Learning Flash (Specifically for games)

wombat

So it's been like 5 years or so since Ive done any actual Flash work, and now I want to get back in it to mess around and make dumb games in. Where would be a good place to go look and get a good beginners tutorial? What should I know about programming for Flash games? What kind of code do they run on/what should I brush up on? (I have some rudimentary experience with java and c++)

Szechuanosaurus

They run on ActionScript, which is basically a scripting language specially developed for Flash development. It's based on Java and C++ though, so if you've got experience there and are comfortable with things like Object Orientated programming then your probably off to a head start. You'll need to get your head around some of the additional commands designed specifically for controlling flash elements and the peculiarities of working within a timeline but I'd imagine that, by and large, it's more simple than Java or C++.

Places like FlashKit will undoubtedly have game tutorials, but here's a few books I'd recommend.

Flash Games Studio from Friends of Ed
Flash MX Games Design Demystified from Macromedia
Flash MX Designer's ActionScript Reference from Friends of Ed

Those books are a couple of years old now, so there may be more up-to-date ones, but they will probably have similar titles from the same publishers.

Physics For Games Developers from O'Reilly is also a handy reference as a lot of flash action games rely on physics of one sort or another, but it's written as a general guide rather than specifically focusing on implementing physics in Flash, so it's something to chew on once you've exhausted the made-for-Flash equations found in FLash Games Studio and Game Design Demystified.

krl

Good Flash tutorials:

http://www.kirupa.com/developer/flash/index.htm