1. Even though they were downloaded directly from the site, apparently they were 96 dpi. As for my Fatal Fury cover, I was told it had the wrong barcode and the picture were incorrect and therefore, it couldn't be used.
2. Even though I set out to follow the site rule 100%, it was pointed out that my work couldn't be used because I was using an outdated template (used by the discussed Bonk cover and posted to the site). This is still unnoticed by the individuals who set such high standards.
1. We have said this many many times before, that is an old cover and does not meet site standards anymore. Covers of that caliber will not be uploaded to the site and once we get a suitable replacement cover the cover will be replaced with the new one. We do like to have the barcode correct but the screenshots aren't required to be retail if it is listed as a custom cover. I apologize that i didn't see this conversation, when did this happen?
2. I didn't make any big announcement when i updated the template on the forums. I'll take fault for someone using my outdated template. Was your cover rejected do to template or upscaled artwork used?
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Fact 1
There aren't enough members that can making cover that meet site standards.
Fact 2
There aren't enough active cover administrators to approve covers. (As you mentioned, they have lives.)
1. We aren't a massive site. Yes our standards can be very intimidating to the average person but this is how we can ensure we have the best. Anything less would be a disservice to our cause of the site.
2. I actually don't disagree with you on this one. I told Arseen a while back i'd "take him under my wing" but I neglected to do so. This was my fault and i'll make sure i get him up to speed (if he really needs that much "training"). Wq admins will talk about this more, i assure you. This is strictly an admin discussion though so i'll stop it there.
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Customs aren't taboo, but there are differences to them and they aren't beneficial for this particular site, so it's slightly against the purpose. In itself I enjoy good custom work and take a look at what I see just to catch a glimpse. However there's an abundance of custom work right now and that leads to various things, one that people don't share raws for people to properly handle and restore the artwork and rather just opt for a 2 minute copy paste job. While some work from various people can be good, looking over it right now that seems to be depending on the state of the original scan's quality and not that of the artist's work on it. When there are sites that specifically focus on custom boxes, it's better to share it there for proper feedback than to clutter up this place and divert the attention away from the official artwork threads.
Its a fine line to walk. If someone waits months or years for a certain scan on something but it doesn't surface then many people turn to the custom route. Pretty often people make covers so a series will line up in the same style or they decide to breathe new life with their take on the design.
The longer I've been here (the older i get) I am starting to desire more retail oriented covers. I don't know if that has to do with my standards, collecting, age, whatever but one opinion shouldn't outweigh the rest. Custom work vs Retail work: one isn't better than the other, just one may be more desired by one member over another. That being said though, if we have the ability to make a retail version of the cover i definitely encourage the artist to do so. Its nice to have the retail work as a base and go from there if people decide to. Its definitely not a requirement though.
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At the least, I kind of feel like the current templates should be reviewed and updated. That's an easy fix as there are quite a few older templates with low res or dirty elements.
I agree. Alot of this starts with me. I made a lot of the templates here and some of them are 5 years or older. Our standards have grown stricter but unfortunately some of our template didn't follow with the movement. I have been and will continue to update my templates. I also have about 10 templates i need to add to the site that i've been pushing off / forgetting about (Yes Larry yours made the cut
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Would you guys like if i included a "Last Updated" date next to the template in the description?====================================================================================
. I've always found that segamer does a really good job at what he does and over all everything looks great (sometimes with vector logos and redrawn artwork which is completely out of my skill set), but on other covers the artwork used is sometimes smoothed out with filters or rebuilds made from cleaned up label scans/lower res art etc. which in my experience working up to a cover admin, was not always accepted.
Honestly a big part of the reason some of the "good ones" don't make it through is its sometimes pretty tough to weed through the subpar quality covers to find the ones that would pass standards. I'm not blaming you for helping another member out who doesn't need the HQ cover but just want anything. Quite the contrary in fact (i appreciate it, as do they). If only 1/15 covers would pass quality check and we have to download 60 covers to find the 4 good ones it pretty offputting and kind of a waste of our time to be blunt (trying not to be rude). If you had the same standard with all the covers you make it would stand a far better chance for them to be uploaded to the site.
Perhaps you could split your first post in your thread to have one part "hoping to pass QC" and the other clearly stated "Usable but below site standards" and only upload (to the site) those that you believe should pass QC. Not a perfect system but food for thought for the time being.
