Add-On Releases - v3 Arcade - Games Arcade System for 3.6.0

Staff note: Requesting or posting links to sites for massive game downloads is considered posting links to Warez and is not allowed. Also see: Posting/requesting (links to) Game Downloads
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v3 Arcade
for vBulletin 3.6.1
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"v3 Arcade" is the third Arcade system I've written for vBulletin. It's coded from scratch, not a port of an older version - and because it was coded specifically for vBulletin 3.6 it uses the product system for code modifications, and utilizes AJAX technology throughout. Here's a brief rundown of the features in this version of v3 Arcade.

- Supports both v3 Arcade and iB games.
- Download *legal* free, premium and multiplayer games directly from v3arcade.com to your Arcade installation.
- Import script to convert your old v3 Arcade installation. (A script to import games, scores and news from old IBPro installations is available here, thanks to Tigga: http:www.v3arcade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324)
- AJAX based instant ratings, for simple to use game ratings.
- AJAX based inline score moderation.
- AJAX based instant game searching.
- Tabbed, customizable categories.
- Challenge system for one-on-one contests.
- User-permission based settings for email/PM notification, challenge settings.
- Streamlined viewing modes for users with lower resolutions.
- AJAX based quick stats, for viewing statistics by passing the cursor over a username.
- Mass import tools for importing games in bulk.
- Reverse and decimal based scoring.
- Arcade-only closure with customizable message.
- Per game criteria, allows you to control access to games by reputation, posts, registration length.
- Postbit based awards.
- Personalized recommendations for other games users might like, based on what they?re playing.
- Quick stats, letting a user know how many other scores are above and below theirs.
- Score ranking.
- Admin customizable ?score feedback?, displays a message based on how well as user has done.
- Numerous Admin CP settings to control things like popup opacity, maximum comment length, hover delay length, and numerous other behaviors.
- Full admin control over the types of content allowed in comments (BB code, HTML, smilies, etc.)
- Usergroup based access permissions.
- Fully phrased, for each translation into other languages.
- An ever growing collection of third party add-ons, thanks to Oblivion Knight.
- A slick, professional layout.

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Change Log
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1.0.0 - First public release.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1.0.1 - Bug fixes and feature release.
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- More visible postbit award presence.
- Reverse scoring option added to games.
- Data dictionary implementation, makes sure the Arcade database changes are correctly made.
- Template grouping.
- "Posts in the last 24 hours" criteria added to games.

1.0.5 - Bug fixes and feature release.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
- Added search on/off toggle function in Admin CP.
- Opera compatibility fixed.
- Welcome message now an Admin CP option.
- Use "Miniature Mode" By Default option added to the Admin CP.
- New AJAX based favorites system.
- Hooks in place for vbBux integration (coming soon from CMX_CMGSCCC)
- Per-category on/off settings.
- Default user settings for challenges and notifications.
- Database error when pruning a user?s scores with table prefix.
- Database error when viewing distinct high scores when the table is empty.
- Notification bug fixes, users should now be notified based on their Arcade settings.
- Timestamp bug fixed for news and events.

1.0.6 - Bug fixes.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
- Fixed a bug where unregistered users could challenge people in the Arcade.
- "Wipe All Scores" tool added.
- "arcade_award_bit" template is now cached correctly.

1.0.7 - Features and Bug fixes.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
- Guests can now play games, but their scores aren't recorded. If a guest plays a game, they're asked to register if they want their score recorded afterwards.
- Admins can now wipe all scores through the Admin CP.
- Admins now have a tool to enable challenges by default for all users.
- Usergroup requirements for games are now in place.
- Admins can now choose to flip the columns and have the smaller panel on the left, with the larger content area on the right.
- News & Events - now entries contain links to games.
- Numerous bug fixes.
- Mass category changer for altering game categories en masse.
- High score rebuilder in the Admin CP.


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Branding Free
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All v3 Arcade installations carry and require a small "v3 Arcade" logo in the footer, as well as the text "Powered by v3 Arcade" which links to http:www.v3arcade.com. For information on legally removing the branding, please visit www.v3arcade.com.


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www.v3arcade.com
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If you're looking for more games, add-ons, support, tutorials, or anything Arcade related - www.v3arcade.com is the place to go.

Bug tracking: http://www.v3arcade.com/forums/vbugs.php

You can contact me directly at john@v3arcade.com for support.


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Many thanks to...
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- All branding-free customers and donors, for supporting the project.
- Oblivion Knight, for his work on the forums and great add-ons.
- Snowy, for his work on the forums.
- Andreas a.k.a. KirbyDE, for his vB 3.5 tutorials.


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Copyright
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All code in distributed in this zip is Copyright ?2005 John Warwick, with the following exceptions:
class_tar.php - Credits within.
All Actionscript code within the included .swf files, unless otherwise noted.

[micheal332001]

Originally Posted by youradhere4222

If you want to know what I specifically don't like about it, it's the way it looks. ibProAracde is messy, whereas v3 Arcade is neat and much more appealing to the eye.

One thing that "sucks" is the numerous replies you've made in this thread urging people to switch to your modification.

Just becouse v3arcade looks diffarent does not mean its better codded just looks diffarent.
Also ibproarcade can look the same as v3arcade with a skin change.

are you a coder and know what you are looking at, if not then dont mok someone elses work just coz you dont want to use it.

Ibproarcade have alot to offer as well as v3arcade systems they are both great add-ons to any ones site and i would not put any script like these down.
So please dont put down a script an less you know what you are talking about.

[DjTaz]

Originally Posted by micheal332001

Hi there

There is a few problems with this script as you call it.

1. Its in violation of vb.org rules as of copyrights to the games.
2. Its also against copyrights to take the games from other sites.

Me and mrzeropage have made an automatic game install for the ibproarcade and offers over 3500 games at the moment.
Also the v3arcade system site has been down more that its been up so gettings games is very hard from there.

1. Is your script free ?
2. Is your script in violation of vb.org copyrights to the games ?
3. Does the ibPro installer get the games from another site and if so , isnt that the same as number 2 you posted above ?

I realise that there are a few issues with a script like this one , but to be honest there are so many people looking for games and not many who can get them or have them , that a system where you can get pretty much any game for free would breath some life into the arcade again.

[micheal332001]

Originally Posted by DjTaz

1. Is your script free ?
2. Is your script in violation of vb.org copyrights to the games ?
3. Does the installer get the games from another site and if so , isnt that the same as number 2 you posted above ?

I realise that there are a few issues with a script like this one , but to be honest there are so many people looking for games and not many who can get them or have them , that a system where you can get pretty much any game for free would breath some life into the arcade again.

I totaly agree with you if we could put the automatic install system into the arcade systems here at vb.org but you will not be able to as of copyrights.

Your best bet is to ask game maders if you would be able to use there games as i have been doing.
I have asked over 200 game makers about there games and im still emailing them.
Me and mrzeropage are asking vb.org what we can do so that we can release this on vb.org, but for the time being vb.org will not let you coz of there T&C.

[DjTaz]

The script i have written doesnt contain any games itself , it just lets people get the games.
Its up to the individual using the script to check the copyrights on each game and to make sure they can use that game on their site , and that they have the permission to get the game off the site they want to take it from.

I suppose it can be compared to torrents in a way in that torrents themselves are not illegal , but the content contained in a lot (majority these days) can be illegal which makes people think incorrectly that all torrents are incorrect.

If anyone wants to try out my script and let me know what they think send me on a PM and ill forward it on to you. It can gather games from ibpro arcade and vb3arcades but please check with the site owners before downloading any games from them.

[solution24]

how u upgrade and add games in there

[DjTaz]

Solution , basically all you need is the short name of a game and a website that already has the game. The script uploads the swf for the game , the 2 images and creates an install PHP script for it and puts all 4 files into the admincp/games folder ready for the mass install button to be clicked .. then all the games can be installed at once.

Once you have a shortname away you go.

[micheal332001]

Originally Posted by DjTaz

Solution , basically all you need is the short name of a game and a website that already has the game. The script uploads the swf for the game , the 2 images and creates an install PHP script for it and puts all 4 files into the admincp/games folder ready for the mass install button to be clicked .. then all the games can be installed at once.

Once you have a shortname away you go.

I see one very big problem with your script.

1. Members who use this script will not ask the websites if they can take there games.
2. its crosssite scripting.
3. It can be used without asking a website owner if they can download there games.

The way you have done this is all wrong and i can see it being used without site owners knowing about it.
And making there sites bandwidth go up and cost them more money for more bandwidth coz of your script.

Scripts like this that take files from one site to another should be done in the right way and controled not given out and anyone can use it to what ever needs they want without asking.

Any Automatic install system needs to be controled coz some people will use this the wrong way.

Put it this way if someone sees that you have 3000 games on your site and they say hay ill get them.
they use your script on your site and get all your games without asking you how would you feel.

The best way to use a script like this is to have a access key for one site and one site only, as it will be used in the wrong way and in most cases against you as you are the owner of the script.

with this script there is no control over what site they can steal the games from.
And yes i mean steal games from as it will be used without the site owner knowing.

[SynisterMustang]

Where do i go to find the files that need to be edited? Im new to VB and finding things is becoming a bit tricky.

[DjTaz]

Originally Posted by micheal332001

1. Members who use this script will not ask the websites if they can take there games.

Thats up to the morality of the person using the script

Originally Posted by micheal332001

2. its crosssite scripting.

It does utilise another site to get a game , but in the same way a guest would play a game on a site.

Originally Posted by micheal332001

3. It can be used without asking a website owner if they can download there games.

isnt this almost exactly the same as 1 ???

Originally Posted by micheal332001

The way you have done this is all wrong and i can see it being used without site owners knowing about it.

Thats entirely possible , but it is a way for people to get games for FREE and not get charged like most of the other places that promise games and then try to charge, so it would only be polite to ask the owner before downloading.

Originally Posted by micheal332001

And making there sites bandwidth go up and cost them more money for more bandwidth coz of your script.

1 person downloading a game is the same bandwidth as 1 person playing a game. If a site cant handle the bandwidth of a person playing a game , then the site shouldnt have an arcade on it.

Originally Posted by micheal332001

Scripts like this that take files from one site to another should be done in the right way and controled not given out and anyone can use it to what ever needs they want without asking.

I could write a section into the script that auto mails the owner of the site the games are being taken from to thank them for the game, but it wont make much difference in the end if people want to abuse it.

Originally Posted by micheal332001

Any Automatic install system needs to be controled coz some people will use this the wrong way.

you like repeating yourself. By controlled i assume you mean charge people for it ?

Originally Posted by micheal332001

Put it this way if someone sees that you have 3000 games on your site and they say hay ill get them.they use your script on your site and get all your games without asking you how would you feel.

I would feel that i have shared games that i didnt own in the first place and helped out others with no personal benifit to be gained from it. (also 30 games x 85 pages = 2550 games )

Originally Posted by micheal332001

The best way to use a script like this is to have a access key for one site and one site only, as it will be used in the wrong way and in most cases against you as you are the owner of the script.

I dont see how this would be the best way ? That would limit the choice that people had in getting games and reduce the effectiveness of the script for people to get free games and never have to pay people offering 500 games at a cost.

Originally Posted by micheal332001

with this script there is no control over what site they can steal the games from.
And yes i mean steal games from as it will be used without the site owner knowing.

If the site owner has permissions to use a game on a site then its usually a global permission to use that game on any site unless the owner of the site writes the games. If there is no permssions to use that game , then that site owner shouldnt have the game up in the first place , so where does the morality begin and end ?

[DjTaz]

Originally Posted by SynisterMustang

Where do i go to find the files that need to be edited? Im new to VB and finding things is becoming a bit tricky.

What files do you wish to edit ?
In VBB there are PHP files and Template files

The PHP are the physical ones you upload , the templates are in admin control panel and styles and templates .. there are other files are well, but it depends what you wish to do.