Macromedia Flash Mx 2004 Game Programming

by Murray, Craig S.; Everett-Church, Justin

• ISBN13: 9781592000364
• ISBN10: 1592000363
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-06
• Publisher: Cengage Learning Ptr

Summary

Provides techniques for using Flash in creating computer games, covering such topics as functions, handlers, arrays, movie objects, physics, and artificial intelligence.

Table of Contents

Letter from the Series Editor	xxiii
Introduction	xxv
Part One Getting Started	1	(78)
The Flash Authoring Tool	3	(24)
Interface	4	(2)
Creating a New Movie	6	(1)
The Stage	6	(1)
The Tools Panel	7	(2)
The Library	9	(2)
Importing Graphics and Sound	11	(1)
Text Fields	12	(1)
Static Text Fields	13	(1)
The Properties Panel	13	(2)
The Transform Panel	15	(2)
The Timeline	17	(3)
Frames	17	(1)
The Playhead	17	(1)
Keyframes	18	(1)
Layers	18	(2)
Frame Labels	20	(2)
Scenes	22	(1)
Adding a Simple Tween	22	(1)
Previewing a Movie	23	(1)
Testing a Movie	23	(1)
Publishing a Movie	23	(2)
Conclusion	25	(2)
Flash ActionScript	27	(52)
The Actions Panel	28	(1)
Where Does the Script Go?	29	(6)
Frame Scripts	30	(2)
Frame Scripts in Movie Clips	32	(1)
Instance Scripts and Event Handlers	33	(2)
The Output Panel	35	(3)
Syntax Error Reports	35	(1)
The trace Function	36	(2)
Variables	38	(1)
Operators	39	(2)
Operator Precedence	41	(2)
More Operators	43	(4)
Pre-Increment and Post-Increment (++)	44	(1)
Pre-Decrement and Post-Decrement (--)	44	(1)
Modulus (%)	45	(1)
Compound Assignments (+=, -=, *=, /=, %=)	46	(1)
Semicolons	47	(1)
Keywords	47	(1)
Comments	48	(1)
Line Comments	49	(1)
Block Comments	49	(1)
Types	49	(3)
Strings	50	(1)
Numbers	51	(1)
Booleans	51	(1)
Literals	52	(1)
Even More Operators	52	(3)
Greater Than (>, >=)	52	(1)
Less Than (<, <=)	53	(1)
Equivalence (==)	53	(1)
Not Equal To (!=)	54	(1)
The NOT Operator (!)	54	(1)
Curly Braces	55	(1)
Conditional Statements	55	(10)
The if Conditional	55	(1)
The else Conditional	56	(1)
The else if Conditional	57	(2)
The Nested Conditional	59	(1)
The switch Statement	60	(5)
Code Blocks	65	(1)
Loops	66	(4)
The while Loop	66	(1)
The do while Loop	67	(1)
The for Loop	68	(2)
Variable Type Conversion	70	(3)
Number to Boolean	70	(1)
Boolean to Number	70	(1)
Number to String	71	(1)
String to Number	72	(1)
String to Boolean	72	(1)
Boolean to String	73	(1)
Logical Operators	73	(5)
The AND Operator (&&)	73	(1)
The OR Operator (||)	74	(1)
Logical Operator Precedence	75	(1)
Using NOT (!) and the Logical Operators	76	(1)
Logical Short Circuit	77	(1)
Conclusion	78	(1)
Part Two Beginner Games	79	(290)
Programming Interactivity: Mouse Chaser	81	(48)
Functions	82	(10)
Built-In Functions	82	(6)
User-Defined Functions	88	(4)
Scope	92	(4)
Block Scope	92	(2)
Movie Clip Scope	94	(2)
The Dot Operator	96	(1)
Properties	96	(5)
The _alpha Property	97	(1)
The _x and _y Properties	97	(3)
The _xscale and _yscale Properties	100	(1)
The _width and _height Properties	100	(1)
The _visible Property	100	(1)
The _rotation Property	101	(1)
References	101	(6)
The _root Reference	102	(1)
The this Reference	103	(1)
The _parent Reference	104	(2)
Function References	106	(1)
The _xmouse and _ymouse Properties	107	(1)
Creating Mouse Chaser	108	(20)
The Idea	109	(1)
Creating the Library Assets	110	(5)
Script Organization	115	(1)
Implementation	116	(10)
Testing	126	(1)
Complete Code Listing	127	(1)
Conclusion	128	(1)
Creating Instances Dynamically: The Button Menu	129	(54)
Dynamic Movie Clip Instances	130	(11)
Exporting a Library Symbol	130	(2)
Creating a Dynamic Clip Instance	132	(2)
Movie Clip Depth	134	(2)
Removing Dynamic Clips	136	(1)
Duplicating Dynamic Clips	136	(2)
Creating Empty Clips	138	(2)
Dynamic Clip Names: eval	140	(1)
Consolidating Scripts	141	(1)
Attaching Event Handlers to Dynamic Clips	141	(8)
Scoping Rules for Dynamic Event Handlers	143	(1)
The onEnterFrame Handler	144	(1)
The onLoad Handler	145	(1)
The onUnload Handler	145	(1)
The onData Handler	146	(1)
The Mouse Handlers	146	(3)
Buttons	149	(9)
The Button States	150	(3)
The Button Handlers	153	(3)
The Button Hit Area	156	(2)
Controlling Movie Playback	158	(6)
The stop Function	158	(2)
The play Function	160	(1)
The gotoAndPlay Function	160	(1)
The gotoAndStop Function	161	(1)
The nextFrame Function	161	(1)
The prevFrame Function	162	(1)
The _currentframe Property	162	(1)
The _totalframes Property	163	(1)
The Button Menu	164	(17)
The Button Symbol	165	(2)
The Button Implementation	167	(12)
Complete Code Listing	179	(2)
Reusable Scripts	181	(1)
Conclusion	181	(2)
Arrays: Match 'Em Up and Sliders	183	(68)
What Is an Array?	184	(1)
Creating Arrays	185	(1)
Accessing Arrays	185	(1)
Array Members	186	(18)
Array Properties	186	(1)
Array Methods	187	(17)
Initializing Arrays	204	(1)
Nested Arrays	204	(1)
Multidimensional Arrays	205	(3)
Accessing Movie Clip Properties as an Array	208	(2)
Creating Match 'Em Up	210	(19)
The Idea	210	(1)
Creating the Library Assets	210	(1)
Script Organization	210	(1)
Implementation	211	(11)
Testing	222	(4)
Compplete Code Listing	226	(3)
Creating Sliders	229	(20)
The Idea	229	(1)
Creating the Library Assets	230	(3)
Implementation	233	(12)
Complete Code Listing	245	(4)
Conclusion	249	(2)
Objects: Critter Attack	251	(118)
What Is an Object? The Basics	252	(3)
Custom-Made Object Types	253	(1)
Global Objects Versus Instance Objects	253	(1)
The new Operator	253	(1)
Constructors	254	(1)
The typeof Operator	254	(1)
The delete Operator	255	(1)
ActionScript Objects	255	(78)
Core Objects (ECMA)	256	(25)
Movie Objects	281	(51)
Client/Server and Authoring Objects	332	(1)
Creating Critter Attack	333	(34)
The Idea	333	(1)
The Implementation	334	(24)
Testing	358	(1)
Complete Code Listing	359	(8)
Conclusion	367	(2)
Part Three Intermediate Games	369	(162)
Real-Time Programming: Shoot 'Em Up	371	(56)
Timing	372	(3)
The setlnterval Function	373	(1)
The clearlnterval Function	374	(1)
State Machines	375	(3)
What Is a Finite State Machine?	375	(1)
Drawing a State Machine	375	(3)
Creating Shoot 'Em Up	378	(47)
The Idea	379	(2)
Creating the Art Assets	381	(10)
The Design	391	(4)
Implementation	395	(19)
Sound	414	(3)
Testing	417	(1)
Complete Code Listing	418	(7)
Conclusion	425	(2)
Advanced Timing and Trigonometry: Blow 'Em Up	427	(76)
Advanced Timing	428	(2)
The Problem of Movement	430	(1)
Trigonometry	430	(10)
A Right Triangle	431	(1)
The Pythagorean Theorem	432	(1)
The Distance Formula	432	(2)
Implementing the Distance Formula in Flash	434	(1)
Relative Distance and the Improved Distance Formula	435	(2)
The Problem of Movement Revisited	437	(3)
Rotation	440	(10)
Degrees and Radians	440	(2)
The Trigonometric Functions	442	(4)
SOHCAHTOA	446	(2)
Implementing Rotation in Flash	448	(1)
Trigonometry on Any Triangles	449	(1)
Creating Blow 'Em Up	450	(52)
The Idea	450	(2)
The Art	452	(4)
The Design	456	(6)
The Implementation	462	(30)
Testing	492	(1)
Complete Code Listing	492	(10)
Conclusion	502	(1)
Object-Oriented Programming with AS 2.0	503	(28)
What Is OOP?	504	(2)
Planning	505	(1)
Classes	506	(13)
Class Functionality	506	(1)
Defining a Class	507	(4)
Using Classes in Flash	511	(2)
Extending Classes	513	(1)
Creating Custom Aliens	513	(5)
Multiple Inheritance	518	(1)
Managing Data in Classes	519	(11)
Compile-Time Features	519	(8)
Compile-Time and Run-Time Features	527	(2)
Using Packages	529	(1)
Conclusion	530	(1)
Part Four Advanced Games and Topics	531	(160)
Artificial Intelligence: Tic Tac Toe	533	(48)
Turn-Based Game Al	534	(1)
Recursion	535	(6)
Recursion Example: Factorial	535	(2)
Recursion Example: Power	537	(2)
Base Cases	539	(1)
Problems with Recursion	540	(1)
Trees	541	(1)
The Game Tree	542	(2)
Minimax Search	544	(1)
Creating Tic Tac Toe	545	(34)
The Idea	545	(1)
The Artwork	545	(1)
The Design	546	(2)
The Implementation	548	(24)
Testing	572	(1)
Complete Code Listing	573	(6)
Conclusion	579	(2)
Physics: Pachinko	581	(76)
Vectors	582	(8)
Addition and Subtraction with Vectors	584	(1)
Scalar Multiplication with Vectors	585	(1)
Normalizing a Vector	586	(1)
Scaling a Vector	587	(1)
Vector Multiplication: The Dot Product	588	(2)
Basic Physics	590	(23)
Rigid Body Dynamics	590	(1)
Mass	591	(1)
Velocity	591	(1)
Acceleration	591	(1)
Force	592	(1)
Newton's Laws of Motion	592	(2)
Moving Objects	594	(1)
Friction	595	(1)
Marble Example	596	(6)
Collision Response	602	(11)
The Time Interval	613	(1)
Angular Velocity	614	(2)
Creating Pachinko	616	(40)
Art	617	(8)
Script Design	625	(24)
Testing	649	(1)
Complete Code Listing	650	(6)
Conclusion	656	(1)
Server-Side Support for Flash: Highscore Boards	657	(34)
Communicating with the Server	658	(5)
Loading .swf Files from the Server	659	(3)
Loading .jpg Images	662	(1)
Preloaders	663	(1)
Creating a Preloader	664	(10)
Loading Text Files from the Server	668	(4)
Triggering Actions at the End of a Load: onData	672	(1)
Cross-Domain Security Model	673	(1)
Communicating with the Browser	674	(2)
Calling a JavaScript Routine from Flash	676	(2)
Programming the Server	678	(3)
Common Gateway Interface	679	(1)
Embedded Languages	679	(1)
Other Language Choices	680	(1)
Perl	680	(1)
Creating a Highscore Board	681	(9)
Setting Up Flash for Highscore Boards	681	(4)
The Server-Side Scripts	685	(4)
Final Tips on Highscore Boards	689	(1)
More Server Tricks	690	(1)
Conclusion	690	(1)
Epilog	691	(4)
Appendix A ASCII Character Chart	695	(8)
Appendix B Key Object Bindings	703	(6)
Appendix C HTML Primer	709	(10)
What Is HTML?	710	(1)
Tags	710	(9)
Required Tags	711	(1)
Some Additional Tags	712	(3)
Embedded Flash Movies	715	(4)
Appendix D Web Resources and Further Reading	719	(4)
Flash Links	720	(1)
General Game Development Links	721	(1)
Math and Number Links	721	(1)
Community Links	721	(2)
Index	723