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v3 Arcade - Game Modification Guide & Releases
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John
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John John is offline 01-23-2004, 10:00 PM

How v3 Games Work

v3 Arcade games are a little different to those in the original Arcade and futureal's proArcade.

Instead of a simple getURL which sends all of the variables to the next page, the v3 Arcade uses a completely different system - a series of sendAndLoad events where data is sent and received between the Flash file and vBulletin. As a result, converting games for the v3 Arcade is a little more complicated.

To get games working with the v3 Arcade, a piece of code needs to be inserted which will run on every frame of the Flash movie. (I.e. one looped movieclip which is active across all frames.) A variable also needs to be set to tell the v3 Arcade code when to end the game.

EDIT: INSTRUCTIONS UPDATED TO MAKE THE PROCESS A LOT EASIER!

Converting Games

Converting a game is quite simple, providing you have some basic knowledge of Flash.

Step 1.
Create a blank movie clip, containing two keyframes.

Step 2.
On frame 1 of this blank movieclip, insert this code (not forgetting to change the gamename value to something unique - THIS PRESUMES THAT _root.score CONTAINS THE SCORE VALUE!):
Code:
// HERE THE ARCADE SESSION IS INITIATED
// DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE GAMENAME VALUE!
if (this.sessionstarted != 1) {
    this.arcade = new LoadVars();
    this.sessionvars = new LoadVars();
    this.arcade.gamename = "towerball";
    this.arcade.sessdo = "sessionstart";
    this.arcade.sendAndLoad("arcade.php", sessionvars, "POST");
    this.sessionstarted = 1;
}

// IF GAMEOVER=1, SUBMIT THE SCORE AND REDIRECT THE PAGE
if (_root.gameover == 1) {
    if ((this.askpermission != 1) && (this.sessionvars.connStatus == 1)) {
        this.prequestvars = new LoadVars();
        this.pranswer = new LoadVars();
        this.prequestvars.gametime = this.sessionvars.gametime;
        this.prequestvars.fakekey = this.sessionvars.initbar;
        if (_root.score == 0) {
            this.prequestvars.score = -1;
        } else {
            this.prequestvars.score = _root.score;
        }
        this.prequestvars.id = this.sessionvars.lastid;
        this.prequestvars.sessdo = "permrequest";
        this.prequestvars.note = (this.prequestvars.id*this.prequestvars.score*this.prequestvars.fakekey);
        this.prequestvars.sendAndLoad("./arcade.php", this.pranswer, "POST");
        this.askpermission = 1;
    }
    if ((this.pranswer.validate == 1) && (this.finalsent != 1)) {
        this.burnscore = new LoadVars();
        this.burnscore.microone = this.pranswer.microone;
        this.burnscore.gametime = this.prequestvars.gametime;
        this.burnscore.id = this.prequestvars.id;
        if (_root.score == 0) {
            this.burnscore.noscore = 1;
        }
        this.burnscore.sessdo = "burn";
        this.burnscore.send("./arcade.php", "_self", "POST");
        this.finalsent = 1;
    }
}
Step 3.
Now, you need to let the game know when to finish the game and redirect the page. This is done by the setting of a new variable, "gameover". When _root.gameover==1, the game will end.

Find the frame of the "Game Over" page, and add this actionscript to the frame:
Code:
_root.gameover=1;
Save, and export the SWF movie to the appropriate place.

Releasing Games

When releasing a game, please try to stick to the same format as the other games provided below. (I.e. with the installation script.) It should be fairly easy to figure out what goes where. Try to release all games in this thread!


Additional Games So Far

? Pacman (by Paul Neave) - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=102
? Simon (by Paul Neave) - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=130
? Breakout - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=350
? Target - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=359
? Maeda Path - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=469
? Helicopter - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=504
? Curveball - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=506
? Miniclip Snake - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=537
? Towerball - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....39&postcount=7
? Alien Clones - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....3&postcount=12
? Penguin Bashing - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....9&postcount=72
? Mars Rover - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=109
? Disco Racer - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=138
? Joust - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=144
? Hexxagon - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=938
? Monkey Lander - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=55
? Pingu Slap - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=53
? Bloody Pingu - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=295
? Radial Snake - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=300
? Kill Kenny - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=304
? Alien Attack - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=314
? Ron North's Jewels - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=329
? KickUps - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=363
? Altex - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=403
? Enemy Shooting - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=403
? Jail Break - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=403
? Snow Paul - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=403
? Space Hunter - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=403
? Plasmanaut on Fire - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=443
? Simpsons Shooter - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=447
? Plasmanout V2 - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=464
? Pinball - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=182
? Juggler - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=207
? Starship Legend - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=208
? Aim & Fire - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=206
? Plops - http://www.v3arcade.com/play/showthread.php?t=184
? Tie Fighter Shooter - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...chmentid=17650
? Witch Hunt - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...chmentid=17651
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  #62  
Old 01-25-2004, 02:28 PM
eXtremeTim eXtremeTim is offline
 
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I deleted it to start over last night but never got around to starting over. Im sure i can do it if i see an fla file already done. Im pretty good and seing then doing.
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  #63  
Old 01-25-2004, 03:50 PM
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Xyphen Xyphen is offline
 
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Where can I get some .fla files so I can get started on the games??
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Old 01-25-2004, 04:04 PM
zeeg99 zeeg99 is offline
 
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John, did you have to contact miniclip.com to get an fla with protections removed for modifying?

The two I downloaded won't open in Flash MX, just giving me an error about protected content =/
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Old 01-25-2004, 04:08 PM
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Littlebit Littlebit is offline
 
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Hello John,
I just wanted to say thanks again for sharing something that I haven't the knowledge to do so myself. My users are enjoying it and are very appreciative of the mozilla and Mac support. Thanks,also, to you and everyone else that's cranking out the games!
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  #66  
Old 01-25-2004, 04:08 PM
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Rampag33 Rampag33 is offline
 
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Anyone has a screen shot of towerball for me?
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Old 01-25-2004, 05:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rampag33
Anyone has a screen shot of towerball for me?
Hey Rampage, here's one screen shot below.

I wanted to add a little something too after reading through the posts... I have a very small board with only some 7 or so, not so video game savvy people, who enjoy interacting with the arcade. I'm now starting to understand a little about MadCat's desperation to learn how to add a submit button to that one helicopter game after seeing the pages apon pages of crashing low scores developed at a rapid rate just with my little handful of users.
I do, however, also understand that beggars should never be choosers!....and I think that what (I think I read) you are working on in the way of pruning lowest scores in the future will remedy the issue all together. Just a little opinion to throw out.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg towerball.jpg (58.8 KB, 0 views)
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  #68  
Old 01-25-2004, 06:25 PM
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I assume we have permission from the author to use the game above?

http://www.superdudes.net/games/

I believe they own it? Just looking for confirmation they we had permission to use it and edit the .fla as one of my users brought this question up.
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  #69  
Old 01-25-2004, 07:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien
I assume we have permission from the author to use the game above?

http://www.superdudes.net/games/

I believe they own it? Just looking for confirmation they we had permission to use it and edit the .fla as one of my users brought this question up.
NuclioN suppied it, he'd know. I presume that he checked it over.
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  #70  
Old 01-26-2004, 01:09 AM
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Would this thread be the place to post links to .FLA files for people to modify or do we still need to e-mail John?
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  #71  
Old 01-26-2004, 01:26 AM
eXtremeTim eXtremeTim is offline
 
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id say post them here since others can now modify them as well.
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