TerrySimkin,

[quoted text, click to view]

I encourage you to keep Googling. :) ActionScript 2.0 is still the
highest version of ActionScript publicly available (AS3 will be possible
with the new Flash 8.5 Player and future IDEs, including Flash's cousin,
Flex Builder 2). The difference in Flash 8 is that AS2 features additional
packages that tap into new functionality of Flash Player 8. In fact, the
new features are especially relevant to game design, since they boost visual
performance significantly, allow for new (arguably better) hit testing, and
offer new levels of realism to special effects.

I've seen samples of Flash 8 tile-based games (Mario Bros clones) that
are incredibly fast because of the new bitmap caching. Blend modes allow
more realistic shadows and anaglyph 3D (red/green glasses) that have
otherwise only been available to Director movies (Shockwave plugin).

As Chris said, no one's forcing you to upgrade, but heck, I'm glad I
did!


David
stiller (at) quip (dot) net
"Luck is the residue of good design."

Terry,

[quoted text, click to view]

I haven't purchased the Rhodes book yet, but it's on my list. I have
had the chance to communicate with Rhodes a couple times, and he's a good
guy. I also like Ed. 2 of the Makar book, though if you have 5 games books,
you may already have read it.

[quoted text, click to view]

You'll be pleased, I'm sure. His Essential ActionScript 2.0 is good for
anyone, but perhaps especially nice for someone like you who has experience
in more traditional languages. His ActionScript the Definitive Giuide is
only as recent as Flash MX (not even MX 2004), but by and large, the
Player-mechanics and ActionScript background he covers are still entirely
relevant (the relevance may only diminish slightly with the new virtual
machine in Flash Player 8.5, though the new Player will continue to support
the current VM [i.e., AS1 and AS2]).

[quoted text, click to view]

It's great to see Flash being put to so many uses!


Now, to 2m ... wow, what an ego boost! It means a lot to me to that you
like my contributions here. I love these forums and, like you, get a lot
out of the Flash community. Thanks for the props! :)


David
stiller (at) quip (dot) net
"Luck is the residue of good design."

[quoted text, click to view]

I should add: much as I would enjoy the muscles and olive skin, I am
absolutely nothing like a god, Greek or otherwise. ;)


David
stiller (at) quip (dot) net
"Luck is the residue of good design."

I teach introduction to game development with Flash MX 2004. Like the product
and the students do well with it. But all the hype about the new product 8
does nothing for me. I need to find out if anything is done to Flash to help
game development or to modify Actionscript!!! Anyone know or know of wher I
can find out. I get lost in all of Macromedia's fluffy web site!!!! I have
written to Macromedia before but no responce.

I'd think that there are a lot of improvements that can really help with game
design, but I dont know what kind of games you're talking about, but fore one
thing the new BitmapData Class can really help with rendering performance (even
with collision detection as Grand Skinner proofed - thanks David for pointing
that out).

But why donn't you just go, download the trial and have a look yourself.

And consider SE|PY even the Gods use it!

This is an introduction to game development class so the projects are
relatively simple.
I will look into BitmapData Class.
You wrote, "And consider SE|PY even the Gods use it!" Lost me! what is SE|PY
and what gods, hahaha

Thanks for the answer. But still have not found a big reason to upgrade to
Flash 8. Nor do I have the time to dig for what they have done. They should
be supplying that on a silver platter.

Hi thanks for taking the time to answer.

I visited all the sites you listed. If I was starting out again I would have
the school purchase the current version of Flash.

However, the advanced add ons to Flash 8 are of little use to my course at the
level the students need.

Nothing was in the list to make Actionscript improved in any substansive way.
I do like Actionscript 2.0.

I assume in time the books for my course with Flash MX 2004 will disappear and
I will be forced to select a current book and move to Flash 8.

Hy Terry,

I can't shake off the feeling that you are angry at someone, and I can't
really understand how a teacher like you would be so defensiv about the
program/subject/technology you're teaching.

May be I'm wrong about all this, and it is way past midnight here, so I won't
dwell on that, but even if you don't like Macromedia as a Company, you might
consider the Flash Community worth a lot more.

I'm using this as an intruduction to my answer to your question:

SE|PY is a great AS editor (http://www.sepy.it/) it's made by Alessandro
Crugnola from Italy, whom I consider one of my heros for doing so.

And the "Gods" your asking about are some of those whom i admire for their
ability with Flash (supernatural!) and especially for their ability to teach.
For example Colin Moock (you should have his books) or David Stiller and some
others you might meet here.

(I'm using the term God in a kind of greek mythological, not meaning to offend
anyones faith).

Hi 2m,

Sorry if I sounded angry. I have been on a steep learning curve developing
the intro to game development course as the start of a degree program,
Animation and Graphics Game Programming at the New Hampshire Technical
Institute. I selected Macromedia Flash as a quick way to introduce game
concepts to early programmers and new game development.

I do have to admit the flood of hype from Macromedia about the new software is
annoying. Someone said in a reply that I was looking for a ?blue pill?. Well
that would be nice; a clear capsulated review or the reasons to upgrade. I do
not want to download the new Flash and start digging. I have my hands full
with this new course and the other full load teaching assignments I have?

I have very impressed with the speed the students have picked up the
Actionscript and made Flash do lots of very interesting simple games. We are
using Rhodes book and it is great.

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Game Development
Glen Rhodes
1-58450-309-2
CHARLES RIVER MEDIA, INC.

Macromedia Flash was a very big pleasant surprise. I have been writing games
in C++, Java and C# with a number of APIs including DirectX for a number of
years. The learning curve is very steep with these tools!!! Nothing here I
wanted as an introduction to game development for new students.

I have a book shelf of Macromedia Flash books, five on game development alone.
I have recently sent away for a Colin Moock book. Need something to cover the
language better than Macromedia web info and books. Hope this is it!

The math and physics teachers here are learning Flash to help with a course
coming up on Beginning Game Math and Physics.

I will be waiting and reviewing over the next few months about the new Flash
verson.

Terry

:) peter - that is *exactly* why i reacted to this post the way I did. :p



[quoted text, click to view]