First I'd just like to say that this website is a work in progress and I'm open to suggestions on how to improve it, someone here suggested a voting system which I agree with, just don't know how to implement that with Google Sites limited options. Second I'd like to apologize for the misinformation about the tiers, I did just look at screenshots and take the author's word for it. I can't check every single submission on my own, my bandwidth is too slow. I would need volunteers to help with that.
Also, I'm not listing incomplete packs on my website, again I'm taking the author's word that that's true.
I also updated my tier descriptions on the "Tutorial" page of the site but I guess I should put it underneath every letter just to avoid confusion, I hoped my new tier descriptions would be more accurate while also applying being able to be applied to almost everything without missing any catagorizations.
since I updated the tiers system let me specify more clearly here before I update my site, Bronze tiers are the 4xHDCube3/4 one-day packs. I personally find these to be the best lazy option just so an HD Texture pack EXISTS for a game and any other models used in this way would be a no-go, by no means should this be interpreted as something that should stay on there forever, I want those to be replaced by higher tiers. Silver now means Best upscaler used so what panda_venom is doing. Using multiple AI Upscalers and picking the best image would make it silver. Silver+ is identical to silver except it also includes editing the worst images that were upscaled meaning no illegible text and blurry textures. To be gold, it would have to have source images "some" images not from AI, this could be the start of a "remake" instead of a "remaster" which is specified in the notes as "Altered Textures" meaning they are different enough from the source images to be considered a remake and if you check SomberTwilights Dynasty Warriors 2 on my site, I mentioned the Silver+ tier in conjunction with the Gold because the silver is more accurate to the original while the gold changes a lot of textures, Gold doesn't mean fixing the blurry text, that's reserved for the + tiers like SIlver+ and Gold+.
I'd say me and panda have been pretty consistent with our packs, well I know I have been so I can confirm my packs are always bronze+ Tier unless stated otherwise, also you act like it's not possible to be consistent in your work. Have you never been joyful of a job well done in your life? Nothing's changed since the last 6 months ago I was here except I started using 4xHDCube instead of Waifu-2x and am now happy with my upscales even if they are the "Bare minimum".
I'm including multiple versions of Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers because there can't be a definitive one, but there can be a definitive Bronze Tier because those only use 1 model which, again I'm trying to minimize low quality upscales on that site and don't treat bronze tiers like they're here forever. I want them replaced by better upscales ASAP.
I included a UHD one because I can tell the difference in sharpness between one and another but I agree that a platinum tier is preferable to raw resolution. Compare
Panda_Venoms upscale of maximo Army of Zin to
Santins. I'd actually say Panda prefers a softer look for their upscales so I included both on my site.
I'm only specifying the difference between 1/2K resolution packs and 4/8K resolution packs in a specific category called "Resolution" because someone on here was bothered that no one was making UHD packs. Your pack's "quality" is independent of resolution i.e. Platinum tier but not 4K.
My bad. I should contact upscalers first before adding anything to my website. you know what, just consider my site a proof of concept for the time being.
If there are issues or special notes about a particular game, that's included in the notes section exclusive to the creator of the pack listed, I will be sure to include any additional content that that creator provides in the notes. I also have a contact email at the bottom to fix broken links.
Thank you for the kind words in the midst of my soul being torn apart by everyone.
There is no way of saying this without being rude. Some of the packs on here aren't ones I'd recommend to anyone. They either don't care about learning to make the best upscales or just doing their own thing (not being collaborative). In both cases, my site doesn't matter to them so I don't see an issue with it existing. I think I've treated people on here fairly, If they are bothered by anything I have to say, they can just outright ignore me, but I'm really trying to help here. I'm willing to backup anyone's dumps if they share the link with me in dms. I wrote a tutorial on how to get people started because I want more people making higher-quality upscales. I even made this site because I care so much about this silly hobby. I don't have much going for me in life, Escapism is my drug. That's probably why I'm so stingy.
I never said 4xHDCube was the best upscaler ever, I said it was the best free upscaler for one day packs and to be fair, it is a bad thing to preach I don't want bronze tier packs but they will suffice until someone else makes a better pack. As for ranking I think everyone can agree that using only 1 model will give worse results, if not more likely to give worse results than using multiple upscalers for different images. I thought It was clear enough why the tiers are the way they are because each one is a noticeable jump in qu- you know what, I'll just say "Difference" and leave it at that. Again, I will list every pack made for individual games by different people as long as it isn't a single-model lazy pack.
You're right. You know I was thinking of differentiating packs that make use of 1 model as opposed to using different ones and labeling them "Tiers" and then letting individuals decide what models they think work best for the game and then listing those different packs for the same game by different users on my site.
My bad, my site is a WIP and I should contact the creator before publishing. It's gonna be inaccurate for a while until I contact everyone.
HDCube is an ESRGAN model designed specifically for upscaling games while others are designed for real life or other less relevant info. In my testing, it has shown a significant improvement compared to other ESRGAN models not only at 4x scaling images but also more consistently good results making it the best option for a "one model upscale pack" (I've used Waifu2x and the amount of errors or outrageously bad textures that came from the stock ESRGAN model was 5-10% which is unreliable for 1 model upscales). Again, I'm not advocating for single model upscale packs, everyone should use different models for their packs, just in the mean time while there are no HD packs for a game that exist, a 1 model upscale can make it happen for the time being. I also get the semantics of differentiating HDCube from an ESRGAN, I just think it bears distinguishing because it refers to "HDCube as opposed to every other ESRGAN model" and I don't want to have to say that every single time I mention it.
I'm sorry, I made that comment without having looked at every post made in this thread. But you have to understand how frustrating it is to see how many people don't want to collaborate on making the best upscales and rather just "do their own thing" and I just see the same ESRGAN models used when I know from my testing that 4xHDCube3 is the best for 1 model upscale packs(Bronze Tier). Again, I'm not advocating for more single model upscales, just that if they ARE going to make one. Use 4xHDCube3 at least.
Silver, if you also fix the blurry textures and text. it would be Silver+ and adding non AI images would be Gold. Now that I think of it, the more accurate descriptor for the tiers would be "effort" not "quality". It takes more effort to make altered textures than to leave the images be and just upscale them. I think I'll adjust my tier system again.
the + icon after Silver and Gold indicate this. (Silver+, Gold+)
I thought I explained it clearly and concisely on my website the differences between each, but It seems that there should be a voting system as well. I'll figure something out.
You didn't look at my site at all. If you did, you would've seen that you were rated Higher than panda because you altered the textures(Re-make) while panda stays true to the source(Re-master). Now that I've realized the more accurate meaning of my tier system is "effort" not "quality". It takes more effort to make altered textures than to leave the images be and just upscale them with minor edits (at least theoretically, you are happy to disagree with this interpretation). I put your packs on my site because they are high effort and I appreciate the work that you and others put into them. I will provide links to all packs made for the same game by different creators so long as they choose to provide a download link to them and put in effort.
Also, I don't like a majority of the games Panda has upscaled, but that shouldn't matter. I only care about how much effort went into the packs he makes.
After all this, I've come to the conclusion that I will need assistance from the community to help verify packs. My email is on the site if you feel the information is inaccurate. I will also be looking into adding a voting system to the site at a later date, for now, My website is a Work in progress and I'm always open to suggestions. I have gotten a few people asking for editor role, please verify yourself by dming me what letter you want to edit or I won't give access. I don't want misinformation to start spreading further on my site.
I really do appreciate all your hard work in this group and I want to collaborate with everyone here, I'm just asking that we try to understand the other persons perspective that we initially disagree with before making final judgements. Thank you all, have a nice day.