The nearest arcade is not always the first useful candidate. Someone looking for a particular game may prefer to travel farther to a venue that has it. If they have also agreed to meet friends in a particular area, a distance-sorted list still leaves plenty to compare.

Beta now includes more than 150 arcades. Asking readers to inspect that whole list repeatedly is becoming less practical. Game and region filters narrow the candidates, while saved filter and home settings carry familiar choices into the next visit.

Selecting candidates by game and region

A filter selects entries that meet a condition from a larger list. Alpha's game selector already served this purpose: choose the game first, then compare distances among venues that have it. As Beta's list grows, an area of interest also becomes useful for narrowing the search.

Readers need to understand which condition is active. A short result list does not necessarily mean the service lacks places. If a selected game or region has excluded venues, people should be able to inspect and change that selection before searching again.

Alpha game selection, reproduced from the 2023-06-17 code with synthetic sample data. Beta extends this by retaining selected conditions for the next visit. Original Korean screen; Alpha supported Korean only.

flowchart TD
    accTitle: Narrowing a growing directory
    accDescr: Choose candidates by game and region before comparing distance.
    A["Arcade directory"] --> B
    B["Select games and regions"] --> C
    C["Matching candidates"]

Settings for repeated visits

Favorite games and frequently visited areas do not change every time someone opens the site. Resetting them on every visit makes people enter choices they have already made. Remembering selections removes that repetition.

Filters and home-list presentation settings are stored in the current browser. This has a smaller scope than an account-backed service, but it can restore the choices needed when someone returns using the same browser.

flowchart TD
    accTitle: Remembering filters
    accDescr: Save selections in the browser and restore them on the next visit.
    A["Select filters"] --> B
    B["Browser storage"] --> C
    C["Restore selection next visit"]

Browser storage and multiple tabs

localStorage is a browser facility for retaining small values after the browser closes. The game filter saves its selection there and restores the checkboxes when reopened. Adding or removing a game updates the saved list as well.

Consider opening the site in two tabs. A choice changed in one could leave the other displaying old conditions. The storage event reports changes from another tab, allowing its selection to update. These stored values describe the user's conditions; actual installed games still come from the service's arcade data.

2023-12-25 Beta source reproduction with synthetic sample data. Only places with the selected game remain. Original Korean screen; Beta supported Korean only.

flowchart TD
    accTitle: Updating multiple tabs
    accDescr: Update open-tab selections when stored values change.
    A["Filter change in another tab"] --> B
    B["Storage change event"] --> C
    C["Update open-tab selection"]

Uses and limits of saved settings

Returning with the same conditions now requires less repeated selection. Home-list presentation can also be adjusted, letting people browse a growing collection in a familiar way.

The values belong to the browser. Clearing its data or using another device may require selecting again. Incorrect venue information still affects filtered results, so reports and updates remain necessary. Whether remembered settings improve repeat usage needs separate examination of actual usage.

Reference: Musecat engineering notes.

Related updates

• Musecat δ6 Update