Advantages and Disadvantages of Flash Flash is a digital application form adobe that is compatible with both Microsoft and

Macintosh operating systems. It features tools used to create 2D artwork that can be made interactive via the coding it uses. Action script is a updated coding system which allows this interactivity to happen by using thousands of pre programmed action such as gotoAndStop (FIG A) which tells animation to go to a specific frame or var which allows you to change a variable. This gives the potential to create interesting user interfaces and even games by combing many of these actions and commands. Flash can be used to demonstrate game concept, build user interfaces for phones and computer, to create games for companies and websites and many other uses. Flash can have a lot of advantages over movie clips and images used online. Computer users can download flash for free which means that its easy for everyone to get hold of. In fact macromedia flash is installed on 97% of internet FIG A enabled computer around the world. This way if someone uses flash online people will be able to see it or interact with it.With low memory and hardware requirements, flash games are able to be played by anyone with a computer. It can be used to give life to dull websites. For example using flash you can create dynamic menus which are buttons to different hyperlink that can change colour when you go over or click them so you know exactly where youre going. This can be effective, as people viewing websites prefer a more interactive experience. This can however increase loading times to a website which could potential annoy users. It is often a good idea to balance out loading times with flash and loadable content. On its own Flash is able to create almost any media product ranging form games, movies, interactive activities and user interfaces. This makes flash a very good product for someone who does not want to specialize in a particular area. However doing this would require good Flash skills and action script knowledge and experience. Due to the fact that Flash is well known it is very compatible with other applications such as Mozilla Firefox, online applications such as Facebook and Twitch TV. It is even more adaptable with other Adobe products such as fireworks which can have its own plugin on the toolbar which allows users to import or export work from each program. Flash has the ability to import and incorporate many file types ranging from most video formats, mp3s and graphic formats. Flash has a lower memory limitation then games created using C# or C++ which makes flash better for smaller games. This gives the user the ability to use a chosen file type. High quality flash can have large files which takes longer to load of websites and applications. Also higher quality flashes utilize action script which can be difficult to master at first. Although there is a 3D options in Flash it only skews the 2D shape to give the appearance of 3D meaning that flash does not actually have 3D support of any kind. Due to the engine that Flash uses it is unable to process large amounts of information. A good example of

this would be complicated AI. Another disadvantage of using flash is you are unable to texture map objects which means you will have to manually apply textures to objects. Flash files are not encrypted which means that virus can be transferred using flash files meaning a potential security breach. When designing multiplayer games on flash its worth noting that real time multiplayer on flash does not work very well and would be low activity due to network latency. Interactivity is the sole reason that separates the games industry from the film industry in the media sector. Flash coding (action script) can be used to command objects which allow them to move to keystrokes for example: (if (Key.isDown (Key.RIGHT))). Common AS conventions could be that the object names are capitalized with constructors whereas the instance of the object begins with a lower case. For Example MyObject=function (). Variables names in AS cannot be one of Flash commands and cannot begin with a number or underscore. Action scripting can be tedious to new users with some complex commands to offer. However once the initial learning curve has started, it can be effective for simple commands. Such as assigning keys to movement. New users to flash coding will recognise some coding conventions from C++ or JavaScript that will result in ease of learning the new language. These include putting comments into your coding working using the // command and adding a semi colon for a new line of code. This allows for flash to be easily learned from people with coding experience. Flash allows users to create strong user interfaces from flash programming buttons and actions. Using the scenes feature allows users to create menus which jump from menu to menu easily. This can be effective in games as well for start screens which often have the options for options, instructions and start game. Users are able to build an artificial world in flash by using the tools Adobe has given them. Even though Flash is a 2D program it doesnt stop users from using creative techniques. A good artificial world can be complemented by a plausible story that fits into your game without plot holes. This helps to make your game more sense and immerse the player. Users can create characters by using library settings which means that they dont have to keep creating the same assets over and over. A helpful feature to creating realistic movement is the onion skinning option which allows users to see the frames before and after the frame on their objects to create precise movement. The character itself should have remember able features and relatable traits to allow the player to relate. A common thing designers are doing currently is allowing players to create their own character with premade assets. Environments in flash can be made relatively easily using still images. However users can make it seem more lifelike by using motion tweens on different layers at different speeds giving the illusion of 3D. This is called parallax effect. Of course elemental effects such as weather can be created using simple assets in the library which can be used at will. A popular choice would be rain in which you would create a short animation off lines that will be an overlay over the stage. Another feature you my choose to give some reason and depth to your game is include cut scenes before the controlling of the character in your game.

When designing games in flash users need to be aware of issues that arise that can make game designing more easily and things that can be avoided. When designing games and even UIs and web designs users must always plan in their own methods that best suits them. This will ensure that you dont lose ideas and have a clear picture of what you are trying to accomplish. Although Flash has some disadvantages mentioned above there are also some technical issues that users can run into that you may want to avoid while using flash. This includes no right click, Often in games on PCs users are able to right click as a command. However due to right click bringing up setting online this is unavailable in flash games. Action scripting is ok for web browsing but for games better options can be C++. It also does not have the power of direct3D or OpenGL. When creating library assets, scenes and objects naming them and instance names is important especially is you are to enable action scripting. When action scripting users have to take extra care to punctuation as action scripting relies on correct use. For example different types of brackets can result in different comrades. {} these brackets are for grouping a related block of script. Users are to advised to make noted with // command and to use spaces to organize their coding for their use. This game shows a popular flash game, kitty cannon. The game graphics arent too complex as you can see and has limited interaction where you launch your cat out of cannon. The game uses basic shapes for scenery and basic physics. Common uses for flash games are to show an example for a bigger game or to be embedded on a website to be played online.