These are some tips for submitting games to the database, along with other types of submissions as well. There are still a few kinks to work out in the system, but if everyone submits the games properly, there should be no problems going forward. This isn't a final guideline(one is coming), but there has been a lot of sloppy submissions lately and I decided to put this out there.
1) Make Sure The Game Is Not Already In The DB...
Before submitting a title, check to see if it is in the DB first. Some people obviously aren't doing this, but often we get repeat submissions because the game in the database has different/poor spelling, or is using a different region's title than the one the user is submitting. Gamefaqs usually has a game's titles for all regions, so be sure and check there or with another reliable source first.
I know some people do a search for the specific title, and if it doesn't show up, they assume it's not in the DB, which isn't always the case. If I'm going to add a game for the PS2, let's say Metal Gear Solid 3, if I simply type "Metal Gear Solid 3" in, there are all kinds of things that may make the game not show up in the search. It could be spelled differently in the DB, it may be in the DB as Metal Gear Solid III, or any number of other reasons that could make it not show up with a title search. It may take a little more time, but the best way(for now at least), would be to do an alphabetical search of PS2 games. Then check games starting with "M".
2) Make Sure You Submit The Full, Proper Title Of The Game, Along With Proper Spelling, Capitalization, Spacing, Punctuation, etc...
If you're using a good source, this should not be a problem. Remember when submitting a game, first priority goes to the US title of the game, then European title, and lastly the Japanese title.
***NOTE***I HIGHLY recommend that we copy/paste the game's title from the source site(hopefully Gamefaqs or Gamestats) into the submission form. This is not going to eliminate all errors, but will greatly reduce flawed entries. Getting the game's title right the first time is crucial, everything else can easily be fixed.
Remember, "Street Fighter 2" is no good, "Street Fighter II" is the way to go. Let's use the correct numerical system for specific titles.
3) Use A Good, Reliable Source:
Gamefaqs/Gamespot or Gamestats/IGN are good sources for info on games. I've not found any other sites as extensive or reliable as these two. They are not always in agreement on some things(release dates, publishers mostly), but are both pretty darn accurate. If there are any other good sources out there, let's hear them.
***NOTE*** Do not use obscure sites, scans of boxarts, wikipedia, or your own memory to make game submissions. For the record, I don't have anything against wikipedia, but it's not the best source to use. Some people I have talked to about their inaccurate submissions were using wikipedia, so I'd suggest not using it. Personally, I only use it as a last resort.
4) Screenshots:
Be sure to not use watermarked screenshots. We can't have screenies with other site's logos on them. This makes it more difficult to find good screenshots for some games, but that's just how it has to be.
5) Game Summaries:
We are no longer accepting game summaries taken from other websites, the only exception being the game publisher's own site. No more wikipedia, Amazon, Gamestats, etc copy/paste summaries will be accepted. The only summaries being accepted now are ones taken from the publisher's site(be sure to credit them), text taken from the game box itself, or your own original summary. If you do decide to write your own summary, try to give a general idea of the plot or purpose of the game, along with some other info. Try to refrain from "best game/graphics/gameplay"-type of statements in the summaries. Be reasonable when writing them, and remember that these are game summaries, not game reviews. If you aren't a strong speller, or just aren't very good at wordifyin', try to stick with summaries from the publisher.
If you are submitting an original summary, please take the time to credit yourself! There is no reason why creative users who spend time writing up summaries, can't be properly credited for their work. Ideally, the end of your summary could contain something like this:
<a href="http://www.vgchartz.com/profiles/profile.php?id=247">*TalonMan</a>
You can copy and paste this right into the summary box (of course, swap out my username and profileId and put in your own). The idea is to get your name out there with a direct link right back to your profile.
Since we are not accepting summaries from other sites, I understand it to mean that we will not be accepting embedded or linked game videos and trailers.
6) Genres:
Games like Double Dragon, Streets of Rage, Final Fight, and the older TMNT games are NOT fighters. These game should be listed as action games. Street Fighter, Tekken, and Soul Calibur are fighting games.
7) Don't Get Pissy If Your Submission Is Rejected:
Believe me, we take no pleasure in going through the steps to verify a submission, only to have to reject it. If I have time, I usually PM the user about the submission and what was wrong with it to let them know why it was turned down. Getting mad won't get your submission accepted, not will it make a poor submission suddenly acceptable. If you have an issue with a rejection and weren't PM'd about it, PM one of the DB admins. If you think I was the one who rejected it, just PM. If it wasn't me, I'm not going to get upset if you ask if it was me...assuming you are talking to me like I'm a human being. 
On that note, realize that we go through hundreds of submissions every week(I went through well over 300 submissions one morning a few days ago) and it's not easy to remember every submission and rejection we go through.
This is not something that is all set in stone, but I think the "tips" I have put out are pretty solid. This also isn't just me talking, much of this comes from ioi(Big Boss Man) and TalonMan(head DB admin). If you ladies and gents can think of anything I have missed, or have questions about anything I said, lay it on me.
"I feel like I could take on the whole Empire myself."
)
Still, I doubt anyone would ever take it that far. I'd say they are cool, unless ioi or Talon says otherwise.
