Flash Games Studio

September 2001

This book takes the the Flash user into the realms of game design, and hunts out the features that will evolve Flash skills into full-on game wizardry. Flash Games Studio discusses what makes a good game – and what makes a great game. The authors grapple with the concepts of 3D and how to get Flash to produce cutting-edge game environments, while reducing those file sizes and download times. The book "conducts a battle of wits with artificial intelligence, and has a good crash around with some collision detection in platform games." In short, Flash Games Studio pushes Flash to its breaking point to see what lies beyond.

What this book covers
This "Studio series" book assumes you already know your way around Flash's basics, and it aims to boost your knowledge and help you master some advanced techniques. Flash Games Studio draws its inspiration from the full spectrum of Flash's capabilities. Among other things it looks at:

<> Refining methods of graphic creation to speed up game performance
<> Using ActionScript techniques for player control and environmental reactions
<> Mastering the sound capabilities with interactive soundtracks
<> Using data packets and sockets to develop multiplayer games

Who this book is for?
If you want to turn your open-ended Flash animations into challenging, high-quality games, then this is the book for you. You will benefit most from it if you are:

<> A Flash user who wants to get comfortable with the most important and useful ActionScript commands
<> Flash users who want to push the software to the edge of its capabilities, and stretch their knowledge base to its limit.
<> A Flash-savvy game designer who wants to venture into the realms of web-based gaming

Summary of Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction to Gaming
Chapter 2 – Optimizing Graphics for Games
Chapter 3 – Flash's Built-in Objects
Chapter 4 – Event Handling
Chapter 5 – Turn-Based Games and Advanced Logic
Chapter 6 – Structured Real-Time Programming
Chapter 7 – Designing a Platform Game Construction Kit
Chapter 8 – Interactive Sound
Chapter 9 – Let there be Music
Chapter 10 – Understanding Artificial Intelligence
Chapter 11 – The Third Dimension
Chapter 12 – Real 3D
Chapter 13 – Ultimate 3D
Chapter 14 – Online Data
Chapter 15 – Multiplayer Applications
Afterword – Director for Flash Users

Flash Games Studio is published by friends of ED and is available from Amazon.com

Note: Book co-author Glen Rhodes will be speaking on the subject of multiplayer applications at FlashKit 2001. Learn more at www.glenrhodes.com