vbProArcade Beta 2

vbProArcade Beta 2

1/5/03: Beta 2 released
9/12/02: Beta 1.03 zip updated to include safe mode fix
9/3/02: Beta 1.03 released -- small bug fixes, see below
9/1/02: Beta 1 of vbProArcade has been posted. Please see below for installation instructions.


Background Information

vbProArcade is a fully-customizable Flash arcade add-on for vBulletin, complete with game-by-game scoreboards, forum integration, a "champions" system, statistics, and more.

This is an extensive hack that is still in BETA form, and I don't recommend installing it if you are not willing to work through potential issues and future updates/upgrades! I am working on making the installation instructions as easy as possible, but it will probably be some time before it is perfect.

Watch this post for updates as they happen, and check out screenshots from the list below. If you would like to see the hack in action, you may visit my Shadows of Namek forums. You will need to register to play, but you can view the scoreboards and the arcade itself as a guest.


Credits

This hack materialized thanks to work and help from a number of people and forums. Here they are:

• Original vbTetris Hack by Erwin Loh
• Original vbTetris Leaderboard Hack by John Warwick (john.eovie)
• One of my users, Simon Steel, for work on Flash coding/recoding
• The users of one of my forums, Shadows of Namek, for their extensive testing of the system
• And The Kryptonian for pre-release and release candidate installation testing.

Games

So far, there are FIVE GAMES that work correctly with this hack. They are:

Breakout
Pacman
Snake
Space Invaders
Tetris

All five .SWF files are included in the release archive.

There is now a Flash Games Development Thread for the purpose of modifying existing games to work with vbProArcade, or for creating new games to be compatible with vbProArcade. If you have a game that you wish to see modified but don't know how, post the .FLA source in that thread and hopefully somebody can assist you.


Installation Instructions

Download the file attached to this post, unzip it and familiarize yourself with the contents BEFORE doing anything.

There are TWO separate files worth reading, the Documentation and the Installation Instructions. I recommend that you read both BEFORE doing anything else.

Once you have done this, the instructions to be followed are contained in vbproarcade-install.txt. Follow them as precisely as possible. If you encounter an error somewhere, it is likely that you missed a step or made a small error. Please double-check your work BEFORE posting about problems here.

And it cannot be said enough: read that file before you do anything, and if you are unsure of something, please post your question(s) before attempting to install the hack.


Problems and Fixes/Workarounds (as of 1/5)

• None

Known Bugs/Limitations

Here is the list of stuff that I know does not work. I will be working towards correcting these bugs BEFORE adding new features for the next release.

• Netscape will allow you to play the games but not record scores
• If a user uses the "Back" button to go to the game screen, and does not refresh before playing, the score will result in a Security Violation. This is by design.

Screen Shots for Beta 2

Here is the list of posts from this thread that contain screen shots for the new version. Check them out!

• Main Arcade Screen: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...106#post292106
• Game Screen: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...107#post292107
• Game Over Screen: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...109#post292109
• Scoreboard: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...110#post292110
• Top Score Board: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...111#post292111
• Admin Modify Game: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...112#post292112
• Who's Online Display: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...113#post292113
• User Detail Screen: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...811#post337811
• Admin Score Editor: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...736#post338736
• Champ System in Postbit: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...745#post338745
• Modify Games in Admin CP (contracted): https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...858#post389858
• Modify Games in Admin CP (expanded): https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...859#post389859

Upcoming Features

This is the stuff that is in progress for future release:

• Complete Admin Panel Scoreboard Editor
• Additional integration with vB
• Even better Who's Online screen

Some have emailed or PM'd me asking if I would accept donations for my work on this hack, and yes, I certainly will, and any and all support is greatly appreciated. With over 2,000 lines of original PHP code, in addition to HTML and Flash work, I have spent a great deal of time developing and debugging the source for this, and it is a great feeling to have people like it so much that they want to give something back.

All donations received go directly back into supporting my websites and my design activities. You may click here to donate via Paypal. Note that donations are by no means required, and not donating does not mean you won't get support for the hack.

Last but not least, thanks for checking this out!

[futureal]

wolfe: I don't think that is related to this hack at all. There are no modifications to admin/user.php, and I don't see anything in that query related to this hack. Since vbProArcade does not modify the user table at all, I don't think it could be related.

[wolfe]

[wolfe]

could you help me any way please

[futureal]

wolfe: OK, I'll give it a shot. Create a file called test.php on your server with this code:

PHP Code:

<?php
echo 'Current PHP version: ' . phpversion();
?>

Then point to it with your browser and tell me what it says.

[mewgood]

this is funny
I have replaced the code you gave me, and it works. No more errors
However I still see a broken image..

[sHORTYWZ]

I am getting this error when I try and upload images:

safeupload is: 0
tmppath is: /temp
vbProArcade Error: bad file upload (temporary file does not exist!)

I am able to upload avatars, file attachments, etc normally so I don't understand why this is happening.

The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is that I have the attachments as files hack installed which causes my attachments to be stored outside of the DB. Avatars however are still stored in the DB and I have another vB board up on the box which doesn't have that hack installed and can upload files/avatars no problem.

Ideas?

[wolfe]

Current PHP version: 4.1.0

[futureal]

Originally posted by mewgood
this is funny
I have replaced the code you gave me, and it works. No more errors
However I still see a broken image..

When you say you replaced the code, you mean you changed that line, or just replaced the file?

To fix the broken image, try this file I am attaching here.

edit: File Updated...

[mewgood]

replaced that line..

[futureal]

Originally posted by wolfe
Current PHP version: 4.1.0

Man, I dunno what to say then. I thought that error might be something to do with PHP v4.2.x but I guess not. Are you sure it started up as a result of installing this hack? It doesn't seem like it could be related.

I would suggest posting it in the Support forum here at vb.org and see if one of the main support guys (FireFly, smachol, etc.) could help out -- they are definite more knowledgable about the inner workings of vBulletin than I am.

My only other suggestion is to upgrade to the newest version of vBulletin. Often times that fixes some little, weird errors like that.

[wolfe]

i think it was the bulletin email generator

[mewgood]

ar..
I got this now...

Warning: SAFE MODE Restriction in effect. The script whose uid is 10105 is not allowed to access /tmp/icon-scoreboard.gif owned by uid 2526 in /usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/wcgalaxy.com/httpdocs/vbb/admin/proarcadeadmin.php on line 59

Warning: SAFE MODE Restriction in effect. The script whose uid is 10105 is not allowed to access /tmp/icon-crown.gif owned by uid 2526 in /usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/wcgalaxy.com/httpdocs/vbb/admin/proarcadeadmin.php on line 59
Arcade options updated!

[futureal]

Originally posted by sHORTYWZ
I am getting this error when I try and upload images:

safeupload is: 0
tmppath is: /temp
vbProArcade Error: bad file upload (temporary file does not exist!)

I am able to upload avatars, file attachments, etc normally so I don't understand why this is happening.

The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is that I have the attachments as files hack installed which causes my attachments to be stored outside of the DB. Avatars however are still stored in the DB and I have another vB board up on the box which doesn't have that hack installed and can upload files/avatars no problem.

Ideas?

This seems really odd to me. You are the first person not running safe mode to have a problem with the icon stuff.

My only idea is, try the file I posted a couple steps back and let me know what happens. The only thing I can think of is that it is a problem with the $tmppath variable.

[sHORTYWZ]

Same deal :

safeupload is: 0
tmppath is: /temp
vbProArcade Error: bad file upload (temporary file does not exist!)

[futureal]

Another new file here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...467#post295467

Download it again and let me know what happens.

I am really stumped on this one. I have double checked my code against the same routines that vBulletin uses for avatar uploads, and the same commands are being executed. Very odd...