PHPAS 4.0 is the new release from php Arcade script.

I tested this on a server running centos 5, php 5 and mysql database in August 2009. Its certainly been jazzed up since the previous version and on the whole looks and feels a lot more professional. Its good to see an arcade script being updated and released - most fall by the wayside and depend on user contributions.

Installation was good with no major problems. It comes with its own installation script so no editing files by hand.

Five templates are included - Blue, classic, color, pink and arcaded. Another template called imaginatively 'yourarcade' is available from the tutorial site. To me its the best template for the php arcade script. I'm not sure why this is only available at the tutorial site - It would have saved me ten minutes of rooting around trying to find the link for it buried within the tutorial site. Perhaps the coders thought making people read the tutorial site would be a good thing, and might save them having to repeatedly answer the same queries. Who knows, but the script isn't overly complex so any average webmaster shouldn't have much trouble setting things up. Therefore include the template!

The main configuration is done from the admin dashboard. Its quiet easy set everything up. We had a working arcade (minus games) up and running with 15 minutes. PHPAS provide game packs that you can download and install - so in theory you could have an arcade with over 2,000 games up and running as fast as your broadband connection can upload games.

We chose the old fashioned method and started uploading games individually. Uploading games is relatively easy, a downside being the 'featured' thumbnail required for the carousel on the 'youracade' template. You need to resize the thumbnail for this manually - the script doesn't do it automatically. If you upload different size thumbnails for each game the carousel looks a mess. But other than this being a minor annoyance, its well worth the effort.

PHPAS 4.0 offers many features - the ability to add sponsors to each game, handle advertisers, display 'in between' pages when games are loading so to show more advertising, the ability to use your Mochi Games customer number, SPAM filter for comment, trade links section (very good), videos, pictures and on and on.

There was one small bug in the admin section for links - deleting a link was not possible. Despite not having seen the source code before, it took me all of 3 minutes to find the offending line. 100% source code is included, and its nicely laid out. A plus if you are thinking of having custom work done at some stage in the future.

One thing we hate about phpas is the inability to switch domains. The Licence terms only allow for a purchased licence to be used on one domain. You sell that domain, put something else there, or want to move your arcade to a new domain and you have to buy a licence. Licences should be transferable between domains. Its a rip off when you have to buy another licence simply because you've moved your arcade somewhere.

The script has been coded with SEO in mind and it shows. Running it on  linux makes for easy SEO urls and meta keywords. We did a quick run on windows and SEO is a big no-no with this script. SEO Urls must be turned off for it to work on windows. If you want to see windows URLS with this script you can take a look at HIREDGAMES

Home Website: http://www.phparcadescript.com/

Forums: http://www.phparcadescript.com/forums/

RATINGS

Setup: 8/10

Operation: 7/10

Value for money: 7/10

Overall: 76%

Conclusion:

Overall we're impressed. Easy to set up, easy to run and packed full of features. One of the better value arcade scripts out there and actively being developed.