How To Write Your Own As3?

[AnimeTeam]

Hello - this is Dan. I have been asking the most ridiculous questions on Newgrounds. Most of'em are just straight up insane to help with, but I have an easy load for you all, hopefully. I have just finished 2 books on ActionScript 3.0, and for general Flash CS6 use. I am now wondering how people actually make their own code with the prior knowledge that has been developed from these books. I learned how to put things together, but how do I create something, like a video game to be precise?
Things that I have learned in books...
- Using/creating classes.
- Design patterns.
- Object orientated programming.
- Using/creating functions.
- Using/creating conditional statements.
- Working with videos.
- Working with media servers.
I know how to use the stuff, and write code, but what do I do with it? How do I get started?

[Diki]

At 3/30/13 06:02 PM, AnimeTeam wrote: I know how to use the stuff, and write code, but what do I do with it? How do I get started?

This is a difficult question to answer; it's just one of those things that comes with experience. That is kind of like asking what is the correct, or best, way to ride a bicycle; you can be told you're supposed to keep it balanced at a moderate speed, but eventually you need to try riding the bike on your own to truly learn how to turn that theory into practice.

I can still, however, offer on piece of advice, which is one of the most important things any programmer can do, in my opinion. That advice is to plan the hell out of whatever you are making. Developing any application is very complicated, and as such you should have some kind of plan to complete said application, and in the context of game development, as well as some other forms of development, this means writing a design document. This is unfortunately one of those things that people view kind of like flossing: they know that they should do it, but they still don't because it's a pain in the ass; writing a design document sucks, much like flossing, but is ultimately worth it. You don't need to write some 100 page absurdly in-depth monstrosity, but you should have something that outlines everything important in the project and how it should function. While writing the document imagine that the person reading it isn't going to be you; it will help a lot down the road if you, or someone else, has to use it as reference material.

Long story short: it does not matter what you are developing; you should spend the majority of your time planning, not programming.

P.S.
Even though the OP mentioned AS3 while posting this thread I think that the point of the thread itself, and the questions the OP is asking, are not intrinsically related to AS3 per se, so I am going to leave this thread open for discussion.

[AnimeTeam]

Thank you, for your great advice, and guidance. I'll be sure to ask more questions when I need it. I'll start off by plotting the code of which I need to create, first. Once again; thank you!

[Snubby]

I would start by making a very simple engine and then add more and more to it. For example, start by making a player just move with the arrowkeys, then have them attack when you press space, then have an enemy that walks around, have the enemy hurt the player, have the player hurt the enemy, etc. Then once you have the engine working you can just add stuff around it like a HUD, menus, preloader, etc.

You should start by making simple games/minigames. Don't try to make a largescale project right out of the gate. Diki is right that planning is very important, but this is more for largescale games.

[PMMurphy]

your profile image scares me. I hate that comic.

Anyway. Making video games is complicated.

Best way to learn is to read other people's code and reprogram stuff that is already programmed.

WHen your just starting out and learning you want to try to avoid your own code as much as possible. Or atleast have other code to reference to to model yours afterwards. Because chances are your code is going to be extremely terrible.

Best of luck. Post questions on the forum and try your own projects. I'll comment and help out from time to time. But i am learning all these questions just like you.

[mandog]

Create a game, make tests, win at life?