[Question] Pre Install

1) Is there anyway to disable all scores so that they don't even show in the arcade? Full exclusion.

2) Can we link games or embed them instead of converting them? (( I mean, wouldn't that be easier ))

3) What does branding free cost, why download and install before finding that out?

[MrZeropage]

1) no, not right away, alot of changes needed for this
2) no, how should the game know how and where to submit the score ?
3) branding free is currently 50$

[legionofangels]

Originally Posted by MrZeropage

1) no, not right away, alot of changes needed for this
2) no, how should the game know how and where to submit the score ?
3) branding free is currently 50$

1) too bad, oh well

2) That's exactly my point, if I didn't want or need a score system a simple embedding would allow me to use any downloadable ZIP of a game through my own server, or embedding of a game from someone elses server. Therefore the only games that I couldn't use would be one's I not only couldn't download, but wasn't allowed to embed, which very few games are out there and like that.

3) Not too bad of a fee

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To give our full explanation, whether people care or not, this is what we thought and talked about on our staff. We wanted to add an arcade of course, we loved the idea of a competition or high score system, and so immediately both IPB and V3 were under consideration. Without knowing either's full game selection or the apparent and possible compatibility of IPB with certain games out there, namely flash we were unsure as to whether we could get the games we wanted or not. Not getting the games we all specifically liked, defeated the purpose for us as individuals but still our memberbase might enjoy them. We wanted the best of both worlds of course, a case where we could offer the best games through literally quickplaytesting and voting. The problem that we first addressed was IPB's incompatibility with some games out there. Or that is what we've gathered not all games are compatible, and you list one site where you can get games from in flash format, and postnuke specifically.

Our original discussion to start everything addressed the server, whether we should host the games or embed them using other's servers. Good and bad of course, bad if the other site went down, good since it doesn't use our bandwith. In reverse good because if our site goes down you can't play the game anyway, bad because it takes our bandwith and amount of transfer.

We attempted to find our assortment of games all downloadable and just set up our own arcade system in a simple format. Problem of course we ran into is the fact that on most if not all of the flash games that we found that were downloadable, they didn't have high score systems. So even if they were compatible with IPB, there would be no score. So we realized at that point sadly we can't have a score system.

We tried using the Video Gallery mod and wanted to basically duplicate the add on and change the text from everything that said Video Gallery to Flash Arcade or whatever Arcade. But realized the coding for that would be impossible since we're not the author. However his add on can be manipulated to add games to it, as shown here:

http://www.legionofangels.net/forum/...php?videoid=12

(( hope guests can see it ))

We absolutely were thrilled as this gave us a positive alternative to using the games we wanted such as that one. It also had a rating system which was the video rating system and finally what we wanted as an alternative to high score or a comment system.

We checked with vBlog and that would not work, the HTML would work fine for direct embedding without security issues, the problem was the layout, like the gallery system, everything says Blog. We would need it to say games. Also the blog layout was not as convenient as what the Vid Gallery could have done. But the Vid would say Video and Not Game, and that isn't what we want either.

In one final attempt at relooking at both Arcades for Vbulletin, I noticed that V3 has there own offsite forum and without assuming too much, I'd imagine that website has staff or members looking for new games, as well as contacting authors for release of the games.

I then looked at IPB again and seen a recent thread by a member named Bibleblack, and wanted to check there site out as in a quick look at there arcade I noticed OMG...13 Days In Hell, and extremely popular, fun, tough, killer Flash Game. I noticed in looking at there arcade though, 14 times played, no high scores. I was like...why, if it's compatible for install , where's the score? Of course realizing that you peeps have the same problem I would in games I download directly, we're only getting the SWF files of the flash games, not the actual FLV with the high score if there is one. Which the only way to get a high score system even possible at this point is to have the actual FLV file to which you could Flash ActionScript code a high score into the system. You'd have to get the FLV from the author though, and that's risky since you could edit there game and try to take credit for it. So it's one hard thing after another to even get a high score for the game.

I logged in there site in the test account they provided, played that game, and the score you submit, does not get posted by IPB. We all know why.

Now we come to conclusion here of, I'd still use either system if I could turn off the scores completely as the games we use won't have any, and even if I used some that did, like the one's that come with IPB, my arcade would be inconsistent, with like 30 games with high scores out of 100, and that wouldn't look right. One way or the other I say.

So we've come up with a method to create a multi-tier arcade system, using the Flash games, with comments, with HTML blocked for members, inability to post new games for anyone but admins, and ratings (hopefully), but we are just going to embed them or download them to our server if we have to. That way while not trying to one up anyone, we have a wider selection of games, and we'll end up using half the bandwith in the process as with both arcade systems offered here....you upload ALL the games to your own site, using your own server space.

If I knew enough about coding I'd release an arcade as well, but I don't really want it to compete with the other great arcades here, and both arcades are awesome and you've both done a great job, no one can dispute that. But if I used either one, I'd want consistency as I said, with no scores I need scores removed. So can't do, and can't ask you or the other coder to do that. IPB has a great setup for us, as yours could help with our multi-tier arcade system by only allowing certain usergroups into certain areas, while V3 is great because we prefer it's layout especially a top 10 high score for a game rather than just one score for example.

Problem on both ends is usability of the games we want with an option to hide the score, which in effect defeats all tournament options since you can't find out a winner aside from screenshotting your scores. So in order for us to use games that we like such as Ray, a South Park spoof game of an assassin, which has a rating at the end and not even a high score, we need to set up something custom for our own board.

While I'll lose the aspect of competition that many members enjoy out of an arcade, I'll gain the aspect that people will play the games for fun or out of boredom indifference to 5 out of 7 members online in the arcade playing for hours and not posting on my board trying to beat a high score.

There are pro's and con's to all these systems and as I said, if I could remove high scores and had full comptability of games I would use either one. Without it, I'll just do my plan which I'm loving the embedding part of this, as that will save me a ton of bandwith while still offering high quality games.

You've done a great job and if you ever make the change or option for no scores, we'll install.

Thanks for reading,

Legion

[MrZeropage]

What could be done is changing the score-pruning to delete all scores after some seconds, but that would cause all information (highscores, league...) to be zero most time.

But I still don't get the sense of any games embedded without scores, just having comments. Using such games from external websites would also increase their traffic which could cause trouble.

[legionofangels]

Originally Posted by MrZeropage

What could be done is changing the score-pruning to delete all scores after some seconds, but that would cause all information (highscores, league...) to be zero most time.

yeah, but then you'd have Zero columns everywhere under scores when it would be nice if there was an option that did < if conditional no score from game "hide scores column" >

That way you wouldn't even see them if there were scores, of course coding it in whatever terms you are using, etc.

Originally Posted by MrZeropage

But I still don't get the sense of any games embedded without scores, just having comments. Using such games from external websites would also increase their traffic which could cause trouble.

Games embedded without scores offers:

* huge selection of games
* no worries about score system errors or hackers manipulating there high scores, as this can be done without hacking your site
* no bandwith use on your own site

Comments versus Scores, of course we'd take scores, but having comments allows users to actually comment on the games

"I hated it"

"Did anyone get past the 2nd level"

"Game reminds me of Mario and it pisses me off. lolz"

"Try to beat this high score 23,456"

It basically opens up communication on the games and whether they are good or not, or too hard or not, etc. I've seen a site in fact I think it's the one that hosts the game above that offers comments on each games page.

http://pico-of-the-dark-ages.freeonlinegames.com/

Game reviews underneath the game.

With comments as stated your opening up a different avenue, people are playing the games not just to be the best, but instead to enjoy them without issues of high score. Both score and comments can be good IMO.

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Lastly on the issue of embedding you do make a good point as traffic could be sent to other websites. Very true.

However from what I've seen on the net in the past few years with Myspace and Youtube it's almost becoming an internet where everyone wants to customize it for themselves. Like everyones myspace has to be unique, or there own place. While youtube for example allows full embedding of there videos, unless otherwise requested, which users can put on blogs, myspace, websites, etc. I mean take a look right now at how many add ons there are for embedding things, Stage6, PassiveVid, Anymedia Player, Radio and TV Add on to a lesser degree, etc. Embedding and streaming are the now and probably the wave of the future.

So while that is true that we could have traffic go to the game sites instead, the same could be done for any youtube video I embed on my site or post up. someone could go directly to Youtube just by clicking the screen of the video. On another note though those games don't do that while embedded, unless you enter that games menu, or if you hit there advertisement at the first 5 seconds as the game starts. Which at that point after loading someone wants to play the game, not go to another site to wait for the game to reload. Still a good point though, as some traffic could be lost to that, but I would think minimal as members of the community want to be a part of the community.

Nonetheless like I said, I'd love to use something that is already made but I need the scores and tourneys hidden or removed or it will look odd. On the flipside, comments as a new edition in the next release would also be sweet. The vid gallery currently has too many errors even if we could rename everything, but I like the fact that it has a highest rated function showing the video on top that is highest rated. That tells us unlike IPB not most played, but best ranked.

If it were me this is what I would do, and I don't know if you've done it already. But I'd open a website to host flash games like the others do and basically ask each author that wants you to put up there game, or that you ask for the flv file so that if they don't have a high score you can add it to that game with a flash coder of your own. Therefore ensuring both compatibility and score system to work with "vb's best add on, or most installed". I mean it's worth it, IMO, since I'm sure a lot of flash game authors would notice that your add on is servicing so many members that OWN forums, not even including how many play the games. Even if you had to charge for games like V3, it'd be worth it. Small 3 to 5 dollar fees for a game for your site are reasonable. But getting the FLV is paramount to adding a flash score and compatibility to the IPB arcade. That is what I would do to try to incorporate as many games on the internet.