VAPS --- How can we make it better? Rebuilding...

mclemore

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So we are about to work on work on modernizing VAPS... How can we make it better?

Yes I know counts are sometimes different on the same game in various places because of how different pages treat stale user records... Besides that...

A notification system for machines for sale (or wanted)?

What else?
 
Also...
(I think this is more for the klov entries, but still....)

Make it easier to submit documentation, descriptions, photos, and get them ACCEPTED. Let people volunteer to help? I would and I'm sure many others would. I don't know how big the backlog is now, but I'm sure it's huge.
 
I like the idea of a notification system. Assuming you're talking about a passive "push" type of thing. It should read your entries and send a message with matches. It should be able to be filtered based on wanted vs. selling.

Along similar lines, it would be nice to have an active search version for items that are wanted and for sale. It should be able to filter results by game title as well as geographical area (country? state? distance from ZIP code? North America? The entire globe? etc...)
 
Maybe add a column or section for who fixes what games?

I should be able to indicate if I offer repairs for game XYZ. Maybe a yes/no flag with an optional text field to list specific areas. E.g. PCB, monitor, harness, power supply, woodwork/paint, whatever I want to list.

And I should be able to search on that flag to find someone to help me fix game XYZ.

It's late and I'm just brainstorming here....
 
Also...
(I think this is more for the klov entries, but still....)

Make it easier to submit documentation, descriptions, photos, and get them ACCEPTED. Let people volunteer to help? I would and I'm sure many others would. I don't know how big the backlog is now, but I'm sure it's huge.


Just echoing this. A better system to let people submit/make updates (and minimize the turnaround time) I think is the biggest opportunity for improvement.

There has to be a way to crowdsource this, if resources are the main gating factor. There are a lot of people here willing to help.
 
I like the suggestions cwilkson & andrewb provided. Including your suggestion for 'A notification system for machines for sale (or wanted)'

_______

A 'For Trade' option with the ability to select a list of games you'll trade for.

Listing how far 'traders' are willing to drive far for a trade. Some sellers are willing to drive far for a sale (rare, but it happens). Listing how far buyers are willing to drive for a purchase.

Under the section where you would list a distance/mileage: Instead of listing a mileage number, you can simply click and option of 'Anywhere' or 'Depends', which would just be default maximum distance.

List the ZIP or Town/City of the game for sale/trade. Sometime the game location is different than the sellers profile location.

The ability for the people to set the distance units of measure. Either KM or MI.

The list of 'Games your willing to Trade' is separate from your 'want list'. You might have a Centipede on your want list. But you may not be willing to trade your Williams Turkey Shoot for one.

I did forget to add (in the pictures below) how people like to do partial trades. So I would incorporate that as well.

Example:
Your Game <-> (Game you Want + 'X*' USD) *Default is '0'
Turkey Shoot <-> (Centipede + $2000)

or if default for 'X' is '0'

Turkey Shoot <-> Centipede


Took a lot of elements from Pinside, which seems to be working well for them?
_____________________________________________

______ For Sale & For Trade_____​

______Trade Only _____​

______ Selling Only _____​

______ Wanted _____​

Under 'Want To Buy': 'Condition' is just where you type the description of what youre looking for. This feature is already present.
 
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I feel the rarity scale can be altered. Having a option that omits 'inactive' users. As keeping record of the 'in-actives' can still be useful. There can be some interesting data between 'Active' users only, vs 'Active + Inactive'.

Extremely Common: >500
Very Common: 200-500
Common: 100-200
---
Uncommon: 75-100
Very-Uncommon: 30-75
---
Rare: 15-30
Very Rare: 1-15
Extremely Rare: 0

Ehhh, something like that...
 
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Here's one, if it hasn't already been mentioned: In the search results, show games owned by inactive members (or if you are going to hide them by default, provide a switch to show them).

I've had experiences where I went looking for a game, only to find it's rare, with one or two instances existing. But when you look at the list of collectors for said game, you can't see who or where they were, because the members were inactive. So the list comes up empty, even though the main game page says they exist.

Even if the people were theoretically dead, it would still be useful to know who/where those copies of that game were, for historical/tracking purposes (or just to prove that copies do exist.)
 
Here's one, if it hasn't already been mentioned: In the search results, show games owned by inactive members (or if you are going to hide them by default, provide a switch to show them).

I've had experiences where I went looking for a game, only to find it's rare, with one or two instances existing. But when you look at the list of collectors for said game, you can't see who or where they were, because the members were inactive. So the list comes up empty, even though the main game page says they exist.

Even if the people were theoretically dead, it would still be useful to know who/where those copies of that game were, for historical/tracking purposes (or just to prove that copies do exist.)

Yup, very frustrating.

Was discussed in this thread (Just in case you hadn't seen it):
https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=470517

I like your idea, but I don't know if that will work for the reasons mentioned by mclemore in that thread. :-/

Haven't thought enough about it though...
 
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These are just some extra ideas that popped into my head... not a high priority....


I've seen on websites like myanimelist.com

Users are able to list what shows they have completed (Similar to how VAPS lists users Video Arcade games that they have collected)
Users are able to compare their collection list with others. See what shows (aka video games/pinball) they share a similar interest in.
This can help users find other shows (other video game/pinballs) they might be additionally interested in.

I suppose you'd also need a game rating system (for each game/pin) along with this, like on Pinside.

Where your personal rating is broken down into different categories: Game Mechanics, Originality, Replayabilty, Sound Design, Art, Cabinet Design, Controls, Uniqueness
However, most people don't exactly understand how a rating system works.
Logically the average score would be a [5] on a 1-10 scale. But because most people are afraid (or don't understand how) to use the whole rating scale correctly; so the average is a [7].

Regardless, it is still a fun thing for people to do...
 
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Fix the location for my Vaps entry? I can't figure out how and I've tried for years.

Everyplace I've looked that I can change something, it correctly says Detroit, MI. But if I do a game search, it shows Santa Clara, California. It should be Detroit!

Example:
https://www.arcade-museum.com/members/game_census.php?klov_id=7397

This was a legacy issue. VAPS used to be an independent site. That particular report you pointed to still used old VAPS data to bring up location instead of using the main DB. I just fixed it after reading your post.

Also...
(I think this is more for the klov entries, but still....)

Make it easier to submit documentation, descriptions, photos, and get them ACCEPTED. Let people volunteer to help? I would and I'm sure many others would. I don't know how big the backlog is now, but I'm sure it's huge.

This is a huge topic, and well discussed in other threads. The bottom line is that the current content volunteer system had too high a learning curve for people. It was geared towards less volunteers, but ones willing to do an hour or 2 of training and then continue fro there. The continue from there part didn't work, so I'd spend an hour or 2 training someone, they would do an hour or two of work then quit, and well.. it just didn't work. We have a whole new process in the planning stage with the plan to roll out this summer.

I like the idea of a notification system. Assuming you're talking about a passive "push" type of thing. It should read your entries and send a message with matches. It should be able to be filtered based on wanted vs. selling.

Along similar lines, it would be nice to have an active search version for items that are wanted and for sale. It should be able to filter results by game title as well as geographical area (country? state? distance from ZIP code? North America? The entire globe? etc...)

Now... have you seen the 'Want List Matches' Report? It requires a user to be logged into the main site or they can't access:

https://www.arcade-museum.com/members/entry/want-list-match.php

Also requiring people to be logged in are for sale listings sorted by distance to you (personalized):

https://www.arcade-museum.com/members/reports/forsale-nearest.php


Maybe add a column or section for who fixes what games?

I should be able to indicate if I offer repairs for game XYZ. Maybe a yes/no flag with an optional text field to list specific areas. E.g. PCB, monitor, harness, power supply, woodwork/paint, whatever I want to list...

This is part of a planning process on repair vendors already planned...

Just echoing this. A better system to let people submit/make updates (and minimize the turnaround time) I think is the biggest opportunity for improvement.

There has to be a way to crowdsource this, if resources are the main gating factor. There are a lot of people here willing to help.

Yes... as mentioned above... in progress but substantial work and not practical to do it without it being a part of an entire site overall.

Here's one, if it hasn't already been mentioned: In the search results, show games owned by inactive members (or if you are going to hide them by default, provide a switch to show them)...

That will get reviewed too.

...

I suppose you'd also need a game rating system (for each game/pin) along with this, like on Pinside.

Where your personal rating is broken down into different categories: Game Mechanics, Originality, Replayabilty, Sound Design, Art, Cabinet Design, Controls, Uniqueness
However, most people don't exactly understand how a rating system works.
Logically the average score would be a [5] on a 1-10 scale. But because most people are afraid (or don't understand how) to use the whole rating scale correctly; so the average is a [7].

Regardless, it is still a fun thing for people to do...

That post makes me sad. We already have that feature. Anyone who visits the main site can see ratings on games. If you are logged in you can vote yourself. And there is a report to see the 'Highest 100 Rated Games':

https://www.arcade-museum.com/members/statistics/game-ratings.php

BTW:... random note.... Table of state by state Slot Machines laws was updated today: https://library.arcade-museum.com/slotlaws.php
 
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This was a legacy issue. VAPS used to be an independent site. That particular report you pointed to still used old VAPS data to bring up location instead of using the main DB. I just fixed it after reading your post.
Holy crap! It's working! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[re: content submissions]We have a whole new process in the planning stage with the plan to roll out this summer.
Nice! Cant wait to see it!

Now... have you seen the 'Want List Matches' Report?
I never knew about that stuff (reports)...or if I did, I forgot long ago. I'm going to start digging around now to see what's there. That's really great!

However....it thinks Lee's Summit, Missouri is only 33 miles from Detroit. Doh! Probably another legacy location thing? I used to live in Missouri, about 33 miles east of Lee's Summit.

This is part of a planning process on repair vendors already planned...
Excellent!
 
That post makes me sad. We already have that feature. Anyone who visits the main site can see ratings on games. If you are logged in you can vote yourself. And there is a report to see the 'Highest 100 Rated Games':

Now that you've mentioned it. I remember using it before. Went and checked.
Ghostlyguy: 192 reviews
3rd most reviews, on the site. I'm sure I was just spamming to be #1 or something petty. :rolleyes: :eek:

I have since forgotten about it. :( It didn't have accessibility and I didn't find it very intuitive to use. :-/

I wouldn't be surprised if a majority are unaware of it. (The game with the most votes is Galaga, with 53 votes) Not enough people use it when compared to review systems on other websites.

I consider a rating/review system to be a very low priority. So don't stress it.
 
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I'll add my votes for:

- a few more cabinet styles such as slimline, custom, candy?

- a status for past collection so we can remember the games we owned, sold, prices we sold them at and when we sold them (Want/Own/History)

- fuzzy matching for searching: I want to search all spinner games, not have to choose each type of spinner for each search.

- search for games for sale: search near zip code, by state, search by cabinet (search for cabarets for sale)
 
Regarding rating system... A lot of our focus won't be just to deal with making the site mobile friendly and dealing with the submission queue, but also on usability and structuring things in an organized manner (so things are easy to find).

I'll add my votes for:

- a few more cabinet styles such as slimline, custom, candy?

- a status for past collection so we can remember the games we owned, sold, prices we sold them at and when we sold them (Want/Own/History)

- fuzzy matching for searching: I want to search all spinner games, not have to choose each type of spinner for each search.

- search for games for sale: search near zip code, by state, search by cabinet (search for cabarets for sale)


Re: Cabinet Styles... Yes that is coming... One thought I had was to have a set table of cabinet styles...which someone could add to (but intentionally not easily), and then to set permitted cabinet styles on a per-game basis (which also couldn't be changed by a single person). I'm happy to add slimline as an example, but if it is a valid cabinet type for all games we -will- get a bunch of bogus entries...

Allowing a sold status on a game is really easy. Beyond that I wonder how many people will care about extra functionality.

Fuzzy matching for searching... This will likely be a later goal. We are going to be moving to a very different type of search engine etc... There will likely be a learning curve on the dev and admin side extending beyond the launch of a new site...

Search by zip code... Now you do know we have (for members logged in on the main site)... Find things for sale Near Me? (https://www.arcade-museum.com/members/reports/forsale-nearest.php). Beyond that, it would be easy to add a filter by state. By Cabinet style... that is an interesting idea... I think it mostly makes sense if we start auto-notifying people for want list matches..... I might want a Pac-Man (but only cocktail), or a Carnival (only slimline_).

One challenge I have now is how much to hide or present the entire VAPS for sale and want section from the public at large. I think I'll probably make a mention of it as a single sub-menu item (for now) called something like 'Member for Sale and Want Ads' on the main site under the main 'Trading Tab', which would take people into the VAPS section to a page that lists all the other VAPS trading pages... I think I'll give that a try tomorrow to see how it looks and feels.
 
There should be a way to track the provenance of the machine that shows where it came from and tracks every subsequent owner through the life of the game. I'm sure that would be useful to someone.
 
There should be a way to track the provenance of the machine that shows where it came from and tracks every subsequent owner through the life of the game. I'm sure that would be useful to someone.

That is a lovely idea... I wonder how many people would use it though. A step in that direction would be to allow people to add dates they bought or sold a machine, and/or to somehow encourage people to be better at adding serial numbers to their entries.
 
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Always wondered why some pics I submitted for an entry weren't showing/approved like 2 years later. :) (and still not)

Looking forward to seeing some major improvements for sure!

Tim
 
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