ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University

By Gary Rosenzweig

Book Overview

Learn ActionScript 3.0 the fun way, by creating 16 great games: real, robust games - not just web toys Highly-rated ActionScript tutorial, now with seven new 3D and card games Code and techniques easily adaptable to training, advertising, and more For Flash artists learning ActionScript, Flash programmers seeking to create games, and upgraders from ActionScript 1.0/2.0. Includes a chapter on developing games in Flash for the iPhone Gary Rosenzweig's ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University, Second Edition is the best hands-on tutorial for learning ActionScript 3.0, the programming language behind Flash Professional CS5. You will master all the basics of ActionScript programming by building 16 robust games. One step at a time, you'll learn techniques (and get tested code) that can be adapted to virtually any project, from games to training and advertising. The first edition earned widespread raves; Rosenzweig has now updated it with seven brand-new games that teach even more valuable ActionScript 3.0 skills and techniques. You will first learn how Flash and ActionScript 3.0 work together, the elements of an ActionScript program, and how to build a basic game framework with ActionScript. Next, Rosenzweig walks you through building the full spectrum of ActionScript games, including brain games, animation-based games, picture puzzles, games based on direction and movement, casual games, word games, Q and A games, action games, game worlds, and more. This edition adds new chapters on card games and 3D games, with High-Low, Video Poker, Blackjack, 3D Paddle Ball, 3D Scavenger Hunt, and two other new projects.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0789747324
• ISBN13: 9780789747327
• Release Date: January 2011
• Publisher: Que
• Length: 567 Pages
• Weight: 2.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 7.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

It's Magic

Here's the deal, I am not a programmer...not even a great flash designer. My previous knowledge of ActionScript was stop(); and gotoAndStop(); Don't know any other computer language. I got this book and 2 weeks later I got my very own Flash game. (two weeks of sitting with a yellow highlighter, and studying like I am back in collage). I don't mean a customized version of one of the book examples, but a completely new game. Gary helps you understand the logic behind games and game play, and how to break it down to tasks even a novice can accomplish. With a bit of help from the flash help menu, you can explore even deeper and very quickly accomplish some amazing things. If you are a quick learner and are not afraid to jump into the text, this book is for you. (it gets overwhelming for about 5 minutes before it all clicks in and you can see clearly the path between your vision and the execution). WARNING: if you have never programed before; It is extremely gratifying, and seems to be addictive. Thanks you Gary, for this great book.

Excellent practical book for moving from AS2 to AS3

I got interested in this book after discovering Gary Rosenzweig's AS3 tutorials on his Flash Game University Website. I was impressed by his ability to explain things clearly and simply. As other reviews have already stated "AS3 Game Programming University" is an excellent and highly readable book for learning AS3. In practice I find it much more helpful than Colin Moock's book "Essential ActionScript 3.0", which is a little too academic for me (although I'm glad I have it!). I'm also finding that code snippets in Gary's book are just as useful to me as those in Joey Lott's "ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook" (which covers more topics). It's helpful to me that Gary writes from a Flash authoring perspective rather than Flex. He doesn't hesitate to include timeline based assets and code when it makes sense to do so, rather than use the Flex style of generating everything in code. The actual games are surprisingly varied and complete, but not so complex that they become difficult to understand. The code that I downloaded from the website works well. It is written in a practical concise manner with proper use of classes and other object-oriented techniques as required by AS3. However, as other reviews have noted, this book is not for advanced programmers that prefer a pure object-oriented style. I recommend this book if you are moving from AS2 to AS3, even if you are not interested in writing games. Gary does not claim it is suitable for beginners without any programming experience but it is more suitable than Moock's "Essential ActionScript 3.0" (which does make such a claim). However it is not for web designers that don't want to learn programming and it is not for advanced programmers that appreciate Moock's AS3 book.

Just what I needed

I'm not new to Flash development but I AM new to ActionScript 3.0. Even for the games I may have coded in AS 2.0, there is tremendous value in seeing them revised for Flash's new language. As for the others - wow. So many opportunities to grow as a developer from these examples. Bonus - I love Gary's conversational style of writing. I feel like he's right there mentoring me while I'm working through the code and the logic behind it. Thank you so very much - this is exactly what I was looking for.

I finally understand!

Just got the book and discovered the website. I like the 'horse-sense' attitude of the author. My goal is not to write tons of perfectly formatted code, for code's sake, but to get a job done. Even in AS2, purist coders tsk tsk the coders that take what I call 'common-sense short cuts', instead of writing many more lines of code in the 'accepted practice' way. Organization is essential, but you don't need the blueprint for a skyscraper to build a tree-house. I am just a couple chapters into the book, and have now looked at a couple of tutes and podcasts on the web site, and am very excited. When I get a mook book or many other books, I learn, but it is work and hard study. When I am reading your book, it is like you are sitting next to me and talking my language. I can't even really identify the difference in language or communication, but in my head it is enormous. I'm constantly saying, 'kewl, so THAT'S how that works.'

The fun way to learn AS3

This book is a fun way to learn AS3. If you've worked with AS2, you may have been shocked by the sweeping changes from AS2 to AS3. Gary's experience as a long-time, professional, web-based game developer is reflected in his efficient coding. He understands problem domain of the more than a dozen types of games he presents. He delivers explanations based on concisely written functioning examples. A valuable chapter for AS2 developers moving to AS3 is Chapter 2 where he presents a variety of techniques used not only in games, but in Flash in general.This book is a great resource whether you know how to develop Flash AS3 games or not, as he has given functional examples to start with. The website which accompanies the book, flashgameu.com, has video tutorials, a forum, and a blog.