Hello Noobtoob

Hi everyone quick update, retromap.com retromap.net was mentioned on NoobToob’s latest episode!  Check them out at http://www.noobtoob.com and let them know they are awesome.

Now for those who came here from that podcast welcome, get comfy and let me know if you have anything you would like to know/help with.  Also 2 minor corrections:

1) There is more then 1 location in Japan, you need to check pages 2-4 to find them.

2) Because Google maps is slightly clunky the listing are going to clump up in bunches unless you import them into Google earth and zoom in to your area.

Thanks again guys, and feel free to let me know if you have any stores you would like to add.  Until next time have a good night.

A minor gripe

I thank you one an all if you have helped in some part to work on the map.  However I recently received an email from a guy pointing me to a link in a forum where people were listing store.

I appreachate the tip, really do, but it would make things easier if you either:

a) Told people on said site about this site so that they can add the stores there or

b) go though the post and add them to the “add a store” page

New count is 787 stores, will be break 800, lets go for it!

I’m not dead yet…

Hi all I know I know it has been a while, but I am here with a small update:

I have been busy working and having a real life.  I recently updated the map from your comments as well as added a few other things, so check out the map if you haven’t looked at it in a while.

Happy Holidays

Hi all, just a quick little update on what has been going on.

1. Things are going to slow down for a bit, the holidays are here and I need to attend to some family, but fear not!  The project shall continue.

2.  Remember that prototype I made?  Well upon further testing I realized that I did it the hard way, in order for this to get off the ground I have to redesign the main part of it in order to have it gain access to where I would like it to be.  More work for me that’s all

3. 698 Stores archieved, still need to gather Asia a bit more, however that is the number as it is (so far)

4. Have a happy holiday, it is post gobble gobble and pre ho ho ho so thought to mention it here.

Step 1 of World domination…complete

Hello all, yes I am still recovering from the flood but wanted to give you all some good news.

I created a protoype!

Yes I made a mock system where you would access the information and have it display on a webpage in a nice and neat fashion.  Now is it near where I want it to be?  No it is not.  However this is a step in the right direction where I can go out and get some money to expand on this to make it what it is ultimatly going to be.

Stay tuned for more, if things are going as well as planed this might be up at the end of the year…maybe.

I just bashed my head against that wall, got any asprin?

Hello all, this is the map guy.  I wanted to give a quick update as to how things are going, and at the moment they are a tad bit rough.  I am in the process of streamlining the process to add points to the map and list them within google earth and google maps.  Seems simple enough since google provides me with a starting template to go with to add things.  I have been working on this for about 2 weeks now and it is STILL not working!

I thought I would have it by tonight only to have the template change on me.  In the old version you did not need to have the latitude and longitude in order to place things on the map.  Great!  I have addresses and I will use those…well google is stingy about that since an address has some variables within it when placing a pin on the map (same town in the same state?  I doubt it, but the Big G saids it so) so it is now requiring that all items placed on the map are either done by hand (which is what the map is done at the moment), or you need to give them a Latitude and Longitude location of the specific location.

Another week of work here I come!

Also I am on the lookout for anyone interested in helping me market the site and have a look at the early stages of it.  I want to make sure the site is user friendly to a person other than me.  If you interested leave a comment or send me an email.

I will update when I get this thing streamlined, I appreciate all of your support and I can tell you that at the end of all this you will not be disappointed!

Major Updates Part 2

So you thought that was good huh? Well I got a lot more for you.

4) A NEW WEB DESIGN! Yes say bye bye to wordpress format and hello to custom website, I literally got off the phone with the web designers, and put the money where my mouth is, and they will start building the website in about two weeks time. Yes it is going to look better and it is going to kick ass.

5) Social community, yet another popular request I am going to make sure I have a network for you all to interact with one another, think outside the normal realm of the forums and into a unique social networking site where the “no jerks” rule will be in effect! In the early going I am going to get some people to come in and help me lay down the law and eventually make it something that will kick ass.

6) The map is getting bigger: By bigger I mean a LOT bigger, right now I am working on behind the scenes stuff to eliminate duplicate stores, updating all the information and placing your reviews on Google. Now if you submitted a review and see an “Unknown” in it let me know what your handle is and I will go change it, I want to give credit where credit is due. Also I am going to include things like LAN gaming centers and Arcades so I can be a one stop shop for your gaming searching needs.

Is there more? Stay tuned to find out…

Major Updates Part 1!

Yes this is a multiple part thing, why?  Well everything is not done yet (I am still waiting for a few things to fall through) so instead of waiting for them I decided to split it up so you get nice chunks  for your enjoyment.  This is a special thank you to making the map have over 40,000 views you guys (and girls) rock!

1) Separation: Yes one of the biggest complaints I am getting is that the map is too big.  People want to see a little pocket of the map with all the stores at once.  So I am working on that as we speak.  Ultimately there will be new maps for specific areas (the North East, the South West, Canada, Europe, etc.) where you can go into your area and find the stores by you.  I am organizing the existing entries right now to make sure what store goes into which region.  So those map will be up once that is done, also doing this allows me too…

2)Directory view:  Yup for those who do not like to navigate around a map (yes I can understand that sometimes it doesn’t work the way you want it) you can see all the entries via text.  This is a killing two birds with one stone thing because once I do get it separated on a basic level, I can drill it down even further to allow a “yellow page” look to the entries.  Go go spreadsheets!

3)Confirmation scale: Another big gripe some people had with the map, they go to a place only to find it not there anymore.  So what I am going to do is add a simple confirmation system.  Red is that the location is unconfirmed but the entry exists (according to the Internet), yellow means that someone has reviewed the location or I get an email telling me that “yes this place exists,”  and green is a location where either I visited or called.  Yes I am going to call EVERY store (that my phone plan will allow me to) to see if they are in fact still up and running and get some more information so that I can add it to the map.  I am going to really hate phones when I do this process, but it is going to be all for you!

That’s all for now, stay tuned for part two where I get into some non map related items, and I finally put to rest the biggest gripe you all have been having.  Until then take care.

Almost there…

Hi everyone, I know I mentioned that a major update is going to be coming in the alst few days (and still is by the way) that things are going with a snag.  Well before I can announce all that I need to finalize a few things on my end.  Once I get the ok from certain people I will be able to talk about all the good stuff coming down the pike.  So I am almost there, but be prepared to witness a HUGE  change.

Major Updates Coming Soon!

I have received all your messages on how to make the site better, well in the near future I will be able to show you which ideas I am going to implement on the site.  Here is a hint: most of them have nothing to do with the map itself!

Stay tuned for more information.