EXE date rule

Ok - let us address this here then so we are all on the same page going forward.  As I stated in that thread, it is not my intention to change any rules or conventions arbitrarily.

So, let us discuss.

Currently, there is a bit of a mixture in the database with EXE dates.  I know that for a long while now, DICUI has been pulling the EXE dates using a "UTC method" similar to what I described in the thread linked above.  I also know that other submissions have been using the recorded date per the dumper's isobuster / file explorers / or perhaps dump data such as voldesc.txt for certain console discs, etc.

There are good arguments for both methods, from a practical standpoint, etc., but we should definitely address and at least try to get on the same page.  I know that I have had this discussion with several mods who agreed that moving forward, UTC does seem to make sense as we can always arrive at that exact date, regardless of where the disc is dumped or what settings they are using.  However, this would need to be agreed on and/or commonly understood by everyone in the context of consistency in our database. 

As I mentioned, currently the database has a mixture of both methods, and it is impossible to know which is being used in which case aside from going through manually which is near impossible nor am I suggesting.

Moving forward, we need to have a definitive method and have everyone on the same page, for how to determine the build date.  There seem to be some differing opinions here, so we should hash that out and come to an agreement.

I'll clarify - I've only modified an existing entry in a few situations where I redumped a disc - and if it is formally decided to reverse the convention and NOT use the 'UTC style' as I presented, I will correct all changes I have made.  But, since currently DICUI is generating it differently, we really need to come to an agreement here and then disseminate that information / instruction fully.

I want to state that I do believe in both consistency and accuracy in the database, and I do agree that we need to do a better job of communicating all of the explicit rules and conventions for dumping, so that discrepancies like this are reduced in the future.  Thank you for bringing this up and we should definitely address it.

Setting aside the logistical issue of 'correcting' what is already there, I think the first step is deciding definitely what the EXE date SHOULD be, or the convention that should be used.  We can discuss addressing errors in the database, but we need official agreement/consensus/understanding on what date/time should be used in the field.

If we even decided to keep the EXE Date (something I don't personally see utility in), then I vote for UTC, since in computing, the UTC date is the truth from which all other values are derived for timezones. We don't need every single person who decided to dump in their own timezone just happen to be a day off from someone else. It's not sustainable.

Total agreement.

@sadikyo (or another mods)
bump