The Cover Project

General Category => News and Announcements => Topic started by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 01:02:05 PM

Title: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 01:02:05 PM
TCPers,

I am happy to say this morning that I've reopened the upload portion of the site. Unlike before, this will only be for completed covers (custom or retail). Our admin team has setup a wiki (http://www.thecoverprojectwiki.net/)  that also includes a place to upload unfinished or partial covers so you'll want to go there for that.

The new upload process requires you select a platform and game name before uploading a cover. I'm working on adding a feature to suggest a new game name in the event that your game is not in the system already.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 01:12:56 PM
Tried to upload, but can't.

404 error.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 01:35:23 PM
HA! I tested all morning. Let me check it out.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 01:36:14 PM
Try again!
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 02:00:34 PM
Sorry was scanning covers on other  computer

Said it worked, can't see though... ;)

It's cover called Wild Guns US by RecOne, it's for SNES.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 02:04:02 PM
It's there. I watched it show up. :)

Step 1. Uploads working
Step 2. Figure out the best way to let everyone see pending covers without killing my hosting provider or getting kicked out. ;p
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 02:12:22 PM
Maybe give Forum Admins posibility too to see the covers... there are 3 of us, so it should not strain the resourses too much, or does that endanger the site security?
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Moviefan2k4 on January 24, 2012, 02:39:00 PM
This is only slightly related, but how do i go about adding downloadable Photoshop files to the Templates section? All the files seem to be hosted on this site, and I'd like to add a few of my own.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 02:49:01 PM
This is only slightly related, but how do i go about adding downloadable Photoshop files to the Templates section? All the files seem to be hosted on this site, and I'd like to add a few of my own.

I think at the moment Snowcone (and maybe few Cover Admins) only can do that.

Us lowly ones have to post them to the boards and hope the higher ones like them and add them.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on January 24, 2012, 02:54:13 PM
Are there any clear guidelines about what can be uploaded beyond the scanning guide? I understand that it was closed due to abuse, which I assume was covers that weren't up to snuff. I've downloaded a few. Anyhow, I want to scan in my Genesis covers and upload them in the correct size for the Genesis cases. I've noticed a lot of poor covers in the Genesis section as well. Color off, over saturation, and general poor quality.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 03:01:30 PM
Bad covers were not the problem IIRC but totally unrelated stuff.

Upload scanned, cleaned and fixed (=ready) covers with the upload feature, and scanned but not cleaned (=raws) covers to the wiki as raws.
High quality scans of Manual fronts can also be uploaded as raws, so can posters.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on January 24, 2012, 03:03:37 PM
Ah!

Easy enough. Looks like I've got a lot of work to do.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: tiktektak on January 24, 2012, 03:09:52 PM
Maybe give Forum Admins posibility too to see the covers... there are 3 of us, so it should not strain the resourses too much, or does that endanger the site security?
As the uploaded covers are directly streamed on our ftp only a selected few people (those that have ftp credentials = Cover Admins and even there not all) can copy or download them.

For security reasons ftp credentials are only for selected few people (=Cover Admins). The ftp was compromised once and we were on the brink of loosing our hosting company which would have meant bye bye coverproject (at least temporarily).

So finally things can get back to normal. We'll regularly clean our ftp of all uploaded stuff and check it for quality. Good for the site, bad for the bin like it always has been. ;)

Until snow comes up with a new way to show the stuff to everyone, maybe like we did for the raw scans.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 03:12:23 PM
Maybe give Forum Admins posibility too to see the covers... there are 3 of us, so it should not strain the resourses too much, or does that endanger the site security?
As the uploaded covers are directly streamed on our ftp only a selected few people (those that have ftp credentials = Cover Admins and even there not all) can copy or download them.

For security reasons ftp credentials are only for selected few people (=Cover Admins). The ftp was compromised once and we were on the brink of loosing our hosting company which would have meant bye bye coverproject (at least temporarily).

Yep, that's what I thought.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: tiktektak on January 24, 2012, 03:14:40 PM
We could give you ftp credentials as well Arseen. You've been here for a long tiem as well and even though you can be sillyhead sometimes I think you won't compromise our ftp.

First all cover admins should get ftp credentials though.

Only kaiser and me have some at the moment afaik.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 03:26:41 PM
Thanks, that would be nice.

Sorry to go temporarily back to nonsense. Read question that PMed you, it has been bugging me for quite a while.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 04:40:25 PM
Are there any clear guidelines about what can be uploaded beyond the scanning guide? I understand that it was closed due to abuse, which I assume was covers that weren't up to snuff. I've downloaded a few. Anyhow, I want to scan in my Genesis covers and upload them in the correct size for the Genesis cases. I've noticed a lot of poor covers in the Genesis section as well. Color off, over saturation, and general poor quality.

The issue wasn't quality, it was overall misuse. We had several instances of people hosting personal photos and a few cases where a malicious file made it through and someone hosted a phishing site on the domain. Nasty phone calls from foreign banks is quite scary.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 24, 2012, 04:43:34 PM
I knew there was some trouble, but never knew it got that bad.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on January 24, 2012, 07:19:45 PM
So, two more questions. When I upload a cover how is it specified what kind of cover it's for? I uploaded a Genesis cover sized for the Genesis case and there was no where to specify that. Do the admins sort that out when you approve them? Also, what if you're trying to upload a cover for a game that isn't in the list? I'm trying to upload a cover for World Class Leader Board Golf for the Genesis but it isn't in the drop down list.

The issue wasn't quality, it was overall misuse. We had several instances of people hosting personal photos and a few cases where a malicious file made it through and someone hosted a phishing site on the domain. Nasty phone calls from foreign banks is quite scary.

Good hell, some people. ::)
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AO007 on January 24, 2012, 08:32:54 PM
how do I upload covers for games not in the system yet?

PS1 - Gex Enter The Gecko
PS1 - Gex Deep Cover Gecko
PS1 - Tomba
PS1 - Monster Rancher 2
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: akrate69 on January 24, 2012, 08:34:49 PM
No raw uploads on the main site :'(
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 11:52:42 PM
No raw uploads on the main site :'(

For now. This site is using nearly 100GB of disk space on my server at present.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on January 24, 2012, 11:53:55 PM
So, two more questions. When I upload a cover how is it specified what kind of cover it's for? I uploaded a Genesis cover sized for the Genesis case and there was no where to specify that. Do the admins sort that out when you approve them? Also, what if you're trying to upload a cover for a game that isn't in the list? I'm trying to upload a cover for World Class Leader Board Golf for the Genesis but it isn't in the drop down list.

The issue wasn't quality, it was overall misuse. We had several instances of people hosting personal photos and a few cases where a malicious file made it through and someone hosted a phishing site on the domain. Nasty phone calls from foreign banks is quite scary.

Good hell, some people. ::)

how do I upload covers for games not in the system yet?

PS1 - Gex Enter The Gecko
PS1 - Gex Deep Cover Gecko
PS1 - Tomba
PS1 - Monster Rancher 2

For both of these, if the game isn't on the site, submit the name to one of the admins. I'm going to see if we can't just bulk import authoritative lists of games for older systems as that should be pretty easy.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: akrate69 on January 25, 2012, 02:25:17 AM
No raw uploads on the main site :'(

For now. This site is using nearly 100GB of disk space on my server at present.

Yeah, I understand. I'm just a creature of habit and a little sentimental.

The raws section needs to be cleaned out. There's a lot of scans in there no longer needed as covers are already done. I know of a bunch of mine that should be deleted. Not to mention the many in which the scan isn't good enough to make a cover with that would pass here. A waste of space and money.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: djshok on January 25, 2012, 10:02:25 AM
Woohoo!  I can start contributing for real again!   ;D  Best news I've read all day.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Hexxxer on January 25, 2012, 07:09:41 PM
Glad to see this is up again, good job.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Vt102 on January 26, 2012, 12:11:38 AM
I want to ask anyone who uploaded finished covers to the WIKI, please do not re-upload them to this site.

I will be transferring all those covers this weekend
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Merri on January 26, 2012, 02:49:25 PM
When can I expect to see new images approved to the site? During weekend earliest?
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Vt102 on January 26, 2012, 06:18:14 PM
When can I expect to see new images approved to the site? During weekend earliest?

Unfortunately we can't provide a schedule time. The addition of covers is done by admins who work on a voluntary basis.

Wile we try to add covers as often as we can, we all have other commitments that take much of our time.

I will try to get to some covers this weekend, but I can guarantee how many or which covers will be added.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: djshok on January 29, 2012, 01:12:24 PM
Hmm I've noticed something odd in the new upload system.

I'm trying to upload some 32X covers, but it asks to select what game the cover is for.  And I have to choose one from the dropdown menu.  Unfortunately the menu only lists the games that we currently have covers for, not the ones that we don't  (and which I'm currently trying to upload.)

 ??? 
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on January 29, 2012, 05:10:22 PM
Hmm I've noticed something odd in the new upload system.

I'm trying to upload some 32X covers, but it asks to select what game the cover is for.  And I have to choose one from the dropdown menu.  Unfortunately the menu only lists the games that we currently have covers for, not the ones that we don't  (and which I'm currently trying to upload.)

 ??? 

Yeah, I was told to PM an admin to have them added in. It's been two or three days and I haven't heard back yet.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: djshok on January 29, 2012, 05:29:39 PM
Hmm, well I just uploaded them with a different name in the dropdown list.  I'm sure when the admins review the uploads they'll be able to tell what game the covers are for.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AO007 on January 29, 2012, 06:38:23 PM
speaking of, updates were promised for the weekend but so far not a single one has been uploaded from what I've seen.

Maybe TCP should add staff with more free time if there are schedule conflicts.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 29, 2012, 06:45:23 PM
speaking of, updates were promised for the weekend but so far not a single one has been uploaded from what I've seen.

Maybe TCp should hire staff with more freetime if there are schedule conflicts.

No paid staff here. ;)
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: tiktektak on January 30, 2012, 12:09:03 PM
Maybe TCP should remove annoying little noobs who know nothing and tell everything?
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: komodos on January 30, 2012, 12:24:28 PM
Relax, they will get to it when they get to it.

Question though (still pretty new here) When you submit an upload does it just go into a que for admins to review and if its deemed good it gets added? Also what determines what gets selected and what doesn't? Not to sure if there are strict guidelines or not that I could be paying attention to in future attempts and so forth =D
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: tiktektak on January 30, 2012, 12:31:16 PM
Relax, they will get to it when they get to it.

Question though (still pretty new here) When you submit an upload does it just go into a que for admins to review and if its deemed good it gets added? Also what determines what gets selected and what doesn't? Not to sure if there are strict guidelines or not that I could be paying attention to in future attempts and so forth =D

Yes and yes.

Quality is the foremost factor. We like to see our templates used though this is not mandatory. Legal text should be 100% correct as well at least on retail covers.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 30, 2012, 12:34:16 PM
Cover Admins have final say, and will check (scrutanise) and approve/discard the covers when they have time.

Quality standards here are strickt.

What they at least look for is:
- Flawless covers
- Correct Barcodes
- No dust
- No scratces
- No typos
- No moire effect
- No low quality artwork
- Colors must be good (Not too dark not, too dark. Not too pale,  not too strong).

Horizontal (retail) covers go thru stricter check as they  have to match 100%
Vertical (custom) covers give bit more leeway for the artists.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: tiktektak on January 30, 2012, 01:57:23 PM
Cover Admins have final say, and will check (scrutanise) and approve/discard the covers when they have time.

Quality standards here are strickt.

What they at least look for is:
- Flawless covers
- Correct Barcodes
- No dust
- No scratces
- No typos
- No moire effect
- No low quality artwork
- Colors must be good (Not too dark not, too dark. Not too pale,  not too strong).

Horizontal (retail) covers go thru stricter check as they  have to match 100%
Vertical (custom) covers give bit more leeway for the artists.

90% right. Typos are a thing I sometimes miss cause I rahter check for artwork quality, pixealtion and moire effect than for typos. Those can be fixed pretty easy.
One little thing I'm kinda releaxed too is if the screenshots don't fit 100% on a retail cover. I tend to still approve them because most of the time emu screenshots look sooooooo much better.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Vt102 on January 30, 2012, 04:11:56 PM
Don't forget region parity. In other words, don't use a U.S. seal of quality on a JP cover, ESRB rating on a EU cover, a EU bar-code on a US cover, etc...

It is allowed to use cross templates (like a JP cover on US templates and such) as long as the information is true to the original region.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AO007 on January 30, 2012, 05:59:17 PM
Which is kinda silly, as I've seen PLENTY of US covers with different ratings, and vice-versa. This is especially rampant in the Game Boy cover section.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 30, 2012, 06:06:11 PM
Which is a load of crap, as I've seen PLENTY of US covers with different ratings, and vice-versa. This is especially rampant in the Game Boy cover section.

Forget the game boy section.
It's mostly totally fucked up.
It is been replaced cover by cover as better ones are made.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AO007 on January 30, 2012, 08:50:34 PM
That and maybe, just maybe, standards have changed.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on January 30, 2012, 08:54:29 PM
That and maybe, just maybe, standards have changed.

Exactly ;)
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Vt102 on January 30, 2012, 09:13:37 PM
Which is a load of crap, as I've seen PLENTY of US covers with different ratings, and vice-versa. This is especially rampant in the Game Boy cover section.

Keep in mind that most of those were added before our current quality controls. We have gotten a lot more picky nowadays
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: komodos on January 30, 2012, 11:43:47 PM
Thanks for the info ^_^y
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Vt102 on February 02, 2012, 10:52:32 AM
FYI.

I transferred all the "Ready" files from the WIKI to the TCP FTP folder. So please only use the WIKI for RAW files from now on.

Thank you
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Arseen on February 02, 2012, 11:00:56 AM
FYI.
So please only use the WIKI for RAW files from now on.
Thank you

Would you put this on front page.

It will be lost and over looked on this topic quite soon.

EDIT:

I mean update the front page box so it clearly says:

Raws and half done covers to Wiki.
100% Ready covers direct upload to this site.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: sheep2001 on February 02, 2012, 11:11:56 AM
i upped a couple of ready megadrive covers to the Wiki yesterday, as I got an error when trying to upload to the site.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AO007 on February 02, 2012, 12:52:48 PM
I submitted a bunch of PS1 covers(Both to the site and the wiki), though they aren't RAWs.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AppleQueso on February 03, 2012, 02:03:36 PM
I meant to ask:

I uploaded a cover to the wiki not long before the actual uploads system went back up.

Should I re-upload it to the actual site?
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: tiktektak on February 04, 2012, 04:17:05 AM
FYI.

I transferred all the "Ready" files from the WIKI to the TCP FTP folder. So please only use the WIKI for RAW files from now on.

Thank you

!

By the way. If it is Bomerman Hero it is on the ftp.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AppleQueso on February 04, 2012, 09:39:47 AM
FYI.

I transferred all the "Ready" files from the WIKI to the TCP FTP folder. So please only use the WIKI for RAW files from now on.

Thank you

!

By the way. If it is Bomerman Hero it is on the ftp.

Ah, must've glossed over that post. Thanks. Yes it is Bomberman Hero
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on February 05, 2012, 03:49:42 PM
Hmm I've noticed something odd in the new upload system.

I'm trying to upload some 32X covers, but it asks to select what game the cover is for.  And I have to choose one from the dropdown menu.  Unfortunately the menu only lists the games that we currently have covers for, not the ones that we don't  (and which I'm currently trying to upload.)

 ??? 

We haven't setup a mechanism for suggesting new game names as part of the system. I'm working on something for this.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on February 09, 2012, 11:59:34 AM
How will we know if our covers are rejected? I'm guessing that nobody really has time to be notifying people?
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AppleQueso on February 09, 2012, 12:19:10 PM
How will we know if our covers are rejected? I'm guessing that nobody really has time to be notifying people?
sometimes they'll notify you, usually they won't
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on February 09, 2012, 12:26:48 PM
Bummer.

I uploaded Sonic 3 for the Genesis and I thought it was a lot better than the retail cover we already have. I'm guessing it was rejected. It would be nice to know, but I would love to know know why it was rejected too.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: AppleQueso on February 09, 2012, 12:28:15 PM
Have you seen any covers added to the site since you uploaded yours? They generally approve and upload covers in batches.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Polygon on February 09, 2012, 12:31:21 PM
There have been a few uploaded since January. So, perhaps they haven't gotten to it yet.

I think I'm going to post some up that I've been working on to see what people think.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: ShoothimNow on May 26, 2013, 03:15:04 PM
looks like we have no more wiki, thus making this thread: "Uploads are gone!"  :P

(http://www.thecoverprojectwiki.net/)
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Snowcone on May 26, 2013, 10:50:53 PM
looks like we have no more wiki, thus making this thread: "Uploads are gone!"  :P

(http://www.thecoverprojectwiki.net/)

Covers were never uploaded to the wiki.
Title: Re: Uploads are back!
Post by: Mert on May 30, 2013, 12:20:41 AM
The wiki was pretty redundant with these most excellent and much more user-friendly forums. Perhaps someone can edit the sticky in the requests forum (http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=4437.0) to reflect the wiki's demise.