| Flash games have become more and more popular in | | | | write a mock-up game in Flash. The idea of this stage |
| recent years. While the demand for new games | | | | is to write the code in Flash for the game to be |
| continues to increase, the number of developers | | | | functional, without worrying too much about how the |
| seems to remain comparatively static. The reason for | | | | game looks. I often use place holder graphics at this |
| that might be that developing Flash games requires | | | | stage, which will later be swapped with graphics |
| such a diverse range of skills. | | | | produced by an artist, and unless it is integral to the |
| Of course, to make Flash games a competence in | | | | game I leave the audio out entirely. |
| Flash is required, but that alone is not enough. A good | | | | Graphics and audio |
| Flash games developer needs programming skills, | | | | Once the mock-up has been written, and tested, the |
| graphical skills, audio skills, not to mention a good | | | | next stage is to integrate the graphics and audio. If |
| analytical mind, a methodical way of working through | | | | the design phase was completed carefully with |
| problems, and the patience to see a project through | | | | consideration to the graphics and audio, the artists (if |
| to completion. Here is a rough outline of how a single | | | | the developer is not creating the graphics |
| developer might tackle the problem of writing a Flash | | | | themselves) can be producing the graphical assets |
| game from scratch. | | | | while the mock-up is being created. This allows the |
| Planning and design | | | | graphics and audio to be integrated relatively quickly |
| Games are complex pieces of software. Even a small | | | | and easily, and the game is now fully tested again. |
| puzzle game written in Flash is likely to include several | | | | Final touches |
| main screens or game states, multiple movieclips | | | | Only after the game is virtually complete do final |
| which may be nested (giving multiple timelines), one | | | | touches such as introduction and end of level |
| or more actionscipt files and possibly actionscript on | | | | screens, or preloaders get added. This allows testing |
| the timeline, graphical elements either drawn in Flash | | | | to be much quicker and easier as the tester doesn't |
| or embedded in either bitmap or vector formats, and | | | | have to repeatedly click through spurious intro |
| audio files. | | | | screens. |
| With so many elements, sitting down at a computer | | | | As we have seen, even a simple Flash game is a |
| with Flash open and starting to code is very unlikely | | | | complicated project to take on. However, with |
| to produce a satisfactory result. Whenever I start to | | | | careful planning and by breaking the project down |
| write a new game I first start with a pen and paper, | | | | into sensibly sized modules a competent Flash |
| initially with a description of how I'll go about writing | | | | developer can easily tackle small games projects |
| the game, then with lists of game starts and main | | | | alone, especially if they have the help of an artist for |
| functionality, then with list of assets required. Only | | | | the graphics and audio. |
| then, once I have a good idea of how the game will | | | | If you've not written a game from scratch before |
| be written can I start to collate assets, and begin to | | | | then consider making modifications to an existing |
| write the game. | | | | game first. That will give you experience working on |
| Mock-up | | | | games, and the confidence to take on larger projects |
| Once a design has been drafted, the next step is to | | | | from scratch in the future. |