Overview
This book will be the only game-specific book for Macromedia Flash and ActionScript. Each chapter will study and deconstruct a new type of game or gadget, such as hunt and click games, catch and avoid games, or action and adventure games.
The book will waste no time on illustration or animation directions but will focus solely on building games in Flash, including coding, the primary skill that most aspiring Flash game designers lack.
Synopsis
This book will be the only game-specific book for Macromedia Flash and ActionScript. Each chapter will study and deconstruct a new type of game or gadget, such as hunt and click games, catch and avoid games, or action and adventure games.
The book will waste no time on illustration or animation directions but will focus solely on building games in Flash, including coding, the primary skill that most aspiring Flash game designers lack.
Booknews
Rosenzweig, who has written several books on Macromedia Director, here provides a detailed guide to using Macromedia Flash to create games. Flash basics are reviewed with a focus on those aspects that will be applied interactively. ActionScript is introduced here in detail for novices then its game-related aspects are explained. The remainder of the volume contains example programs and the source code to create a seemingly infinite variety of games. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble ReviewActionScript gives Flash developers a world of new possibilities. In this book, Gary Rosenzweig focuses on one of the niftiest: game development. Whether you've always wanted to create games, or you're looking for creative ways to solve a web advertising or training problem, you'll find a wealth of ideas here.
Rosenzweig, long known for his works on Lingo -- Director's programming language -- brings the same clarity to ActionScript. He starts with 14 concise lessons which take you from "Hello World" to functions and arrays; then focuses on the ActionScript elements best suited for games and "toys": elements that control movie clips, detection collisions, accept keyboard input, play sounds, and so forth. Next he walks through the game development process, helping you avoid pitfalls and set your expectations (Flash still isn't the place to create high-end 3D shoot-em-ups).
Then it's on to the games. Rosenzweig starts with simple toys (crystal balls and lava lamps); then covers construction toys, hunt-and-click games ("Whack-a-Fox"), catch-and-avoid games (don't drop that apple!), basic aim-and-shoot games; ball and paddle games; quizzes; word, picture, and brain puzzles; casino games; even '80s-style arcade games. It's so much fun, learning ActionScript is almost a bonus.(Bill Camarda)
--Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer with nearly 20 years' experience in helping technology companies deploy and market advanced products and services. He served for nearly ten years as vice president of a New Jersey-based marketing company, where he supervised a wide range of graphics and web design projects. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000
Rosenzweig, who has written several books on Macromedia Director, here provides a detailed guide to using Macromedia Flash to create games. Flash basics are reviewed with a focus on those aspects that will be applied interactively. ActionScript is introduced here in detail for novices then its game-related aspects are explained. The remainder of the volume contains example programs and the source code to create a seemingly infinite variety of games. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)