Review of arcade scripts

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It is not a secret that casual games, including online
flash games are the fastest-growing segment of the gaming
industry. So I cannot see any reasons why you shouldn’t
start earning money by providing access to free online games.
It’s not a rocket science, there is nothing complex
here. All you need to start your own flash arcade site - are several
interesting free flash games and a powerful content management system
which will help you to manage those games along with other aspects of your gaming site.

Free Arcade Script

Features:

• SQL caching


• Easy Game Adding Via Browser, Share Code, or Pre Uploaded


• Built in Blog


• Delegate Game Adding or Blogging Privileges


• Newsletter


• Link Trading System


• Extensive User Profiles With Messaging, Favorite, Avatars, Etc.


• Custom Pages


• RSS Feeds


• Add/Delete/Manage Games/Users/Ads/Categories/Etc


• Automatic SWF Dimension Reading For Games Uploaded Via Browser in Admin Panel


• Useful Insert in Admin Section For Script News/Updates


• Individual Game Ads


• Different Meta Tags and Descriptions Can Be Set For Each Page/Game


• The Usual: Comments, AJAX Ratings, Top Users, Search, Etc.

Its pretty easy to customize, but there are little templates around. This
can be to your advantage though as it tends to lead to you getting a custom
one made just for your site, making it unique.

Installation could be made a bit easier, it does take some attention to detail
setting permissions on some of the files and directories. There is
help available though if needed, and is well worth the extra effort because
of the extra features it allows.

Game Sponsorship is a good way to make money through individual game ads.

You can turn on or off the blog, and/or custom pages using either, neither, or both.

The newsletter is totally opt in by the member through their profile.

You can delegate game adding privileges and blogging privileges without
needing to make that member an admin. They only get access to the content
they posted as well. This allows you to have others add content to your
site for you.

Customer Service is the best.

So, overall 5/5.

*****

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Arcade Builder

Features:

• Add/Edit/Delete Games & Categories


• FTP, Browser-Based Uploads, or Direct Server File Transfers


• Automatic SWF Dimension Reading


• Automatic Thumbnail Resizing


• Maximum/Minimum Game Size


• No Encryption or Encoding


• Advertisement/Banner Manager


• Game Sponsorship


• Customizable Look & Feel


• Comments & Ratings


• Member Management


• Newsletter System


• Game Code - Add to Blog/Website/MySpace/LiveJournal


• 100% SEO Friendly


• Built-In Search Engine


• Link Management


• Content Pages


• News System


• File Editor


• Tell-a-Friend

Its pretty easy to customize, but there are little templates around. The basic
one is far to dark for some arcades, but the flash header is a nice little
effect.

Installation is not the easiest, as the Auto-Installer often messes up!

Game Sponsorship is a good way to make money, but the placement means a
small CTR. That wont impress your sponsors!

Customer Service is the best. Even when you dont buy that script, just the gamepacks,
the owner will update the SQL file for you!

So, overall 4/5.

****

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Arcadem Pro

• Integrated blogging system and RSS feeds


• Sitemap generation to help your site get fully indexed


• Social bookmarking/web 2.0 links on each game & article


• Multi-tasking admin system with a desktop/window like interface


• 10 different themes installed by default


• Rearrange your articles, games, and content with just a few clicks


• Complete meta-tag and robots.txt control for better SEO


• Full WYSIWYG page editor/CMS to increase unique content and search engine rankings


• Full cache system for increase performance and lower bandwidth


• English, French, German, and Spanish front end modules


• Native support & admin area for AdSense, TLA, and pop-ups


• Game reviews to increase your search engine rankings with more original content


• Detailed integrated site statistics for analysis of your visitors


• Search engine friendly URLs available for games


• Easy to use theme engine, inspired after the Wordpress theme system


• 400+ games included FREE, with over 3500+ game available in total


• Full user system, including optional email or admin activation


• Token system forces guests to register after their tokens are spent


• Email a friend and suggested games feature.


• MySpace embed code to help virally spread your site


• User friendly, graphically appealing, easy to setup

Arcadem Pro boats the WYSIWYG editor and 10 basic templates free with the script.
The WYSIWYG editor is really fast, and easy to use, but HTML code doesn't work in it!
There is one way to add it, but if you edit again, you loose all your code.

Arcadem Pro has one of the best Admin Panels, with so many great features, like stats,
SEO friendly urls (important!) and robots.txt. It also allows windowed views, so you can
open one feature, say, stats, and also edit the pages too!

10 Basic templates are given for free with this script, and they are easy to customize.
You do NOT have to pay to remove the Copyright, but its always nice leave it there!

400 Free Games are included, but it is hard to actually get them! There is no Members Area,
and only a .txt document (which some people dont get) in the package. You do not need to
individually add them, as the MySQL file is included!

One criticism is that there is NO link exchange system, you CANT hotlink .swf's and some other
features are missing. The manufacturer says they will be added in the near future.

Customer Service is good an bad - the forums are active, but support tickets DON'T WORK!

So, overall Arcadem Pro gets 3/5!


***

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Arcade Script

Features:

• Extremely flexible


• Easily expandable


• SEO friendly


• Valid XHTML templates


• Many built-in modules


• Content pages management


• News publishing system


• RSS news feed


• Site feedback system


• Game rating and commenting


• Antispam system w/o captcha


• Integrated stats system

The demo template looks very nice, and worth the money. The Shoutbox feature,
though isn't very good. You can add custom pages, and customize the template.

You get, by the looks of things, 200 Free Games. That isn't a good price!

Cost: $100.00 for the script and 200 games.

Overall, 1/5

*

EDITOR NOTE: If it was cheaper/had more games, it would be about 4/5.

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AVArcade

Features:

• Full administration


• User features


• Login and register


• Edit profile


• Comment on games


• Forced sign-up


• Skin/Template System


• 5 star ratings


• Multiple file type support


• Lots of variable settings


• Easy game adding


• Multiple admin support


• Easy to create skins


• Categories


• Publish on/off


• Web Links


• SEO Links throughout


• Search


• Adsense support


• Top players with rankings


• Many different modules


• Website Stats


• Easy install AV Game Packs


• Add custom pages

Users are allowed to create their own profile with all the usual
fields, MSN email, Location etc, etc.

The script comes with NO games, but it is easy to find ones, or buy
the Gamepacks from AVArcade.

You MUST keep the Copyright footer one your site, or you can purchase
copyright removal.

Overall, this is quite a good script, so is rated 4/5.

****

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GameScript

Features:

• Add/Remove games from an online admin panel


• Game plays are counted by game and sitewide


• Number of Users Online


• “Tokensâ€� system


• Game Ratings


• Game Comments


• Advanced Query Caching


• Easy to customize

GameScript don't even let you see a demo of the Admin Panel, so
you are always unsure what you are getting.

The GameScript templates look very nice, but when you buy GS,
you only get one.

There is absolutely no reason to get GS.net, so there is no point
in even writing a review!

Overall, 1/5

*

EDITOR COMMENT: If it wasn't so expensive, it would be 5/5!

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GameSiteScript

Features:

• Incredible Speed


• Member Account Registration


• Easy-To-Use Admin Area


• Customizable, Powerful Theme Engine


• Site Sponsorship Systems


• No Worrying About File Type


• And Much, Much More

GSS boasts one of the nicest, user-friendly Admin Control Panels around. Its
easy to learn, and simple to use!

Adding games couldn't be easier, and ANYONE can do it.

Users get their own profile, and have the ability to Private Message each other.

GSS has very active forums, so you will never fear that it will take weeks just
to sort out one wee problem.

GSS is VERY easy to customize too, so you'll have your own template up
in days.

Overall, 4/5.

****

EDITOR COMMENT: If it was cheaper, it would be 5!

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My Game Script

Features:

• Simple Installation, you can have your flash arcade set up in about 5 minutes.


• Easy Edit script - well commented and unencoded so its easy to modify.


• Your visitors can search your flash game site for their favorite games.


• Visitors can rate every flash game and the rating is displayed immediately.


• Share your flash games! Visitors can use HTML to give you linkbacks & build traffic.


• Easily manage your all the advertisements throughout your website, from one folder.


• Game categories are split into pages for fast and efficient loading.


• Manage Link Partners - They find you and the whole link system is automated.


• Easy to Manage Layout - Simply change two configuration files in one folder.


• Search Engine Optimized structure to receive good amounts of organic traffic.


• Easy to Navigate Flash Arcade for even the most inexperienced internet users.


• Visitors can share your flash arcade with up to five of their friends, from your website.


• Contact form so you can receive visitor feedback - Get opinions from your users.

The look of the demo puts most people off, because its too bad! Some people get confused because the demo
has TheArcadeScript logo in the header, but 'Powered by myGAMESCRIPT' in the footer. No-one actually knows
the real name of it.

The Admin Panel is one of the best around, and really user-friendly and easy to learn how to do stuff.

And with such a cheap price, its likely that its one of the 'noobs' first scripts.

But, there are bugs in it, although, especially when editing the template. It is VERY difficult, and isn't
recomended for first-timers/those who do not know what they are doing!

myGAMESCRIPT and ARCADEScript.com are both owned by the same person.

Overall, 3/5.

***

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onArcade

Features:

• Powerful admin panel


• Play SWF and DCR games, videos and music


• Record top scores


• Comments and ratings


• Exchange links with other arcades


• Membership system


• Search media


• Grab games or videos from other sites


• Statistics


• RSS Feeds


• Template and language system


• And many more…

The script is very easy to modify and support is available EVERYDAY. Hans (owner) is always willing to try
and help you, and he really does help!

Installation is very east, and the admin panel looks very nice, and has loads of features.

Modifications are available in the Official Forums for Registered users only.

High Score gaming is something that will bring back the users.

Overall, 5/5.

*****

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phpArcadeScript

Features:

• 5 Star Rating System


• Membership Area for Users


• Ability for Users (and Guests) to comment on games


• Built in Link Trading Management


• Built in Tell-A-Friend Script


• Most Played, Newest Games and Top Players Lists


• Fully Functional Admin Backend - Manage Categories (add, edit, delete)


• Manage Games (add, edit, delete, active/inactive)


• Manage Users (add, edit, delete, ban users)


• Manage Links (confirm links, edit links, delete links)


• Manage Comments (edit, delete comments) - Category specific meta keywords and descriptions


• Game specific meta keywords and descriptions


• Support for DCR / DIR games


• Easy to use HTML templates for your own unique design


• and much much more!

There is only One package to choose from - 150+ Free Games and 1 Template. Installation is $20 - when really,
anyone can install it. You are sent your download link via Email, and that often brings problems for those
who have strict email spam filters.

It takes about 1 minute to add a game, but can be quicker using the SQL file that comes with the 150+ free games.

The Basic template that comes with the script isnt very appealing, but there are hundreds out there available.
You can buy better ones for around $30.00 that also come with modifications.

All users can Private Message eachother, and admins can look up Private Messages in the inboxes and outboxes of
all users.

The support for phpArcadeScript is pretty bad, as it can take 14 days just to upgrade your forum account, so
you can access the forums, which is bad. Support Tickets are NEVER answered either.

Overall, 4/5

****

EDITOR NOTE: If it wasnt for the bad customer service, this would be 5.

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PlayCMS

Features:

• Rating system built-in.


• Mod_rewrite in use for search-engine-friendly pages new *updated*


• Instructions available on game page.


• Author information available on game page.


• Games accessible from various locations.


• Ability to link to off-site games.


• Online control panel for admin access.


• Counted game plays.


• Easy to integrate into a design.


• New dynamic design, much smoother and easier to edit!

The price is good, but there is little support.

Because there is little information about this script, there is no need for a review.

OVERALL, 2/5

**

EDITOR COMMENT: Not enough live sites using it to review.

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RGameScript Pro

Features:

• Advanced User group system


• Advanced permission system


• Multiple Category system


• Search Engine Friendly URLS


• Gameplay by usergroup or free for all


• About 294 flash games included (FOR FREE)


• Paging Limit System (like 10 games per page)


• Open games in full screen


• Integration with vbulletin, ipb, phpbb, mybb and smf


• Advance search option


• Grab images and game files


• 5 Star Rating System


• Members can post comment on each game


• Advance Templating System


• Generates XHTML Codes

It is quite pricey too. 70$ Owned License with 1 year Upgrades
and Tech Support.

It comes with about 294 Free Games and looks like its easy to customize.

There isnt much information available, and doesnt look like there
ever will be.

Overall, 3/5

***