It’s a running joke on Kongregate that there’s no such thing as a Flash Game Maker. I can finally lay that joke to rest and tell you guys about Stencyl, a Flash game creation platform and toolset that caters to both designers and programmers alike who seek a way to rapidly develop real Flash games. [http://www.stencyl.com](http://www.stencyl.com) It’s cross-platform and will be free to use when we enter public beta. Our private beta has tipped past 500 users, and we’re looking to double that soon. # How is Stencyl different from [XXX]? It would be lazy of us to just make a Flash game creator and call it a day. The flaw behind that approach is that the Flash market is very different from the market served by Game Maker, specifically when it comes to marketing and distributing games. I can name 3 areas where we’re trying to innovate and help out developers beyond the norm. 1) Appealing to both designers and programmers 2) Collaboration 3) Distribution and Monetization # We appeal to both designers and programmers We appeal to both audiences, and we mean it. Most people will build their game logic by snapping together blocks inspired by MIT Scratch. (We asked for permission)  But programmers can code the same logic in ActionScript 3 if they choose and make calls to Flixel and Box2D. You can even mix and match the designer-friendly blocks and code. Why should you care if you’re one or the other? Because designers and programmers have their unique ways of approaching game creation, and excluding one group would hurt the community as a whole. Everybody works together, so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. # We take collaboration seriously Collaboration is something that Kongregate developers are familiar with, but we take it to new levels in several ways. 1) Users can share resources in an iTunes-like marketplace that’s integrated into the toolset, and in that way, can fill in gaps in talent by borrowing what others have made, much like the collabs here.  2) We’ve integrated chat into the toolset. It’s terrific for asking questions or talking through a problem in a real time. 3) We have a Q&A site similar to StackOverflow that acts as a more efficient way of getting questions answered and doubles as a definitive knowledge base. Again, we’re integrating this into the toolset. And there’s more, but I can’t talk about it yet! ;) # Distribution and Monetization 1) Export as SWF. Optional service for obfuscating the SWF if you don’t have one of those. 2) We’ll have a Facebook app that aids in distributing games to a wide audience and discovering new ones, in a way only a social network would enable. It’s a little bit different from how you discover games here. 3) API, Game Analytics and Virtual Goods. You can use other systems if you’d like. We’ll have first class support for the Kongregate API. 4) We’ll help you reach sponsors and understand that this is a major form of income for developers. 5) Android support is planned but not ready at this time. # I’m interested. Where can I learn more? I’m not going to repeat what’s on our site, so hop on over to [http://www.stencyl.com](http://www.stencyl.com) for sample games and more info. Many of these games were developed in just a couple days. We run a growing Facebook page where we make most of our updates. [http://facebook.com/stencyl/](http://facebook.com/stencyl/) # How do I get into the beta? Right now, we’re in private beta. Sign up for the mailing list and reference this topic, so I know where you came from. [http://stencyl.com/join.php](http://stencyl.com/join.php) It helps immensely if you write down your Kongregate user name, so I can see what you’ve done in the past. People who I can vet are 10x more likely to get in. If you happen to work for Kongregate, I’d be thrilled to talk with one of you more about this. === If you have any questions for me, be sure to ask! I’ve lurked around here for a long time and have watched this site launch, grow and get acquired. Just like Kongregate, we’re a very developer friendly bunch and are doing what we can to help our developers reach success.

I personally started programming with MIT’s Scratch, so this is very cool and nostalgic for me. Looks interesting, I’m applying for the beta!

I’ve signed up for the beta quite a while ago. Twice actually, just incase you missed the first one. Haven’t been accepted at all. I’d greatly love to try out Stencyl. My collaboration partner, [davidarcila](http://www.kongregate.com/accounts/davidarcila), has been using it and it seems pretty well developed.

Looks fantastic. I was actually beginning work on my own Flash game creation software, but this looks like it’s going to do just about everything I was planning and more, so I suppose you’ve saved me some time. Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds. I’m curious as to how things can be extended. Can a developer create their own blocks that tie into some custom Actionscript, so work can be better split between Programming and Design and Flash Libraries can be easily implemented into games made in Stencyl?

> *Originally posted by **[UnknownGuardian](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2362158):*** > > I’ve signed up for the beta quite a while ago. Twice actually, just incase you missed the first one. Haven’t been accepted at all. I’d greatly love to try out Stencyl. My collaboration partner, [davidarcila](http://www.kongregate.com/accounts/davidarcila), has been using it and it seems pretty well developed. My apologies for this. I’ll get you in soon. Did you sign up as “Unknown Guardian” or a different name?

> *Originally posted by **[Rivaledsouls](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2362195):*** > > Looks fantastic. I was actually beginning work on my own Flash game creation software, but this looks like it’s going to do just about everything I was planning and more, so I suppose you’ve saved me some time. Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds. I’m curious as to how things can be extended. Can a developer create their own blocks that tie into some custom Actionscript, so work can be better split between Programming and Design and Flash Libraries can be easily implemented into games made in Stencyl? Yep, a developer can design entirely new blocks using either AS3 or through other blocks. This is pretty neat because it allows non-programmers to use this functionality as a black box, without knowing the evils that lurk beneath.

How would kongregate’s API for higscores be added to games made in stencyl? A custom block?

No offense, but Flash is better, I don’t like stuff like that. I mean it’s nice, but easy :P

Interesting. Would it be possible to see the pure AS3 code at any time as opposed to just the ‘block code’? Would it be possible to switch back to text mode (pure AS3), then block mode at anytime easily? Can you ‘convert’ AS3 into block mode?

> *Originally posted by **[tetrismaster](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2362755):*** > > How would kongregate’s API for higscores be added to games made in stencyl? A custom block? That’s exactly correct. We would build custom blocks for this and ship them by default. The same would apply for incorporating any other API (Mochi, Flickr, etc.) > *Originally posted by **[FlashSmith](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2362899):*** > > Interesting. > > Would it be possible to see the pure AS3 code at any time as opposed to just the ‘block code’? > Would it be possible to switch back to text mode (pure AS3), then block mode at anytime easily? > Can you ‘convert’ AS3 into block mode? The way our system works is that logic is broken down into modular Behaviors, which are configurable, self-contained pieces of logic, such as “Jump”, “Run” and “Fall in Pit and Die.” Each behavior can be done either in block mode or code mode. Within block mode, you can view the source that’s being outputted, and you can place special blocks that let you type in code, which is our way of mixing and matching the two. We plan to allow you to convert a block mode behavior to a code mode one. The reverse is significantly harder to do because the use of any unsupported functions would make it difficult to do a satisfactory job (unless we have it auto-generate custom blocks on the fly for each unknown call).

I sign up for the beta Is there a demo showing it at its best available? Maybe a couple of screenshots, so we can see how simple it is to use? How long before it get a public beta?

> *Originally posted by **[tetrismaster](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2363411):*** > > I sign up for the beta > > Is there a demo showing it at its best available? > Maybe a couple of screenshots, so we can see how simple it is to use? > How long before it get a public beta? One of us is working on a video of the toolset. Would that be of interest? Public beta will begin late this year, but we plan to scale up to a couple thousand users before we do.

I have signed up two times but have had my address hacked so I can’t access my email :| could you perhaps send me an invite?

It seems like a drag and drop program but to my understanding you slap the graphics on the screen and put code into it like Flash, right? Well I’m interested so I signed up :D

Sounds really cool. I signed up for the beta ( my e-mail address has rivaledsouls in it). If you guys need any help with development, I’d be happy to help.

> *Originally posted by **[stencyl](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2362468):*** > > *Originally posted by **[UnknownGuardian](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2362158):*** > > > > I’ve signed up for the beta quite a while ago. Twice actually, just incase you missed the first one. Haven’t been accepted at all. I’d greatly love to try out Stencyl. My collaboration partner, [davidarcila](http://www.kongregate.com/accounts/davidarcila), has been using it and it seems pretty well developed. > > My apologies for this. I’ll get you in soon. Did you sign up as “Unknown Guardian” or a different name? I believe so. It was a while ago. EDIT\* On the note of the black boxing design. I liked it. When I took a look at the AS3 code from the stencyl game my collab partner made, I almost cried. It seemed a bit large/complicated/not what I’m used to. :D

I’d recommend Stencyl of course, but for me, I enjoy programming. I just want a taste of both, just to try it. For the more complicated games, I’m definitely going to stick with solid programming (more control), but for some projects, Stencyl might be great.

Can you download the games that you make and upload them to other sites, or will they always be connected to your site?

> *Originally posted by **[UnknownGuardian](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2364379):*** > > I’d recommend Stencyl of course, but for me, I enjoy programming. I just want a taste of both, just to try it. For the more complicated games, I’m definitely going to stick with solid programming (more control), but for some projects, Stencyl might be great. Is Stencyl going to change Flash game development a lot? I mean will tons of people now make really good games with it? Because then amateurs like me will look like we make dumb games because we do it the harder way, with Flash :P

Who knows. There could be room for tons more features. But what really is the factor that would say whether or not Stencyl becomes popular, is its base engine, Flixel.(Pretty sure its flixel, not flashpunk) Whatever limitation Flixel will have is the limitation Stencyl will have.

> *Originally posted by **[bigauburnfan101](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2364545):*** > > Can you download the games that you make and upload them to other sites, or will they always be connected to your site? You can export the SWF and upload anywhere. Several games are already on Kongregate.

It should set up a new branch in flash tutorials, more about the actual game engine, instead of about learning actionscript. There will be less how do I add health var or an event listener to my game.

> *Originally posted by **[tetrismaster](/forums/4/topics/108245?page=1#posts-2364860):*** > > It should set up a new branch in flash tutorials, more about the actual game engine, instead of about learning actionscript. There will be less how do I add health var or an event listener to my game. I dont want that to happen D: I want everyone to do it the regular way with ActionScript. Do even the pros use Stencyl? Btw, is Stencyl free?

Ive been using Stencyl for quite a while now…. as a Beta Tester, and Im loving it. Also, it doesnt keep you from programming your own stuff (in AS3) as exaplined earlier, but the fact that there are lot of pre-made stuff to download and use, makes Stencyl a pretty good tool.