We just implemented a new feature in "Mr. Bounce":http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/mr-bounce that was requested by a lot of players: If you complete a world, the next world will be unlocked in the title screen, so you don’t need to play through all levels again. We just implemented a new feature in <a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/mr-bounce">Mr. Bounce</a> that was requested by a lot of players: If you complete a world, the next world will be unlocked in the title screen, so you don’t need to play through all levels again.

2008-06-14T05:35:59-07:00

true

189632

2009-09-16T23:02:23-07:00

546

I have the same loading problem as Joel – Understanding Games only shows the preloader and then does nothing after loading is complete. I don't use multiple files but AS3 and a Factory Pattern preloader. I have the same loading problem as Joel – Understanding Games only shows the preloader and then does nothing after loading is complete. I don’t use multiple files but AS3 and a Factory Pattern preloader.

2007-11-28T11:26:22-08:00

true

56502

3560

2009-09-16T23:26:06-07:00

546

Yes, the Flex SDK works fine for developing games. Here's a good tutorial to get started: http://www.senocular.com/flash/tutorials/as3withmxmlc/ Yes, the Flex SDK works fine for developing games. Here’s a good tutorial to get started: <a href="http://www.senocular.com/flash/tutorials/as3withmxmlc/">http://www.senocular.com/flash/tutorials/as3withmxmlc/</a>

2007-11-23T09:09:16-08:00

true

54981

3488

2009-09-16T23:25:47-07:00

546

If you don't actually need the Flash Authoring Tool (for timeline animation etc) you could use the free Adobe Flex SDK and embed all your assets via code. Then if you setup a subversion repository, your artist could just commit the new version of the assets and the next time you update and compile they would be in your swf. Embedding your assets via code in AS3 looks something like this: <pre> public class GameCharacter extends Sprite { [Embed(source='assets/character.png')] private const CharacterAsset: Class; private var m_bitmap: Bitmap; public function GameCharacter(void) { this.m_bitmap = new CharacterAsset(); this.addChild(this.m_bitmap); } } </pre> If you don’t actually need the Flash Authoring Tool (for timeline animation etc) you could use the free Adobe Flex SDK and embed all your assets via code. Then if you setup a subversion repository, your artist could just commit the new version of the assets and the next time you update and compile they would be in your swf. Embedding your assets via code in AS3 looks something like this: <pre> public class GameCharacter extends Sprite { [Embed(source='assets/character.png')] private const CharacterAsset: Class; private var m_bitmap: Bitmap; public function GameCharacter(void) { this.m_bitmap = new CharacterAsset(); this.addChild(this.m_bitmap); } } </pre>

2007-11-12T10:58:53-08:00

true

51436

3317

2009-09-16T23:24:57-07:00

546

Hey guys– I am trying to build a wrapper in AS3 that allows me to dynamically load and unload both AS2 and AS3-based swfs for my website. You seem to have a pretty good system for that at Kongregate and I wonder if you would share some coding tricks on how to make sure that every uploaded swf just works. I've tried the following approach but it does not work with the Understanding Games swfs since they use a factory pattern preloader. <pre> var mLoader:Loader = new Loader(); var mRequest:URLRequest = new URLRequest("mygame.swf”); mLoader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onCompleteHandler); mLoader.load(mRequest); private function onCompleteHandler(loadEvent:Event) { addChild(loadEvent.currentTarget.content); } </pre> I am thankful for any hint. Hey guys– I am trying to build a wrapper in AS3 that allows me to dynamically load and unload both AS2 and AS3-based swfs for my website. You seem to have a pretty good system for that at Kongregate and I wonder if you would share some coding tricks on how to make sure that every uploaded swf just works. I’ve tried the following approach but it does not work with the Understanding Games swfs since they use a factory pattern preloader. <pre> var mLoader:Loader = new Loader(); var mRequest:URLRequest = new URLRequest("mygame.swf”); mLoader.contentLoaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onCompleteHandler); mLoader.load(mRequest); private function onCompleteHandler(loadEvent:Event) { addChild(loadEvent.currentTarget.content); } </pre> I am thankful for any hint.

2007-11-10T09:19:58-08:00

true

50832

3277

2009-09-16T23:24:45-07:00

546

There is a commercial Eclipse Plug-in called "FDT":http://fdt.powerflasher.com/flashsite/flash.htm - we use it at the internet company I am currently working for. It is very powerful and has a number of nifty features that will make your development make a lot easier (Full Code Completion, Live Error Highlighting, Quick Source Navigation ...) For personal projects I work on my MacBook and use "TextMate":http://www.macromates.com/ together with an "ActionScript3 Bundle":http://www.flashalisious.com/2007/07/30/installing-as3-and-flex-bundle-for-textmate/, "XCode":http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/xcode/ and the "Adobe Free Flex SDK":http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/sdk/ There is a commercial Eclipse Plug-in called <a href="http://fdt.powerflasher.com/flashsite/flash.htm">FDT</a> – we use it at the internet company I am currently working for. It is very powerful and has a number of nifty features that will make your development make a lot easier (Full Code Completion, Live Error Highlighting, Quick Source Navigation …) For personal projects I work on my MacBook and use <a href="http://www.macromates.com/">TextMate</a> together with an <a href="http://www.flashalisious.com/2007/07/30/installing-as3-and-flex-bundle-for-textmate/">ActionScript3 Bundle</a>, <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/xcode/">XCode</a> and the <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/sdk/">Adobe Free Flex SDK</a>

2007-10-07T10:15:49-07:00

true

37201

2573

2009-09-16T23:17:28-07:00

546

I did suggest this before, so once again: Add a comment guideline note above the comment form. It should ask the user to give feedback in a constructive, reflective and polite way. I really think Kongregate should encourage people to a more positive and valuable culture of commenting on games. I did suggest this before, so once again: Add a comment guideline note above the comment form. It should ask the user to give feedback in a constructive, reflective and polite way. I really think Kongregate should encourage people to a more positive and valuable culture of commenting on games.

2007-10-06T15:48:51-07:00

true

36936

2508

2009-09-16T23:17:08-07:00

546

Hi Chris, thanks for posting the submission guidelines - interesting read. Could you give on overview of what the community/multiplayer API will be capable off? Will it be possible to use the multiplayer API for games with a high "actions-per-frame" ratio or will it be more suitable for turn-based games? Will you provide any tools or tutorials how to test a multiplayer game and how to keep it in sync? Will it be possible to save and share game data (e.g. for a user generated levels) on your servers through the API? Sorry if my questions are maybe a bit too technical for this thread - but I think a good understanding of your APIs is necessary to come up with good game ideas/prototypes that fit your Community-Centric focus. Thanks, Andreas Hi Chris, thanks for posting the submission guidelines – interesting read. Could you give on overview of what the community/multiplayer API will be capable off? Will it be possible to use the multiplayer API for games with a high “actions-per-frame” ratio or will it be more suitable for turn-based games? Will you provide any tools or tutorials how to test a multiplayer game and how to keep it in sync? Will it be possible to save and share game data (e.g. for a user generated levels) on your servers through the API? Sorry if my questions are maybe a bit too technical for this thread – but I think a good understanding of your APIs is necessary to come up with good game ideas/prototypes that fit your Community-Centric focus. Thanks, Andreas

2007-09-12T00:37:23-07:00

true

27606

2028

2009-09-16T23:13:20-07:00

546

Nice. Thanks for uploading the photos! Nice. Thanks for uploading the photos!

2007-08-29T12:16:23-07:00

true

22976

1796

2009-09-16T23:12:28-07:00

546

Has anyone made some photos at the PAX Kongregate booth and would like to upload to Flickr or somewhere else? Has anyone made some photos at the PAX Kongregate booth and would like to upload to Flickr or somewhere else?

2007-08-26T21:51:31-07:00

true

22066

1740

2009-09-16T23:12:12-07:00

546

Mh ... I wonder why you are thinking that programming a fully playable Double Dragon style game is a simple, easy, quick and painless task to do. Looks more like the exact opposite for me. Mh … I wonder why you are thinking that programming a fully playable Double Dragon style game is a simple, easy, quick and painless task to do. Looks more like the exact opposite for me.

2007-08-17T08:51:13-07:00

true

19223

1556

2009-09-16T23:11:13-07:00

546

jmtb: This was one of the best forum posts I have read in a long while here and I could not agree more. bq. Leave comments that address the Flash or the author in a constructive way. I have seen so many “this game sucks” comments, with little reason as to why it sucks. For me, this is one of the greatest problems of Kongregate right now. In the beginning of Kongregate getting feedback from the players was incredibly valuable (even if harsh sometimes) for developers. Now every second comment is something like "Your game sucks/rocks" without any whatsoever hint why. So here's a suggestion/feature request for Kongregate: Put a very short disclaimer/how-to-comment guide above the comment form that states something like: "Try to be constructive in your feedback. If you don't like the game, say why. If you do like the game, also do." Then at least people would know what kind of feedback is appreciated within the community. jmtb: This was one of the best forum posts I have read in a long while here and I could not agree more. <blockquote> Leave comments that address the Flash or the author in a constructive way. I have seen so many “this game sucks” comments, with little reason as to why it sucks. </blockquote> For me, this is one of the greatest problems of Kongregate right now. In the beginning of Kongregate getting feedback from the players was incredibly valuable (even if harsh sometimes) for developers. Now every second comment is something like “Your game sucks/rocks” without any whatsoever hint why. So here’s a suggestion/feature request for Kongregate: Put a very short disclaimer/how-to-comment guide above the comment form that states something like: “Try to be constructive in your feedback. If you don’t like the game, say why. If you do like the game, also do.” Then at least people would know what kind of feedback is appreciated within the community.

2007-08-16T04:16:11-07:00

true

18681

1523

2009-09-16T23:11:04-07:00

546

I agree, RSS for the Gamerkc Newsletter would be very nice. I agree, RSS for the Gamerkc Newsletter would be very nice.

2007-05-17T03:20:41-07:00

true

4722

438

2009-09-16T23:05:03-07:00

546

I uploaded a new version of Understanding Games based on comments from Kongregate users and various blogs comments. Thanks a lot for your feedback! *"Episode 3":http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/understanding-games-episode-3* – If you score more than 100.000 points then Bub won't say "That was not quite easy, was it?" anymore – Fixed a bug where pressing the space key while Bob is solving the puzzle could unintentionally stop or fast-forward the episode *"Episode 4":http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/understanding-games-episode-4* – The player AI won't get stuck next to a tree anymore – Bub will now notice if the game ends in a draw *All Episodes* – Added custom context menu I uploaded a new version of Understanding Games based on comments from Kongregate users and various blogs comments. Thanks a lot for your feedback! <a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/understanding-games-episode-3">Episode 3</a> – If you score more than 100.000 points then Bub won’t say “That was not quite easy, was it?” anymore – Fixed a bug where pressing the space key while Bob is solving the puzzle could unintentionally stop or fast-forward the episode <a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/understanding-games-episode-4">Episode 4</a> – The player AI won’t get stuck next to a tree anymore – Bub will now notice if the game ends in a draw All Episodes – Added custom context menu

2007-05-13T08:08:42-07:00

true

4545

2009-09-16T23:02:22-07:00

546

I am wondering why the artwork for the cards is apparently designed for 16-year-old male hardcore gamers. Any ideas? I am wondering why the artwork for the cards is apparently designed for 16-year-old male hardcore gamers. Any ideas?

2007-05-11T11:02:37-07:00

true

4421

403

2009-09-16T23:04:46-07:00

546

Understanding Games is a diploma thesis project I did at the "University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam, Germany":http://www.design.fh-potsdam.de/start.php?lang=en in communications design. The game design theory behind the four episodes is based on various books I've read during my research. If you are interested to read more about these topics I highly recommend you the following books. I am also thinking about a way to somehow integrate these recommended readings into the episodes, so if you have an idea how to do this, please let me know. Chen, Jenova: _Flow in Games._ http://jenovachen.com/flowingames/thesis.htm Costikyan, Greg: _I Have No Words & I Must Design._ http://www.costik.com/nowords.html Crawford, Chris: _The Art of Computer Game Design._ http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/peabody/game-book/Coverpage.html Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly: _Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience._ New York : HarperCollins. Gee, James Paul: _What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy._ New York : Palgrave Macmillan. Gingold, Chaim: _Miniature Gardens & Magic Crayons: Games, Spaces & Worlds._ Georgia : Institute of Technology. Huizinga, Johan: _Homo Ludes: A Study of the Play Element in Culture._ Boston : Beacon Press. Johnson, Steven: _Everything Bad Is Good for You._ London : Penguin Books. Juul, Jesper: _Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds._ Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. Koster, Ralph: _A Theory of Fun for Game Design._ Scottsdale, Arizona : Paraglyph Press. Linderoth, Jonas: _Animated game pieces. Avatars as roles, tools and props._ Aesthetics of Play Conference. University of Bergen. http://www.aestheticsofplay.org/linderoth.php McCloud, Scott: _Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art._ New York : Harper Perennial. Salen, Katie; Zimmerman, Eric: _Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals._ Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. Salen, Katie; Zimmerman, Eric: _The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology._ Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. Understanding Games is a diploma thesis project I did at the <a href="http://www.design.fh-potsdam.de/start.php?lang=en">University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam, Germany</a> in communications design. The game design theory behind the four episodes is based on various books I’ve read during my research. If you are interested to read more about these topics I highly recommend you the following books. I am also thinking about a way to somehow integrate these recommended readings into the episodes, so if you have an idea how to do this, please let me know. Chen, Jenova: Flow in Games. <a href="http://jenovachen.com/flowingames/thesis.htm">http://jenovachen.com/flowingames/thesis.htm</a> Costikyan, Greg: I Have No Words & I Must Design. <a href="http://www.costik.com/nowords.html">http://www.costik.com/nowords.html</a> Crawford, Chris: The Art of Computer Game Design. <a href="http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/peabody/game-book/Coverpage.html">http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/peabody/game-book/Coverpage.html</a> Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York : HarperCollins. Gee, James Paul: What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. New York : Palgrave Macmillan. Gingold, Chaim: Miniature Gardens & Magic Crayons: Games, Spaces & Worlds. Georgia : Institute of Technology. Huizinga, Johan: Homo Ludes: A Study of the Play Element in Culture. Boston : Beacon Press. Johnson, Steven: Everything Bad Is Good for You. London : Penguin Books. Juul, Jesper: Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds. Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. Koster, Ralph: A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Scottsdale, Arizona : Paraglyph Press. Linderoth, Jonas: Animated game pieces. Avatars as roles, tools and props. Aesthetics of Play Conference. University of Bergen. <a href="http://www.aestheticsofplay.org/linderoth.php">http://www.aestheticsofplay.org/linderoth.php</a> McCloud, Scott: Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York : Harper Perennial. Salen, Katie; Zimmerman, Eric: Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals. Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press. Salen, Katie; Zimmerman, Eric: The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology. Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press.

2007-03-29T07:20:17-07:00

true

1561

179

2009-09-16T23:03:08-07:00

546

Imp2 asked how I made the little equalizer in the Understanding Games series. The script for it is based on an example by flash coder Andre Michelle. Make sure to check out the others examples too, since they are pretty awesome. http://lab.andre-michelle.com/soundspectrum Imp2 asked how I made the little equalizer in the Understanding Games series. The script for it is based on an example by flash coder Andre Michelle. Make sure to check out the others examples too, since they are pretty awesome. <a href="http://lab.andre-michelle.com/soundspectrum">http://lab.andre-michelle.com/soundspectrum</a>

2007-03-21T02:43:01-07:00

true

883

109

2009-09-16T23:02:34-07:00

546

Hi! I uploaded a new version of "Understanding Games: Episode 1":http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/understanding-games-episode-1 including the following new features: * in-game music * mute button * language selection english/german * new title screen * preloader Hi! I uploaded a new version of <a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/pixelate/understanding-games-episode-1">Understanding Games: Episode 1</a> including the following new features: <ul> <li>in-game music</li> <li>mute button</li> <li>language selection english/german</li> <li>new title screen</li> <li>preloader</li> </ul>

2007-03-13T07:33:31-07:00

true

632

2009-09-16T23:02:22-07:00

546

bq. I think there should be some link showing recently updated/improved games. My suggestion for this is that one of the Kongregate guys (Greg?) opens a official and _sticky_ thread called "Updated games" in the forums. Anyone who updated his or her game can post a short note about the new features or fixed bugs. This would work fine until Kongregate implements a more "ambitious" solution for this issue. It would be easy to use it via the RSS-Feed, too. <blockquote> I think there should be some link showing recently updated/improved games. </blockquote> My suggestion for this is that one of the Kongregate guys (Greg?) opens a official and sticky thread called “Updated games” in the forums. Anyone who updated his or her game can post a short note about the new features or fixed bugs. This would work fine until Kongregate implements a more “ambitious” solution for this issue. It would be easy to use it via the RSS-Feed, too.

2007-03-07T09:18:12-08:00

true

524

2009-09-16T23:00:02-07:00

546

Mh... I have an 1.33ghz Powerbook and it runs in 14fps – before and after the fullscreen switch. Mh… I have an 1.33ghz Powerbook and it runs in 14fps – before and after the fullscreen switch.

2007-02-04T10:27:00-08:00

true

237

2009-09-16T23:02:01-07:00

546

Indy, thanks for the Metanet Link. Seems very interesting! Another question to the forums: Has anyone used an approach yet drawing all (bitmap) graphics manually to a fullscreen bitmap every frame, instead of using a lot of attached movieclips or sprites? Indy, thanks for the Metanet Link. Seems very interesting! Another question to the forums: Has anyone used an approach yet drawing all (bitmap) graphics manually to a fullscreen bitmap every frame, instead of using a lot of attached movieclips or sprites?

2007-02-04T02:51:29-08:00

true

232

2009-09-16T23:02:01-07:00

546

I'd like to start a thread about the performance issues of the flash player (especially in a browser) which in my point of view every flash game developer will have complained about at some point. So my question is: What are your strategies to speed up the framerate of your flash games? To start off "here's":http://www.jessewarden.com/archives/2007/01/invalidation_st.html a nice blog article about display programming optimizing in ActionScript. I’d like to start a thread about the performance issues of the flash player (especially in a browser) which in my point of view every flash game developer will have complained about at some point. So my question is: What are your strategies to speed up the framerate of your flash games? To start off <a href="http://www.jessewarden.com/archives/2007/01/invalidation_st.html">here’s</a> a nice blog article about display programming optimizing in ActionScript.

2007-02-01T02:51:21-08:00

true

216

2009-09-16T23:02:00-07:00

546

bq. Friends are suppose to be sincere to you and all that. They can do the tester job nicelly. I asked a lot of friends to beta test the first episode of _Understanding Games_ before uploading it to Kongregate. While their feedback was extremly helpful, friends tend to give feedback in a very polite way (which is what you expect from them after all), but this politeness can make you overlook major problems. The first comments I got for _Episode 1_ were rather harsh, so I was very surprised when people where so annoyed by the slow pace of the game. (After working on the series for 6 months, I became blind to such "details".) Of course for a developer, this is some of the most important feedback. So having some "non-friends" to test your game seems to be very important. <blockquote> Friends are suppose to be sincere to you and all that. They can do the tester job nicelly. </blockquote> I asked a lot of friends to beta test the first episode of Understanding Games before uploading it to Kongregate. While their feedback was extremly helpful, friends tend to give feedback in a very polite way (which is what you expect from them after all), but this politeness can make you overlook major problems. The first comments I got for Episode 1 were rather harsh, so I was very surprised when people where so annoyed by the slow pace of the game. (After working on the series for 6 months, I became blind to such “details”.) Of course for a developer, this is some of the most important feedback. So having some “non-friends” to test your game seems to be very important.

2007-02-01T02:37:39-08:00

true

215

2009-09-16T23:01:59-07:00

546

Yeah, I like the idea. The minigame format could encourage developers to experiment with some new gameplay ideas. Within such a fixed limited format, originality becomes more important and comparable. It would be nice if there would be some kind of Kongregate-styled "wrapping" holding everything together, like the cut-scenes in Wario Ware did. Also people should be able to play several minigames consecutively without having to navigate through the site in between. . Yeah, I like the idea. The minigame format could encourage developers to experiment with some new gameplay ideas. Within such a fixed limited format, originality becomes more important and comparable. It would be nice if there would be some kind of Kongregate-styled “wrapping” holding everything together, like the cut-scenes in Wario Ware did. Also people should be able to play several minigames consecutively without having to navigate through the site in between. .

2007-02-01T02:18:57-08:00

true

214

2009-09-16T23:02:00-07:00

546

Processing can be pretty helpful, if you want to learn some programming basics from a designer perspective. Its powerful graphical functions and good examples help you to see what you are actually coding. It has a huge user community and is especially popular in design schools. However the editor is a little bit clumsy and makes it difficult to use Processing for bigger projects. Processing can be pretty helpful, if you want to learn some programming basics from a designer perspective. Its powerful graphical functions and good examples help you to see what you are actually coding. It has a huge user community and is especially popular in design schools. However the editor is a little bit clumsy and makes it difficult to use Processing for bigger projects.

2007-01-25T07:34:33-08:00

true

122

2009-09-16T23:01:56-07:00

546