big backlog, there are quite a few of these in my collection. I try to stick to what I start so even if I get a new game, I rarely play it right away.

[unfinished] – Again, just like it sounds, any games I haven’t finished/beaten. So things that I’m currently playing or games I started playing but for one reason or another, I got distracted and never finished them.

[beaten] – Games in which I’ve finished the main objective (usually marked by the rolling of the credits) or one of the modes (for puzzle games and the like). If a game has no clear cut “main objective”, I usually take the main task as the main objective (example: Paying off all the mortgages in Animal Crossing is the main objective and once I accomplish that, I can call it beaten).

[completed] – Games in which everything has been unlocked/finished. That said, each game has a different set of requirements. In some games, bestiary will be needed for completion, and in another game it won’t matter. As a rule of thumb for completion: if the game has a item encyclopedia, bestiary, completion percentage, or just about anything that records some sort of accomplishment, I make sure those are finished for a completion. Otherwise I just count the important items (like hidden summons), recruitable characters, and optional dungeons as requirements for completion. I usually won’t count finishing a game on a higher difficulty as a requirement unless there is something new in the playthrough (i.e. Hector’s mode in Fire Emblem has a slightly different story). Nor do I count Achievements/Trophies as some of those are more “Master” material (example: Little Big Planet has a Gold Trophy for beating every level without dying). Likewise, if something is really obscure and collecting it is hair ripping worthy, I don’t count it for completion either (example: some of the titles in Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together require you to never use the Chariot system and/or have characters incapacitated). I like to collect stuff and earn my complete just as much as the next person, but I’m not going to punish myself doing it. That’s not why I play games.

[mastered] – For games which I have played and finished using a special set of rules in order to make the game more challenging. I will specify all rules in the actual game note. Also, I don’t plan to do this unless I really like the game and I feel like challenging myself. As of now, I have yet to finish any master runs.

About Game Ownership:

[Borrowed/Rented] – These are games I borrowed from cousins or friends. I no longer have them and I only list things I’ve at least beaten as a testament that I have played these games.

[Household] – These are games which are either my brother’s or that we both own together. Most of these actually stay in my collection, but I figure I’d mark them as dual ownership since the option is now available.

[Other] – Any game marked Other is emulated. Just as with “borrowed/rented” these are listed to show what I’ve beaten or am playing.

About Systems:

Normally this would be self explanatory but I’ve noticed people tend to classify digital copies in various ways, so this is just my personal take on which “systems” digital games are/will be placed under.

Nintendo 3DS/PSP/PS3 – These 3 systems have the ability to get digital versions of retail games. Since these digital games are also offered physically and are for said system, I think listing digital copies as 3DS/PSP/PS3 games rather than 3DS Downloads/PSN makes more sense, personally. As such, digital versions will be listed in my backlog along with physical versions and there shall be no way to distinguish them. Rule of thumb: If it has a physical retail release, it will be listed under 3DS/PSP/PS3 regardless of whether the actual copy is physical or digital (albeit I prefer physical games so digital copies will be in the small minority).

3DS Downloads – Any game on the eshop that isn’t a digital re-release of an old game (VC) or from DSiWare. I also list preloaded content found on the 3DS (Face Raiders, Find Mii, etc.) because it makes more sense to list these under 3DS downloads than the 3DS itself as they are digital-only.

VC (Handheld) – Basically any digital re-release of a game for an older system from the 3DS’ eshop.

DSiWare – Any game that can also be downloaded onto the DSi will be listed here even though I have it on the 3DS.

Playstation Network – Digital-only games available for PS3/PSP. This includes digital-only releases of full retail games (example: Corpse Party). The rule of thumb here is if it doesn’t have a physical retail release in English (but does in Japanese), then it’s PSN. Also included are regular digital-only games that do not fall under Playstation Classics or Playstation Minis; or larger DLC.

Playstation Classics – Digital re-releases of Playstation games (PSX). I currently don’t have any PS2 Classics, but likewise any digital PS2 game would fall under PS2 Classics.

Playstation Minis – These are pretty straight forward as minis are listed as minis on PSN.

PC – Any game for PC, digital or physical, that I paid money for will be listed here.

PC Downloads – This is what I use to list free PC games that aren’t played on the browser.  So all games under PC Downloads are therefore freebies.

Browser – Pretty straight forward, games that are played on an internet browser.

Steam – Games that I only own on steam. If I also own a copy not tied to steam, it will be listed under PC instead.

iPod – Games that I have on my ipod touch. These should probably be listed as iOS, but since I only have a touch, I just listed them as iPod.

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Compilations:  I will only list something as part of a compilation if it is physically bundled together in the same cartridge/CD/Blu-ray/etc. I will not list games that were bundled together at retail but come in separate cartridges/CDs/etc. I will also not list digital games under a compilation (humble indie bundle) even if they were bought together unless they are tied to 1 program.

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I think that about covers it. I hope this list illuminated why I list certain games under certain system and how I mark my games down. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask away on the backloggery. :)