Ugh... A noob in need

[Flaming-Fish]

I've had flash for a while, using every now and again, but now i want to seriously start making some good stuff. My problem is, all of the tutorials I find are too basic (example: talk about motion tweens and simple animation techniques) or too complicated (example: complicated Action Scripting).

I've looked at the majority of the tutorials here in Newgrounds, and some I've searched on google or something. I'm looking for some good tutorials in animation and Action Scripting,

So now I ask to those experienced flash users, you must have been at my stage at one point. What did you do to get you where you are?

Anyone who can reply can very much help me as i will value your opinion greatly. Thank you!

[SkySausage]

I'm about in that stage too. I'm trying now to learn more advanced scripting and not just gotoAndStop. My method of learning is to download source FLA files of tutorials from the net, then mess about with the variables to see what each part of the script does. I've learnt a lot like this, it may work for you.

[kernalphage]

Don't expect information to be handed to you on a silver platter.
When i'm staring down at a new program, the first thing i do... is try everything. go through every menu, every tab, every window. try it with different objects, the same object in different times... combine things. what happens if you use a blur filter on a mask? On the object behind the mask? On a movieclip with the mask and base combined?

seriously, i've been wondering the difference.

barring that, maybe you need to learn some general information, not just flash. if actionscript is too hard for you, learn the concepts of Computer science. Tweens not giving you the best animation? learn some traditional animation, the program is designed to help with FBF animators.

[Tugler]

First get some of the free http://cartoonsmart.com tutorials and if you want buy the better ones (which are very descriptive) or you can "download" them from a "secret saucy bitch"

[Tugler]

Also a noob in need needs Puffs indeed!

[MiniSTICKY]

I just made stuff. Nothing too tricky, or entertaining, but technically functional. I used to find tutorials(largely on kirupa.com) for stuff like falling snow and adapt the script a little bit and build a game around it, like this(nevermind the NG preloader). Some things didn't take as much script as I thought. Before that, I really just looked at tutorials and learned a few things, like _x,_y, random, variables, for statements, if statements, hitTests... It takes a while to learn to implement them in clever ways, but it wasn't as big a step as I thought.

[UnknownFury]

At 3/24/08 10:52 AM, Tugler wrote: Also a noob in need needs Puffs indeed!

Actually, a noob in need, is a noob indeed.

What do you want to learn? Animation or AS?

[johnfn]

At 3/24/08 11:45 AM, MiniSTICKY wrote: I just made stuff.

That's the best idea here. The best - nah, the ONLY - way to learn is just to do it yourself. You can't just take tutorials and copy script - you have to make a goal and then come up with your own script, checking the help files and asking newgrounds whenever you run into problems or when you don't know how to do something.

[UnknownFury]

At 3/24/08 12:22 PM, johnfn wrote:

At 3/24/08 11:45 AM, MiniSTICKY wrote: I just made stuff.

That's the best idea here. The best - nah, the ONLY - way to learn is just to do it yourself. You can't just take tutorials and copy script - you have to make a goal and then come up with your own script, checking the help files and asking newgrounds whenever you run into problems or when you don't know how to do something.

Hes not asking to just 'take script'. How are you meant to just work something out without being shown how to do it? With animation, granted, you can. But you can't just randomly guess codes like hitTest and how to use it correctly. You need to be shown the ropes and the basics - then you can go out and experiment for yourself.

[johnfn]

At 3/24/08 12:24 PM, UnknownFury wrote:

At 3/24/08 12:22 PM, johnfn wrote:

At 3/24/08 11:45 AM, MiniSTICKY wrote: I just made stuff.

That's the best idea here. The best - nah, the ONLY - way to learn is just to do it yourself. You can't just take tutorials and copy script - you have to make a goal and then come up with your own script, checking the help files and asking newgrounds whenever you run into problems or when you don't know how to do something.

Hes not asking to just 'take script'. How are you meant to just work something out without being shown how to do it? With animation, granted, you can. But you can't just randomly guess codes like hitTest and how to use it correctly. You need to be shown the ropes and the basics - then you can go out and experiment for yourself.

I knew someone was going to take offense to that - but I meant more for the noob in general who copies an entire platformer script and then wonders why space doesn't make it jump. Granted, an absolute noob will just stare at the blank screen not knowing what to do, but Flash provides tutorials, and from there, the magic of the F1 button (and/or AS:Main) will provide tons of help.

[UnknownFury]

At 3/24/08 12:27 PM, johnfn wrote: I knew someone was going to take offense to that - but I meant more for the noob in general who copies an entire platformer script and then wonders why space doesn't make it jump. Granted, an absolute noob will just stare at the blank screen not knowing what to do, but Flash provides tutorials, and from there, the magic of the F1 button (and/or AS:Main) will provide tons of help.

I didn't take offense. I was just pointing out. AS: Main contains tutorials. Therefore, you're initial statement of learning by yourself without tutorials was incorrect. Thats what I gathered from reading it. I could of got the wrong end of the stick however.

[Flaming-Fish]

Both really

[Flaming-Fish]

What do you want to learn? Animation or AS?

Both

[Flaming-Fish]

Thanks guys, that has helped a lot.

In the past I never have just copied AS examples. I have tried adapting the style and changing it a around a bit. The thing is, that never seams to work for me. I also need to find some things that will give that extension from the very simple stuff into other things with a bit more detail.

[johnfn]

At 3/24/08 12:34 PM, UnknownFury wrote:

At 3/24/08 12:27 PM, johnfn wrote: I knew someone was going to take offense to that - but I meant more for the noob in general who copies an entire platformer script and then wonders why space doesn't make it jump. Granted, an absolute noob will just stare at the blank screen not knowing what to do, but Flash provides tutorials, and from there, the magic of the F1 button (and/or AS:Main) will provide tons of help.

I didn't take offense. I was just pointing out. AS: Main contains tutorials. Therefore, you're initial statement of learning by yourself without tutorials was incorrect. Thats what I gathered from reading it. I could of got the wrong end of the stick however.

Well, I was mainly referring to the lame tutorials that just dump code on you, but I would agree that you do need some sort of tutorial to get you started - it just has to be a good one.

[UnknownFury]

At 3/24/08 01:26 PM, johnfn wrote: Well, I was mainly referring to the lame tutorials that just dump code on you, but I would agree that you do need some sort of tutorial to get you started - it just has to be a good one.

I did kind of think this is what you mean. And I'm sure you'll agree that AS: Main is fantastic at not justing 'dumping code on you'.

Also useful for looking up a specific function.