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