[PROJECT] Arcadia - put yourself on the map!!

[stigzler]

Put yourself on the map!!

A central point for all builders, suppliers, services and all things Arcade

This is a map and database for all thing arcade. Features:

• Puts a pin on a map where you/your buiness iss.
• However over the pin for all your details: website, email etc.
• Filter pins and the table by various catagories: Builders, Services, Supplies, Links etc
• Data also visualised by a fully filterable (!?) table.
• Filter table by tags.

Pictures tell a thousand words, so:





Aim:

To build a database of all us builders - personally, it'd be interesting to see who builds in the UK.

Collate the vast range of knowledge for all resources into one easy to access place.

You can see this, here:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/Arcadia

As ever - GameEx my first stop! Cummon folks - put yer pin on the map - form only takes 2 minutes.

Feedback welcomed, especially around the "Details" part of the form!

[Draco1962]

Looks cool! I hope you don't mind but I went ahead and moved this to the Social Club since it does not directly relate to GameEx topics proper.

[stigzler]

No worries - hope it gets seen there!

Would you care to be the first to pin??

An elder teacher of Dawkinism to Darwinists, huh?

[Tempest]

I thought it was open to the UK only.

[stigzler]

Yes - new screenshot needed!

(There you go, Tempest - put the states in just for you )

Thanks for posting, Draco!

[Draco1962]

I forget which forum I was on years ago that actuially had a map similar for following the locations of its members. My guess is that it did so via IP address from which the member was registered or posting.

[stigzler]

Do you know which forum, Draco? Would be interested in taking a look.

[Draco1962]

It was a long time ago. Might have been BYOC or one of the other myriads of related forums.

[Tempest]

If it helps, I've seen that too. Of course I can't remember where either...

[stigzler]

Fills me with hope and enthusiasm for all the work I did on this.....

[hansolo77]

This is only for cab builders right?

[stigzler]

Not really Hans - did you have a look at it? I'm hoping that isn't the message that comes across. It's for anyone interested in any kinda setup to play games. You can place links on there + any kinda system would do - HTPCs included. Guess this is getting down to the brass tacs of making this thing work - so would you have any suggestions if that's the message you got?

I guess things like Categories and Details are gonan be clinchers - would welcome any constructive feedback.

[Draco1962]

Maybe you could add "Hobbyist" as a category?

[stigzler]

Yeah = good suggestion Draco. So, thinking of changing the Arcade Machine Builder to:

Arcade System Builder - Hobbyist

Arcade System Builder - Commercial

(or maybe "Games System Builder"??)

That way including HTPC, pincabs and other variants.

Categorisation's a nightmare!

[hansolo77]

I dunno, I didn't look at it because of the words "System Builder". I thought that seemed straight forward that it was for BUILDERS.

[Draco1962]

Or:

Arcade Cabinet Builder - Hobbyist

Pincab Builder - Hobbyist

HTPC Builder - Hobbyist

[stigzler]

I dunno, I didn't look at it because of the words "System Builder". I thought that seemed straight forward that it was for BUILDERS.

Right you are, Hans. No need to shout, buddy.

Looks like the "builder" word is causing some confusion. This was always gonna be a task!

See what you mean there, Draco, but want to keep the number of categories down - need one category to cover people who construct/build/make/create pincabs, cabs, htpcs, other systems that play games....

OK, so what about:

Games Systems Creators - Hobbyist

Games Systems Creators - Commercial

And then sub-catagories for:

Pincabs

Aracade Cabinets

Fightsticks

Pedestal Systems

Jukeboxs (not strictly a game I know!)

Bandits

(there must be others)

I haven't got the right type of mind for this! It's an exercise in taxonomy. Anyone know any librarians?

Thanks for the constructive comments, and any further suggestions welcomed.

[Draco1962]

Jukeboxes - decent sub category (spelling correction needed). Add HTPC to that list and I think you are golden. Maybe strike Game and just use System Builder - Hobbyist and System Builder - Commercial as the primary categories.

[stigzler]

Thanks Draco - went with your suggestions in the end

-- Big Shout Out to Stu1983 for mapping what look like his local arcades --

(If I'm ever in Potrush, I know where to go now!)

OK - I know it's not good for you, but I just can't stop fiddling with it. Replaced those dreary map pins with some more relevant markers:

I'm gonna see how many space invaders I can get onto the map!

Thanks to those who've contributed/helped.

[Draco1962]

Glad to be of some assistance!

[DazzleHP]

I commend what you are doing here stigz - it's courageous and dare i say i little crazy but if you pull this off it will become an absolute epic resource! One of the most disappointing things for me, growing up with arcades was the sudden disappearance of them all around my local area - it's shocking. It seems in the US you have more chance but here in the UK it was like one night, the arcade police swooped in when we were all sleeping and confiscated every cab that existed! There are none that i am aware of near me anymore :cry: If this project can help identify even a solitary cab, in a cafe or fast food joint then praise be with ya!

PS: this is open to UK too?

[Draco1962]

Its almost as bad here in Jacksonville FL. I wish I could recall all the arcade rooms that were here just to put them on the map.

[DazzleHP]

Its almost as bad here in Jacksonville FL. I wish I could recall all the arcade rooms that were here just to put them on the map.

It's a sad affair ain't it? I can recall at least 10 establishments in my own small town (from bars, to night clubs, cafe's, to fast food restaurants) that used to have 2 or more legit cabs. Now all they have are pointless fruit machines in their place and have done for the last 15 years. The most upsetting thing is i seem to be the only one within my peer group that is bothered about it! The others seem to just brush it off as "oh well times change". What?! Did they not have the same experiences i did? They were there

[Draco1962]

We don't have quite that issue because fruit machines are considered gambling machines here and they are outlawed. But the arcades are gone. Sure, there is Dave & Busters which has a decent arcade midway, but not quite the classic arcade caps or pinball machines of days past.

[DazzleHP]

Yeah, that is one thing i always struggled comprehending about the US - this outlawing of gambling! You guys are so lenient on much more important matters (in my opinion of course) yet you are not allowed to wage some hard earned cash on a game of luck. If it is your money, then why not? Cultural differences huh! I guess it would be weird for you to sit down with some friends, some beers, around a poker table in a garage and NOT feel edgy bout the whole thing That usually happens when everyone else has passed out around here hehehe