Full Support for Regional Versions and Additional Apps as First-Class Entries

📋 Summary

Introduce a unified system in LaunchBox that allows regional variants and Additional Apps (ROM hacks, prototypes, fan translations, demos, etc.) to exist as fully featured sub-entries under a single game, each with complete metadata and media, while still presenting as one clean entry in the main library.

This expands the existing concept of regional versions to also cover Additional Apps, removing their current limitations while avoiding library clutter.

🎯 Feature Overview

1. First-Class Sub-Entries (Regions + Additional Apps)

Both regional variants and additional versions (ROM hacks, prototypes, betas, fan translations, enhanced editions) can have:

• Their own release date

• Their own title and description

• Developer / publisher differences

• Independent achievement sets (RetroAchievements, etc.)

• Their own manuals, music, videos, and screenshots

• Independent playtime, play count, and progress tracking

This removes the current restriction where Additional Apps only support a limited subset of metadata.

2. Unified Parent Game Entry

• The game appears once in the library.

• Inside the game details, users can browse:

  • Regional Versions (US, EU, JP, etc.)

  • Additional Versions (ROM hacks, prototypes, mods, fan translations, enhanced builds)

All versions are treated equally under a single parent, rather than one being a “secondary” app.

3. User-Defined Default Version

Users can select which version controls:

• The main Play action

• The displayed title

• The primary box art / logo

Switching the default version instantly updates the game’s appearance in LaunchBox and Big Box.

4. Regional vs Shared Media Types

Not all media should be duplicated across versions. The system should allow:

Version-Specific Media (per region or per variant):

• Box Front / Back

• Disc / Cartridge

• Clear Logo

• Manuals

• Screenshots (optional)

Shared Media Across All Versions:

• Banner

• Poster

• Fanart Background

• Wallpaper

• Steam-style artwork

• 3D / Spine images (optional)

This keeps authenticity where it matters while avoiding unnecessary duplication.

5. Metadata-Aware Version Grouping

Each version retains:

• Independent playtime and play count

• Independent progress status (Unplayed, In Progress, Beaten, Completed, Mastered)

• Independent achievements and saves

While still being visually grouped as one game.

6. Optional Library Views

Users can choose between:

• Merged view (default): one game entry with versions inside

• Expanded view: show all regions and variants as separate entries (useful for archivists and collectors)

🛠 Example Use Case

A user owns multiple versions of Final Fantasy I:

• NES (US)

• NES (JP)

• GBA remake

• PSP version

• Pixel Remaster

• Fan-translated prototype

With this feature:

• “Final Fantasy I” appears once in the library

• Each version has its own metadata, achievements, and manuals

• Selecting the JP version switches to JP box art and release date

• Fanart and banners remain shared

• ROM hacks and prototypes are treated as equal versions, not limited Additional Apps

📦 Benefits

• Eliminates clutter from duplicate entries

• Removes metadata limitations of Additional Apps

• Accurate regional and variant tracking

• Cleaner Big Box presentation

• Better support for ROM hacks, prototypes, and fan projects

• Aligns well with No-Intro and Redump-style collections

• Makes LaunchBox a true version-aware library system

💡 Notes

This feature builds on and complements related requests such as:

• Fully Integrate Multiple Region Boxart

• Add Region Field to the Games Database

• Manual Achievement Tracking

• Group Related Games Across Platforms