Okay, so I’m getting all kinds of brain signals and ideas from checking out these games, but how do I get started? Do I need to know C++? Buy expensive programs? Can anyone suggest any tutorial websites out there?

Well, Kongregate deals with Flash at the moment, which I’ve recently started learning as well. I have a background in Java, but I think Flash is easy and fun to learn even if you have no programming experience. Head on over to [Adobe’s website](https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=flashpro) and download the 30 day Flash trial. Flash is kind of like a hybrid between art programs like Adobe Photoshop and a programming/scripting language. You can do all of your art assets, animation, and scripting within the same program, which is really cool. And when you draw in flash it automatically smooths the lines for you, so it’s possible to create nice looking art using just a mouse, even if you’re not very artistically inclined. I haven’t moved on to action scripting yet (that’s the programming part that you use to actually make games), actually my 30-day trial expired, but the entire program felt really nice to me and certainly feels more comfortable for beginners than something like Java or C++. So give it a look and see if you like it.

Here are some good tutorials for programming games with flash: [http://oos.moxiecode.com/#Tutorials](http://oos.moxiecode.com/#Tutorials) [http://www.tonypa.pri.ee/tbw/](http://www.tonypa.pri.ee/tbw/) [http://www.gotoandplay.it/\_articles/](http://www.gotoandplay.it/_articles/)

you can try tutorials included with flash too, that’s what i did (a long time ago) and it helped me lots ! don’t hesitate using the Flash help, you will find most of your answers there

I’m glad Bob started this thread, because I had been thinking about it for a while. We’re going to have a “learn Flash” section for new developers, linking to tutorials, suggesting books, etc. So anything you think is useful please list. Thanks!

[Kirupa](http://www.kirupa.com/developer/flash/index.htm) [ActionScript.org](http://www.actionscript.org/resources/articles) [Pixel2Life](http://www.pixel2life.com/tutorials/macromedia_flash/1/) [EmanueleFeronato’s blog](http://www.emanueleferonato.com/) Sorry if those are obvious, but i’v learned A-lot from them.

Jobe Makar’s books helped get me on the right track… i’d highly recommend them if you are looking for a hard copy of something to keep by the ’ol computer.

I hope I am not way off base here because I am new to this stuff, but… There’s a free, open source actionscript compiler called [MTASC](http://www.mtasc.org) From [http://www.mtasc.org/](http://www.mtasc.org/) : “MTASC is the first ActionScript 2 Open Source free compiler. It can compile large number of .as class files in a very short time and generate directly the corresponding SWF bytecode without relying on Macromedia Flash or other tools.” I haven’t tried it out yet, but I intend to because I can’t afford to buy Flash (plus I’m a linux user). **EDIT** : I did some research and found a couple really good articles on getting started with only open source tools. [Towards Open Source Flash Development](http://www.actionscript.com/Article/tabid/54/ArticleID/towards-open-source-flash-development/Default.aspx) [Far Beyond Open Source Flash Development](http://www.actionscript.com/Article/tabid/54/ArticleID/Far-Beyond-Open-Source-Flash-Development/Default.aspx) The first is from March of 2005 and the other is an update from January of 2006. The first one will help get you started, but don’t strictly follow it because some things have changed. Those changes are outlined and explained in the second article. In the comments for the first article someone talked about how they had been making flash games using only open source tools, so it seems to be possible. **EDIT AGAIN** : I found something even more useful than those two articles (although they are still good reads because they show a different and perhaps more robust way of doing things than this). [How to structure and set up a Flash project without using the Flash IDE](http://osflash.org/projectsetup) Beyond that, the rest of [OSFlash](http://osflash.org) is pretty good.

DestuctionKitty, you could also use the free [Adobe Flex SDK](http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/sdk/) to generate content for Flash Player 9. I think it should be platform independent, at least it works with Windows and OSX. Here is a [nice tutorial](http://www.senocular.com/flash/tutorials/as3withmxmlc/) for getting started.

Hmm…I’ll have to look into that. Thanks. One problem though…the Adobe Flex SDK wont get me geek points. :)

As dx0ne metioned, Kirupa.com is a pretty good place. Very good tutorials and active forums. I spend at least a few minutes everyday there helping people with flash on the forums (jjcorreia). I definitely recommend it.

I don’t think there is any argument about this source being one of the best- [http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic.php?id=229808&page=47](http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic.php?id=229808&page=47) AS main…helped me so much it’s unbelievable.

Ok, well i want to start programming, lets say i start in Flash, and it makes sense, so i do some more. After Adobe Flash’s thirty day free trial, what do i do to continue creating stuff when i cant use that program?

duh, you buy Flash 8 Pro

And if im 16 yrs old and poor?

Try Flash Lite, i dunno, get a job at mcDonalds or something.

LOL, ok, ty.

if you could please tell me all the items i would need to make a flash game and the prices if you know thank you!

If you can’t afford to buy Flash 8 from Adobe, download the Trial Version here: [https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=flashpro](https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=flashpro) The full Flash product can be bought from Adobe.com, or elsewhere… Some good tutorials are here: [http://www.gotoandplay.it/](http://www.gotoandplay.it/) There is at least one interesting tutorial on here. [http://www.harveycartel.org/metanet/tutorials.html](http://www.harveycartel.org/metanet/tutorials.html) Great tutorials, but maybe a little beyond beginner status, I dunno. [http://www.flashwiki.net/index.php?title=Main\_Page](http://www.flashwiki.net/index.php?title=Main_Page) And, started by another Kongregate member, jmtb02, here is FlashWiki. And there is bound to be tons more Flash game tutorials out there (try Googling it), but I don’t have time to go on… hope this helps.

Dunno if this is allowed, if not, please remove and sorry. Beginners turotials for Flash. (Ebooks) Teach yourself Flash 8 in 24 hours ebook – [http://rapidshare.de/files/35351652/Teach\_Yourself\_Macromedia\_Flash\_8\_In\_24\_Hours\_2005.rar](http://rapidshare.de/files/35351652/Teach_Yourself_Macromedia_Flash_8_In_24_Hours_2005.rar) Macromedia Studio 8 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies ebook [http://rapidshare.de/files/35343341/Macromedia\_Studio\_8\_All-In-One\_Desk\_Reference\_For\_Dummies\_2006.rar](http://rapidshare.de/files/35343341/Macromedia_Studio_8_All-In-One_Desk_Reference_For_Dummies_2006.rar)] Learn Programming with Flash MX ebook - [http://rapidshare.de/files/35340114/Learn\_Programming\_with\_Flash\_MX\_2003.rar](http://rapidshare.de/files/35340114/Learn_Programming_with_Flash_MX_2003.rar) Password for all is [www.ebooksheaven.org](http://www.ebooksheaven.org)

soooo confused! where do we just begin? i sorta understand how but where the crap do we start?

> soooo confused! where do we just begin? i sorta understand how but where the crap do we start? Check this thread: [http://www.kongregate.com/forums/4/topics/89](http://www.kongregate.com/forums/4/topics/89)