How to Make a Games Website: GameSiteScript
PHP Arcade Game Script Template for Making Flash Game Sites Review
Jul 20, 2009
With the advent of successful browser-based casual games such as Desktop Tower Defense and Bloons, many Flash developers have created an income stream from producing small web-enabled games. However, many enterprising webmasters have generated their own lucrative income streams by providing a place to host such games, in the form of online Flash arcade websites.
GameSiteScript is a PHP-driven software package that provides an easily modifiable template for making an online Flash games arcade. The package includes the full source code for the arcade template, and once installed, the built-in content management system makes administrating games media and customizing the style of the website remarkably simple.
Features of the GameSiteScript Template Arcade
Out of the box, GameSiteScript provides a fully functional Flash arcade that has all of the essential features one would expect of a games website. The GameSiteScript template arcade includes:
- Support for games category pages.
- Member management, including a registration system, newsletter support, game comments and a game rating system.
- Media sponsor and advertising banner administration control.
- An easy to use theme system that allows for complete control over how the arcade is displayed.
- Integrated site-wide search function.
- Complete game asset management system.
Webpages generated by GameSiteScript are search engine optimised, and additional optimisation can be handled through the administration area by adding metatags and descriptive keywords to pages and by configuring page urls to be more SEO friendly.
Buying GameSiteScript: How Much Does an Online Arcade Cost?
While only the GameSiteScript lifetime license is necessary to run a GameSiteScript-powered online arcade, there are a number of other packages, sold separately, that augment the main GameSiteScript package.
- The GameSiteScript lifetime license package is $50, and includes the core system files that provide the custom arcade website template.
- The Copyright Removal license, at $95, allows the licensee to remove the “Powered by GameSiteScript” copyright notice that appears in the footer of the arcade system for a single GameSiteScript license.
- The High Scores Addon, including over 1400 compatible Flash games, retails for $125.
- There are currently 7 Games Packs of 250 games for $20 each.
- Similarly, there are 6 Media Packs of 250 videos for $20 each.
The games and media packs can be purchased as bundles for a reduced price of $95. The bundled packs contain bonus games and videos included in the price. The GameSiteScript template arcade is not delivered with any games or videos, so the media packs provide a cost-effective quickstart to populate a new arcade site.
Poor Support for this PHP Arcade
At the time of writing, the GameSiteScript 4.0 files are delivered as an electronic download, but do not include any installation or tutorial documentation whatsoever. Perhaps this is an oversight that will be rectified in a future edition, but for a purchaser keen to have an online gamescript arcade game project launched quickly, this is a devastating omission.
GameSiteScript has changed hands several times in its lifetime, and the support has ranged from non-existent to same-day response during ownership transitions. In a stickied comment in the Tech Support category of the support forum advertised on the GameSiteScript home page, it transpires that it is not actually an official support forum. However, several dedicated GameSiteScript users do answer the occasional question regarding the games script package.
There is an email support system in place, but frankly, having to request a support ticket for queries that could be quickly resolved in an active forum (such as: how is GameSiteScript installed?) is an ill-considered customer support strategy, excusable only if easily accessible, comprehensive documentation existed to help the new user.
Great Games Sites with Game Site Script?
For a webmaster with a good grasp of PHP and SQL database management who is considering launching an online Flash arcade website, GameSiteScript is an affordable if occasionally frustrating solution. The lack of even the most basic documentation explaining how to install the game script files is discouraging, but the gamescript PHP code base is clean and well commented. A programmer with a working knowledge of PHP and an understanding of SQL should encounter few difficulties in analysing the code and correctly uploading the template arcade.
However, the dubious support offered by GameSiteScript for their product - no user documentation, lack of GameSiteScript tutorials, and a neglected forum - makes GameSiteScript unsuitable for any user unfamiliar with PHP or SQL.
In conclusion, GameSiteScript is not as simple to use as their website suggests. However, the Flash arcade template it provides is as feature-packed as promised. The flaws of GameSiteScript are not in the product, which delivers an efficient, easily customizable PHP-driven online arcade. The flaws lie entirely within neglecting customer support, both at the time of purchase, and in after-sales assistance.
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