WebSpawner.com Blog

WebSpawner members occasionally contact us to ask:

How can I add a game to my web site?

Adding a game to your WebSpawner web site is really quite easy and requires just a few simple steps.

First, you must locate a game that you would like to add to your website. While there are many good web sites online that provide games, one of the best that we are aware of is Miniclip Games at www.miniclip.com. Click any of the Miniclip games to try it in your web browser. When you have found a game that you like and wish to add to your website, click the Post to my blog/website button, as shown in the example below:

A window will appear similar to the one below. Click inside the box containing the code as shown, and the code should become selected; then Copy the code (Control-C on a Windows PC, or Command-C on a Mac).

Now open a new browser window and log in to your WebSpawner account at www.webspawner.com with your Account Name and Password. Under Step 1 select the web page to which you would like to add the game and click the ‘Modify’ button under Step 2, as shown here:

Scroll down through the Modification form to the ‘Body Text’ step. Click inside the Body Text box, then Paste (Control-V in Windows, or Command-V on a Mac) the copied code. Next, add ‘begin’ and ‘end’ markers (being careful to avoid making any changes to the code) before and after the code to surround it exactly as shown in the image below:

The ‘begin’ and ‘end’ markers are very important as they notify the WebSpawner engine that it should not filter or modify the code between the markers, ensuring that the game will appear properly on your webpage. The ‘begin’ and ‘end’ markers should be entered exactly as shown in the image above, and should be used any time you add code to your web site.

Complete the Modification process by clicking ‘Continue’ at the bottom of the Modification form, and then click ‘I Like It’ at the page preview as shown below (this saves and publish your changes:

After completing these steps, your web site should display your selected game. You can add additional games to your web site by repeating the process in the same manner.

Some other sources of games that you can place on your website are:

• FreeGamesForYourWebsite.com (use the Get HTML Code link under the desired game and then select and Copy the code, and proceed as described above)
• AddictingGames.com (click in the Embed Game box to select the code, Copy it, and then proceed to Paste it into your web site as indicated above).

Another recurring question occasionally received by WebSpawner Customer Service is:

Why won’t my images upload into the Image Gallery?

There are several possible causes for image upload issues… today we discuss the most common ones, along with suggestions to resolve them.

Incompatible file format

If your image is not saved in a compatible image file format, you must save a copy on your computer in one of the three compatible file formats - .jpg, .gif, or .png - and then upload the resulting compatible image file. Note that simply changing the name of an image to end in “.jpg” or “.gif” or “.png” is not sufficient and doesn’t change the file format; it must be saved in one of the three formats using an image editing program (see below for more info on available image editors).

Excessive image size

An image which has an excessively large file size due to very high resolution or large physical dimensions may cause your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or other) to “time out” during the image upload process. Resize your image using an image editing program to reduce it to a more appropriate size (we suggest no more than 600 x 800 pixels) and save a copy in one of the three compatible file formats for uploading (don’t overwrite the original on your computer by accident). Use Optimization within your image editing program to reduce the resulting image file size while retaining acceptable image quality; smaller files take less time for you to upload and load more quickly for viewers.

File naming issues

Image file names that are excessively long (30 characters or more) or that contain special characters or blank spaces instead of just numbers and letters may pose problems… try removing blank spaces and characters and/or shortening file names before uploading. Keep in mind that each image file that you upload should have a unique file name, or it will replace a previously-uploaded image in your account of the same name.

Internet connection issues

If your internet connection is slow (i.e., dial up speeds) then the uploading process may take a while, especially if you haven’t optimized your image file sizes. Slow connections may lead to “time out” errors during uploading; upgrading to a faster internet connection with your Internet Service Provider may resolve the matter. If there are connection problems with the internet somewhere between your ISP and WebSpawner’s servers, such as a cut fiber optic cable, then there isn’t anything that you (or WebSpawner) can do other than to wait for the problem to be resolved.

By following these suggestions, you can resolve most image upload issues, as well as saving some time during the upload process. There are many fine programs available to edit images which will allow you to resize, optimize, and save your images in a compatible file format, including professional-level editors like Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. But, it isn’t necessary to buy an expensive software solution either; below are some programs which will get the job done for you for free:

• Gimp
• IrfanView
• FastStone
• Pixia