Macromedia Flash MX Game Design Demystified [Paperback]

Jobe Makar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201770210 | ISBN-13: 978-0201770216 | Publication Date: September 19, 2002

So you wanna be a hotshot game designer? Well, if you have a basic grasp of Macromedia Flash MX, you can. Unafraid to tackle some of the more complicated aspects of game creation (including physics and trigonometry!), this comprehensive reference covers it all. Macromedia Flash Game Design Demystified starts out with the basics: planning, adapting ActionScript techniques, using introductory Flash game techniques, and more. Then it gets down to the real business of building simple games. You'll tackle simple-logic and quiz games before moving on to multiplayer and complex-logic games (chess, for example)--learning about importing 3-D graphics, adding sound effects, and licensing your games in the process. The book's companion CD includes the source files for a number of games as well as the tutorials and lessons that go along with the book and XML server software to facilitate multiplayer games. If you're tired of the games that you have and want to make your own action, this book offers comprehensive coverage of sophisticated techniques--but put in easy-to-grasp, practical terms.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Web site developer and game creator Jobe Makar is the co-owner and founder of Electrotank as well as the author of two other Flash books: Flash Super Samurai and Flash MX ActionScripting: Advanced Training from the Source.

Product Details

• Paperback: 648 pages
• Publisher: Macromedia Press (September 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201770210
• ISBN-13: 978-0201770216
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #816,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Value extends beyond Flash-Actionscipt, March 8, 2003

By 

Tony C. Hsieh (San Ramon, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Macromedia Flash MX Game Design Demystified (Paperback)

I am always skeptical about Computer Game Programming books because they usually offer very little new information or information that couldn't easily been found via Google.

But as I flipped through the book in the bookstore, I discovered the veritable treasure trove of non-time-based collision routines (i.e. circle to circle and circle to line), practical descriptions of isometric representation and A*path-finding. The mathematical proof is presented for those mathematically inclined and for those "less rigerous" folks, the actionscript is included and explained.

The above stuff can easily be applied to other development environments (i.e. Lingo in Director, C++ in WildTangent) and that is the greatest value of this book. It's portability.

Of course, there are very specific Flash tips and hints around the limited computing power of Flash (i.e. design games to reduce collidable objects because the Flash Engine can't perform fast enough) which is valuable for those willing to learn from other's experience.

Also included on the CD-ROM are sample Flash applications like a crossword puzzle, a Multiplayer game (with included Jobe's company's multiuser server) and isometric sample game.

I almost wish to keep the book a secret because it is SO good but I believe Jobe deserves all the credit for delivering such a solid book so I highly recommend buying it!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent presentation. Honest coverage of issues, December 2, 2003

By 

John Harpur (Trim, Meath, IRELAND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Macromedia Flash MX Game Design Demystified (Paperback)

This is a very interesting book from quite a number of angles. The book is strong on discussing Flash centred technique, good on algortihmic tradeoffs but possible a little limited in in its key example. It will definitely help Falsh developers do better. The author is honest about the limitations of Flash as a game developmnet tool. The bottom line is that Flash is good a tightly defined games where some tradeoff with real-time interaction is allowable, but don't expect tthe full functionality (or speed) of a conventional games engine. There is a wealth of useful information in the book. If you have any handle on programming and Actionscript you will gain a lot more by taking timeover this book. The coding is good, and the algorithms are actually meaningful and useful. The author is clear about strengths and limitations of his approach A very rare characteristic of games books.

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book for Flash MX, Actionscript Experts ONLY, November 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Macromedia Flash MX Game Design Demystified (Paperback)

I agree with the others that this is the most advanced flash game book without exception. The book is over 620+ pages with very little fluff and no novice turorials or hand holding.

If you have a firm grasp of Flash MX, Actionscripting and using Flash MX as a game platform you cannot do wrong with this book.

However if you are a beginner you will not find the typical basic tutorial sections that expert users loath as a waste of print. If you have not used Flash MX extensivly I reccomend purchasing one of the other titles that do the hand holding to get yourself up to speed before you invest in Flash MX Game Design Demystified.

Good book for the expert user, but not good at all for the beginner.