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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Contribution Discussion Page: 1 2 3 ...5  Previous   Next
Pre-Release Contributions
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantDanH
24 frames per second
Registered: July 17, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 40
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I've had this beef before. I'm going to have it again, not because I was not convinced by any of the
original arguments - I'll ride those out. But I'm still plagued by the pre-release brigade, who I'm sure are
all nice, well-meaning people, but they're driving me mad.
Having recently bought two newly released dvd's and prepared to make new and full contributions from scratch if necessary I now find that the dvd's are already entered on the database as pre-releases but devoid of any meaningfuly information. I wait and wait. No sign however of the pre-release contributors updating their entries which have sparse (pre-release) information and no data. No cast or crew information - nothing. Front cover scans only, which have to be re-taken anyway to correspond with the release cover. How long does one have to wait for these entries to be updated,  or do I yet again have to re-write these skeleton entries and do all the work? (I already know the answer to that).

These are not isolated incidents, they are frequently the case in the area of dvd's that I collect. I kind of get the feeling sometimes that I'm compiling this database on my own.

I submit that 'pre-release' Contributions should be banned.

An earlier excuse was these are
needed for Wish Lists - well in my opinion that is one Tab we could well do without. If you don't know
what films you want by now........ 

Another reason put forward was that the database grows through the contributions of the members.
Granted, but that pre-supposes that members are going to take responsibility for updating their own entries if they are submitted in the knowledge that their entries are pre-release and therefore significantly incomplete.

There, I feel better. You can now all shout at me.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorBad Father
Registered: July 23, 2001
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 4,596
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I appreciate the work done by those who do the research and add pre-release titles so I can add to my wish list. You may think the wish list and pre-release profiles are worthless but I bet the majority of users find them invaluable.
My WebGenDVD online Collection
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorJimmy S
Registered: March 15, 2007
Canada Posts: 1,982
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When I was contributing to the database I've made some pre-release profile. Each time there was title pre-order and I wanted them in my database. But they were always completed by me when the dvd was in my hand (just one exception where another user completed it before me). I agree with you about the pre-release. If you don't plan to buy a dvd don't make is pre-release profile, this is not a competition where the user name who appear the most will win millions of dollar.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCubbyUps
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 4,245
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Completely disagree about eliminating the Wishlist. I find it very easy to just move a profile from the wishlist to owned. I also like to have the ability to find titles that I want with a certain person starring in it or worked on it. Kind of like a filmography right at my fingertips.

I do think we need to allow a small amount of cast/crew for pre-releases. Now I'm not talking about doing a complete cast/crew list, but just info that can be gathered from the dvd case, or even perhaps an official press release and/or the movies official website.

For instance the soon to be released dvd 'The Air I Breathe' is completely void of cast/crew info. But on the dvd artwork it has some of the cast names: Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy, Brendan Frasier, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emile Hirsch and Forest Whitaker. Roles could have been found on the films official website(if there is one).

Then when the dvd is released it all gets updated from the actual credits anyways.

All the info for pre-releases are just preliminary anyways and will be updated when it's release anyways, so I see nothing wrong in including easily found data from the dvd artwork or official dvd press releases or official sites.

But that's just my opinion.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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Wrong Dan, pre-release data is valuabvle even though by its very nature it is going to be incomplete. I suspect a lot of us use the pre-releases to manage their purchasing. Just because you or a even some other users don't find it so...

Once the title hits the streets the data will be fleshed out in the manner described by the Rules.

Skip
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsnarbo
Registered: March 13, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 1,242
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I completely disagree about the Wish List tab as well, I quite often use mine.

Foe instance right now I have already a manual entry for 'Iron Man' and 'Stargate SG-1: Continuum' one has only just been released in the UK cinema's the other is still in production...when I know of (or somebody else for that matter) that either of these have been assigned a EAN I can then change these profiles from a manual to an assigned EAN, I still would not be able to add anything more (cast / crew / audio / video) until the DVD is actually released because the rules stipulate that this information can come only from the DVD.

If it so happens that I was able to purchase either of these on the day of release, update my local database the submit it for contribution then all well and good, if Joe Bloggs down the road buys before me and submits all well and good, anything could happen to prevent me buy it / submitting before subody else.

If another UK user hears of an upcoming release that I might be interested in and has submitted the info (all be it partial) thats of benefit to me and anybody else who uses their wish list tab.

So instead of be-grudging the Wish List and the Pre-Release brigade think yourself lucky that some of us take the tme to include anything at all for the database.

Steve
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDragon 6
Registered: 2/18/2003
Registered: March 29, 2007
Posts: 281
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I use the pre-release feature as well. When I get the dvd in hand I sometimes waite a day or so to make sure no one is entering the same work, then I will submitt the data with cover scans. I also add pre-release info so others can no what is coming out on, and on what date.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMike D.
Registered March 20, 2004
Registered: May 8, 2007
United States Posts: 663
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Pre-Release contributions need to stay. I myself have contributed a handful of these, because I went to enter it into my ordered list or wishlist and its not there.  Just like what Cubby said:
Quote:
All the info for pre-releases are just preliminary anyways and will be updated when it's release anyways, so I see nothing wrong in including easily found data from the dvd artwork or official dvd press releases or official sites.

Plus I find it easier to edit a profile that already exists, without having to create a new one from scratch, especially if another user has edited the same profile as you at the same time.

Quote:
Having recently bought two newly released dvd's and prepared to make new and full contributions from scratch if necessary I now find that the dvd's are already entered on the database as pre-releases but devoid of any meaningfuly information. I wait and wait. No sign however of the pre-release contributors updating their entries which have sparse (pre-release) information and no data. No cast or crew information - nothing.


Dan, did you ever stop and think the user might have just entered the profile into their wishlist? Maybe they plan on buying it sometime down the road, but they wanted to help other users by providing the title in the database, who order it or buy it on the release day.
We're on a mission from God.


 Last edited: by Mike D.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
?
Registered: March 14, 2007
Posts: 3,830
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Quoting DanHughes:
Quote:

Having recently bought two newly released dvd's and prepared to make new and full contributions from scratch if necessary I now find that the dvd's are already entered on the database as pre-releases but devoid of any meaningfuly information. I wait and wait. No sign however of the pre-release contributors updating their entries which have sparse (pre-release) information and no data. No cast or crew information - nothing. Front cover scans only, which have to be re-taken anyway to correspond with the release cover. How long does one have to wait for these entries to be updated,  or do I yet again have to re-write these skeleton entries and do all the work? (I already know the answer to that).


Get over it, contribute your changes and take the credit you deserve in the contribution note. As long as you contribute by the rules evrything should be fine. i understand they take out the fun of contributing the full profile and have not your contributing credits as first. Anyway either you do the job yourself to your specs or you wait and wait.
Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
 Last edited: by ?
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantroop
Save time, see it my way!
Registered: May 23, 2007
Canada Posts: 69
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I really like the pre-release and wishlist. If ya don't like it, don't use it... From my perspective the sooner any data is available, the better...
Blu-ray Enthusiast!!!
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorrorymatt
Registered: March 24, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 2,044
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I know that there are many of us that contribute pre-release data, I for one always go back and add the rest of the data and scans when the selection becomes available. Heck somtimes I'm beaten to it by someother brave soul.   

Rory
DVD Profiler for iOS as of 3/5/2013
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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Quoting DanHughes:
Quote:
I've had this beef before. I'm going to have it again, not because I was not convinced by any of the
original arguments - I'll ride those out. But I'm still plagued by the pre-release brigade, who I'm sure are
all nice, well-meaning people, but they're driving me mad.
Having recently bought two newly released dvd's and prepared to make new and full contributions from scratch if necessary I now find that the dvd's are already entered on the database as pre-releases but devoid of any meaningfuly information. I wait and wait. No sign however of the pre-release contributors updating their entries which have sparse (pre-release) information and no data. No cast or crew information - nothing. Front cover scans only, which have to be re-taken anyway to correspond with the release cover. How long does one have to wait for these entries to be updated,  or do I yet again have to re-write these skeleton entries and do all the work? (I already know the answer to that).

These are not isolated incidents, they are frequently the case in the area of dvd's that I collect. I kind of get the feeling sometimes that I'm compiling this database on my own.

I submit that 'pre-release' Contributions should be banned.

An earlier excuse was these are
needed for Wish Lists - well in my opinion that is one Tab we could well do without. If you don't know
what films you want by now........ 

Another reason put forward was that the database grows through the contributions of the members.
Granted, but that pre-supposes that members are going to take responsibility for updating their own entries if they are submitted in the knowledge that their entries are pre-release and therefore significantly incomplete.

There, I feel better. You can now all shout at me.

Dan:

After re-reading your post, I would strongly recommend that you try reading our Contribution Rules. Apparently you have not, because if you had yoiu would understand why pre-release data can be so sketchy, Our data for cast and Crew comes from the film credits on the DVD, and most of our other data also comes from the DVD, pre-release data is subject to change. And unless you sit in a dark theater scribbling in shorthand then adding Cast and Crew data can only be entered in limited fashion.

Skip
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantAgrare
Registered: May 22, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 1,033
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The other point that has only been touched upon is you are a) not required to contribute at all and b) if you do contribute you don't have to contribute everything. So to say that if someone enters a pre-release profile that they should be obligated or required to then finish the profile is ridiculous. There are many reasons, some have been mentioned and I could probably add loads more if you want, on why the person who made the initial contribution of a pre-release profile may not get the dvd on release day or even shortly after. So to wait and expect someone else to do the work is, imho, just lazy and selfish.

If the data doesn't get updated, and you need to do it, your still doing less because some (important) info is already there. To say there  is no meaningful information is a big stretch, if you don't think that release date (when the dvd is coming out) is important, then I don't know what to say, its probably the most important part of pre-release profiles.

Second, if you are entering missing information, there is no re-writing anything. You are just adding to it. You can add as much or as little as you want (as long as it follows the rules). As far as taking responsibility for your own entries, the profile is not yours. there is no responsibility to take. Once you contribute it, it belongs to Invelos if any single person owns it, and to the DVD Profiler community as a whole to update and correct until it is complete, to the benefit of the community. nothing says if you contribute a profile you are responsible for all the info in it.

I agree with Skip that you should read the Contribution Rules, if nothing else it should help you understand what a 'User built database' is.

On a personal note, I find the pre-release helpful to avoid mass initial contributions of big titles. I mean, even with the pre-release profile 101 Dalmations had at least 5 updates on its release date, with various overlaps between them. That was a mess. Imagine if instead of seeing them all in one place under the existing, they all came in as new profiles, I imagine it would have been even crazier.

-Agrare
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorSrehtims
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 1,796
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Pre-leases and wish list are invaluable to me.

As serious collector, (of almost anything), I find one of the most useful additions
to the DVD Profiler is the "upcoming releases" under the "Add DVDs ..." tab.
At least once a week I check this tab to see if someone has found a DVD I might be
Interested in adding to my collection. I have hundreds of DVDs in my wish list,
Most I’ll never buy, but once in the wish list I can check the DVD out, check the
various web sites for reviews and determine if really want it.

I never add pre-releases unless I ordered the DVD.
By this time I have the following data:
SRP,
Release date,
Produced date,
Genre,
description for the overview,
Retailer cover scan,
Distributor.
maybe the leading actors or director.
Obviously any of this data may change, if I find it changes I submit the change.

As you can see most of the serious collectors agree
We don't need stinkin' IMDB's errors, we make our own.
Ineptocracy, You got to love it.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
 Last edited: by Srehtims
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorThe Movieman
DVDP User Since 2007
Registered: March 18, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 2,550
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Quoting roop:
Quote:
I really like the pre-release and wishlist. If ya don't like it, don't use it... From my perspective the sooner any data is available, the better...


Agree 110%
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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I just realized I didn't follow Dan's instructions. SO LET ME OBLIGE YOU. WE AIM TO PLEASE, DAN, YOU WANTED TO BE SHOUTED AT.

Skip        
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
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