Arcade Admin – The Arcade Owners Ultimate Resource

Another interview brought to you by ArcadeAdmin.Com – This interview is with Sergey of Pro Arcade Script.

Enjoy!

Are you able to give us a short insight into your background?

Sure, I’m full-time freelance web designer/developer working from my home office located in Vologda, Russia for clients worldwide. You’ll see few recent examples of my work at http://misvstyle.com.

What do you do in your spare time?

Nothing special actually, spend the little amount of my free time walking with my beautiful wife, drinking wine with friends, playing billiard… hopefully will get the xbox slim soon, once it’s in stores here.

How did the idea of ProArcadeScript come to you?

I always had a product for sale, first time it was a downloadable game, than it was a utility… one day I’ve decided to stop developing standalone applications and switch to php scripts. Not sure (it was 4 years ago), but I think I got a design project those days, I was asked to design a gaming site running on another arcade script. And, working with that project, I’ve got the idea – I can do a way better script.

The script which will easier to customize and manage. You know, I’m often working as web designer and html coder for my clients, and therefore I was surprised how badly script logic is separated from visualization (templates). Those of you who is familiar with MVC will understand me… I guess that’s enough for this question

In any case now I think it’s my path from standalone apps to SAAS projects.

What was your biggest challenge getting ProArcadeScript to where it is now?

The architecture. I do believe it’s always the biggest challenge, in any serious application or script or whatever project.

Do you own any other script/sites

Yes, one of those was mentioned in my first answer. There are few more, but that’s another story

In the history of ProArcadeScript which date stands out the most for you?

I think it was the first release, I was so excited about it.

How do you think Google, and the way it indexes site affect the way Arcades operate?

I can be wrong here, but looks like Google doesn’t like much our arcade sites, no matter which script the sites are working on. Google “sees” tons of similar pages full of duplicate content and therefor does not pay much attention to the sites. As a result, we have to sponsor games, release our own ones to drive traffic to our sites.

With the creation of so many different arcades, where do you think the industry will be in 5 years time?

Well, I have to say I don’t see much progress in our industry since 2006, maybe due to the fact arcade scripts is quite a tiny market, so no one can expect to see huge growth of a solution like the one we saw on the blogs market (yes I’m talking about wordpress). The only thing I’m sure about – there will be even more different arcade scripts on the market in 2015

What are your top 5 SEO tips for arcade beginners?

I think the following tip worth any other 5: Write your own descriptions for every game you submit to your own arcade site.

Why does your script stand out from the rest?

ProArcadeScript is easy to customize (did I say this?) and, as a result, you can build a site which stands out from the rest.

Are we going to see any major updates in the coming months?

Sure, I bet the competitors will be surprised

For the Online Gaming industry what do you believe is the greatest challenge going forward?

There are several challenges ahead of the industry, we all see that in the news headlines: the industry will have to decide whether or not HTML5 is good enough for online games, game authors are still in search for a good business model which will let them pay the bills for few months while they are working on really exciting games.

Who is your direct rival in the Arcade Script niche?

Every single script which distracts potential customers from my site in google search results is considered as direct rival.

What are the key features that make ProArcadeScript stand out from the crowd?

1. ProArcadeScript is very well structured, and as a result, it’s easy to customize it and to skin it.
2. It’s easy to import and install mochi games (in few clicks in the script’s admin)
3. Custom php pages can easily be integrated into the script (so your imagination is the only limit in the site’s features)
4. Nice-looking default theme
5. Read more at http://proarcadescript.com

What do you believe are the key points to run a successful arcade?

You must love online gaming, feel what’s fun and what’s not to your visitors… You should also be a good copywriter (read above why it’s so important).

What, in your view, is key to retaining gamers on an arcade site?

Everything mentioned in the previous answer Publish the best games ever created, highlight their best sides to the gamers and they’ll come back to your site again and again.

With the need for competition between gamers become more fierce how do you anticipate changes within ProArcadeScript to accommodate?

New platform is one of those, sorry, can’t tell more here – it must be a surprise.

Once again Thanks Sergey for taking part!

Another great interview brought to you by ArcadeAdmin.Com. Thank’s to Chuckun for taking part in this interview. Check out Chuckuns blog at www.chuckun.co.uk

Are you able to give us a short insight into your background?

Sure! For the best part of six years now, I’ve been developing PHP scripts. It all started seven years ago, at the age of just twelve, when I became part of a gaming clan forum. The owner, just a year older than I was, was my initial inspiration into the world of web-development. He could do some great things with PHP.

Then, through simply playing around with open-source php scripts, I was able to start writing PHP scripts myself! I began developing MODs for AvArcade fairly recently though. I decided to set up tazgames.com and looked into the best script to use, and came across Av Arcade. I love the script, and love the community even moreso. That’s all the motivation I need to work on it!

What do you do in your spare time?

I tend to use my spare time to study new programming languages or features, or simply alternative methods of manipulating programming languages. On a more fun level though, I also enjoy playing a free FPS called Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, if I’m feeling like taking some time off!

How do your mod idea’s come to you?

Usually I get asked to create the MODs I make. Or I see a request on the AvArcade support forums, so I take it upon myself to fulfill it! Sometimes I see a really cool feature on a website, and realise something similar would benefit my own site, so I’ll produce a MOD everyone can use. However, sometimes it’s purely an impulse idea I just randomly think of – those ones, I have to jot down though, as they’re there one minute, gone the next!

Do you own any other script/sites?

I run several websites, but I don’t like to build connections between them, so the only ones I publically announce ownership of are: www.chuckun.co.uk, www.tazgames.com, and www.visitors-online.com

I used to own a couple of simple open-source scripts. However, I stopped distributing them, as I didn’t feel they reflected my ability as a programmer any more, as I wrote them years ago. I hope to release some new scripts soon though!

Which is your best Mod to date?

The Report Game MOD was my best MOD for AvArcade. Since that was used in AvArcade 5.2, I would say my best MOD in development, is the Mass eMail & Newsletter MOD. I have some great ideas for the mod, such as scheduled mailing and other nifty features which will make it a true must-have!

What’s the though process behind developing a mod?

Well to be honest, I find thinking too much about how I’m going to do things, overwhelms me (if it’s complex enough to require thought). So I tend to dive in at the deep end, and just get on with it, and work out the arrangements as I go. This used to cause ‘messy’ coding for me, but I’m used to the general structure of things now.

The general process however, is to create the backend first, then front-end core features, then the template features the user sees to control the mod.

How do you relax at the end of the day?

Usually with a beer or a cup of tea, talking to my girlfriend, and watching a film – Oh the good life!

How do you think Google, and the way it indexes site affect the way Arcades operate?

The best idea Google ever came up with with regards to intelligent indexing, is ‘Sitelinks’ – the 4/5 links that you see some times underneath the top results for searches you make. If your arcade categories get recognised as the substantial navigation pages by google, and you have your categories listed under your homepage result on google, your visitors can instantly find just what they’re looking for! This will most definitely benefit the operation of your arcade.

With the creation of so many different arcades, where do you think the industry will be in 5 years time?

Well, a couple of years ago we saw the crash of the arcade website industry due to the influx of webmasters hopping on the band-wagon. However, I believe that the poor revenue caused by this is slowly forcing people to close their arcades. I think in five years time, people will avoid making arcades, and they will become more profitable again as the numbers of them drop.

What are your top 5 SEO tips for arcade beginners?

1. – Keyword density. Make sure you include premium gaming keywords where relevant. Such as “Play *game name* – The free online game from *site name*” instead of just having the game title. This is absolutely essential.
2. – SEO URLs. No doubt this is obvious, but it really is a must. Also be sure to include the category AND game name in the URL for perfect SEO.
3. – Page content. Arcade scripts generally dont offer enough word content.. Search engines do not like websites with few words.. So make sure you put extra words wherever possible, such as “Browse all our cool action games” instead of “see all” underneath each category..
4. – Image ALT tag. Arcades display a LOT of images.. Be sure to make use of the ALT tag within your script wherever images are used. This can generate interest via google images, and counts towards your page’s content type too.
5. – Page Titles. The order of your page title is crucial. And with gaming websites, I would reccommend using *gamename* – *sitename*, as anybody looking for a specific game isnt going to care what your arcade is called when they google the game, so you want the game name first.. However, take into consideration point #1!

Are we going to see any major updates in the coming months for any Mods?

The Mass eMail & Newsletter MOD will be receiving a lovely update shortly! Scheduled mail is almost ready – which has been long awaited by many, so watch out for that! I will also be releasing a few new mods too, with any luck!

For the Online Gaming industry what do you believe is the greatest challenge going forward?

Well it’s quite clear now that the market is pretty much at saturation point. Anybody looking to set up an online arcade is going to experience difficulties making any real money. The biggest challenge right now, as with most websites, is creating a unique environment to keep people coming back.

A major key now is social networking integration. As long as you have a plug to one of the major social networking websites, you have a chance of making your arcade work. However, even then you face a massive difficulty in making any good money. My advice is to stick in there, until the faint-hearted ‘give up’ with their non-earning arcades, and free up the industry a little.

What do you believe are the key points to run a successful arcade?

A unique theme is a must! And it must be ‘cool’ – if you make it look professional, it’s going to look too boring for an arcade.. You want something colourful and appealing to both children and teenagers.. So a ‘cool’ look is definitely the way forward!

Inscentive – Offer inscentives to make your visitors want to register.. Once they register, they will most likely return.. And if not, grab the mass email & newsletter MOD and make sure they dont forget about you!

Do something different – I believe that the only way to be truly successful is to do something unique that people will recognise.. Whether it be sending custom t-shirts out to anyone who reaches the #1 player, or creating ‘groups’ or ‘clans’ who will compete.. It’s always good to create a situation people will want to put effort into.

What, in your view, is key to retaining gamers on an arcade site?

As previously mentioned, inscentive, and unique ideas are key here. Creating awards, achievements, or prizes is always an easy way to keep people playing.. But a more automated (and cheaper) method is to create rivalry! Let people compete against eachother with highscores, and they will be determined to stay and claim the title..

Where do you believe online gaming will be in 10 years time?

On the internet, ten years is a LONG time.. Realistically, anything could happen. The way things are looking with the youth of today, gaming could even be banned in 10 years time. Now there’s a dreadful thought, right? But realistically, I believe in 10 years time, online gaming will be incredible. ‘Flash’ games may be created in HTML5, which leaves room for some incredible movement!

Thanks Chuckun for taking part in this interview! Comments welcome!