Proposed DVD special solution - please give feedback

[sothis]

After a lot of thinking I've hammered out what I think is the most reasonable solution for DVD specials. There's another thread that goes into this issue in depth, but here's what I think the actual solution might be.

Problems to solve:

1. people want to be able to add DVD specials to their list
2. we need a way to be consistent with how we list things so it's not totally random
3. the system needs to be easy to understand/use

I still think the absolute best solution would be to have a small section for DVD specials (with separate status/rating areas) in each main entry. For example, DtB would have a small dvd specials area to mark Gaiden. However, this solution is time intensive and costly and thus I'm proposing an easier solution:

1. Create a new series type called DVD Special
2. Add DVD specials as their own entries

There would have to be some consistency rules in place for when to mark something a DVD special vs an OVA vs just adding to the main series' episode count. Here's what I'm thinking (please let me know if you agree/disagree, i'm open to suggestions!):

-If a series on TV doesn't show a few episodes that are a part of the main plot, and those episodes are released on DVD, the count of the MAIN SERIES would be updated. For example, Gantz was censored on TV so its count on DVD is higher than TV - the overall count of Gantz would increase, a DVD Special entry would NOT be added.

-If an anime is released solely on DVD by itself (or for example bundled with a manga, etc) it would be added as OVA

-If a series of omakes or special episodes (outside the realm of the plot) are released on DVD along with the normal series, they would be added as DVD specials. Individual special episodes with names would be added with that name - for example, Air Gear: Special Trick. There wouldn't be a cut and dry rule around this - for example if there are 4 specials on DVD for a series maybe it would be a 4-episode DVD special, while two very unrelated, named specials might each get their own entry.

EXAMPLES:

cassiesheepgirl graciously wrote up a list of all currently-pending DVD specials and how we're name/change them based on the above proposed rules. Please read the below and let me know if you have comments on it. (spoilered cause it's long)

Ah! My Goddess – Episodes 12.5, 25 & 26
Episode 12.5 is a recap episode, but was aired alongside the series and would be added to the count.

Episodes 25 & 26 would be added to the current entry count.



Ah! My Goddess Series 2 – Episodes 23 & 24
These would be added to the current entry count.



Ai Yori Aoshi - Episode 0
This would get its own entry entitled: “Beautiful Snow”



Air Gear – Episode 21.5
This would get its own entry entitled: “Air Gear – Special Trick”



Akane Iro ni Somaru Saka - 1 episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “Akane Iro ni Somaru Saka Hardcore”



Angel Tales - Episode 5.5 and Episode 13
???



Black Cat – Episode 14.5
This would be added to the current entry count. Despite being a .5 episode, it appears to fit in with the actual plotline rather than being a simple beach/hot springs/pointless filler episode.



Clannad – Episode 24
This would get its own entry entitled: “Clannad: Another World – Tomoyo Chapter”



Clannad After Story – Episode 25
This would get its own entry entitled: “Clannad: Another World – Kyou Chapter”



Darker Than Black – Episode 26
This would get its own entry entitled: “Darker than Black – Beneath the Fully Bloomed Cherry Blossoms”



Diary of Tortov Roddle – The Red Berry
This would get its own entry entitled: “The Diary of Tortov Roddle – The Red Berry”



Excel Saga – Episode 26
This would be added to the current entry count.



Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - 2 Bonus Episodes
These would be given their own entries entitled: “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – The Blind Alchemist” and “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Simple People”



Gift Eternal Rainbow – 1 Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “Gift Eternal Rainbow – Critical Moment at the Konosaka Inn”



Glass Fleet – Episodes 16.5, 20.5 & Bonus episode
Since both episodes cover backstory, these would get their own entry entitled: “Glass Fleet Specials”



Green Green – Episode 13
This would be added to the current entry count.



Hidamari Sketch x365 – Episode EX01
This would get its own entry entitled: “Hidamari Sketch x365 EX01”



Kamen no Maid Guy – Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “Kamen no Maid Guy – This Summer, Plenty of Breasts”



Kannagi – Episode 14
This would get its own entry entitled: “Kannagi – If You Are a Shrine Maiden”



Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl – Episode 13
This would get its own entry entitled: “Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl – A Girl Falls in Love with a Girl”



Kimikiss Pure Rouge - Episode 25
This would get its own entry entitled: “Kimikiss Pure Rouge – Love Fighter”



K-On! – Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “K-On! Live House”



Kuroshitsuji – Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “His Butler, Show Business”



La Corda D'Oro ~Primo Passo~ - 1 Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “La Corda D’Oro ~Primo Passo~ – A Summer Encore



Mermaid Forest TV – Episodes 12 & 13
These would be added to the current entry count.



Moetan - Episodes 6 and 13
These would be added to the current entry count.



Mokke - 2 Bonus Episodes
These would get their own entries entitled: “Mokke – Toorikaze” and “Mokke – Mitsua Shigaeru”



Pani Poni Dash – Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “Pani Poni Dash Special”



Sekirei – Bonus Episode
This would get its own entry entitled: “Sekirei – My First Errand”



Shigofumi - Episode 13
This would be added to the current entry count.



Sola – Episodes 14 & 15
These would be added to the current entry count.



Toshokan Sensou - Episode 13
This would get its own entry entitled: “Toshokan Sensou – Situation Love Handicap”



Zero no Tsukaima: Princess no Rondo – Episode 6.5
This would get its own entry entitled: “Zero no Tsukaima: Princess no Rondo – Seductive Beach”



Zombie Loan – Episodes 12 & 13
These would be added to the current entry count.





Omake


Fullmetal Alchemist - Chibi Party
This would get its own entry entitled: “Fullmetal Alchemist – Chibi Party”



Fullmetal Alchemist – Kids
This would get its own entry entitled: “Fullemtal Alchemist – Kids”



Fullmetal Alchemist - Seven Homunculi vs State Alchemists
This would get its own entry entitled: “Fullmetal Alchemist – Seven Homunculi vs State Alchemists”



Hatsukoi Limited: Limited Girl - 6 episodes
These would get one 6-episode entry entitled: “Hatsukoi Limited – Limited Girl”



Ikkitousen Great Guardians - 6 episodes
These would get one 6-episode entry entitled: “Ikkitousen Great Guardians – Battle Tour Club: Sexy Cosplay”



Maria-sama ga Miteru - 7 episodes
These would get one 7-episode entry entitled: “Maria-sama ga Miteru Specials”



Maria-sama ga Miteru Haru - 6 episodes
These would get one 6-episode entry entitled: “Maria-sama ga Miteru Haru Specials”



Maria-sama ga Miteru 3rd - 5 episodes
These would get one 5-episode entry entitled: “Maria-sama ga Miteru 3rd Specials”



Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th - 11 episodes
These would get one 11-episode entry entitled: “Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th Specials”



Moyashimon: Microbe Theatre Deluxe - 3 episodes
These would get one 3-episode entry entitled: “Moyashimon – Microbe Theatre Deluxe”



Needless: The Secret of Saint Lily Academy - 2 episodes
These would get one 2-episode entry entitled: “Needless – The Secret of Saint Lily Academy”



One Piece: Mugiwara Theatre - 5 episodes
These would get one 5-episode entry entitled: “One Piece – Mugiwara Theatre”



Potemayo - 6 episodes
These would get one 6-episode entry entitled “Potemayo Specials”



Utawarerumono - 4 episodes
These would get one 4-episode entry entitled “Utawarerumono Specials”





DVD Specials Currently Included in Existing Episode Counts:



DearS
This will stay as it is.



Elfen Lied OVA
This will be re-classified as a DVD Special and renamed as “Elfen Lied – In the Passing Rain”


Honey and Clover

The existing count will be reduced to 24 and the other two episodes will get their own entries entitled: “Honey and Clover – Chapter L” and “Honey and Clover – Chapter F”


Kamichu

The existing count will be reduced to 12 and the other four episodes will get one 4-episode entry entitled: “Kamichu Specials”


Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru

The existing count would be reduced to 12 and episode 13 would get its own entry entitled: “Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru – Tsunderella”


Spice and Wolf

This will stay as it is.

[AngryJellyfish]

I'd often wondered why they couldn't be added to the main entries as a separate episode count, but I knew nothing about how easy that would be to implement. But this easier solution sounds just as good to me. :)

[sothis]

yeah it would be pretty hard to make different-yet-linked-in-the-same-page entries with different status/ratings

[Fireaxe]

These rules are simple and easy to understand, so this sounds to me like the ideal way to deal with the whole dvd-special issue. I do feel for you guys who have to write a ton of new synopsizes though.... Some of those really don't offer much content to work with.

[cassiesheepgirl]

Originally Posted by Fireaxe

I do feel for you guys who have to write a ton of new synopsizes though.... Some of those really don't offer much content to work with.

Hee hee, I'm already beginning to work my way through the ones I can - there are a fair few lol. As for not being much to work with, I see it as a challenge lol. (of course it is possible that I'm just a masochist) XD

[SeiyaManG]

It's a solution, right? That's the most important part. I don't have any major disagreements with what you're proposing, and I don't want to turn this thread into a rehash of the other one, so: it seems to be effective and easy to understand, I say go for it. The watched Anime count will probably be thrown off a little more though. Being separate entries will make them count as 1 Anime each, so the watched count will increase even though I haven't really watched another show...though I guess you might disagree with this statement, if you consider some "special episodes" worthy of their own entry...

but either way, probably won't be off by much, and it's not really a big deal, I'm just glad there's finally a proposed solution to this, and very glad you didn't post this April 1st ^^

[AnarchicQ]

Sounds good to me. Implement! Implement like you've never implemented before!

[Wright]

Sounds good, it would be great to finally have this sorted out.

[sothis]

Being separate entries will make them count as 1 Anime each

well, sort of - for example if theres an omake in each dvd of a series, that would be one omake entry with multiple episodes. ^_^

[LancerFIN]

I'd go with the #2. Easier to make and doesn't really matter. #1 won't just pop out of nothing. It'll require a lot of man hours to code that **** and in the end we wont gain anything that we couldn't live without.