Skip to the next section if you'd rather not read the ramblings of a grumpy old man.

First of all, you don't have to play every single version of a game, or be a programmer to give your opinion. Just do the research, present the facts, and give it your best.

Secondly, the quality of a video game is objective. Coding, bugs, character development, coherent story, acting, and localization, are just a few things that fit into this category. Of course they can be discussed or debated, but there is no doubt a correct answer agreed upon by the majority. Yay, three cheers for democracy, just kidding, that's not how real democracy works. Trust me, I'm smaller, dumber, older, and weaker than you, so I win. Also, sub to my only fans, click thumbs up if you enjoyed the video, like and retweet to enter the giveaway, and don't forget to turn on notifications.

I'm bitter, can you tell I'm bitter?

Now, whether or not a video game is fun, fulfilling, or satisfying is subjective. People tend to base their opinions on this, and this alone. Sometimes you might read or hear something to the effect of “It's the version I played growing up so it's my favorite”. While the statement is true, it's also subjective, anecdotal, and therefore cannot be simply applied to a broader scale without further investigation. Unlike being scared (please see Monster's Inc. for reference), feelings like fun or nostalgia aren't really quantifiable and shouldn't be heavily leaned on as a metric when determining which version of a game is best for a broad spectrum of end users or what the creator had in mind.

Unfortunately, for those of us curating the site, we'll have to rely on a combination of philosophies. In the immortal words of Limp Bizkit front man, Fred Durst, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”.¹⁾

Determining the value of a game's components is a difficult task. Sound vs graphics vs story vs mechanics vs vs vs … you get the idea. At some point, Game 'A' will have something that game 'B' doesn't have and vice versa. So, which one is better? Discussing these things and ultimately making a choice is what separates us from the animals … or was that the opposable thumb. I can't remember, but what I do know is that I'm right.

That's where we (you) come in. DefinitiveVersion.com is here to hopefully establish the most well-executed version of a specific game, which should typically result in the best user experience so you can laugh, cry, get mad, have fun, and ultimately have a rewarding experience that leaves you satisfied with the time you've invested.

Okay, I'm not trying to write a book, so that's really as deep as I want to go. I'm just hoping all of us involved in this site are on the same page when reading, contributing, or commenting on something.

“This is guy is a real jerk and I don't like him, he's probably some elitist neckbearded incel that plays D&D and lives in his mother's basement.”

HA! Not even close, joke's on you buddy. I live in the attic.

So you hate me, no problem, DefinitiveVersion.com is a wiki! Which means you create the content. I just laid some groundwork to get things started. So have at it! The world is a oyster. Life's a garden, dig it. Cartay Deeuhm.

So you've decided to try your hand at a wiki entry. Here are some tips to help you nail down the definitive version.

Emulator's shouldn't be considered a “console” when determining a definitive version, but if it's the best way to play the game feel free to mention it in the write up. Food for thought: Does emulation fix any bugs, increase FPS, or create unwanted input lag? Ultimately the point is to determine the best version of the game itself, but any additional insight is appreciated. (ex. Until recently the best way to play Trials of Mana was the SNES version via emulator with an English patch.)

Were there updated carts for old games? Is it minor or game breaking (ex. Prince of Persia 3 can crash and corrupt your save near the end of the game on PS2.)

Did a new version disable something useful, remove a cool weapon, ruin a beneficial mod

Has there been an actual improvement? I probably don't need to say this since if you're even considering helping out you already know 3D instead of 2D isn't an improvement just because its 3D. Also, filtering pre-rendered backgrounds isn't necessarily better, and it often makes textures look muddy or obscure.

Additional songs? Removed Songs? Downgraded/upgraded audio? (ex. Skies of Arcadia has compressed audio in the GameCube version)

Are the visuals cohesive? Are they charming, striking, gritty, etc. In relation to the game's tone?

Was the game translated accurately? Does the original or update change the story or characters?

Mods that change the foundation of the game should not be considered.

Mods that enhance textures, implement elements from other official versions, “enhance the user experience ”, or correct translations are probably worth considering when .

I think it's best to stay as close to the creator's vision as possible.