Gathering Data From Your Switch Games
- Switch Legacy
- Jul 24, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 1, 2019
The Switch Legacy community is designed to allow you to submit data directly to the database. To facilitate this effort you can try to use the beta submission form located here:
You will need to know how to gather the necessary data off your Nintendo Switch games so you can share this data with the community via our database.
To start put your game card into your Nintendo Switch. With the game you want more info on highlighted push your plus button.There you will see a summary of your game like this photo. I call this the game summary screen in the article below.
This screen gives you the game name, the publisher and the software version number. Note: you will need to read this version number when you fist put your game into the switch and before any updates are applied.
Next without updating the game play the game to determine your legacy score, this is best done with the Nintendo Switch not connected to the internet. You can then use the chart below to determine the legacy score of your game.
To double check if a game has an update you can visit the game summary screen of your chosen game and choose the Software Update from the menu. When your switch is connected to the internet you can check the software via the internet and your Switch will update your game.
After you determine your Legacy Score you can then collect the rest of the data that will be useful to the community.
Look at the front and back of your game card to obtain the ROM code on the back of the game card as well as the Game Card code from the front. Be sure to get the entire ROM code as you will notice some of it is hard to read, see the numbers in black that start with HAC in the example to the right. These are easy to miss and are hard to read.
Next get the Nintendo Switch game card case and gather information from the back. Start with the UPC code. The UPC bar codes are 12 digit bar codes used exclusively in the United States and Canada.
Other products may contain a European Article Numbers also called International Article Numbers (EAN code). You can convert a UPC bar code to an EAN, but you cannot go the other way. This is because the Country Code for both the U.S. and Canada is zero. EANs are 13 digit codes and unlike UPCs contain a country code. Near the UPC code you can also see the region please choose the Nintendo Region that published the game. USA or NA, JPN, PAL, ASI.
After you get the UPC or EAN code gather any numbers above them. In some imports I have seen the numbers at other locations near the EAN. Record each the numbers in each box independently.
Next look at the game case and the cover. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) or equivalent is on the front cover in large letters or numbers in a box. In the US it is a white box with the text and age in black. Examples and ratings can be found here https://www.esrb.org. In Europe the game will have a Pan European Game Information (PEGI) number that displays the age a game is appropriate for (See PEGI web site for more details). My Japanese imports have a CERO code on them, see CERO web site. And finally some of my games from Asia I did not notice any rating system. So in those cases, just put "NA" for not Applicable.
After examining the front cover open the case up and look behind the cover to see what is printed on the back side of the cover and see what is printed on the reverse side. Take note which of the following your game has.
Single Sided - This would have a plain white back on the inside of the game with nothing written on it. Booing.... come on publishes you could give consumers a little more so we are proud to own your product.
Reversible - This would allow you to reverse the cover and enjoy some kind of alternate artwork when you look at your closed case. These are always fun and for some collectors an opportunity to collect all available covers.
Insert Artwork - This would have a photo, art work or picture that represents the game. This is always a nice touch and is a way for the publishes to further demonstrate the talent of those who worked on the game.
Inside Instructions - This has direction on how to play the game on the back side of the cover, this is typical in many Nintendo first party titles. Many of the Nintendo titles also have some art from the game dispersed between the instructions. Short of having a booklet this is a good alternative and those instructions can't get lost.
Inside Legal Info - Very small legal language that no one except lawyers care about. Very boring but unless you are misusing your games you will have nothing to worry about.
Other - This for any other category that exists not listed above, please describe it in the notes. Also, you can email me if you think a category should be added.
The next section is the Notes. Please add any comments you have that you think would be relevant to a collector. Also, please describe what is included in the game. Where you lucky and got a sicker for your Joycons, an art book, an instruction booklet, a key chain, etc... Please share the goodies that publishers shared with you when you purchased the product. In fact the notes section may be the most useful to collectors who wish to get a complete copy of a physical game as it is these extra's that might make collecting more fun. So don't loose these goodies. I also hide in my case things like the limited run cards and Playasia stickers that ship with a game but are not in the actual case. I hope these will add value in time and would make any resale more profitable. But until then it helps with the enjoyment of my collection knowing some of the surprises I hide in my game cases.
Once you gathered all the above please google the release date for the Physical version of your Nintendo Switch game and enter it using the date calendar labeled Switch Release Date.
Finally there is a a little more info required your name and a rating on how much you like the game. Simply type your name (or screen name) in the box to indicate who you are. It helps to use the same name you use in the forums so others can ask follow up questions. And last on a scale from 1 to 5 choose the number of stars you would give this game. Please not the form can not have any blanks... you must enter data into every single field. The form submission will fail if something is missing. If for some reason there is no data in a field please enter 999 or NA so I will know where info is missing.
Now that you have entered data into every single data entry filed including highlighting a star use the submit button. If all is working right the data will go into the database. If not you will get an error message. If you do get an error please review all your fields. Is the UPC all numbers? Did you choose choose a star rating? Did you add a release date? Some fields must be numbers while others are limited by the number of characters. And finally did you choose one "Legacy Score and one Game Case Cover? There should be a red box around any data that you are missing. Remember the data entry is in beta form. But I will try to keep improving it. Please use the forum to report problems and suggest improvements. Thanks for your interest in Switch Legacy and helping the your fellow Switch collectors.
Nice!! The form worked for me. This is so much simpler then putting game info in the forum.