Testing and Debugging

Testing and Debugging
This one is really important in any game and in any basic code for flash and other programs. I think this is very useful. It helps you find the problem and solve it though it may take hours, on top of hours, just to debug the code, so it could work. Sometimes it could be simply missing an } or having a capitalize F in the word function. Then again it could be hard like having the code in an action script code. I think that anyone would have to test and debug even if they are an expert.

Coding “enemies”

Coding “enemies”
This is another that I am not really going to plan to use in my game. But with this one I may use it if I have time to include this one, after I am done with what I have posted and I may use it with one of the games I am planning to do. But at this current moment it may be as thrown to the side like platforms, and running and jumping is. I will see how the future goes with my game and see if I can include this one in it.

Running, Jumping, etc.

Running, Jumping, etc.
This is another topic that I will not use in my game but I will like to create a game like this. With the codes I had to type I noticed how flexible the code is. It was funny to have the character jumping too high. Then when I change the code it gradually changes. I see why there is so much control on the jumping in games. If it was not, for the control in the game, it would not be as fun and will not teach us anything.

Platforms.

Platforms.
I learn a lot about games on this one like Spyro. I understood a lot about them on when the teacher was explaining platforms. I started to play Spyro a little better knowing that the character really did not move but the background did. This has changed a lot in the way I thought of games and makes me see it in a different light. I really don’t have a game for this topic but I hope later maybe I can make a game with platforms. I see that it is important with most of the games.

Drag and Drop

Drag and Drop.
This is a very useful topic for my game. I can use this for about 4 or 5 (mini)games for my game. I have to use it for the jigsaw puzzle and for the matching games that I have planned. Though it is very useful to me there are some problems with it. One is that the script is a little weird and complicated. Two is now I have to figure out how to make it connect to the place it is suppose to be. The drag and drop is something out of familiar territory. I think I want to try and finish a lot of my mini games now.

Character Effects

Character Effects.
I find this is a useful tool to increase the effects of any game. I found some of them useful for my game, and I may use them when I have the time to include them or when I work up that far. I like the one the slowly fades out and I also like the one that turns. Maybe with luck I can add them to my game. Even thought mine is turning weird but if I fixed it. So then it will not be turning that bad. I think that a lot could be done with these effects and any gamer could use them.

Timer

Timer
Timer. It was hard and it was easy. The one in class was easy. It was easy to follow. The other assignment was hard. It was break up into 6 parts. The first one was easy and the second was also except that it needed one or two lines for code for action script 2.0. Then the third was easy when you kept the code from the last and add what it wanted to add but only in Action script 2.0. Then the rest was hard to follow but I tried my best and try for about an hour and half. I have it working but not how it supposed to be. I am going to go ahead and post it for a grade and maybe on Monday get it fix. I looked at all that code with the reset because that is the problem. When you hit the reset button the second hand will go to where the 3 will be on the clock but that was not right…… I had change the 0 to a -90 and it work with moving the second hand to the right place, the O or 12 but it did not move like it should.. I know it has to do with the code but I was stessing out with it and it was to complex . A lot had to be put into Action script 2.0 so I think I didn't have something right or it could be with my second hand. Could it be where I rotated it? I will have it check out and fix it Monday. I hope.

Sound Effects

Sound Effects
I think sounds effects will be really useful for my game. It will be very use for my shopping game and other games, I have. I kind of it with the shopping bag now, I know that I will use it for other things that I need but that is really a lot ahead then what I am thinking now. If I get the “first level “ of my game done. I will go to the next level. Where most of the sound effects are and I will add them then and be better prepare for it by then to. I think I may write another blog for this when I get that far. I think it will be easy to do the code because it does not seem that bad. I know I will have it one the drag and drop games and when you get something wrong or right and also when you get a fact but that is in the “second level” of my game and I am just finishing up my “first level” so I really can’t say much about this yet.

Collision Detection

Collision Detection
Collision Detection is very useful and I will use it a lot. I can tell there as a lot of code for it and it seem a little complex but I can think I can use it for a few things in my game. It will be tricky with all the code and to make sure you don’t miss up in the code will be the tricky part. I think this will work in a few of my games. I just have to get up to work it into my game. I have not really had a chance to add this to my game yet but this is in my “second level” of my game. So maybe when I add collision detection to my game I can write another blog about this. I can tell it will be hard though.

Score Keeping

Score Keeping
Score keeping is something I know I will use for my shopping game but it will not be for score it will be for price. I was okay with how to do this in class but when I want to add this to my game I missed up then I have to follow what we did in class and fix it but I was have other problems with the code. But that was easy fix by my teacher.. And I fought with it for like 3 hours before hand. I know the problem but I did not know how it fix it.. I think that score keeping is very important and I will try to use in my game a lot.

Scrolling Background

Scrolling Background
Scrolling Background, I know I am going to use it for that shopping game it will be great to put more items on the paper and space out then cramp up together and making it hard to pick the item you want. I also want to change the scrolling background I have have up on the page. I wanted to make the ground longer because it looks weird. I was going to do it today but I had troubles with the timer to work on it and fix it. Though I should have done that first because that should have took 5 or 10 minutes. So on Monday I will get it the way I want it but just leave the one on there now for the grade. other then that I think that I will think about where to include this to other games. I think it will be useful and handy to have.

Special Effects

Special Effects
I talked a little about Special Effects in the blog called moving on a path. I think I am going to use this for the items in my shopping game. I think it will be interest and not the same thing over and over and it will give the user something to watch and want to click on the items more and more. It will also allow the user to have more fun while playing. I may plot ways for each item and I think it will work. This is something that was not check on the list but I like to add it to my game. So with luck I can add them and not far behind with what I do need. Which, I think I can do it.

Moving on a Path

Moving on a Path
I think this one will help with my game. I already have it for the apple for my shopping game. I am thinking to have a moving path for all the items in the shop. I am leaving the apple the same. because that was so much work and I am leaving it as it is. I am going to add a banana and I am thinking about have it to spin before going into the bag. And I will also like to have different little things with the other items going in to the bag like bouncing and expending or disappearing to reappearing. Even though moving on the path was not on of my check items to have done but I think I want to use it for my shopping game. I don’t have special effects check either. Maybe I can switch some of my checks on my personal training plan to moving on a path and special effects. I have a lot of thinking to do and more I get done the better of I will be.

Moving on a Path

Moving on a Path
I think this one it will help with my game. I already have it for my apple for my shopping game. I am thinking to have a moving path for all the items in the shop. I am leaving the apple the same. That was so much work and I leaving it as is. I am going to add a banana and I am thinking about have it to spin before going into the bag. And I will also like to have different little things with other of the items going in to the bag like bouncing and expending or disappearing to reappearing. Even though moving on the path was not on of my check items to have done but I think I want to use it for my shopping game. I don’t have special effects check either. Maybe I can switch some of my checks on my personal training plan to moving on a path and special effects. I have a lot of thinking to do and more I get done the better of I will be.

Finding Solutions

Finding Solutions
Finding Solutions, the first thing I do is try to check the code and if I have nothing misspelled. It was from the projector I would check to make sure I copy it right. Then I would check to make sure all the instances was right… If I could’t find the problem I would ask the teacher or assistants. If the teacher or assistant was not available I would use the web or what was posted on blackboard. But sometimes it may be a simple mistake that was over looked and another pair of eyes will be helpful. But I have done a lot of trouble shooting but I would fight with the computer and flash for hours then when I give up I will ask the teacher and it was something simple or add a frame or adding a line. So all that wasted time for something simple. SO I think If I can’t get the first 4 or 5 tries I either going to set back from it and move on then come back to it or ask for help the next time I have problems.

learing from others

Learning from Others
Learning from others is one of the factors that had helped me the most especially with one of my games idea. It may be confusing with how they did it and what they did with out asking them. I think if you look and learn from them you are only increase your gaming skills and creating new ideas and plus you may be the one that helps some one with their project. When the teacher is not there it is good to learn from them and then if you have problem ask them or the teacher. I had this problem last semester. I wanted to do something similar to another student and could not do it right but the more I tried the more frustrated I got until I ask the teacher. Then he said that I could have asked the student how he did that. I did not think of that and all the frustrated and stress for nothing. It turned out that I had two things wrong. So next time I want to do something similar to another student. I will ask the teacher or that student after I try a few times. Hopefully I can solve the problems with ease now since I am getting use to flash.

Programming Practices

Programming Practices

Programming practices I think that having all the actions on one layer is an excellent idea. I wish I had known that before hand and it would have safe me some troubles that I did have. I also like the leaving notes in the code. That is helpful when you are looking for a code that you need for something else. I think this should also be taught in the first class. Because this is really helpful and also this is really small and simple that will not be too much on the Gaming one students. Also since you are starting out it will be good to know so that way you will learn that from the beginning and use it for the future instead of getting lost in the code and have to found a code you want. If you start this way, you will not have so much trouble in the first place. The tutorial for this helps. It will be really cool that they break down everything like this with other action code. This will be really useful. Even if they have it, it will be really good for them to put them with the Topics.

Intro to Action Script

Intro to Action Script

As we started to cover some of these in class, I realize how important they are. I also realize that I wished we learned some of this in the Gaming one but that may have put way too much on beginners of Flash. Action Script is really important for flash and essential for any game. Action Script tells the program what to do and how to do it to help make the game better. There is really no way to have a working game with out Action Script. With out Action Script the game will not function correctly and there will not be any player interaction. I just wished that it wasn’t that easy to mix up in the codes. But when there is a mistake it is usually just it is missing a symbol or it has a misspelled word. I have learned the more you play with the codes the more you know and the more you will know how to fix it. I think action Script is hard and hard to read because at first it is like looking at a foreign language. I think if more of the common action codes would be introduced or some what introduced in the first gaming class because students can learn and have more ideas on their games. Or at least have something better for their game at the end of the semester to have a better presentation then they would have.

After adding sound, animation, and interaction.

I think by adding sound, animation, and interaction changed my game for the better. It has not really changed my design of my game but it has improved my game. I think if it has changed anything it is with my shopping game. I think I will use the animation I had done for the game. I think I love to have my shopping game like this. I have a lot of ideas for what I learn and this has given me new techniques for my game. The sound even though it is the easily to do, it is the hardest to found that clip you want. So I may not use that much sound but that is only a maybe. Interaction is something that I may not use. But that is another maybe because I may use this for one of my games.
Rose

After drawing in flash

My experience when converting my paper prototypes into vector based drawings was treble. It was hard to draw the pictures when they were shot at an angle. I ended up just doing it from scratch. When I did try to do work with it I like the pencil tool better. The pen was cool but a little difficult. I traced some images with the pencil tool but I mostly used tools to draw in flash. I have a lot of pictures that I converted into vector images. I have them mostly for backgrounds and buttons. I went to creativecommons.org and all my buttons come for there but three. My friend let me use three of theirs. So I know I am safe with the pictures I used.
Rose

Assignment 11

I have been trying really hard to finish my game but the more I try, The more I have problems with it. My computer now locks up when trying to do the trace bitmaps. It works with the numbers high but not when they are lower. I think it is because it is trying so hard to and it just too many colors or to much work. I would use the one with the higher numbers but it looks awful. So, either I will go with the higher numbers and then try the lower numbers at school on Monday or try again with the lower numbers. I try I have the game almost where I want then I can post it and see if that is what my teacher wants. But I hope I can get it to where it needs to be and finish what I need to do. It scares me that I am first in class because I don’t know what I need to do and what I need to say but I hope I can get ready for the presentation before I am suppose to give it and I hope that I will be able to give what the teacher wants. I am very worried about that. But I know I will be ready and I will give a good presentation. I just wish I had more time to get ready.
Rose

Adding Interacting

Adding Interacting, with all my problems with codes, one would think that I would have problems with this to. But I don’t. They only problem I had been have with the symbol. I had converted to a graphic but nothing I did work. I noticed that I did not name it but I still had problems. So, when I went to other students and looked to see what I had wrong, I noticed that they had their symbols into movie clips. I change that and it worked. I think this is cool and will be useful in the future. But the code may be very tricky if you missed up a single word in it.
Rose

Adding Sound

For my sound project I wanted to do something that would work with that my shopping game. I did not have an idea in what to do but when I look at another students project I know that was what I wanted. I played with my idea and had everything working but the animation. I had the animation right but not the code and I tried and tried. I had it do on a Friday and when I ask my friend, he did not know what to do with it. I struggled with this. I looked up tutorials and listened to the lectures many times but to no avail. I finally a week later emailed the teacher and he instructed me about two problems. I fix it and it works. I should have tried and ask him when I was struggling so much and when my friend did not know. All that wasted time. Next time I will try and ask him but I am afraid that he is always helping other students in the class. I think there are way to many students in the class and with everybody needing help it hard to get help and to ahead in your game. So I hope now that I understand more. I hope to have a good project to show. The sound is very easy to put into the game. It is one of the most easily things to do in flash. I think Sound will be useful for any game and I am glad it is very easy to do.
Rose

Adding Animation

Adding Animation, I think this is real easy to do. It is easy to not know but when you watch the lecture and were in class, you know what to do and not to do. I did have a problem that my computer not wanting to work when you double clicked it to go to where you set key frames but when I try again doing the same thing it work 50% of the time. It took me to save and close before it worked. I had this problem quite a few times. But just with my computer. It is really weird. The motion guide was a little tricky, it took me up to 3 hours to figure out a figure eight but when I noticed that I can do it with out connecting the eight I could do it. When you connect it, it stays in places but it thinks that it not suppose to move. When I got it work I was like why did I not do that in the first place? Buttons are really important for my game and I think that I can use the animation very easily. It is something that is easy and very handy.
Rose

Adding Navigation

Adding Navigation, This is a useful technique that will be really constructive in my game. I understand this but for some reason when I do the code I always mess up the code of have some small mistakes. Plus trying it on a picky computer makes trouble. The computer that I have been trying to make my game on has some glitches and will not follow simple tasks. I have been following what the teacher has instructed to do in the clip he has put on the website. It is working on one computer but not the computer I work on. I would have to do it many times just to get it do what the teacher or I did on another computer. It also had problems with the files not being able to open on other computers. Since I had these problems and miss a few steps, I totally mess up each time. So, now I am going to go back at that step and learn what I missed. Hopefully then I can learn what I need and move forward. I have a lot to learn and it is very hard when you miss lessons to only try to follow the lecture and tutorials it always fills like I am missing something and I know when it does work. I try and try again. So After that I ask a friend to help me on this project but he did not have time to help and then I asked the teacher but it is seems to be to technical to help over line but hopefully when I get to the step I mess I can do it by self. But I think I can do it now. With my real project because Navigation is a must for my game and I will learn it, No Matter what.
Rose

Drawing in flash

Drawing in flash, I had missed a lot of days because of bad things happening but when I looked back to get caught, I only watching the lecture and forgot to look at the assignment for this. I jumped into the Assignment 7 and had a lot of difficulties with a step or two and it seems to have been in the assignments page. All that trouble for a simple mistake. Drawing in flash is easy but the code is the tricky part. There are a lot of chances that have a problem with small mistake. Also it is difficult to work on a computer that does not want to do simple tasks. Then when transferring it over it has a lot of problems which it should not have. Also when working with CS4 it doesn’t save in a CS3 format when you do safe it has CS3. So with all said and done I had no problems drawing in flash but the code and simple mistakes are the problem.
rose

Planning my game

Planning my game, I have much planned for this game and I will have a lot of research to do and then I will have to let my Japanese friends review the information that I have. Planning how my game is set up was easy when I compare it with another game I had. I have problems with how to set up the games because I want the games to be more Japanese-ish then what I have. I have a lot of game ideas but nothing was a good Idea. So, I have to ask my friends what was some games that they played or some good games that they may think are good. I want to keep the shopping game, setting tables and there are a few others I want to keep. But I think the color game and a few others I want to get rid of and place with more Japanese-ish game. For the most part on this I think I have had a good experience on planning this game but I wish I knew more about Japan and its culture because it would be easier for me to put in the game. I need to know a lot of information to make this work and make it good.
Rose

Imagining my game.

Imagining my game, after much thought in imagining my game I had put much thought into this and I think I know how I want to draw it and I know that I have to ask my Japanese teachers and Japanese friends to help complete my game and give me ideas that will make my game better. This is going to be a lot of work to complete and then I hope to have a great game when I am finish with it. I hope that I can make this a great game and I hope that I can make it where people can see what I see. Most of my idea is in my flash file on my project page in assignment 3 area. Please read it for more information on my game.
Rose

My experience with my paper prototype

Write a blog post about your experience creating your paper prototype. Did it make you change/refine/add ideas to your game? Is your game still the same as in the beginning, or did the paper prototype illuminate a change of course?

My experience with my paper prototype, I had to redo a few pages toget what I wanted. I wanted to make it hard and add a lot of detailswhen it needed to be an idea. My ideas changed some while I was drawingmy prototype. I think I had to many ideas that flowed to me and when Iwas ready to draw it I could not remember it all. I also tried to makeit more Japanese-ish. My game is still the same but with fewer details. I had changed my idea with the map. I was going to have pictures of theplaces but I think it will be better with a map. I think I am going toadd some Japanese games as well. I also wanted it to be more geared tothe language but I like the way it is now. I have put a lot of thoughtinto this game and I know that it is going to take a lot research andbuilding the game. I am ready to start working on my game.

Social Issue Games

For this assignment I chose 3rd world farmer. I believe there were several social issues in the game but I think the main one was poverty. I think it does have a strong impact on exploring the issue. It showed how hard some families have it. It is a good eye opener for those who did not know. The game was fun but I was it was my accurate or have a lot more to do. I think that any game in the social issue genre can be fun and exploring the many accepts of the issue. I think if it was fun that you learn more and if you have a strong impact on it as well. What is wrong with having fun and learning at the same time? I think that People learn better and remember things better when they are having fun. I think that since you have control over the money on 3rd world farmer, that you are actually in control of 4 people also. You have to make sure you have enough money for them and they stay healthy. If one dies you should feel like you actually cause the death of the family member. That is one of the strong impact they have. I think a game should also be easy to move around and clear instructions, if not it is losing the fun part of learning about a social issue.
Poverty, Health, Environment, and Education:
The local themes and issues that affects my local community and what do I think how it is affecting. I want to point out that some of the ones are homeless chose to pick that path. Some don't even want help. I think we need to help the ones that needs help. I also think that we need better housing for the dangerous ones on the streets. They made the streets unsafe and when you are walking to point A to point B it is hard not to get one following you or talking to you. There is a lot of mental illness out there. And some of them with this mental illness is out there in the streets made it unsafe for us to attend school, the movies or hang out with friends. I think school is really focus on in the United States. The more edcuation you have the more you will have.
I think the most inportant thing that people should know about my game is that it is an education game, that will be an adventure in to a another culture. The actions people should do to help is that they should be open minded and that this may help with a vacation to this country or may give them an insight to a country that they may never be able to visit. It is an education game that will help you out. I want them to learn about another culture before going there or Just learn about another culture is a prize within it self. I think the more we better ourselfs with understandings of others makes this world go around more peacefully.

Playing to Learn

For this assignment I played 3rd world farmer. I played it a few times so I can really write about it. The game shows how bad some families have it in this world and they don’t have to be African. Even though I don’t think the game is that accurate. The game starts you out with $50. I think that they should start you out with more money. But when you think about it a 3rd world farmer would have that much money. So, I think they should have gave you a few animals and a few crops to start and many other stuff a farmer should have before they start farming. When buying the crop you buy one corn piece for $6 to $20. It depends where you are in the game. I think that should be more then that or a least buy seeds. Also when you have a farm or garden you replant and sow new seeds for the last crop. I also think if you are a farmer you should already have some live stock and/or buildings. I did enjoy playing this game. I think that the US or any core country would have more money with the money that the crops got. I did not like the fact that you can plant opium but each time I was able to do that, the militarily came and destroy it. I played it a few times. A few times I went into the hole and there is no way out. That is when I would change jobs. Other times I was really successful. I also think that when you buy crops you have the seeds of things from it so I don't think you have to buy it again and again, when you can take the seed of the first one. On the good side it shows how hard it is to make a start and teaches you how to mange your money and it also shows you how bad someone has it. It is a good eye opener with how bad it gets. Another thing a farmer in the US would be a lot more money with the same thing. Once you get the hang of playing this game it is a great learning process and you are having while you are learning.
Jigsaw puzzle was my other game. I pick this game because it gives me an idea for my game. I was thinking about ideas for my game and I think this will be a good game to add. . I like the fact that you can change the shapes in three different styles. That will be useful when I create my game. Though I wish there were different pictures then the six that you can do. There were not many pictures to choose from I can use what I want to do when I create this one. I like that fact that you can have the timer on or off. I think that maybe it should have a hidden puzzle which you lock or some prize like a fortune or information when you complete one of puzzles. The first one you have is a Panda. After complete the Panda. You should have a fact about Panda’s or unlock the next picture or another picture.
Rose

First Blog In Gaming 1: Hopes, Dreams, and Worries.

I hope that using the Globaloria course will increase my knowledge in the field that I want to go in. I want to better my self and become an better person. I want to create a game either from a different world or a learning game that helps you learn Japanese.I want to making learning fun so that you will be learn without knowing you are learning. I am scared that I will not be as good as I want to be and I hope I don't get lost. But I hope That I can follow my hopes and dreams and create the game I want. But no matter how it gets, good or bad, I will keep moving forward to my goals.
Rose