What do you think makes a good arcade site?

matmi · 06-20-2008, 03:41 PM

Hi

As you may already know, Matmi (who normally make games) are currently producing our first games arcade.

We have a database with thousands of arcade sites in our game seeding database so we have seen a fair few sites in our time.

It amazes me that some really badly designed sites still get lots of users, whilst others with great design and content get hardly any.

What do you reckon makes an ideal arcade?

What is the best arcade site out there and why?

Cheers

Jeff

ArcadeJunky · 06-20-2008, 03:49 PM

Yes, it's nice to have the best, or one of the best arcades, but money is made from traffic, and the greatest games, greatest features and greatest layout don't guarantee any traffic. They could help, but don't forget the importance of SEO, trades and advertising as options to provide raw traffic.

It's a good topic, will be interesting to see what others have to say...

hawkal · 06-20-2008, 04:05 PM

I have also seen the trend of badly designed sites with high traffic and well designed sites with low traffic. The key to a successful arcade is most importantly the domain name. If you can get one with a popular keyword it will help a lot. Then after that you have to strike a balance between having lots of banners and games plugs for traffic or an arcade that isn't cluttered and is well designed. In my opinion sites that have the balance are ones like http://dailyfreegames.com/ and http://twizl.com . They don't obviously overwhelm the user with traffic banners and they are well designed sites.

EDIT: I have to agree with Arcadejunky, its the new raw traffic that pays the bills. It depends on your goal for the site really.

Bambi Molester · 06-20-2008, 04:32 PM

You say that domain name is most important then you talk about twizl.com?

SuperNovaArcade · 06-20-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi Molester

You say that domain name is most important then you talk about twizl.com?

Twizl sounds like Twizzle, which can relate to the candy Twizzlers.

arcadejunkfood · 06-20-2008, 04:39 PM

you have your bootyarcades, armorgames, and kongregates

kongregate is a big ole corporation whose leaders are veterans in the web industry.
they seem to have a lot of connections and money.

armorgames is my favorite model.
nice site and they spend a lot of money sponsoring exclusive games.

then theers made for profit sites like bootyarcade which don't really provide a product but serve as traffic exchange thus netting them alot of traffic they can monetize on.

RickyG · 06-20-2008, 04:50 PM

Like the trend here is going...advertize and they will come.

Just like 2 resturants on oppisite sides of town. They both serve same type of food.
One has a world renowned chef. When they open daily, they turn on a sign that says OPEN.

The other has a new chef outa school. They dont invest in a open sign, but run ads in the paper, radio, build a website. They have specials and give aways.

I think you know where this is going.....

RickyG

OK.. as far as a domain name goes. All natural type-ins are gone or high $$. So we are buying things we "personally" think are great. At the same time you have to come up with a way for the user to remeber your domain name/site. Does a name make a site? A bit. Does marketing make a site YUP.

Now, to continue and turn the clock back a few years and your bud says HEY I just got this kewl domain name......... Google.

RickyG .... Mibbi.com... Now what the heck is a Mibbi??? LOL. Watch out google!!

hawkal · 06-20-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi Molester

You say that domain name is most important then you talk about twizl.com?

Well clearly because they had gotten the balance between a well designed site and not cluttering it with lots of traffic trading banners. You can't dispute the importance or should I say the "value" of a good quality domain name.

Ryan1212 · 06-20-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi Molester

You say that domain name is most important then you talk about twizl.com?

that name is pure branding. so yes. it is important

JanArve · 06-21-2008, 01:07 AM

It is my experience that the badly designed ones got lots and lots of game plugs, banner exchanges and ads.. Surely those sites are good for bringing in bigger number of visitors, but I doubt they have much in the returning visitors area (of course I could be wrong). Personally I think some of those sites are built for the sole purpose to bring in money.

Of course, I'm hoping to earn some money on my site as well, but I'm also hoping I provide my visitors with a fun experience while visiting.

06-20-2008, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
matmi Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 27	What do you think makes a good arcade site? Hi As you may already know, Matmi (who normally make games) are currently producing our first games arcade. We have a database with thousands of arcade sites in our game seeding database so we have seen a fair few sites in our time. It amazes me that some really badly designed sites still get lots of users, whilst others with great design and content get hardly any. What do you reckon makes an ideal arcade? What is the best arcade site out there and why? Cheers Jeff

06-20-2008, 04:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
hawkal Preferred Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 163	I have also seen the trend of badly designed sites with high traffic and well designed sites with low traffic. The key to a successful arcade is most importantly the domain name. If you can get one with a popular keyword it will help a lot. Then after that you have to strike a balance between having lots of banners and games plugs for traffic or an arcade that isn't cluttered and is well designed. In my opinion sites that have the balance are ones like http://dailyfreegames.com/ and http://twizl.com . They don't obviously overwhelm the user with traffic banners and they are well designed sites. EDIT: I have to agree with Arcadejunky, its the new raw traffic that pays the bills. It depends on your goal for the site really. __________________ www.ownage.us www.Allarcade.us

06-20-2008, 04:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bambi Molester Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 20	You say that domain name is most important then you talk about twizl.com? __________________ http://www.gamershrine.com

06-20-2008, 04:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
RickyG Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Under Your Mouse! Posts: 1,041	Like the trend here is going...advertize and they will come. Just like 2 resturants on oppisite sides of town. They both serve same type of food. One has a world renowned chef. When they open daily, they turn on a sign that says OPEN. The other has a new chef outa school. They dont invest in a open sign, but run ads in the paper, radio, build a website. They have specials and give aways. I think you know where this is going..... RickyG OK.. as far as a domain name goes. All natural type-ins are gone or high $$. So we are buying things we "personally" think are great. At the same time you have to come up with a way for the user to remeber your domain name/site. Does a name make a site? A bit. Does marketing make a site YUP. Now, to continue and turn the clock back a few years and your bud says HEY I just got this kewl domain name......... Google. RickyG .... Mibbi.com... Now what the heck is a Mibbi??? LOL. Watch out google!! __________________ Arcade Banner Exchange, game packs, top site, arcade script and forum for all of your arcade needs http://www.mibbi.com

06-21-2008, 01:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
JanArve Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 89	It is my experience that the badly designed ones got lots and lots of game plugs, banner exchanges and ads.. Surely those sites are good for bringing in bigger number of visitors, but I doubt they have much in the returning visitors area (of course I could be wrong). Personally I think some of those sites are built for the sole purpose to bring in money. Of course, I'm hoping to earn some money on my site as well, but I'm also hoping I provide my visitors with a fun experience while visiting. __________________ Flash All Night \| Put your arcade to work for you \| Make money from your games

06-20-2008, 03:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
ArcadeJunky Administrator Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 618	Yes, it's nice to have the best, or one of the best arcades, but money is made from traffic, and the greatest games, greatest features and greatest layout don't guarantee any traffic. They could help, but don't forget the importance of SEO, trades and advertising as options to provide raw traffic. It's a good topic, will be interesting to see what others have to say...

06-20-2008, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
arcadejunkfood Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 50	you have your bootyarcades, armorgames, and kongregates kongregate is a big ole corporation whose leaders are veterans in the web industry. they seem to have a lot of connections and money. armorgames is my favorite model. nice site and they spend a lot of money sponsoring exclusive games. then theers made for profit sites like bootyarcade which don't really provide a product but serve as traffic exchange thus netting them alot of traffic they can monetize on.

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