Course Name

Adobe Flash CS3: ActionScript 3 Animation and Games

Contact Hours: 10

Course Description

Ranging from casual hobbyists to the most seasoned professionals, our users quickly learn new software applications and broaden their knowledge of programs currently used. Narrated in an entertaining format by industry experts and leading authors, our video-based software training titles are critical tools for anyone wanting to learn tips, techniques, and best practices from the most respected names in the business. Advance your knowledge and use of ActionScript 3 by taking a specific look into Animation and Game Design. Instructed by John Ulliman, this series which is available online and on DVD-ROM, goes step-by-step through the new ActionScript 3 structure and classes. You''ll also get some hands-on experience by building several typical games using Flash CS3 and ActionScript. Plus, you will also learn how to build your own ActionScript 3 custom class files. The student will have access to this course for 1 year. This self-directed course can be completed within 90 days or sooner depending on time and learning capabilities of the student.

Outcome

By completing this course you will: Learn how to use the new AS3 display classes for structuring everything that appears in your Flash applications. Gain insight into several animation techniques including; the EnterFrame Event, the new Timer Class, and the Transitions package, including tweens, and easing. Try out the new Copy and Paste feature for animation and learn how you can bridge the gap between detailed timeline animations and ActionScript. Create games using a variety of control techniques like mouse and keyboard controls as well as how to handle typical game character animations. Discover strategies and structures of typical game design including how to create a shooter game, keyboard and text entry games, a tile based game, and a typical game engine.

Assessment

Project files are included with this course to aid in your learning. There are no exams or tests.

Outline

Week 1: Lesson 1: THE NEW DISPLAY LIST (64 min) Getting Started Introducing the New Display Hierarchy Working with Display Objects Making a Text Field Object Creating a New Container Using the Shape Class Adding Graphics to the Shape Object Creating an External Class Using the Sprite Class Working with the Movie Clip Class Lesson 2: ANIMATING WITH THE ENTERFRAME EVENT (65 min) Understanding Timeline Animation Using the enterFrame Event Controlling a Nested Movie Clip Using enterFrame with a Sprite Adding Limits to an Animation Animating the X, Y & Rotation Properties Creating Animation in a Class Completing the Class Adding Graphics to a Class Changing Speed Variables Changing a Sprite Class to a Movie Clip Setting Up Another Movie Clip Lesson 3: ANIMATING WITH THE TIMER CLASS (51 min) Introducing the Timer Class Creating a Running Timer Controlling a Running Timer Loading an External Bitmap Creating a Mini Slideshow Using a Timer to Animate Controlling the Animation with Buttons Controlling the Delay Lesson 4: USING COPY & PASTE ANIMATION (84 min) Setting Up Buttons to Go from Black & White to Color Building Custom Buttons Using Movie Clips Add a gotoAndPlay Method to Move a Playhead Adding Frame Labels Setting Up Additional Buttons Adding a Click Event Handler Reusing Click Events Adding "If" Statements Setting Up a Function to Control Visible Properties Adding an "Else If" Statement Using Arrays Using a "For Loop" Structure Using Arrays to Set Up Thumb Clicks Using Arrays to Set Up Thumbnails Final Comments & Credits Lesson 5: USING THE TWEEN CLASS (61 min) Exploring the Document Structuring a Tween Introducing the Easing Class Setting Up Multiple Tweens Looping a Tween Using Tween Events Setting Up a TimerEvent Setting Up a showPhoto Function Setting Up the photoCounter Using the Transition Class Lesson 6: CREATING A PHYSICS-BASED KEYBOARD CONTROL GAME (65 min) Setting Up the Moon Lander Animation Understanding Keyboard Response Programming Keyboard Response Adding Vertical Acceleration Adding Horizontal Movement Building the Crash Sequence Setting the Landing Sequence Setting Up Start & Replay Functions Lesson 7: CREATING A SHOOTER GAME WITH MOUSE CONTROL5 (55 min) Creating a Duck Class Using the Duck Class Set Up a Timer Animation to Make More Ducks Incorporating Additional Duck Graphics Adding the Duck-Hit Animation Replacing Cursor Graphics Setting Up the Score Tracking the Score with a Class Adding Sound Effects Lesson 8: USING ARRAYS & CUSTOM CLASSES IN GAMES (75 min) Introducing the Game Layout Drawing the Game Pieces Positioning the Game Pieces Setting Up a Symbol Array Shuffling the Symbols Clicking the Spinners Distinguishing between Clicks Checking for a Match Setting Up the Score Controlling the Spinners with the Class Using Tweens for the Spinners Adding Sound Effects Lesson 9: CREATING A TILE-BASED GAME (96 min) Getting Started with Tile-Based Games Laying Out the Tiles Setting Up Tile Types Clicking the Tiles to Set the Types Adding the Pirate Icon Tracing the Location of the Pirate Icon Completing the Engine & Saving Level Data Building the Game Application Moving the Pirate Character Responding to Map Tiles Moving the Pirate in Different Directions Adding the Player Controls Player Control Functions Setting Up Trigger Tiles Final Comments & Credits