| Gaming is popular world wide and most people | | | | |
| play games without knowing how a game is | | | | • Creating the characters. Sketches are |
| actually made. It takes inspiration, verve, | | | | fine tuned until they are perfect. These are |
| technology, and more to create a game that | | | | then transformed into 3D characters. The |
| captures the mind and heart of players all | | | | figures are scanned into a computer and a |
| over the world. | | | | digital skeleton is created. This is what |
| | | | defines the size, shape, and movements of any |
| The first step to making a game is to have a | | | | figure in a game. |
| story. The story or plot is thought about and | | | | |
| developed by game designers or players. Once | | | | • Next the programmers use Flash to |
| the game is conceptualized, writers and | | | | bring movement and emotions into the figures |
| artists work together on the storyboard and | | | | of the game. |
| create sketches of the sequence with | | | | |
| instructions for the technology team. The | | | | • Movement and characterization of the |
| sketches are then scanned on to a computer | | | | figures is followed by special effects and |
| and the next step is to breathe life into the | | | | creation of the environment. Skies, clouds, |
| story and characters. | | | | wind, reflections, shadows, and more add |
| | | | mystery and atmosphere to the game. Flash |
| Among the many ways to create a game a | | | | allows developers to produce realistic and |
| popular solution is Macromedia Flash MX. This | | | | complex environments. It is the environment |
| allows the creation of rich, graphic and | | | | that gives life and motion to a game. The 3D |
| multimedia driven gaming. Flash has a player, | | | | effects are created using polygons along with |
| authoring tool, and a file format. Flash | | | | texture mapping. |
| allows game developers to use: | | | | |
| | | | • This is followed by coding. Codes are |
| • Rich graphics. | | | | instructions written by developers that lends |
| | | | intelligence to the game and drives a game |
| • Create files that are user friendly | | | | forward. The more complex a code the more |
| and can be downloaded over the internet. | | | | thrilling a game. Codes establish logic to a |
| | | | game and generate the excitement and |
| • Allows the import of graphic formats. | | | | uniqueness. |
| This means designers can use Photoshop, | | | | |
| Illustrator, Freehand, or Fireworks to | | | | • Once the coding is done the testing |
| develop the game as long as the graphics are | | | | begins. The testing helps the developer fine |
| vector. | | | | tune the game before it is marketed. This is |
| | | | when the game is rated by the Entertainment |
| • Flash lends itself to the creation of | | | | Software Rating Board. The rating indicates |
| quality graphics that can be broadcast over | | | | the appropriateness of the game for different |
| the internet. | | | | age groups. |
| | | | |
| Flash can be used to create action, | | | | Flash is user friendly and therefore popular |
| adventure, educational, first-person shooter, | | | | software with game developers. The World Wide |
| puzzle, sports, or role playing games. | | | | Web offers Flash Tutorials for those |
| | | | interested in developing games. There are |
| The actual process of creating a game is | | | | articles and tips and guidelines as well. |
| complex but involves: | | | | |