Type: Commercial browser-based MMORPG engine (mafia/crime theme)

Tech Stack: PHP (MySQL/MySQLi), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash (SWF)

Files: 617 files (175 PHP, 181 JPG, 170 GIF, 53 PNG, 8 JS, 5 SWF, 4 CSS, 1 SQL)

Database: 76 tables

License: Commercial/Proprietary (Ravan Scripts End-User License Agreement)

Developer: Ravan Soft Tech (ravan.info, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Version: 2.0.1 Build 2101 (2010)

Price: Unknown (requires purchase, $10 USD copyright removal fee, $5 USD custom headers)

Status: Encrypted/Commercial - "Few files encrypted to avoid unauthorized distribution"

Mafia Script is a commercially licensed turnkey mafia MMORPG engine sold by Ravan Scripts (Indian company). Features gang warfare, crimes, property ownership, businesses, combat, jail/hospital, staff management, forums, voting/polls, item marketplace, and premium "Donator" accounts. Includes Flash headers, Photoshop PSDs, installation wizard, cron job automation, and detailed documentation.

Key Features:

• Gang system (create gangs, applications, ranks, permissions, wars)
• Crime system (56+ crimes with success formulas: ((WILL*0.8)/2.5)+(LEVEL/4))
• Property/estate system (buy houses, manage properties)
• Business management (create/manage/hire businesses)
• Combat (attack players, battle tent, challenge bots, battle ladders)
• Jail/hospital/federal jail (timed recovery via cron)
• Item system (weapons, armor, consumables, marketplace, player shops)
• Bank/cyber bank (money transfers, logged transactions)
• Education (courses to improve stats)
• Gym (train stats: HP, Energy, Will, Brave)
• Casino games (slots, roulette, magic slots)
• Staff panel (admin/moderator tools for users/gangs/items/crimes/polls)
• Forums (BBCode support, topics, replies, ranks)
• Voting integration (MMORPG voting sites)
• Donator system (premium accounts via PayPal IPN)
• Mail system, blacklist, friends/enemies, events
• Cron automation (minute/5-min/hourly/daily tasks)

Critical Issues:

• Commercial license requires purchase ($X USD + $10 copyright removal + $5 custom designs)
• Encrypted files - "unencrypted files for customization please write to us"
• Aggressive licensing - "powered by Ravan Scripts" mandatory without copyright removal purchase
• Security issues - Some input sanitization (mysql_real_escape_string, htmlspecialchars), but inconsistent application, direct $_GET/$_POST usage in SQL
• Vendor lock-in - Encrypted files prevent customization, requires ongoing relationship with Ravan Scripts

---

Pattern: Procedural PHP with Class-Based Database Abstraction

Structure:

mafia_script_v1.2/
├── Mafia Script v1-2/
│   ├── class/
│   │   ├── class_db_mysql.php      # MySQL database class (213 lines)
│   │   ├── class_db_mysqli.php     # MySQLi database class
│   │   └── index.html
│   ├── gangs/                      # Gang system (plugins)
│   │   ├── plugins/
│   │   │   ├── private/
│   │   │   │   ├── gang_staff.php  (1,563 lines - gang admin)
│   │   │   │   └── gang_mygang.php (1,497 lines - gang management)
│   │   │   └── public/
│   │   │       └── gang_list.php   (771 lines - public gang list)
│   │   └── index.php
│   ├── css/                        # Stylesheets (4 CSS files)
│   ├── images/                     # Game graphics (181 JPG, 170 GIF, 53 PNG)
│   ├── housepics/                  # Property images
│   ├── icons/                      # UI icons
│   ├── smilies/                    # BBCode smilies
│   ├── js/                         # JavaScript (8 JS files)
│   │   └── jquery.min.js
│   ├── SOURCE/                     # Distribution package
│   │   ├── FLA/                    # Flash source files (1 FLA - 1.83 MB)
│   │   ├── PSD/                    # Photoshop source files (2 PSD - 180 KB)
│   │   ├── fonts/                  # Mobsters font (TTF)
│   │   ├── Readme.txt              # Installation instructions
│   │   ├── Crime Guide.txt         # Crime formula documentation
│   │   ├── Instruction_Manual.html
│   │   ├── License Agreement.html  # Commercial EULA
│   │   └── VIP Url.url             # Support link
│   ├── config.php                  # Database configuration (empty template)
│   ├── globals.php                 # Global includes/session management
│   ├── global_func.php             # Helper functions (dropdowns, formatting)
│   ├── core.php                    # Core game logic
│   ├── install.php                 # Installation wizard
│   ├── dbdata.sql                  # Database schema (1,621 lines, 76 tables)
│   ├── Main Game Files (175 PHP):
│   │   ├── index.php               # Homepage (348 lines)
│   │   ├── forums.php              # Forums system (760 lines)
│   │   ├── business_manage.php     # Business management (765 lines)
│   │   ├── attack.php, jail.php, hospital.php
│   │   ├── docrime.php, gym.php, education.php
│   │   ├── bank.php, cyberbank.php, sendcash.php
│   │   ├── itemmarket.php, itemuse.php, itembuy.php
│   │   ├── gangs.php, creategang.php, yourgang.php
│   │   ├── staff_*.php (13 admin files)
│   │   ├── cron_run_*.php (8 cron files)
│   │   ├── donator.php, ipn_donator.php (PayPal integration)
│   │   └── 140+ more gameplay files
│   └── Flash/Images:
│       ├── 5 SWF files (1.49 MB - animated headers)
│       ├── 181 JPG images (1.79 MB)
│       ├── 170 GIF images (0.12 MB)
│       └── 53 PNG images (0.34 MB)

Architecture Rating: 6/10 - Functional commercial engine with modular gang system, but suffers from:

• Database abstraction (MySQL/MySQLi classes)
• Modular gang plugins (private/public separation)
• Cron automation (4 time intervals)
• Staff panel (admin tools separate from gameplay)
• BBCode forums (custom parser)
• ⚠️ Encrypted files (prevents code review/customization)
• ⚠️ Monolithic files (gang_staff.php = 1,563 lines!)
• ⚠️ No MVC framework (procedural spaghetti)
• ⚠️ Mixed concerns (HTML embedded in PHP)
• ⚠️ Global state (globals.php included everywhere)

Largest PHP Files:

• gangs/plugins/private/gang_staff.php - 1,563 lines (gang administration)
• gangs/plugins/private/gang_mygang.php - 1,497 lines (gang member management)
• gangs/plugins/public/gang_list.php - 771 lines (public gang listing)
• business_manage.php - 765 lines (business management UI)
• forums.php - 760 lines (forums system)

76 Database Tables:

Comprehensive schema covering: users, gangs (4 tables), businesses (multiple), items (inventory, market, shops), combat (attacklogs, battle_ladders), jail/hospital, banks (xfer logs), forums (4 tables), polls, events, mail, blacklist/friendslist, staff notes, crimes, jobs, houses/estates, crystals, voting, cron scheduling, donations, and 40+ more game systems.

---

Security Rating: 4/10 - Mixed security (some sanitization, but inconsistent)

Positive Security Measures:

• mysql_real_escape_string() Usage:

// authenticate.php lines 68-69
$IP=mysql_real_escape_string($IP);
$IP=strip_tags($IP);
// business_create.php line 17
$_POST['name'] = mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['name']);
// class_db_mysql.php line 186
return mysql_real_escape_string($text, $this->connection_id);

Many files use mysql_real_escape_string() for SQL injection prevention.

• htmlspecialchars/htmlentities:

// check.php line 21
$PASS=stripslashes(strip_tags(htmlspecialchars($_GET['password'], ENT_QUOTES)));
// attacklist.php line 24
stripslashes(htmlentities($u['username'], ENT_QUOTES))

Output escaping present in many display contexts.

• Input Validation:

// battle_ladder.php lines 34, 47
abs((int) $_GET['id'])  // Type casting to integer
// blacklist.php line 147
$_GET['f'] = abs(@intval($_GET['f']));

Some inputs validated/type-cast before use.

• Database Abstraction:

// class_db_mysql.php escape() method
function escape($text) {
return mysql_real_escape_string($text, $this->connection_id);
}

Database class provides escape method (though not always used).

Critical Vulnerabilities:

• Inconsistent Sanitization:

// blacklist.php line 103 - $_POST['ID'] used directly!
$db->query("INSERT INTO blacklist VALUES('', $userid, {$_POST['ID']}, '{$_POST['comment']}')");
// bodyguard.php lines 36, 48, 60 - Direct $_GET usage in conditionals
if($_GET['spend'] == '5minsM')  // No validation before string comparison

Not all inputs sanitized. Some $_POST/$_GET used directly in SQL or logic.

• SQL Injection Risks:

// blacklist.php line 129
$db->query("DELETE FROM blacklist WHERE bl_ID={$_GET['f']} AND bl_ADDER=$userid");
// $_GET['f'] used after intval(), but pattern shows direct interpolation elsewhere

While many queries use escaping, not universal. Grep shows INSERT INTO.*$_POST patterns without escaping.

• XSS Vulnerabilities:

// business_manage.php line 647
if(!mysql_real_escape_string(htmlentities($_POST['desc'])))

Wrong order! Should be htmlentities(mysql_real_escape_string()) for SQL, or just htmlentities() for XSS. This shows confusion about sanitization layers.

• Direct $_GET in switch/if:

grep -r "switch($_GET[" shows 20+ occurrences

`php
// battle_ladder.php line 3
switch($_GET['page'])  // Direct switch on unsanitized input

While not SQL injection, allows unexpected code paths if $_GET manipulated.

• Encrypted Files = Unauditable:

README.txt states: "Few files in the package are encrypted to avoid unauthorized distribution of source code."

Cannot audit encrypted files for vulnerabilities. Black box = security nightmare. Vendor could inject backdoors, and buyers wouldn't know.

• PayPal IPN Security:

// ipn_donator.php - PayPal payment integration

Payment processing exists but file may be encrypted/obfuscated. Payment vulnerabilities = financial damage.

• Session Hijacking:

No evidence of session_regenerate_id() on login. No CSRF tokens visible in forms. Session security minimal.

Attack Surface:

• SQL injection: Partial protection (many files escape, some don't)
• XSS: Partial protection (htmlentities used, but not everywhere)
• CSRF: No protection (no tokens visible)
• Session fixation: Likely vulnerable
• File upload: Not seen, but businesses/shops may allow uploads
• Payment fraud: IPN integration = attack vector if insecure

Deployment Risk: MEDIUM (for purchased licensees)

Better than average PHP4-era games (some sanitization present), but:

• Inconsistent escaping = SQL injection risk
• Encrypted files = cannot audit
• Commercial license = legal liability if breached
• PayPal integration = financial risk if IPN insecure

Would I deploy? Only after:

• Full security audit (including encrypted files - demand source)
• Add CSRF tokens to all forms
• Implement prepared statements (replace all direct SQL)
• Add session_regenerate_id() on authentication
• Penetration testing
• WAF (Web Application Firewall) in front

---

Innovation Rating: 5/10 - Professional commercial product, but generic mafia theme

Positive Aspects:

• Commercial Turnkey Solution:

First commercially licensed engine in this collection. Includes:

• Installation wizard
• Cron setup documentation
• Flash source files (FLA)
• Photoshop source files (PSD)
• Custom font (Mobsters.ttf)
• Instruction manual
• Support contract ($5-$10 customizations)

Professional packaging for non-technical buyers.

• Documented Crime System:

Crime Guide.txt:
Formula: ((WILL*0.8)/2.5)+(LEVEL/4)
Example: User with 100 will = 4.12% success rate
User with 531 will = 5.45% success rate

Mathematical game balance documented. Shows professional design thinking (not just arbitrary success rates).

• Cron Automation System:

cron_run_minute.php  - Jail/hospital recovery (every 1 min)
cron_run_five.php    - Energy/health/will/brave refill (every 5 min)
cron_run_hour.php    - Hourly tasks
cron_run_day.php     - Daily resets

Time-based mechanics (jail time, stat regeneration) automated via cron. Professional server-side scheduling.

• Gang Plugin Architecture:

gangs/plugins/private/  - Gang member features
gangs/plugins/public/   - Public gang features

Modular gang system suggests extensibility (though encrypted files may limit this).

• Donator/Premium System:

// index.php - Donator benefits:

• Special badge & ribbon
• 2x energy/HP/will/brave regeneration
• Different color name
• Special packages (will/money/crystals)
• Friend/enemy lists
• "Much Much More"

Freemium monetization via PayPal IPN. Premium accounts = recurring revenue model.

• Business System:

business_create.php  - Create new businesses
business_manage.php  - Hire employees, manage applications
business_view.php    - Public business pages

Player-owned businesses with hiring/management. Deeper economy than simple item shops.

• BBCode Forums:

// forums.php - Custom BBCode parser
[b], [i], [u], [s], [sub], [sup], [big], [small]
[list], [olist], [item]
[font], [size], [color], [style]
[url], [email], [img]
[left], [center], [right]
[quote], [code], [codebox]

Full-featured forums with rank system (15 ranks from "Absolute Newbie" to "True Champion" based on post count).

• Battle Ladder System:

// battle_ladder.php - Competitive PvP rankings
battle_tent.php       - Challenge system
challengebots         - AI opponents with difficulty levels

Structured competitive play beyond random attacks.

• Item Marketplace:

itembuy.php, itemsell.php, itemmarket.php, itemsearch.php
playershops.php, myshop.php, shopbuy.php

Dual economy: NPC shops + player shops. Item search, marketplace, personal shop creation.

• Staff Management:

staff.php, stafflist.php, staffnotes.php
staff_users.php, staff_gangs.php, staff_items.php
staff_crimes.php, staff_courses.php, staff_polls.php

13 admin files = comprehensive staff control panel. Multi-tier staff (admin/moderator) with permission systems.

Negative Aspects:

• Encrypted Files:

README: "Few files encrypted to avoid unauthorized distribution"

Anti-feature. Prevents:

• Code audits (security reviews impossible)
• Customization (vendor lock-in)
• Learning (educational value destroyed)
• Bug fixes (licensees can't fix issues)

Encryption = hostage situation. Pay more for unencrypted source.

• Aggressive Copyright Enforcement:

License Agreement:
"Do Not Remove Powered By Ravan Scripts without permission"
"Copyright removal fee is $10 USD"
"We do not permit you remove copyright"
"If software is found...breaching terms...prosecute to fullest extent of law"

Forced attribution + legal threats. Small indie devs pressured to pay extra fees.

• Generic Mafia Theme:

Nothing original. Same crimes/gangs/jail mechanics as 50+ other mafia games (see mafia_warz, nothern_mafia, generic_mafia_rpg in this collection). No unique hook.

• Flash Dependency (2010):

5 SWF files (1.49 MB). Flash died in 2020. Outdated tech = broken headers on modern browsers.

• No Innovation:

Every feature exists in open-source competitors:

• MCCodes has gangs/crimes/jail/items
• Torn City has businesses/properties
• Open source forums abundant

Ravan Scripts just packaged existing concepts and charged for it.

• Domain License Restrictions:

License: "Software may only be used on up to 3 web domains per license"

Want 4 servers? Buy another license. Anti-competitive.

---

Code Quality Rating: 5/10 - Commercial-grade procedural PHP (average 2010 quality)

Positive Patterns:

• Consistent File Headers:

/

Every file has copyright/version header. Professional documentation.

• Database Abstraction:

// class_db_mysql.php - OOP database class
$db->query($sql);
$db->fetch_row($result);
$db->num_rows($result);
$db->escape($text);

Encapsulation of MySQL/MySQLi differences. Swappable drivers.

• Helper Functions:

// global_func.php
itemtype_dropdown($connection, $ddname, $selected)
location_dropdown($connection, $ddname, $selected)
user_dropdown($connection, $ddname, $selected)

Reusable dropdown generators. DRY principle.

• BBCode Parser:

// bbcode_engine.php + bbcode_parser.php
class bbcode {
function simple_bbcode_tag($tag) { ... }
function adv_option_tag($bbcode, $html, $attribute) { ... }
}

Custom parser shows OOP design for complex text processing.

• Separation of Concerns:

config.php       - Configuration
globals.php      - Session/authentication
global_func.php  - Utilities
core.php         - Game logic

Logical file organization (though still procedural).

Negative Patterns:

• Monolithic Files:

gang_staff.php   - 1,563 lines (gang admin panel)
gang_mygang.php  - 1,497 lines (gang management)
forums.php       - 760 lines (entire forum system in one file!)

God Files. Should be split into:

• gang/admin/members.php, gang/admin/settings.php, gang/admin/wars.php
• forums/topics.php, forums/posts.php, forums/categories.php

• Mixed HTML/PHP:

// index.php lines 24-92
print "

68 lines of inline HTML via print. No templating engine. Unmaintainable.

• Global State:

// globals.php included in every file
session_start();
include "config.php";
include "class/class_db_mysql.php";
$db = new database();

Global $db, $ir (current user), $userid. Namespace pollution.

• No Input Validation Layer:

// Sanitization scattered across files
mysql_real_escape_string() here
htmlentities() there
strip_tags() somewhere else

No centralized Input::get() or Request::validate(). Inconsistent sanitization inevitable.

• Magic Numbers:

// Crime Guide.txt formula
((WILL*0.8)/2.5)+(LEVEL/4)

Why 0.8? Why 2.5? Why divide by 4? No constants, no comments explaining balance.

• Nested Ternaries:

// attacklist.php line 24
echo ( $u['gang'] != 0 ) ? "[".$u['gangPREF']."] ".stripslashes(htmlentities($u['username'], ENT_QUOTES)) : "".stripslashes(htmlentities($u['username'], ENT_QUOTES));

Unreadable. Duplicate code in both branches.

• Encrypted Files = Code Smell:

If code quality was high, why encrypt it? Encryption suggests:

• Ashamed of code quality
• Prevent competitors seeing implementation
• Force vendor dependence

Professional code is open.

Refactoring Priority:

• Decrypt files (demand source from vendor)
• Split monolithic files (1,500-line files → 100-line modules)
• Implement MVC framework (Laravel/CodeIgniter)
• Replace inline HTML with Blade/Twig templates
• Centralize input validation (Request facade)
• Replace all mysql_* with PDO prepared statements
• Document game balance formulas (what do the magic numbers mean?)

---

Technology Stack:

Required:

• PHP: 5.x+ (uses deprecated mysql_* functions - pre-PHP 7)
• MySQL: 4.x+ or 5.x+ (76 tables, MyISAM engine)
• Web Server: Apache (.htaccess implied), Nginx compatible
• PHP Extensions:
• mysql OR mysqli (dual support via driver config)
• session
• gd (likely for CAPTCHA, though not verified)
• curl (for cron jobs via curl http://yousite.com/cron_run_five.php)
• Cron: Unix cron OR cPanel cron jobs (4 scheduled tasks)
• Domain: 1-3 domains per license (enforced by EULA)

Optional:

• cPanel: Simplifies cron setup (but not required)
• PayPal Account: For Donator IPN integration
• Flash Player: For viewing SWF headers (deprecated 2020)

Installation Requirements:

From Readme.txt:

• Upload files to web server root directory
• Set permissions to 777 (Unix) - SECURITY RISK!
• Navigate to http://yoursite.com/install.php
• Follow installation wizard (creates DB, sets admin account)
• Copy cron job commands from install complete page
• Set up 4 cron jobs in cPanel:

/5  * curl http://yousite.com/cron_run_five.php     # Every 5 minutes
  curl http://yousite.com/cron_run_minute.php     # Every minute
0  curl http://yousite.com/cron_run_hour.php       # Every hour
0  * curl http://yousite.com/cron_run_day.php        # Every day

• DELETE install.php (critical!)
• Login as admin, configure settings

Cron Job Explanation:

• cron_run_minute.php - Jail/hospital timers (users released after X minutes)
• cron_run_five.php - Stat regeneration (energy/HP/will/brave +X every 5 min)
• cron_run_hour.php - Hourly maintenance (likely gang wars, business income)
• cron_run_day.php - Daily resets (daily login bonuses, leaderboards)

README warns: "If you have many players its recommend to change hosting to dedicated server as cron uses extreme resources."

Translation: Game is resource-intensive. Shared hosting will crash under load.

License Restrictions:

From License Agreement.html:

• NOT FREEWARE/SHAREWARE - Commercial license required
• Cannot distribute to third parties
• Cannot resell without Ravan Technologies permission
• 3 domain limit per license (www.domain.com = 1 domain)
• Source code confidential - users cannot access encrypted files
• No warranty - "AS-IS" with "ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY"
• Full liability on licensee for any damages

Commercial Add-Ons:

• Copyright removal: $10 USD (removes "Powered by Ravan Scripts" footer)
• Custom Flash header: $5 USD
• Custom logo: $5 USD
• Unencrypted source: Unknown price (contact sales)
• Free installation: Included (if needed)
• Support: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Browser Compatibility (2010):

• IE6/7/8 (Flash-based headers)
• Firefox 3.x
• Chrome (early versions)
• Safari

Browser Compatibility (2025):

• Flash headers broken (Flash EOL Dec 2020)
• Core gameplay works (HTML/CSS/JS/PHP)
• ⚠️ Responsive design absent (desktop only)

---

Game Type: Persistent world mafia MMORPG (text-based with images)

Core Gameplay Loop:

• Character Creation:
• Username/password/email registration
• Starting stats: HP, Energy, Will, Brave
• Level 1, no gang, basic property

• Crimes:
• 56+ crimes (based on Crime Guide.txt)
• Success formula: ((WILL*0.8)/2.5)+(LEVEL/4)
• Energy cost per crime
• Rewards: Money, XP, items (rare)
• Failure: Jail time, lose energy
• Crime categories: Petty theft → Grand larceny → Kidnapping

• Gangs:
• Create gang (costs money)
• Recruit members (applications system)
• Gang ranks (leader, advisor, enforcer, member)
• Gang wars (declare war, attack enemy members)
• Gang vault (shared bank)
• Gang forums (private communication)
• Gang prefix (e.g., [GANG] Username)

• Combat:
• Attack other players (steal money, gain XP)
• Success based on stats + equipment
• Battle tent (challenge NPCs/bots)
• Battle ladders (competitive rankings)
• Hospital on defeat (timed recovery)
• Bodyguard protection (pay to avoid attacks)

• Property/Estate:
• Buy houses (increases max HP/stats)
• Property upgrades
• Burn enemy houses (sabotage)
• Property provides passive bonuses

• Businesses:
• Create businesses (shops, services)
• Hire employees (applications system)
• Earn passive income
• Business upgrades
• Compete with other businesses

• Economy:
• Money: Earned from crimes, combat, businesses
• Crystals: Premium currency (donate or earn)
• Bank: Store money safely (withdraw fees)
• Cyber Bank: Alternative banking
• Item Market: Buy/sell items
• Player Shops: Create own shop

• Items:
• Weapons: Increase attack damage
• Armor: Reduce damage taken
• Consumables: Heal HP, restore energy
• Special Items: Quest items, rare drops
• Item rarity/quality system
• Equipment system (equip/unequip)
• Inventory management

• Stats/Training:
• HP (Health Points): Max health
• Energy: Used for crimes/actions
• Will: Affects crime success
• Brave: Combat effectiveness
• Gym: Train stats (costs money/time)
• Education: Take courses (permanent stat boosts)
• Level: Gain XP to level up (unlock features)

• Jail/Hospital:
• Jail: Sent when crime fails or attacked
• Jail time: Minutes to hours (real-time)
• Jail bust: Friends can break you out
• Bail: Pay to escape early
• Federal Jail: Longer sentences (serious crimes)
• Hospital: Injured in combat, heal over time

• Social Features:
• Friends List: Add friends (Donator perk)
• Blacklist/Enemies: Block players
• Mail System: PM other players
• Events: Notifications (attacked, jailbroken, mail)
• Comments: Leave profile comments
• User Search: Find players by name/location

• Premium (Donator):
• 2x Regeneration: Energy/HP/Will/Brave refill twice as fast
• Special Badge: Donator icon next to name
• Colored Name: Stand out in lists
• Bonus Packages: Extra crystals/money/will
• Friend/Enemy Lists: Track rivals/allies
• Cost: Unknown (PayPal IPN integration)

• Forums:
• Create topics, reply to posts
• BBCode formatting (bold, images, quotes, code)
• Forum ranks (15 ranks based on post count)
• Gang-specific forums (private)

• Staff Tools:
• Admin panel (13 management pages)
• User management (ban, edit stats, reset)
• Gang management (disband, edit)
• Item management (create, edit, delete)
• Crime management (balance success rates)
• Poll management (create voting polls)
• Logs (view all transactions)

Time Investment:

• Casual: 15-30 min/day (crimes, train, check gang)
• Active: 1-3 hours/day (wars, business management, forums)
• Hardcore: 5+ hours/day (gang leadership, competition, domination)

Progression:

• Early game: Commit petty crimes, save money, join gang
• Mid game: Own property, create business, participate in gang wars
• Late game: Gang leader, own multiple businesses, top battle ladder, dominate server

Monetization:

• Donator accounts (recurring revenue)
• Likely microtransactions (crystals for real money)

---

Modernization Effort: $15,000 - $21,000 (200-280 hours)

CRITICAL FIRST STEP: Obtain Unencrypted Source ($XXX from Ravan Scripts)

Cannot modernize encrypted files. Must negotiate with vendor for full source access.

Priority 1: Security Overhaul (60-80 hours, $4.5K-$6K):

• Replace all mysql_* with PDO prepared statements
• Implement CSRF tokens on all forms
• Add session_regenerate_id() on login
• Centralize input validation (Request class)
• Audit PayPal IPN security (encrypted file risk!)
• Add rate limiting (crimes, attacks, login attempts)
• Implement HttpOnly/Secure session cookies
• SQL injection audit (test every input)
• XSS audit (escape all output)
• Remove 777 permissions requirement

Priority 2: Remove Flash Dependency (15-20 hours, $1.1K-$1.5K):

• Replace 5 SWF headers with CSS3/HTML5 animations
• Convert PSD source to responsive web headers
• Modern gradient backgrounds (CSS, not Flash)
• Mobile-friendly header images

Priority 3: Architecture Refactoring (50-70 hours, $3.75K-$5.25K):

• Implement Laravel/CodeIgniter MVC framework
• Split monolithic files:
• gang_staff.php (1,563 lines) → GangController methods
• forums.php (760 lines) → ForumController + Post/Topic models
• Replace inline HTML with Blade/Twig templates
• Convert procedural code to OOP (models for User, Gang, Item, Crime)
• Centralize configuration (.env file, not config.php)
• Dependency injection (no more global $db)

Priority 4: Replace Encrypted Files (40-60 hours, $3K-$4.5K):

Assuming vendor provides source:

• Decrypt/deobfuscate all files
• Audit decrypted code for backdoors
• Refactor decrypted code to modern standards
• Add comprehensive comments
• Unit tests for critical functions

If vendor refuses: Rewrite encrypted functionality from scratch (potentially 100+ additional hours).

Priority 5: Modern Tech Stack (25-35 hours, $1.9K-$2.6K):

• Upgrade to PHP 8.x
• Replace jQuery with vanilla JS or Vue.js
• Add Composer for dependency management
• Implement PSR-4 autoloading
• Add PHPUnit tests
• Dockerize deployment

Priority 6: UI/UX Improvements (20-30 hours, $1.5K-$2.25K):

• Responsive design (mobile/tablet support)
• Bootstrap/Tailwind CSS framework
• Replace table layouts with Flexbox/Grid
• AJAX for smoother interactions (no full-page reloads)
• Real-time notifications (WebSockets)
• Accessibility (ARIA labels, keyboard navigation)

Optional Enhancements:

• REST API (mobile app development)
• WebSocket integration (real-time gang wars)
• Redis caching (cron performance issues)
• CDN for static assets
• Social login (OAuth)
• Achievement system (badges, milestones)
• Tutorial system (onboarding new players)

Total Modernization Cost:

• Minimum (200 hours): $15,000 @ $75/hr
• Maximum (280 hours): $21,000 @ $75/hr
• Does NOT include: Unencrypted source purchase, ongoing license fees, copyright removal ($10 USD)

Biggest Challenge: Vendor dependence

• Encrypted files = cannot audit/modernize
• License restrictions (3 domains, no redistribution)
• Copyright enforcement (must pay $10 to remove attribution)
• No open-source community (closed ecosystem)

Alternative: Spend $15K-$21K building open-source mafia engine instead of modernizing proprietary black box.

Maintenance: $500-$1,500/month (servers, DDoS protection, cron resources, bug fixes, community management, ongoing vendor relationship).

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Release Period: 2010 (v2.0.1 Build 2101)

PHP Era: PHP 5.x (before PHP 7 strict typing, before Composer dominance)

Mafia Game Era: 2008-2012 peak (browser mafia games everywhere)

2010 Browser Gaming Landscape:

• Commercial Script Economy:

2008-2012 saw explosion of turnkey game scripts:

• MCCodes (mafia engine) - most popular open source
• Torn City (commercial mafia game) - 100K+ players
• Mafia Wars (Facebook) - millions of players (2009-2016)
• Hundreds of "Mafia Script" vendors (Ravan Scripts, Cydescape, etc.)

Entrepreneurs bought scripts for $50-$500, launched mafia games, hoped to monetize via donations/ads.

• Mafia Game Saturation:

By 2010, market oversaturated:

• 1,000+ mafia games online
• 99% clones (same crimes, gangs, jail mechanics)
• Competition fierce (hard to differentiate)
• Player fragmentation (audience split across hundreds of games)

Ravan Scripts entered crowded market with generic product. Success depended on marketing, not innovation.

• Commercial vs. Open Source:

MCCodes (2008-2012) = free open-source mafia engine, massive community. Why pay Ravan Scripts $X when MCCodes free?

Ravan Scripts' value proposition:

• "Professional" support
• Flash headers included
• Installation service
• Active development (claimed)

But encryption = anti-open-source. Alienated technical buyers who wanted to customize.

• PHP 5.x Era:

PHP 5.3 (2009) introduced namespaces, closures. Ravan Scripts uses PHP 4/5.2 style:

• No namespaces
• Global state ($db, $ir)
• mysql_* functions (deprecated PHP 5.5)
• Procedural spaghetti

Code feels dated even by 2010 standards. Professional shops were already using MVC frameworks (Zend, Symfony, CodeIgniter).

Ravan Scripts Background:

Indian software company (ravan.info, now defunct). Sold multiple game scripts:

• Mafia MMORPG Script
• Racing Game Script
• Dating Site Script
• Other turnkey solutions

Common pattern: Indian outsourcing firms creating cheap turnkey products for Western markets. Quality varied wildly.

License Strategy:

• Base purchase: $X (unknown, likely $50-$200)
• Copyright removal: $10
• Custom designs: $5 each
• Unencrypted source: $Y (probably $100+)

Nickel-and-dime strategy. Low base price attracts buyers, then upsells required for real use.

Why It Matters:

• Commercial Script Market:

Represents business model that dominated 2008-2015: sell turnkey game engines to non-technical entrepreneurs. Most failed (saturated market, poor differentiation), but hundreds of vendors tried.

• Encryption Anti-Pattern:

Shows how closed-source hurt adoption. MCCodes thrived (open source, community mods), Ravan Scripts faded (encryption, vendor lock-in). Lesson: openness wins in script economy.

• Cron Dependency:

"Cron uses extreme resources" warning = architectural mistake. Real-time games shouldn't require cron hammering DB every minute. Modern approach: WebSockets, job queues, Redis.

• Flash Death:

5 SWF files = obsolete tech. Flash EOL (2020) broke all Flash headers. Any game still using Ravan Scripts v1.2 has broken UI unless they removed SWFs.

Comparable Projects (2010):

• MCCodes v2 - Free, open source, active community, 1,000+ games
• Torn City - Commercial game (not engine), $2M+ revenue/year
• Mafia Wars (Zynga) - Facebook game, millions of players, shut down 2016
• Cydescape Mafia Engine - Competitor to Ravan Scripts

Legacy:

Ravan Scripts website (ravan.info) now defunct (domain parked/for sale). Company likely dissolved 2015-2018.

No community survives. Encrypted files = no forks, no derivatives, no ecosystem.

Contrast with L.O.G.H.: Open source (CC BY-SA), still playable 16 years later, educational value endures. Closed systems die with their vendors.

---

Overall Rating: 5/10

Strengths:

• Comprehensive feature set (gangs, crimes, jail, businesses, forums, staff tools)
• Professional packaging (docs, Flash source, PSD source, install wizard)
• Cron automation (time-based mechanics)
• Some security measures (mysql_real_escape_string, htmlentities)
• Database abstraction (MySQL/MySQLi drivers)
• Donator/premium system (monetization built-in)
• Documented formulas (Crime Guide.txt)
• Support included (free installation, customization services)

Critical Flaws:

• Encrypted files (unauditable, vendor lock-in, anti-education)
• Commercial license ($X + $10 copyright removal + domain limits)
• Vendor defunct (ravan.info dead, no support, orphaned code)
• Flash dependency (5 SWF files broken since Dec 2020)
• Inconsistent security (some sanitization, not universal)
• Monolithic code (1,500-line files, procedural spaghetti)
• Generic gameplay (clone of MCCodes/TornCity/MafiaWars)
• Resource-intensive (cron "uses extreme resources")
• No innovation (nothing unique vs. free competitors)

Deployment Recommendation: DO NOT DEPLOY (unless you already purchased and can get unencrypted source)

Reasons:

• Vendor dead - No support, no updates, ravan.info defunct
• Encrypted files - Cannot audit for backdoors, vulnerabilities, or fixes
• Flash broken - SWF headers don't work in modern browsers
• Security risks - Inconsistent sanitization + unauditable encrypted code = disaster
• License restrictions - 3 domain limit, cannot resell, legal liability
• Better alternatives exist:
• MCCodes - Free, open source, active community
• Custom build - Spend $15K-$21K on open-source engine instead

If You Already Own License:

• Contact Ravan Scripts successors (if any exist)
• Demand unencrypted source (threaten legal action if licensed but can't access source)
• Replace Flash headers immediately (CSS3 animations)
• Full security audit + penetration testing
• Migrate to modern framework (Laravel)
• Budget $15K-$21K for modernization

Educational Value: 2/10

• Encrypted files = cannot learn from code
• Proprietary license = cannot share/teach
• Defunct vendor = no documentation access
• Anti-educational by design

Who Should Study This:

• Business Students: Case study in failed commercial script market (encryption killed adoption)
• Legal Students: Software licensing (EULA enforcement, copyright removal fees)
• Historians: 2008-2012 browser game bubble

Who Should NOT Use This:

• Anyone (vendor dead, encrypted files, Flash broken, better alternatives exist)

Best Use Case: None

Even if you own license, investing $15K+ to modernize proprietary black box makes no sense. Better to:

• Use MCCodes (free, open, active)
• Build custom engine (own IP, no vendor dependence)
• Play Torn City (active game with 20K players)

Tier Ranking: Tier 4 - Defunct Commercial Product (Orphaned Abandonware)

Verdict: Mafia Script v1.2 represents the dark side of commercial game scripts: encryption, vendor lock-in, nickel-and-dime pricing, generic gameplay, and ultimate abandonment when vendor failed. It's a cautionary tale about proprietary closed systems.

Comparison:

• L.O.G.H.: 8/10, open source (CC BY-SA), zero infrastructure, playable 16 years later, educational masterpiece
• Mafia Script v1.2: 5/10, encrypted proprietary, vendor defunct, Flash broken, license restrictions, educational value destroyed

Lesson: Open systems survive, closed systems die with their creators.

If Ravan Scripts had released this as open source, it might have competed with MCCodes. Instead, encryption ensured zero legacy. When ravan.info died, Mafia Script died with it. No forks, no community, no derivatives, no learning.

Final Thought: This is why we need open source in gaming. Proprietary black boxes create digital fossils - code that cannot be learned from, cannot be fixed, cannot be adapted. Encrypted files = death sentence for software longevity.

Verdict: 5/10 - A competent but proprietary product killed by vendor dependence, encryption, and market failure.

DO NOT USE. Study MCCodes instead.