Please, PLEASE read this before you send me any
questions. Thank you.
Q: Can I use the sprites on this
site? Do I have to ask permission?
A: I get this question a lot, so I'll just explain
it. Of course you can. That's why the site is here. You do not
need to ask anyone for any kind of permission when using sprite,
background, or sound rips.
Q: Can you make / rip stuff for
me?
A: Seriously: no. Just, no. No.
Q: When does SDB update?
A: I update the site every Sunday just before
midnight (eastern time). So in other words, show up on Monday
morning and there'll be new stuff.
Q: How did SDB start out?
A: SDB started out as the sprite page of a site
that's still around: my personal sprite comic site Utter Nonsense
Productions. Bonzai and I ripped so many sprites that the sprite
section became the main attraction of the site, and we decided
it didn't really belong there any more. Sprite Database (not The
Sprite Database, Sprites Database, or Spriter's Database as many
people call it) was started around February of 2005. Right now,
the site continues to grow in popularity, which I attribute to
the fact that we always update every single week with a substantial
amount of interesting and unique content (as in, rips that aren't
really found elsewhere.) The key to success with any kind of website
is quality and quantity of content. Apparently.
Q: Why "Sprite Database"?
A: It's a database of sprites isn't it? Also
SDB just sounds good as an abbreviation.
Q: Ok, so I know how to contact
Grim and Bonzai but what if I need to talk to some other contributor?
A: You should check one of their sheets (or whatever
kind of submission it is) for contact information; email addresses
and that kind of thing. If you don't find anything see if you
can get ahold of them on the forums. If that doesn't work and
it's really important contact me and I'll see what I can do.
Q: What do you mean
when you say "Give credit"?
A: When we spriter-types ask for credit, we mean
this: if you make a comic, put a small blurb on your site or whatever::
"Thanks to so-and-so for the such-and-such sprites".
Or, if you base a personal sheet off of a sprite on SDB, make
a note of who ripped the base on your sheet. And if you make a
game, you could put it in the credits or the documentation.
Q: What's up with you sprite rippers asking for
credit?
A: A lot of people think that you shouldn't give
credit for sprite rips. I'm not one of those people. Ripping is
hard (not to mention tedious and boring) work, which is why most
people don't do it. By ripping sprites that you might potentially
use, I save you a lot of work, so it's only right to give credit.
If it helps, think of it this way; the credit is for the effort,
not the sprites themselves.
Q: How come you don't
have (X) sprite sheet? Every other site does.
A: Basically, I only put up sheets that were
submitted. I mean, I know every site in the universe has Dan Sydney's
Sonic Advance rips, and I'm sure he wouldn't care if
I archived them, but we don't do things that way. Besides, one
of my main goals with this site is to have a large amount of content
that you CAN'T get anywhere else.
Q: So is this whole
sprite archiving / ripping thing legal?
A: You could probably argue til the cows come
home whether it falls under "fair use" law or not, but
the fact is no sprite archive site has ever been contacted by
a game company; they simply don't care. I've been doing it for
almost four years and I'm not in jail yet.
Q: What kind of rips
can I submit?
A: SDB will take literally any rips if they meet
quality standards. This includes rips from Flash or other online
games, noncommercial games such as Halo Zero, PC games, and backgrounds.
That said, I have no official standards, but judge each submission
objectively. Sheets don't have to be complete, but if they're
severly lacking, or improperly saved, it can be a problem. See
the submission page for more
details.
Q: What about edits
/ customs?
A: Whether or not I choose to accept a custom
or edit depends on the quality (majorly) and the quantity (not
so important, but it counts). If a custom submission isn't up
to snuff the guys on the forums will definitely let you know.
Q: Do you take pixel
art?
A: No, unless it's ripped; these
could be considered pixel art. Custom sprites and edits, people
can at least use; pixel art isn't helping anyone. And don't try
to drag me into a pixel art/sprite debate because I know what
I'm talking about.
Q: Where do I get
roms and emulators?
A: JFGI.
Q: What does JFGI
mean?
A: Jelly Fish Gondola Island. Fun stuff.
Q: I can't get a tutorial / save
state / rom / etc. to work!
A: Please bother someone else, or try the forums.
I like to help people when I can but I really am pretty busy a
lot of the time.
