Pixel Joint Forum: Why choose flash?

Author

Message

Maarten
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 07 October 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 25

Topic: Why choose flash?
Posted: 13 October 2007 at 3:43am

Hey,

Disclaimer: I'm new to pixel art (not to game programming) so forgive me if im being foolish here.

I was wondering, why do so much people choose flash to make their pixel art game? When I think of flash I think of lame vector animated games, usually made in one afternoon. Cheap games.

Besides flash is pretty limited.

I know not everyone knows c++ but there are really good beginner friendly game program programs out there. Best one I can think of is Game Maker.

It's very beginner friendly because it has drag and drop, but it also has it's own code lanquage and scripts, and the possibilitys are almost endless.

It exports your game as a .exe, like profesional games. Then you can even choose to sell your game if you would want too.

Just to be clear, I'm not trying to force you not to use flash, and I'm definitly not trying to offend anyone, I just thought I'd share my opinion and tips, maybe someone will benefit from it.

What are your thoughts?

Edited by MaartenR - 13 October 2007 at 12:24pm

IP Logged

Platnium
Commander

Joined: 27 June 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 319

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 4:02am

People use flash so they can put the games on a site when games with an .exe extention you have to download.

IP Logged

Maarten
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 07 October 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 25

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 5:40am

Haha yes I know but a downloadable .exe game looks more profesional right?

Again just my opinion was just wondering what other people were thinking.

IP Logged

Pixel_Outlaw
Commander

Joined: 01 September 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3829

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 7:52am

I think the title works as a rhetorical question.

IP Logged

Hatch
Admiral
Admiral

Joined: 05 August 2015
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1387

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 8:37am

One nice thing about Flash is cross-compatibility. Believe it or not, not everyone can use .exe files.

IP Logged

jalonso
Admiral
Admiral

Joined: 29 November 2022
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13537

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 8:57am

Because it:
• makes your pixelart harder to rip
• because its easily shared
• because its resolution independent
• because its small format (swf)
• because most game sites prefer them
• because its easy enough to actually complete a project
• because Mac users like to play too

A good game is a balance of art, code, story, gameplay. As long as the four balance the process is irrevelant.

PJs FAQ <•> Sticky Reads

IP Logged

Twizzler
Midshipman

Joined: 16 November 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 82

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 10:22am

flash has alot more possibilities than Gamemaker... Also, its website embeddable, so people don't have to download it. Most are afraid to download exe's because they believe they are viruses or something.

IP Logged

Blueberry_pie
Rear Admiral

Joined: 24 July 2015
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2176

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 12:09pm

Originally posted by jalonso

• makes your pixelart harder to rip

That's actually not true. It's incredibly easy to extract bitmap images from an SWF file using a simple decompiler. Often easier than ripping from a normal downloadable game, even.

I somehow felt compelled to point that out. Please continue.

IP Logged

Metaru
Commander

Joined: 03 February 2020
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3305

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 12:14pm

or just screencap them.

I ate leel's babies

IP Logged

Maarten
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 07 October 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 25

Posted: 13 October 2007 at 12:23pm

flash has alot more possibilities than Gamemaker...

I find that a bit hard to believe, I dont see advanced 3d lightning systems in flash for example. Not that that is necesary for pixelart games, just to illustrate my point. But then again Im not a flash expert maybe your right!

A good game is a balance of art, code, story, gameplay. As long as the four balance the process is irrevelant.

Yes yes very true but presentation is important too right?

Again Im not trying to force my opnion up onto anyone I was just interested in your thoughts.

Thanks!

Edited by MaartenR - 13 October 2007 at 12:23pm

IP Logged

Pixel_Outlaw
Commander

Joined: 01 September 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3829

Posted: 14 October 2007 at 9:48pm

I think Java is the way to go if you want to do web related coding with maximum power. This way you get excess to OpenGL as well as a decently fast programming language. Flash is mostly for people who wish to make something quickly without having total control. The language is very slow too not really suitable for high level processing (particles systems), collision processing...ect.

If you want to use flash as a programming introduction skip it. It will probably make learning programming harder because it handles screen drawing and movement in bizarre ways. Jalonso and I had a heck of a time conveying thoughts because he worked in Flash and I worked as a programmer. Simple things like screen rendering got confusing due to changing terminology and methods. Game Maker is slightly better but the way it handles things too is a problem. Instances in GM are very misleading. Things like classes and objects will confuse you easily because GM uses a global object for all of it's "instances". My advice would be to learn Java. I don't know Java I'm too busy with C++ and Blitzmax. That said if you have 80 bucks to shell out Blitzmax is a great game program too. I'm writing my own 3D engine in it because you can use OpenGL through a wrapper.

The best way to start making games is to have some forums and programming friends online. You will never stop learning, you will get more and more frustrated as you grow and develop as a programmer. The more you can do the more and harder things you would like to do. I've been making games for about 6 years. All self taught with the help of some books.

my path

RPG Maker (Don't count on finishing your game)

Game Maker (You should consider skipping this due to "instance" handling"

Blitzmax (Great program for those who wish to have more control than Game Maker offers, or if you are older than 15)

C++ (still a complete n00b but learning)

Edited by Pixel_Outlaw - 14 October 2007 at 9:58pm

IP Logged

Diversions
Pixel Joint Forum : The Lounge : Diversions

Author	Message
Maarten Seaman Joined: 07 October 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Topic: Why choose flash? Posted: 13 October 2007 at 3:43am
	Hey, Disclaimer: I'm new to pixel art (not to game programming) so forgive me if im being foolish here. I was wondering, why do so much people choose flash to make their pixel art game? When I think of flash I think of lame vector animated games, usually made in one afternoon. Cheap games. Besides flash is pretty limited. I know not everyone knows c++ but there are really good beginner friendly game program programs out there. Best one I can think of is Game Maker. It's very beginner friendly because it has drag and drop, but it also has it's own code lanquage and scripts, and the possibilitys are almost endless. It exports your game as a .exe, like profesional games. Then you can even choose to sell your game if you would want too. Just to be clear, I'm not trying to force you not to use flash, and I'm definitly not trying to offend anyone, I just thought I'd share my opinion and tips, maybe someone will benefit from it. What are your thoughts? Edited by MaartenR - 13 October 2007 at 12:24pm
	IP Logged

Platnium Commander Joined: 27 June 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 319	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 4:02am
	People use flash so they can put the games on a site when games with an .exe extention you have to download.

	IP Logged

Maarten Seaman Joined: 07 October 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 5:40am
	Haha yes I know but a downloadable .exe game looks more profesional right? Again just my opinion was just wondering what other people were thinking.
	IP Logged

Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 7:52am
	I think the title works as a rhetorical question.

	IP Logged

Hatch Admiral Joined: 05 August 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1387	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 8:37am
	One nice thing about Flash is cross-compatibility. Believe it or not, not everyone can use .exe files.
	IP Logged

jalonso Admiral Joined: 29 November 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 8:57am
	Because it: • makes your pixelart harder to rip • because its easily shared • because its resolution independent • because its small format (swf) • because most game sites prefer them • because its easy enough to actually complete a project • because Mac users like to play too A good game is a balance of art, code, story, gameplay. As long as the four balance the process is irrevelant.
	PJs FAQ <•> Sticky Reads
	IP Logged

Twizzler Midshipman Joined: 16 November 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 10:22am
	flash has alot more possibilities than Gamemaker... Also, its website embeddable, so people don't have to download it. Most are afraid to download exe's because they believe they are viruses or something.

	IP Logged

Blueberry_pie Rear Admiral Joined: 24 July 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2176	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 12:09pm
	*Originally posted by jalonso* • makes your pixelart harder to rip That's actually not true. It's incredibly easy to extract bitmap images from an SWF file using a simple decompiler. Often easier than ripping from a normal downloadable game, even. I somehow felt compelled to point that out. Please continue.
	IP Logged

Metaru Commander Joined: 03 February 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3305	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 12:14pm
	or just screencap them.
	I ate leel's babies
	IP Logged

Maarten Seaman Joined: 07 October 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 13 October 2007 at 12:23pm
	flash has alot more possibilities than Gamemaker... I find that a bit hard to believe, I dont see advanced 3d lightning systems in flash for example. Not that that is necesary for pixelart games, just to illustrate my point. But then again Im not a flash expert maybe your right! A good game is a balance of art, code, story, gameplay. As long as the four balance the process is irrevelant. Yes yes very true but presentation is important too right? Again Im not trying to force my opnion up onto anyone I was just interested in your thoughts. Thanks! Edited by MaartenR - 13 October 2007 at 12:23pm
	IP Logged

Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 14 October 2007 at 9:48pm
	I think Java is the way to go if you want to do web related coding with maximum power. This way you get excess to OpenGL as well as a decently fast programming language. Flash is mostly for people who wish to make something quickly without having total control. The language is very slow too not really suitable for high level processing (particles systems), collision processing...ect. If you want to use flash as a programming introduction skip it. It will probably make learning programming harder because it handles screen drawing and movement in bizarre ways. Jalonso and I had a heck of a time conveying thoughts because he worked in Flash and I worked as a programmer. Simple things like screen rendering got confusing due to changing terminology and methods. Game Maker is slightly better but the way it handles things too is a problem. Instances in GM are very misleading. Things like classes and objects will confuse you easily because GM uses a global object for all of it's "instances". My advice would be to learn Java. I don't know Java I'm too busy with C++ and Blitzmax. That said if you have 80 bucks to shell out Blitzmax is a great game program too. I'm writing my own 3D engine in it because you can use OpenGL through a wrapper. The best way to start making games is to have some forums and programming friends online. You will never stop learning, you will get more and more frustrated as you grow and develop as a programmer. The more you can do the more and harder things you would like to do. I've been making games for about 6 years. All self taught with the help of some books. my path RPG Maker (Don't count on finishing your game) Game Maker (You should consider skipping this due to "instance" handling" Blitzmax (Great program for those who wish to have more control than Game Maker offers, or if you are older than 15) C++ (still a complete n00b but learning) Edited by Pixel_Outlaw - 14 October 2007 at 9:58pm

	IP Logged