I want to learn AS 3

[Play2jens]

Hello there,

Some years ago, I learned AS 2.0 Basics, and I was able to make a small game. Some months ago I decided to install Flash CS3 with the intention to learn AS 3.0 with the perpose to make a nice rpg game some day.

Ever since, I've been trying to make a start at it. But it didn't went that well. It's hard to find proper tutorials on the net. Does anyone know a good one?

I even got some more questions:
- What programm should I use to build the game? Flash SC3 or Flex/Flashdevelop?
- What are the diffrences between those two mentioned above?
- Is it worth that much to learn AS 3? I can't even program object orientated =/

- When I'm building a top-down RPG, Should I make the map move and the player stay in the middle, or let the player move around and get a V-cam to follow him?

Thanks

[GustTheASGuy]

Flash is a graphics and media editor tool, Flex is just a program compiler - it converts code and provided graphics into the program.

You have to be comfortable with programming to make a nice game; it's not about questions of whether you move the background or the vcam.

Were you to become good at it, you would find AS3 more comfortable. So it is 'worth it', unless you're satisfied with putting your games together with paper glue like vcams. The paper glue metaphor because the result is that the game is an unpleasant mess (both to develop and play) that barely holds together.

[CaptainPoncho]

If you don't have formal training (i.e. learning from someone experienced or taking university-level courses) in programming, do not rely on web tutorials. You need to buy a book. They're only like $20. Sifting through the mess that is web tutorials without a basis in good development habits is a recipe for failure.

[Gamekrazzy]

At 3/4/10 07:44 PM, CaptainPoncho wrote: If you don't have formal training (i.e. learning from someone experienced or taking university-level courses) in programming, do not rely on web tutorials. You need to buy a book. They're only like $20. Sifting through the mess that is web tutorials without a basis in good development habits is a recipe for failure.

That is not true... What makes a recipe for failure is not trying at all. Try looking up your resources on Adobe.com. Nothing they post on there is bad development, besides maybe coding on movieclips.

[CaptainPoncho]

At 3/4/10 07:57 PM, Gamekrazzy wrote:

At 3/4/10 07:44 PM, CaptainPoncho wrote: If you don't have formal training (i.e. learning from someone experienced or taking university-level courses) in programming, do not rely on web tutorials. You need to buy a book. They're only like $20. Sifting through the mess that is web tutorials without a basis in good development habits is a recipe for failure.

That is not true... What makes a recipe for failure is not trying at all. Try looking up your resources on Adobe.com. Nothing they post on there is bad development, besides maybe coding on movieclips.

Adobe doesn't provide you resources to teach you how to program, they give you tutorials to teach you how to use AS3. You're not going to become a good programmer from reading an assortment of different tutorials. I know this won't be a popular idea here, so I'm not going to argue it too much, but you can definitely see in some code posted here when people are using tutorials without any sort of outside learning.

[Neo-13]

You both have a point. Doing nothing at all isn't going to help. However in order to learn in the most efficient and effective way, little snippets here and there don't help - you need something like a book to guide you through it all. Once you have a decent grounding, the snippets and Adobe livedocs etc are very helpful, because you already understand the basics.

[CaptainPoncho]

At 3/4/10 08:15 PM, Neo-13 wrote: You both have a point. Doing nothing at all isn't going to help.

Well, obviously. I wasn't suggesting doing nothing. I'm not sure that's really a 'point'.

[Gamekrazzy]

At 3/4/10 08:15 PM, Neo-13 wrote: You both have a point. Doing nothing at all isn't going to help. However in order to learn in the most efficient and effective way, little snippets here and there don't help - you need something like a book to guide you through it all. Once you have a decent grounding, the snippets and Adobe livedocs etc are very helpful, because you already understand the basics.

I guess that makes sense, you can't really understand any of the tuts if you don't have an understanding of variables, functions and/or conditionals. XD, I went from coding "Byond" to flash. I don't really mess with "Byond" anymore now.
Anyways, what I ment is that you can't just assume that he can't learn using tuts from the adobe search. Some tutorials explain everything, even simple stuff.

[Play2jens]

Thanks all,
I can't denie that adobe tutorials are bad , but for me, they do not give enough information to completly learn how to program...

So you what book should I take? I looked in my local library a few weeks ago, and there was not much good stuff (only some books about "how to animate in flash 8 / CS3 / ...)

[CaptainPoncho]

At 3/5/10 01:38 AM, Play2jens wrote: Thanks all,
I can't denie that adobe tutorials are bad , but for me, they do not give enough information to completly learn how to program...

So you what book should I take? I looked in my local library a few weeks ago, and there was not much good stuff (only some books about "how to animate in flash 8 / CS3 / ...)

This is the book I used.

[Play2jens]

At 3/5/10 03:01 AM, CaptainPoncho wrote:

At 3/5/10 01:38 AM, Play2jens wrote: Thanks all,
I can't denie that adobe tutorials are bad , but for me, they do not give enough information to completly learn how to program...

So you what book should I take? I looked in my local library a few weeks ago, and there was not much good stuff (only some books about "how to animate in flash 8 / CS3 / ...)

This is the book I used.

Thanks, I really consider buying it!
I still do not really get it, when I should use CS3 and when I should use Flex/Flashdevelop...
Is Flex more for hardcore AS 3 programmers? And SC3 when you're creating a game/website with more animations and stuff? Is there much diffrence between those two? And is CS3 more fun to use? (At least that's my thought.)

[Neo-13]

Use CS3, as it's an easier environment to develop in, especially if you want animations and stuff.