• A commercial game whether physically or digitally released. For consoles, it is simple because for the most part they are categorized (almost physical only up to the 360/PS3/Wii era**, with an online shop front afterwards e.g. PSN Store, eShop, Microsoft Store and records of the closed down ones e.g. Wii Shop) but computers get very tricky... Arcade games are also allowed because for a long time, it was a venue where you could play the latest games that in some cases were more technically advanced than what could be played at home (some even bleeding edge at the time in the case of Sega/Namco especially Model 1/System 22).
  
  These are one of the most likely ones that are notable because of various databases (GameFAQs, MobyGames), wikis (Wikipedia, Fandom wikis, dedicated wikis e.g Mario Wiki), direct links from the online store fronts, dedicated websites (both of the game and the fandom websites), forums and databases (SMSPower for the Master System/Game Gear/SG-1000, Spectrum Computing for the ZX Spectrum, AtariAge for the Atari console stuff). Plus a high chance of seeing videos and images, some games can easily have 100s or even 1000s/millions for the big series of videos on YouTube/Twitch. Even if there isn't a dedicated video (it can happen...), then there might be a few streams of people playing the games.
  
  **-There were a few experiments such as the Satellaview and the Sega Channel but many of those are now lost especially from the Sega Channel.
  
• Prototypes that are publicly available because game development doesn't go very smoothly. In most cases, they are meant to be out but aren't due to various reasons both publishing and developing side. Mostly on the console front but you do get some on computers and even PC if it is a big enough game e.g. the Van Buren Fallout 3. There are websites dedicated to prototypes and sometimes pop up on Twitter or YouTube channels, TCRF also touches on this a bit.
  
  
• Homebrew games that people had made after the life of the system had ended and for consoles, without using a dev kit (or at least a different one that the developers had used due to legal reasons). While many are just because they can or for a competition in terms of the old computers, the larger ones get talked about on forums/YouTube videos and promoted/reviewed, a couple even had Kickstarters. Some homebrews even end up being a secondary market getting a physical release on the targeted console or got a digital release on a console (Xeno Crisis, Pier Solar).
  
  
• Flash/Web Browser games, some can really explode in popularity out of nowhere e.g. Alien Hominid, Friday Night Funkin'
  
• For the likes of hacks and bootlegs since they are in similar categories (some hacks were even sold physically as a bootleg), not only do they have to have a lot done especially now but also heavily promoted/talked about e.g. Kaizo Mario. I think the only reason why Mario 7 is on the site is mainly due to the Grand Dad meme as it is really just a Flintstones game with Mario's head replacing Fred's. Yeah, some games that are on tSR are because of memes.
  

(08-15-2022, 06:05 PM)Yawackhary Wrote: 1. Really does depends but in general, yes. There are fangames, parody games and some hacks on tSR. Due to the nature of fangames and hacks, they are the most likely to get taken down on the site along with mobile games. It is all down to pot luck.

For myself, in most cases wouldn't touch the stuff with a few exceptions but many rippers have, even staff.

2. Hmm... No... Just because they don't come from a game. They might be used in one but we're talking about the really low quality shovelware that you'll see on the likes of Steam and itch.io or early access placeholders/really small indie games at best. Besides it might get hairy from the creator of the assets especially the paid ones.

3. Notable is a very loose term and can mean different things for people but this is what I believe using various examples:

• A commercial game whether physically or digitally released. For consoles, it is simple because for the most part they are categorized (almost physical only up to the 360/PS3/Wii era**, with an online shop front afterwards e.g. PSN Store, eShop, Microsoft Store and records of the closed down ones e.g. Wii Shop) but computers get very tricky... Arcade games are also allowed because for a long time, it was a venue where you could play the latest games that in some cases were more technically advanced than what could be played at home (some even bleeding edge at the time in the case of Sega/Namco especially Model 1/System 22).
  
  These are one of the most likely ones that are notable because of various databases (GameFAQs, MobyGames), wikis (Wikipedia, Fandom wikis, dedicated wikis e.g Mario Wiki), direct links from the online store fronts, dedicated websites (both of the game and the fandom websites), forums and databases (SMSPower for the Master System/Game Gear/SG-1000, Spectrum Computing for the ZX Spectrum, AtariAge for the Atari console stuff). Plus a high chance of seeing videos and images, some games can easily have 100s or even 1000s/millions for the big series of videos on YouTube/Twitch. Even if there isn't a dedicated video (it can happen...), then there might be a few streams of people playing the games.
  
  **-There were a few experiments such as the Satellaview and the Sega Channel but many of those are now lost especially from the Sega Channel.
  
• Prototypes that are publicly available because game development doesn't go very smoothly. In most cases, they are meant to be out but aren't due to various reasons both publishing and developing side. Mostly on the console front but you do get some on computers and even PC if it is a big enough game e.g. the Van Buren Fallout 3. There are websites dedicated to prototypes and sometimes pop up on Twitter or YouTube channels, TCRF also touches on this a bit.
  
  
• Homebrew games that people had made after the life of the system had ended and for consoles, without using a dev kit (or at least a different one that the developers had used due to legal reasons). While many are just because they can or for a competition in terms of the old computers, the larger ones get talked about on forums/YouTube videos and promoted/reviewed, a couple even had Kickstarters. Some homebrews even end up being a secondary market getting a physical release on the targeted console or got a digital release on a console (Xeno Crisis, Pier Solar).
  
  
• Flash/Web Browser games, some can really explode in popularity out of nowhere e.g. Alien Hominid, Friday Night Funkin'
  
• For the likes of hacks and bootlegs since they are in similar categories (some hacks were even sold physically as a bootleg), not only do they have to have a lot done especially now but also heavily promoted/talked about e.g. Kaizo Mario. I think the only reason why Mario 7 is on the site is mainly due to the Grand Dad meme as it is really just a Flintstones game with Mario's head replacing Fred's. Yeah, some games that are on tSR are because of memes.
  

The likes of itch.io and Scratch (along with the likes of RPG Maker) makes it a lot harder... I'll say for the former at least has to be heavily promoted on social media probably to the point of YouTubers/Twitch streamers talking and playing the games, reviewed on blogs, on a database (if a VN from itch.io gets put on VNDB, then it is notable enough since they have commercial VNs listed too). Probably even a Wikipedia page that doesn't get deleted if you're lucky.

Basically if you can find the game by searching and find it on a few different places, then yeah it's notable.