Beginning Flash Game Programming For Dummies

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 408 pages
• Published by: For Dummies; Updated edition November 21, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0764589628
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0764589621
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1.4 pounds

Product Description
You can start game programming in a flash

Here's how to create five different cool games - no experience necessary!

Ever think you could come up with a better computer game? Then this book is for you! No boring programming theory here, just the stuff you need to know to actually make something happen, and all in plain English. Build a brain-teasing math game, go classic with Pong, create monsters and mayhem, and much more.

Discover how to
* Build and control basic movie clips
* Make text appear and change
* Generate random numbers
* Add sound effects
* Create cars and space vehicles that move realistically
* Blow up stuff onscreen

From the Author
I'm Andy Harris, the author of Beginning Flash Game Programming for Dummies. I'm very excited about this book. It's something I've wanted to write for a very long time. I love games, I love programming, and I love teaching. You'll three passions combined in this book.


I grew up inventing games long before ordinary people could own a computer. When I got ahold of my first computer, I wrote games on it (and did some serious stuff too.)


My first career was teaching severe disabilities special education. I really enjoyed that job, and it taught me a lot about how to explain things clearly without being insulting. While I was working as a special education teacher, I kept programming. I wrote some games for fun, and did some serious freelance programming, as well as teaching programming part time at the local university.


Now I'm a full time computer science instructor at Indiana University / Purdue University - Indianapolis. (Yes, that is the longest university name in the world.) I teach all kinds of programming languages and styles, but I never forget to have fun and enjoy teaching.


I've written several other books on various programming topics, but this one is special. First, I'm thrilled to be writing in the landmark Dummies series. It's an honor to be associated with such an established title. At the same time, it's fun to work with a publisher that encourages me to write terrible puns. That turned out to be no problem, as you'll see. The best part is I get to write about my passion.


Computer games are a lot of fun. So why is it that books about writing games are so painful? I wanted to write a book that was fun, but also teaches you the stuff you need so you can write your own games. If you sit down and work through this book, I promise you you'll be able to make good games.


I can't wait to see the games you make. Get writing some games, and drop me an email some time!


-Andy

Reader Reviews
This book is a really excellent *programming* introduction to Flash; apparently the only one of its kind on the market! I consider myself a "programmer" type, and had been turned off by most of the other introductory Flash material that I'd encountered, which was mostly designed for graphic designers who wanted to avoid programming. Even the most basic introductory ActionScript books out there begin by assuming you already know how to make a pretty good Flash movie, which is really terrible, because you have to unlearn a lot of so-called "advanced" Flash-animation techniques to get good at Flash programming. As a programmer, you should be able to read through this book in a day... Then spend another day or two working on the official exercises. You could then easily blow weeks on this book's ten "starters" (available for free on fordummies.com): unfinished games whose final implementation is left up to your imagination. These are a fantastic resource; finishing the exercises and starters will prepare you to read the other Flash introductory in a new light.