Flash Project 2

Well I have a newfound respect for game programmers.  Just making a simple multiple choice question and answer game was very difficult.  I'm sure there is an easier way to go about making it but I ended up using a lot of keyframes and code on each frame.  I think that when I use this game concept for Derek's class I am going to include more dynamic text and and make the points worth more.  I think I am pretty pleased with how this project turned out but I do wish I knew how to make the game start over from the first frame on the main timeline and not the first frame in the mc_imgs timeline.  I'm not even sure if that is possible but if it is it would be nice to know.

Flash Games 2

as a follow up to my last post, I plan on making my project 2 on video cameras/angles etc since i dont have all of the information for the other idea yet, this way i can build it and make it functional and just go back later and swap out images and questions.

Flash Games

So I have just recently decided that while I do like flash and using it to make animated movies and stuff of a similar practice, I do not like making games--even "simple" ones.  I am sure I can just equate the dislike to the fact that I need to practice it more but coding games is intense.  I honestly think I made my game for assignment nine way to complex.  I think I need to use something other than a random number generator to display the questions because it is kind of confusing when you answer the same question 3 or 4 times in a row.  I think for project two rather than making a game of hit test and timer and arrow keys, I want to make a question&answer game similar to the "anatomy of a letter" game.  I think it will be more realistic to accomplish in the time given, especially since making games is not my strong suit right now.  Also I think a question&answer game is more fitting to the topic since I am relating it to Derek's paper.  I think that this game will involve the players more because they would have had to read the paper first.  I know that this isolates some people but really it is more of a targeted audience situation; only people who are interested in learning about simulation and its use in the military would want to read the paper and play the game.  with this game I think it would be good to use "gotoAndStop/gotoAndPlay" functions.  But I can keep some of my original idea with the enter your name page and instructions page.

what is the difference between...

...flash and shockwave?

http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-shockwave-and-flash/

well the times they are a changin'

the evolution of Flash:


http://www.webtoolhub.com/visitlink.aspx?type=link&id=340

Flash Tutorials

Just some more Flash Tutorials  to keep in mind
had some cool apple iPhone effects that could be potentially useful for Capstones!

Infographic: the Death Star (part 2)

Well as an update to the previous post, rather than including videos, since I didn't have any of my own, iI decided to download some of the iconic songs from the films and put them as external .swf files in my project.  For the most part I definitely think it came out pretty good and I am pleased with the overall look of it.  But there are a few things I might go back and fix.  For instance, I probably want to add somewhere that this is about the Death Star. I have an image of it and the word Star Wars but I think it might add some clarity.  Also i might make it bigger in the sense of stage area.  I mean it is a medium size but making it bigger might help with the font readability on the slides. Also I need to add some instruction as to what to click on with in each slide, specifically R2D2.  And just as a final thought, rather than using the accordion slider effect I might try doing something like Kelsey Trabue did with her infographic.  For the most part the code for the slider tabs work if you open and close each individually rather than opening one and clicking on two to close one and open two (if that makes any sense) but sometimes the code is picky and doesn't want to work at all, even though I gave it specific values rather than moving percentages.  So I included a word document of my code for anyone to look and and use, and fix if they see a mistake I missed.  Otherwise, I think the way Kelsey did her's might be a good solution to the slider problem, even though it would be a cool code to conquer!

ps:
   ok so I cant attach a file so sorry for the length, but here is the code:

var loader:Loader=new Loader();

var mcExternal:MovieClip;

var toggle_btn:Boolean = true;

cont.visible = false;

copy_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,toggle_on_off);

           

function toggle_on_off(event:MouseEvent):void {

            if (toggle_btn) {

                        toggle_btn = false;

                        cont.visible = true;

                        cont.play();

            } else {

                        toggle_btn = true;

                        cont.visible = false;

                        cont.gotoAndStop(1);

            }

}

import fl.transitions.Tween;

import fl.transitions.easing.*;

var toggle_intro:Boolean = true;

mc1.btn1_intro.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,movement1);

function movement1(event:MouseEvent):void {

            if (toggle_intro) {

                        toggle_intro = false;

                        mc1.x=150

                        var Tween2:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,588, 1, true);

                        var Tween3:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,631, 1, true);

                        var Tween4:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,673, 1, true);

                        var Tween5:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,716, 1, true);

                        this.addChild(loader);

                        loader.load(new URLRequest("intro.swf"));

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

           

                        function swfIn(e:Event):void {

                       

                        loader.width = 380;

                        loader.height = 486;

                       

                        loader.x=197;

                        loader.y=0;

                       

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

                        mcExternal=loader.content as MovieClip;

                        }

            } else {

                        toggle_intro = true;

                        loader.unload();

                        mcExternal=null;

                       

                        var Tween6:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,514, 1, true);

                        var Tween7:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,557, 1, true);

                        var Tween8:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,600, 1, true);

                        var Tween9:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,643, 1, true);

                        var Tween10:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,686, 1, true);

            }

}

var toggle_dstar:Boolean = true;

mc2.btn2_ds.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,movement2);

function movement2(event:MouseEvent):void {

            if (toggle_dstar) {

                        toggle_dstar = false;

                       

                        var Tween1:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,150, 1, true);

                        var Tween2:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,195, 1, true);

                        var Tween3:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,631, 1, true);

                        var Tween4:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,673, 1, true);

                        var Tween5:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,716, 1, true);

                        this.addChild(loader);

                        loader.load(new URLRequest("deathstar.swf"));

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

           

                        function swfIn(e:Event):void {

                       

                        loader.width = 410;

                        loader.height = 486;

                       

                        loader.x=239;

                        loader.y=0;

                       

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

                        mcExternal=loader.content as MovieClip;

                        }

            } else {

                        toggle_dstar = true;

                        loader.unload();

                        mcExternal=null;

                       

                        var Tween6:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,514, 1, true);

                        var Tween7:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,557, 1, true);

                        var Tween8:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,600, 1, true);

                        var Tween9:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,643, 1, true);

                        var Tween10:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,686, 1, true);

            }

}

var toggle_interior:Boolean = true;

mc3.btn3_int.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,movement3);

function movement3(event:MouseEvent):void {

            if (toggle_interior) {

                        toggle_interior = false;

                       

                        var Tween1:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,150, 1, true);

                        var Tween2:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,195, 1, true);

                        var Tween3:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,237, 1, true);

                        var Tween4:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,673, 1, true);

                        var Tween5:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,716, 1, true);

                        this.addChild(loader);

                        loader.load(new URLRequest("interior.swf"));

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

           

                        function swfIn(e:Event):void {

                       

                        loader.width = 390;

                        loader.height = 486;

                       

                        loader.x=280;

                        loader.y=8;

                       

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

                        mcExternal=loader.content as MovieClip;

                        }

            } else {

                        toggle_interior = true;

                        loader.unload();

                        mcExternal=null;

                       

                        var Tween6:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,514, 1, true);

                        var Tween7:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,557, 1, true);

                        var Tween8:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,600, 1, true);

                        var Tween9:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,643, 1, true);

                        var Tween10:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,686, 1, true);

            }

}

var toggle_weapons:Boolean = true;

mc4.btn4_weapon.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,movement4);

function movement4(event:MouseEvent):void {

            if (toggle_weapons) {

                        toggle_weapons = false;

                        mc1.x=150

                        mc2.x=195

                        mc3.x=237

                        mc4.x=280

                        mc5.x=716

                        this.addChild(loader);

                        loader.load(new URLRequest("weapons.swf"));

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

           

                        function swfIn(e:Event):void {

                       

                        loader.width = 385;

                        loader.height = 486;

                       

                        loader.x=325;

                        loader.y=0;

                       

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

                        mcExternal=loader.content as MovieClip;

                        }

            } else {

                        toggle_weapons = true;

                        loader.unload();

                        mcExternal=null;

                       

                        var Tween6:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,514, 1, true);

                        var Tween7:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,557, 1, true);

                        var Tween8:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,600, 1, true);

                        var Tween9:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,643, 1, true);

                        var Tween10:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,686, 1, true):

            }

}

var toggle_crew:Boolean = true;

mc5.btn5_crew.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,movement5);    

function movement5(event:MouseEvent):void {

            if (toggle_crew) {

                        toggle_crew = false;

                       

                        var Tween1:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,150, 1, true);

                        var Tween2:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,195, 1, true);

                        var Tween3:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,237, 1, true);

                        var Tween4:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,280, 1, true);

                        var Tween5:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,325, 1, true);

                        this.addChild(loader);

                        loader.load(new URLRequest("crew.swf"));

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

           

                        function swfIn(e:Event):void {

                       

                        loader.width = 390;

                        loader.height = 486;

                       

                        loader.x=367;

                        loader.y=0;

                       

                        loader.contentLoaderInfo.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE,swfIn);

                        mcExternal=loader.content as MovieClip;

                        }

            } else {

                        toggle_crew = true;

                        loader.unload();

                        mcExternal=null;

                       

                        var Tween6:Tween = new Tween(mc1, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc1.x,514, 1, true);

                        var Tween7:Tween = new Tween(mc2, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc2.x,557, 1, true);

                        var Tween8:Tween = new Tween(mc3, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc3.x,600, 1, true);

                        var Tween9:Tween = new Tween(mc4, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc4.x,643, 1, true);

                        var Tween10:Tween = new Tween(mc5, "x", Strong.easeOut, mc5.x,686, 1, true);

            }

}

Project One: Infographic--the Death Star

Death Star is right! wow this is a pretty intense project.  Though I think I made some real progress today! I have done pretty much all of the external swfs except for 2 and the hard part I think will be tracing R2D2 and making the buttons on him function for the buttons of a photoalbum.  I need to make sure that they stand out so that people know there is something to do on that "slide".  Also Im having trouble getting the fonts to show up and not revert to a default.  I saved some as TLF but it didn't work.  For some of the other files the TLF showed up but for others I ended up breaking them apart and converting them to graphic symbols and it worked.  I don't know what that is all about?.  So, so far it has been kind of rough but I am getting there and all I need to do is figure out how to externally load all of the files in to the main file and make them slide like an accordion, but I figure it has to be similar to the timeline action-script so it cant be too bad.  Also I need to figure out about video content for an external video.  I don't have any videos of Star Wars on my own computer and thought that I could link it somehow to YouTube but that didn't work  :(  i might just have to come up with a new idea for that file altogether.

Interactive Timeline Assignment

Well, I'm not sure if this was one of an easier flash assignment or if I am just getting better in working with flash ( and I hope it is the second one) but I had very minimal problems in completing this assignment.  I even got to include the custom cursor; and it actually functions and is not just for show!! I like that we learned how to make a toggle button where we can just code functions for the same symbol rather than having two buttons to view and hide externally linked swf files.  I made my timeline on the history of Harry Potter books and movies.  This was perhaps the most tedious part of the project was finding the correct information and then copy and pasting multiple layers and renaming and editing to say the correct information, man HP sure is a huge franchise!
The only thing I might try to change is to add a button that can switch on and off looping sound because it does get kind of annoying if you look at the file for too long but other than that I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

Another Website

I thought this was a cool tutorial and I might try to include my custom cursor in the new flash project


FLASH CURSOR

Flash Game

If your looking for a study break or just a way to kill time

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/315702

is a cool flash game that is like a Rubik cube where you have to drag  lines of colors around the cube to unlock the next level, I got to level 16  the other night before I realized it was past bed time.

Help! I Need Somebody...

Here are just a few websites I found with helpful Flash tips and tricks


This is just for the basics, using tweens, masks etc.
http://www.freeadobeflashtutorials.com/

This shows how to make images with water look like it is moving
http://www.pixelhivedesign.com/tutorials/Realistic+Flash+Water+Effect/

This is a cool transition effect
http://flash-effects.com/tutorial-drip-transition-effect/

Finally this website is for creating an effect that looks like someone is writing
http://www.flashperfection.com/tutorials/Pen-Writing-Text-22903.html

Flash Woah-Oh

When I first came to the iMedia program I certainly had my reservations about learning Flash.  We only slightly touched on it in the end of my undergrad career at JMU but lets just say it was an unpleasant experience. It seemed like magic or fate or something just clicked (finally!) in the iMedia Bootcamp.  I still don't know a lot about Flash but what I learned in the first few weeks of the program definitely gave me the confidence to know that it isn't as scary as it seems (even though action-script can be picky about when it wants to work) and that I can make Flash animations.  Now that I know some basics, like making slideshows and photoalbums and mini web pages that externally load and unload other .swf files, the next thing I want to conquer is making a short animated video and work more with the bone tool.