Books or websites on game development using Flash

[moose6912]

Hello guys,

I am looking into dabbling into Flash game development, so does anyone have have any good recommendations for books that cover Flash development? I have done C++, J2ME and iPhone game development, so programming-wise, i am pretty ok. But somehow, I can't seem to get my head around the Flash programming paradigm, so any books or online tutorial recommendations for that would be great.

[puddinlover]

You might wanna look up "ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University" I haven't read it yet but seems to have decent reviews.
(I assume your looking to learn Action Script 3.0)

[Maupin]

Are you actually using Flash? Or just AS3 compiled into Flash movies?

I recommend avoiding Flash for development and using Flex or the some of the free AS3 development systems out there. Using Flash means mucking around with the timeline and it will drive you crazy. I myself am making great progress using just the free command line compiler from Adobe and a text editor. No timeline, no importing graphics onto a stage. Just code and a directory of resources.

Essential Actionscript 3.0 is a pretty good book. Everything else I found online. Adobe's AS3 class structure webpages are very good.

[Nexic]

I used the video tutorials from www.cartoonsmart.com to get me started in Flash. Although those are pretty outdated now, since I don't think they are AS3 (AS2 only). Even so, it's probably worth watching just to get your head around how movieclips/frames interact with the code.

[andrew]

Don't use CS3 and code on the timeline, that's a world of pain. Get Flex (there's a free 60-day trial), and then you're just writing plain AS3 which feels very much like C++/Java. Basically you just inherit from an Application class, connect to the ENTER_FRAME event (which gives you a timer callback), and start writing code. After you get comfortable with that, then you can learn how to interface with display elements like MovieClips, load them from external SWF libraries, how animation works, et cetera. IMHO the best paradigm is to use Flex to write the application code/structure, and use Flash CS3 to create asset libraries (both static and animating).

- andrew

[moose6912]

Don't use CS3 and code on the timeline, that's a world of pain. Get Flex (there's a free 60-day trial), and then you're just writing plain AS3 which feels very much like C++/Java. Basically you just inherit from an Application class, connect to the ENTER_FRAME event (which gives you a timer callback), and start writing code. After you get comfortable with that, then you can learn how to interface with display elements like MovieClips, load them from external SWF libraries, how animation works, et cetera. IMHO the best paradigm is to use Flex to write the application code/structure, and use Flash CS3 to create asset libraries (both static and animating).

- andrew

Hmm, looks like Flex is the popular choice here. Any good books or tutorials on how to use Flex? I know the timeline thing that Flash developers uses for development is quite a hassle to learn, especially programmers who are used to the normal programming paradigm.

[richtaur]

You might wanna look up "ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University" I haven't read it yet but seems to have decent reviews.
(I assume your looking to learn Action Script 3.0)

Pearson sent me that when we were in talks about a book. It's fun to read and contains good info. The author actually suggests what I consider to be some bad practices, but you can still get good info from it. Not bad!

http://www.amazon.com/ActionScript-3...dp/0789737027/

[Cartman]

These are the books I recommend. I'm doing AS3 game development now.

Learning ActionScript 3.0 - Shupe
ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook
Flex 3 cookbook

With these three, you will have virtually all the material you need to get started.

Some great websites:

flashdevelop.org
8bitrocket.com
actionscript.org
kirupa.org
kongregate.org
flashkit.com

Also check out the Greensock Tweener. It's fantastic.

[moose6912]

These are the books I recommend. I'm doing AS3 game development now.

Learning ActionScript 3.0 - Shupe
ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook
Flex 3 cookbook

With these three, you will have virtually all the material you need to get started.

Some great websites:

flashdevelop.org
8bitrocket.com
actionscript.org
kirupa.org
kongregate.org
flashkit.com

Also check out the Greensock Tweener. It's fantastic.

Thanks a lot, dude

[moose6912]

So what IDE do you all use for Flex? Eclipse or Flex Builder?

[Huge]

If you are coming from c++, and want to transfer you skills to flash, it is easier that you might think. Have a look at this:
http://gm2d.com/
It is written for haxe, which is essintially a dialect of actionscript, so the concepts should still be the same.
Once you get the hang of this, it is pretty straight foreward the expand in any number of directions.

[zoombapup]

flex builder. Its pretty freakin good.

[Colm]

I'd also recommend Flex. If you are coming from a programming background and want to make Flash games it's so much better than working directly in Flash.

It's also totally free to download the Flex SDK (which will give you a command line compiler), or download an open source IDE like FlashDevelop which is purpose built to use the Flex SDK. Also if you are still in university (or, I think, work in one) you can get Flex Builder (the official flex IDE) for free.

Wrote a post about all this a while back.

[JGOware]

Yes...FlashDevelop/Flex is awesome! http://retroshoot.com

[moose6912]

I'd also recommend Flex. If you are coming from a programming background and want to make Flash games it's so much better than working directly in Flash.

It's also totally free to download the Flex SDK (which will give you a command line compiler), or download an open source IDE like FlashDevelop which is purpose built to use the Flex SDK. Also if you are still in university (or, I think, work in one) you can get Flex Builder (the official flex IDE) for free.

Wrote a post about all this a while back.

Nice post, Colm. Do you know the difference between Flex Builder standard and professional? I can't seem to find any details on the Adobe website regarding that.

[Colm]

Yeah it's not very clear on their site is it (where's the usual table with tick marks?). Found this on the buy page:

Adobe Flex Builder 3 Professional offers all of the powerful features included in Adobe Flex Builder 3 Standard plus powerful memory and performance profiling tools, the new Advanced Datagrid, support for automated functional testing, and extensible charting components for rich data visualization.

So basically the memory/cpu profiler.

[moose6912]

Yeah it's not very clear on their site is it (where's the usual table with tick marks?). Found this on the buy page:

So basically the memory/cpu profiler.

Thanks a lot, Colm. That was what I was looking for

[JGOware]

Seriously, if you already know how to code, you won't need any 3rd party books. Unless you want your learning curve to go from a week to 1 day.

[moose6912]

Seriously, if you already know how to code, you won't need any 3rd party books. Unless you want your learning curve to go from a week to 1 day.

Yup, that is what I am looking for. Something to reduce my learning curve by 6 days. Anyway, am checking out the books and resources posted in the earlier posts

[Shaz]

If you're still looking, I'm currently working my way through Actionscript 3.0 Animation (Foundation ActionScript 3.0 Animation - Making Things Move!) by Keith Peters.

This is the first book I've managed to find on AS3 that assumes you are NOT using Flash or the Flex design tools - everything is done in pure AS3. I just need the same for everything in a game that's not animation.