Post by: Quest Engine on November 10, 2004, 08:11:20 AM
What about an online database of DS gamers that you can search thru by location and find folks local to you to meet with at the walmart/starbucks/where ever and play linked DS games.
I've got a rough attempt of this up at my website. You can see it at questengine.com/dslinkup. You can Sign-Up, which will add your name to the search results, and then see all the results on the Search screen, and sort by state. This is all test data, so if you want to go mess around with it you can. (php and mysql for those who care to know). There's the obligatory FAQ and rules and such.. most of the stuff works, some of the links are dead.
I don't know how I (or anyone) could make any money at this though.. google ads mabey? Did those guys at the xbox gamertag database ever make any money?
I'm afraid of any liability for arranging person-to-person meetings. I don't want perverts hunting little boys on my site you know. Nintendods.com even goes to the point of saying "Don't meet up with strangers".
I mailed Johnny Metts about this last week, but he's probably been way to busy to look into it (with his shiny new ds in hand).
Anyone want to offer any feedback? If I got the thing in shape.. it wouldn't take long.. it'd need lots of sign-ups before it would be usefull. Do you thing some major DS/GC sites would send traffic my way?
thanks for any advice or reccomendations.
Post by: chain chomp on November 10, 2004, 08:23:56 AM
Post by: Switchblade Cross on November 10, 2004, 11:59:40 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on November 10, 2004, 12:19:55 PM
The concept of using a web site to meet DS players is a good idea but it might be better to limit things a bit. How about you have a site that organises DS meets where anyone can just show up? The meets would all be setup by volunteers that you have talked to and have some idea of who they are. So it's more like you're setting up little conventions for DS gamers in different areas. Of course people could still end up meeting weirdos this way and set up their own one-on-one encounters with people they meet through the site. But officially the site would be about DS get togethers with groups.
Post by: norebonomis on November 10, 2004, 12:31:05 PM
Post by: Switchblade Cross on November 10, 2004, 01:26:09 PM
Post by: nickmitch on November 10, 2004, 01:38:01 PM
Post by: Switchblade Cross on November 10, 2004, 02:05:14 PM
I get this worning when I try to sign in:
"Warning: mysql_num_rows(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /home/questen/public_html/dslinkup/login.php on line 56
we didn't find you in the database "
But I am in the database. I see myself listed.
Post by: Hostile Creation on November 10, 2004, 03:59:48 PM
Quote
i don't mind playing with weirdos
Ah? a/s/l, plz. I wanr play w/ u.
Post by: Quest Engine on November 10, 2004, 04:31:00 PM
The email and IM info does show up on the search screen to logged in users, it's just hidden to guests.
I think meetup would be fine, but there's been no effort to get game boy players there. Mabey PGC should promote that service just to get it in front of the ds masses.
Though I guess if meetup can put people together without fear of perverts, then perhaps I can to. I could limit the service to 18 or older only, that'd give me some protection.
I've got the technical experience to do this, but I'd like to know if anyone has any PR/liability experience with such things.
Thanks for the feedback
Post by: UncleBob on November 10, 2004, 05:59:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: norebonomis
i don't mind playing with weirdos
Somewhere, Someone wants to play with you...
Post by: chain chomp on November 11, 2004, 05:58:38 AM
Post by: Procoprio on November 19, 2004, 04:45:53 AM
Post by: Quest Engine on November 22, 2004, 04:39:25 AM
Thanks for all your suport. The reponse to my DS Link Up Idea was pretty great, so I went ahead and fleshed the site out and bought a domain, and its ready to go. See it here:The Linkup Engine. You'll have to sign up on the new site so you can read the membership agreement, and you have to be 18 years old or older to sign up.
This service is FREE. There's not even any ads yet, but if there will probably have to be at some point in the future when cost go up.
There are more search options, its more friendly for non-US citizens to sign up and search now, and your email address is never displayed on the web. All communications are initiated through an online email form for maximum privacy and security.
If I can get a significant list of members, I'll try to make an official announcement here at PGC and other gaming sites, with a real press release and everything.
I know I never got to play as much multiplayer GBA as I wanted to, so mabey now we can put those days of lonely portable gaming behind us.
Thanks again and please come visit!
Post by: seen33 on November 22, 2004, 08:24:43 AM
Post by: Bill Aurion on November 22, 2004, 08:29:14 AM
God forbid you look WEIRD...Tell your friends to grow up if they try that crap...
Post by: seen33 on November 22, 2004, 08:41:53 AM
im just saying i would never meet some random person on the internet to go play at some place with them.
Post by: norebonomis on November 22, 2004, 09:32:34 AM
