Macromedia Flash 8 ActionScript: Training from the Source (Paperback)

by Jobe Makar (Author), Danny Patterson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
As any Flash developer worth his or her salt knows, you’re not tapping all of the program’s power unless you’re taking advantage of its scripting language. Not to worry: With Flash 8’s improved scripting language (which includes a visual interface!) and this project-based guide you don’t have to be a master programmer to do so. In these pages authors Jobe Makar and Danny Patterson, use hands-on lessons and simple, step-by-step instructions to translate real-life activities into scripts, in the process demonstrating that scripting is something you already instinctively know how to do. To that end, the authors have provided methodologies and techniques for building nearly 40 real-life Flash 8 ActionScript projects, including sample games, wireless applications, Web sites, and more—all of which will help you work faster and more efficiently. The companion CD contains all of the project files and images you’ll need to complete the book’s lessons.

About the Author
Jobe Makar coauthor of Macromedia Flash MX 2004 ActionScript: Training from the Source, specializes in games and applications programming. Co-founder of Electrotank, Inc., as Senior Game Developer, he's also the author of Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Game Design Demystified by Macromedia Press.  Danny Patterson is a Consultant specializing in Flash and Web technologies. He is a Partner/Author at Community MX and a Member of Team Macromedia Flash. He has also been published in the MX Developer's Journal. He is a Certified Advanced ColdFusion MX, Flash MX and Flash MX 2004 Developer. He has worked on web projects for many large companies including Microsoft, IBM, Starz, Dell, Adobe and Virgin. You can check out his weblog at DannyPatterson.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press (February 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321336194
• ISBN-13: 978-0321336194
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #533,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not so many stars here, March 14, 2006

By	January "my Real name" (SoCal) - See all my reviews

This book was required text for a programming class I am taking. After trying to learn AS thru books and on line I finally found a live teacher. He assigns us excercises in this book. Yes, they are frustrating because often times they don't work. It is a good thing there is a disc with the completed versions included so you can troubleshoot the problems. I have found the completed code sometimes differs from the code given in the text. Learning often comes from what goes wrong instead of what goes right. If you read the previous reviews you see the book is either too simple or too complex. The excercises here are made to get you exposed to what you can do with action script. I think it accomplishes that even tho it is frustrating.
In general, I have struggled with 'TRC' books . They have been excruciatingly painful for me to work through with their mindless follow the instucrtions formats where you don't get to think on your own, you just fiollow the
instructions and what you learn is that you know how to follow instructions.
Because sometimes here you have to use your own logic to get it right, you are forced to learn how to use actionscript. I gave it 3 stars even tho some lessons take simple concepts and make them unecessarily complicated. I liked some of the excercises and since it was a required text I was happy it wasn't a build one project type of book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars confusing Training and from the Source!, March 12, 2006

By	J Jones "graphic designer" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

There are many examples given that do NOT work before getting to something that does work. Each is explained as if it will work.
Obviously the sourse has been talking to himself too long and has no idea how to teach this information to someone who dosen't all ready know actionscript.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money on this book, January 11, 2007

By	Rob D McGee "Arwen Online" (Dublin, CA United States) - See all my reviews

It's interesting that the book has been panned by experienced Flash programmers. I'm a new Flash developer with previous development experience in other development systems. An expert Flash developer recommended the Training From the Source books. This is my first, and I doubt I'll waste any money on another.

I spent an entire afternoon on lesson 1, the most basic exercise. I did the "Answering Machine" exercise about a dozen times, assuming I was doing something wrong, and was just on the learning curve. The book doesn't show you what the solution should look like. However, there is a file of the solution on the disc.

That didn't work either. I couldn't believe they hadn't tested the solution to lesson 1, so I started debugging my environment, making sure I had the latest flash player, and testing it on other computer systems. Then I checked the Peachpit website referenced in the book to see whether there was any errata explaining the problem and hopefully providing an alternative download so I could see how it was supposed to have been developed. Nope. If it was there, a search on "errata" the author's names, the book title, and various other keyword combinations failed to find it.

The other reviews on Amazon confirmed my worst fears: the hands-on exercises - even the solutions - don't work. I'd rather learn by debugging my own code than waste my time on debugging exercises in a book I paid money for.

It's pretty pathetic when Lesson 1 wasn't tested. I guess the authors were too busy being game development heroes or geniuses to bother checking the crap they produced. Message to Jobe Makar and Danny Patterson: nobody who wastes their readers' time and money is cool. Don't blame QA - you wrote it.

I am not excited about potentially wasting time on lesson 2. I feel I was ripped off of a lot of money for this book. Save your money: don't buy it, and don't assume any of the other Training From the Source Books are a good use of your time or money either.