Adapt to to The GamesDB API changes per 2026-02-17 (#224)

Author: Gemba

docs/CONFIGINI.md

@@ -1056,6 +1056,13 @@ or
 userCreds="<Client-ID>:<Client-Secret>"
 ```
 
+or
+
+```ini
+[thegamesdb]
+userCreds="<your-private-api-key-of-64chars>"
+```
+
 Default value: unset  
 Allowed in sections: `[<SCRAPER>]`
 

docs/SCRAPINGMODULES.md

@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ I strongly recommend supporting them by contributing data to the database, or by
 - Website: _[www.thegamesdb.net](http://www.thegamesdb.net)_
 - Type: _File name search based_
 - User credential support: _Not required_
-- API request limit: _Limited to 3000 requests per IP per month_
+- API request limit: _Limited to 1000 requests per IP per month_
 - Thread limit: _None_
 - Platform support: _[Link to list](https://thegamesdb.net/list_platforms.php) or see `tgdb_platforms.json` sibling to your `config.ini`_
 - Media support: `backcover`, `cover`, `fanart`, `marquee`, `screenshot`, `wheel`
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ I strongly recommend supporting them by contributing data to the database, or by
 
 For newer games there's no way around TheGames DB. It recently had a huge redesign and their database remains one of the best out there. I would recommend scraping your roms with `screenscraper` first, and then use `thegamesdb` to fill out the gaps in your cache.
 
-There's a small caveat to this module, as it has a monthly request limit (see above) per IP per month. But this should be plenty for most people.
+There's a small caveat to this module, as it has a monthly request limit (see above) per IP per month. As per Feb 17th of 2026 TGDB have changed they API usage policy: You may have to register for your private API key to increase the above limits. Put your private API key then in the [`userCreds=`](CONFIGINI.md#usercreds) section of `[thegamesdb]`, or use the `-u` option when scraping with this module.
 
 Their API is based on a file name search. This means that the returned results do have a chance of being faulty. Skyscraper does a lot internally to make sure accepted data is for the correct game. But it is impossible to ensure 100% correct results, so do keep that in mind when using it. Consider using the `--flags interactive` command line flag if you want complete control of the accepted entries.
 

src/thegamesdb.cpp

@@ -65,15 +65,9 @@ void TheGamesDb::getSearchResults(QList<GameEntry> &gameEntries,
             pIds.append(QString::number(p));
         }
     }
-
-    QString req =
-        searchUrlPre +
-        StrTools::unMagic(
-            "187;161;217;126;172;149;202;122;163;197;163;219;162;171;203;197;"
-            "139;151;215;173;122;206;161;162;200;216;217;123;124;215;200;170;"
-            "171;132;158;155;215;120;149;169;140;164;122;154;178;174;160;172;"
-            "157;131;210;161;203;137;159;117;205;166;162;139;171;169;210;163") +
-        "&name=" + searchName + "&filter[platform]=" + pIds.join(",");
+    QString k = getKey();
+    QString req = searchUrlPre + k + "&name=" + searchName +
+                  "&filter[platform]=" + pIds.join(",");
     netComm->request(req);
     q.exec();
     data = netComm->getData();
@@ -84,14 +78,25 @@ void TheGamesDb::getSearchResults(QList<GameEntry> &gameEntries,
         return;
     }
 
-    reqRemaining = jsonDoc.object()["remaining_monthly_allowance"].toInt();
+    QString status = jsonDoc.object()["status"].toString();
+    if (status != "Success") {
+        QString code = jsonDoc.object()["code"].toString();
+        if (code != "200") {
+            printf("\033[1;31mServer response HTTP %s: %s\033[0m\n",
+                   code.toStdString().c_str(), status.toStdString().c_str());
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+    QJsonObject obj = jsonDoc.object();
+    reqRemaining = obj["extra_allowance"].toInt();
+    if (reqRemaining <= 0) {
+        reqRemaining = obj["remaining_monthly_allowance"].toInt();
+    }
     if (reqRemaining <= 0)
         printf("\033[1;31mYou've reached TheGamesdDb's request limit for this "
-               "month.\033[0m\n");
+               "month with %s API key.\033[0m\n",
+               config->userCreds.isEmpty() ? "the public" : "your private");
 
-    if (jsonDoc.object()["status"].toString() != "Success") {
-        return;
-    }
     if (jsonDoc.object()["data"].toObject()["count"].toInt() < 1) {
         return;
     }
@@ -109,17 +114,11 @@ void TheGamesDb::getSearchResults(QList<GameEntry> &gameEntries,
         GameEntry game;
 
         game.id = QString::number(jsonGame["id"].toInt());
-        game.url =
-            QString("%1/Games/ByGameID?id=%2&apikey=%3&fields=%4")
-                .arg(baseUrl)
-                .arg(game.id)
-                .arg(QString(StrTools::unMagic(
-                    "187;161;217;126;172;149;202;122;163;197;163;219;162;"
-                    "171;203;197;139;151;215;173;122;206;161;162;200;216;"
-                    "217;123;124;215;200;170;171;132;158;155;215;120;149;"
-                    "169;140;164;122;154;178;174;160;172;157;131;210;161;"
-                    "203;137;159;117;205;166;162;139;171;169;210;163")))
-                .arg(fields.join(","));
+        game.url = QString("%1/Games/ByGameID?id=%2&apikey=%3&fields=%4")
+                       .arg(baseUrl)
+                       .arg(game.id)
+                       .arg(k)
+                       .arg(fields.join(","));
 
         game.title = jsonGame["game_title"].toString();
         // Remove anything at the end with a parentheses. 'thegamesdb' has a
@@ -301,4 +300,16 @@ void TheGamesDb::loadMaps() {
 
 QVector<int> TheGamesDb::getPlatformId(const QString platform) {
     return Platform::get().getPlatformIdOnScraper(platform, config->scraper);
+}
+
+QString TheGamesDb::getKey() {
+    QString k = config->userCreds;
+    if (k.isEmpty()) {
+        k = StrTools::unMagic(
+            "189;159;218;132;218;153;203;170;166;155;168;177;211;217;203;153;"
+            "137;152;167;175;126;161;209;162;150;165;216;128;173;168;149;169;"
+            "213;137;203;161;163;170;196;215;182;168;118;156;132;171;202;165;"
+            "153;177;168;208;155;134;212;166;164;163;161;184;168;163;160;211");
+    }
+    return k;
 }

src/thegamesdb.h

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class TheGamesDb : public AbstractScraper {
     void getFanart(GameEntry &game) override;
     void getBackcover(GameEntry &game) override;
     QVector<int> getPlatformId(const QString platform) override;
+    QString getKey();
 
     QString gfxUrl;
     QJsonDocument jsonDoc;