ActionScript 3.0

AS3.0 native 3D classes

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:05:14 +0000

Starting with Flash Player 10 Adobe introduces the native 3D calculations methods for Action Script 3.0 . This calculations are faster than scripted 3D trigonometric calculations. Papervision 2 uses this native 3D clases and I explored them also. Soon Adobe will release Flash Player which will use hardware 3D acceleration but now the most effective way to use 3D in Flash are this native 3D methods.

Mapping Flash video to 3D objects
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flash_video_3d.html

Culling
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/ActionScript/3.0_ProgrammingAS3/WSB0132CAB-C91D-4cb4-9A47-394C85677E40.html

Projecting 3D objects onto a 2D view
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/ActionScript/3.0_ProgrammingAS3/WS36223081-8938-4b45-BB89-F1F8B1A52E4E.html#WS0D64676D-1BCC-40f0-9A23-F19F4A0D8A6C
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/ActionScript/3.0_ProgrammingAS3/WS36223081-8938-4b45-BB89-F1F8B1A52E4E.html

Exploring the new 3D features in Flash CS4 Professional
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/3d_support_08.html

Performing complex 3D transformations
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/ActionScript/3.0_ProgrammingAS3/WSA340940C-A537-450c-8069-A4A052A98CAA.html

Documentation for PV3D 2
http://www.flashbookmarks.com/PV3D-GreatWhite-DOC/

Using sounds in ActionScript 3.0 games

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 10:27:11 +0000

Any game is better and tastyer if it got sounds. Sounds can be generally of two types - music and actions sounds. Music is usually set to play during the menu using or in game levels. Actions sounds are set to play when some action occurs, like clicks or personage jump or shoot. Also the sounds are used on menu actions.

In this article I describe how to use sounds in both of the cases, for background music, and for actions. Most of the examples of code was taken from my last game Star Fields which can be seen here http://alexgblog.com/?p=501

Any sound you use in AS3.0 must be embed or loaded. If you want to embed your sound in Flash authoring tool go to Menu>> File >> Import >> Import to Library, and choose your file. After importing the file to the library it must be assigned to a class. Open the library panel (shortcut is ctrl+L). Right click on the sound in library and choose “properties”. In the “Linkage” section choose “Export for ActionScript” and write a name for your class which will define the music file. In Flex for importing sounds you have to write code symilar to this example:

[Embed('assets/ding.mp3')]
private var ding_mp3:Class

Now you can create a new instance of this class and use it.

var gameMusic:Sound
var gameMusic:Sound = new mySound () // this is an embed sound
/* if you want to load this sound you must create an instance of URLRequest class */
var musicReq:URLRequest = new URLRequest(”http://alexgblog.com/sf/gameMusic.mp3″)
/* and also we will set the listeners to load progress and load complete. We have 3 listeners, first ine triggers when the sound is loaded entirely, second triggers on loading progress and the third one triggers if the sound cant be loaded*/
gameMusic.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, gameMusicLoadedLi )
gameMusic.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.PROGRESS, gameMusicProgressLi)
gameMusic.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, ioErrorLi)
// here we set the sound file to load
gameMusic.load(musicReq)

So we have our sounds loaded or embed. If you are loading your sound files you will set listeners to loading complete and in that listener you will set the actions to execute when the sound file is loaded. Next code is for listeners

function gameMusicLoadedLi(event:Event):void {
/*notice that play() method takes 3 parameters, startTime:Number = 0, loops:int = 0, sndTransform: flash.media:SoundTransform = null .Using this parameters you can point out an offset, number of loops or an SoundTransform property */
var gameMusChannel:SoundChannel = gameMusic.play() }
function gameMusicProgressLi(event:ProgressEvent):void {
var loadedPct:uint = Math.round(100 * (event.bytesLoaded / event.bytesTotal));
trace(”The sound is ” + loadedPct + “% loaded.”) }
function ioErrorLi(event:Event):void {
trace(”The sound cant be loaded”) }

The second function is a preloader which traces the percents loaded. Preloader is not needed if we have an embed sound. Next code is for embed sounds but if you are loading a sound you can insert the same code inside the COMPLETE event listener which here is the function called gameMusicLoadedLi.

var gameMusChannel:SoundChannel = gameMusic.play()
var gameMusTrans:SoundTransform = new SoundTransform(1, 0)
gameMusTrans.volume = 0.8 ( volume can have a value from 0 to 1 )
gameMusChannel.soundTransform=gameMusTrans

In previous snippet I created an instance of SoundChannel class which will play our sounds and an instance of SoundTransform class which modifies the sound volume and panning. Later you can modify the SoundTransform instance properties and assign it to the SoundChannel as in the previous snippet of code.

If we want the sound to loop lets make this

gameMusChannel.addEventListener(Event.SOUND_COMPLETE, gameMusCompleteLi)
// when the sound will play completely it will call this listener
function gameMusCompleteLi(evt:Event):void{
gameMusChannel = gameMusic.play()
gameMusChannel.soundTransform=gameMusTrans };
// also we can stop the sound by calling the stop() method of the SoundChannel class
gameMusChannel.stop()

Create your games and applications, make experiments and discover new spaces. If you have any questions about using this classes or any other or interesting ideas you can share them on my blog http://alexgblog.com I will try to respond to all of them.

Star Fields released

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:58:47 +0000

Star Fields game is released and ready to play. I wrote the music and made all design works for this game. You can see the game and play it and listen to the original soundtrack below in post. The game uses Papervision 2 and it is real 3D.

Press the image to play the game

Press the image to play the game!

Next I am going to make Star Fields for iPhone and PC and after that I will start making Star Fields 2. It will contain more melodies and graphics. When it will be ready I will make Star Fields opensource. Also I will publish some tutorials. Look for them also in Flash and Flex Developer magazine. FFD is a free to download magazine with very usefull staff for Action scripters http://ffdmag.com/

Later I will add some music and artworks for this game.

This is the OST from game stages. It can be downloaded.
GameMusic by AlexGreentown

And next is the original song which was written for SF.
Star Fields by AlexGreentown

The game contains advertising from MochiMedia

Audio visual design ¦ part 3

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:28:26 +0000

This is the third edition of the Audio Video Design post. Some of you have subscribed to my blog only because of this category. Traditionally I present here collection of artworks which selection is based on exceptional graphics, sound and originality, appreciated in different measure. This artworks are yeasy to percept and understand by anybody, even a child, because they are based on graphic and auditive language which does not require any educational background.

O’Neill NavJacket from Aras Darmawan on Vimeo.

(Tunit f50) Sound Redesigned from Solomute on Vimeo.

candlestickmaker and icecream-xtruder ‘take.me.elsewhere’ from icecream on Vimeo.

Nokta . from Onur Senturk on Vimeo.

Next videos are about Blip Festival or its participants. Blip Festival is dedicated to creators of 8 bit music. Such music is usually played by game consoles like Gameboy or Nintendo Portable which have 8 bit soundcard. Here we have a video clip on music of Blip Festival participant.

“Sting Operation” Video for Anamanaguchi from 2 Player Productions on Vimeo.

And next 2 videos are filmed on Blip Festival 2007.

SabrePulse // Blip Festival 2007: The Videos from 2 Player Productions on Vimeo.

Bit Shifter // Blip Festival 2007: The Videos from 2 Player Productions on Vimeo.

Next video is tech not so yeasy to percept by non-technical people.
Anyway its interesting and usefull experience watching it.

HSS3c Demo from Gijs on Vimeo.

Odaiba — Shinbashi in 3:07 (Yurikamome) from tv106 on Vimeo.

HOLOPHONICS - MODERN FRIGHT from Fatbros Productions on Vimeo.

Debugging ActionScript 3.0 in Flash

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:17:37 +0000

Today I explored Flash AS3.0 debugging and it is awesome. Flash debugger is an extremely useful tool for serious programmers and for kids too. Using this tool debugging ActionScript becomes two times simplier and much more in some cases. I present here mostly links to the info.

Basic info about Flash debugger
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Flash/10.0_UsingFlash/WSD76536C2-C8AA-472a-BE2F-BD0D0855972Aa.html

Understanding ActionScript 3 debugging in Flash
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flcs4_as3_debugging.html

Introducing the ActionScript 3.0 debugger
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/as3_debugger.html
part 2
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/as3_debugger_02.html

And some more info about an external debugging tool
http://gotoandlearn.com/play?id=109

Notice that this article is dedicated to debugging in Flash authoring tool. Debugging in Flex or other ActionScript editors may differ.

Local LiveDocs and other features of “Doc?”

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:11:44 +0000

Most ActionScript programmers has to use online help system, LiveDocs which is not so convenient as local help system, which was in CS3 and Macromedia Flash. It is annoying waiting until pages are loading and searching something. Well, LiveDocs is not the only one help online system, there is also a lot of online docs for almost all the 3D, physics, and many other libraries for Flash. But now you can access all this documentation locally which makes it much faster and comrfortable. Thanks to Jeroem Beckers and Michiel Vancoillie we have the free “Doc?”.

The home page of the Doc? is
http://airdoc.be/home/

This is the description from this page: ” Doc? is a free desktop Application, made entirely in FLEX & AIR.

Doc? allows you to view, search and bookmark all your favorite ASDocs. It can also handle some legacy books like the ones you find in Flash CS3 and older. Online books can be downloaded and viewed directly in Doc?. ”

I can say also that it has search system, bookmarks, navigation history, it is really handy!

I made a screenshot of the interface, as you can see there are 2 search systems, one through the directories, and second through the document. I tried it, it is handy and flexible. At the top you can see document search, next are the bookmarks, next goes navigation hystory, and at the top right there are two buttons - “home” and “books and settings”. If you want to download some docs you have to go to “books and settings”.

If you need help, you can find info on the http://airdoc.be page.

Also I added a download of the most recent version for now. Download (press here)

Optimising CPU and memory usage in AS3.0

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:47:55 +0000

This post is extremely useful for serious ActionScript 3.0 programmers. Kids has nothing to do with it but any serious application cant give high results and framerate without code optimization. Memory and processor optimization is especially important for those who make games and complicated graphics. Most of the information in this post represents links with description but in time maybe I will add textual information and more links.

Colin Mook talking about garbage collector on Adobe TV
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/colin-moocks-lost-actionscript-weekend/object-references-and-garbage-collection/

Slide show about memory and CPU management from Grant Skinner
http://www.gskinner.com/talks/resource-management/

The blog of Grant Skinner - lots of info about stuff
http://www.gskinner.com/blog/

Some tips
http://www.lostinactionscript.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/28/tips-on-how-to-write-efficient-as3/

Useful tips with examples and many links
http://www.rozengain.com/blog/2007/05/01/some-actionscript-30-optimizations/

Tips from Andre Michelle
http://blog.andre-michelle.com/2005/as3-optimations-suggestions/

ActionScript 3.0 and AVM2: Performance Tuning - pdf
http://www.onflex.org/ACDS/AS3TuningInsideAVM2JIT.pdf

Resource management strategies in Flash Player 9
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/resource_management.html

Understanding garbage collection in Flash Player 9
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/garbage_collection.html

gskinner.com: gBlog: Types in AS3: ints not so fast, uints slow!
http://www.gskinner.com/blog/archives/2006/06/types_in_as3_in.html

Actionscript optimization resources
http://www.gotoandplay.it/_forums/viewtopic.php?t=179

More performance tuning in Actionscript 3
http://www.danielhai.com/blog/?p=55

Bitwise gems - fast integer math
http://lab.polygonal.de/2007/05/10/bitwise-gems-fast-integer-math

AS3 and AVM Performance Tuning tips from Gary Grossman - pdf
http://www.onflex.org/ACDS/AS3TuningInsideAVM2JIT.pdf

AS3: Rethink your old assumptions
http://www.bit-101.com/blog/?p=1023

ActionScript 3 Performance Tuning by Matt Chotin - pdf
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/as3_tuning/fm_as3perf.pdf

Fast and accurate sine/cosine approximation
http://lab.polygonal.de/2007/07/18/fast-and-accurate-sinecosine-approximation

Optimizations for AS3 calculations
http://www.rockonflash.com/blog/?p=63

Fast Flash9 Fixed Point Sine
http://blog.haxe.org/entry/26

AS3 Interesting Numeric Storage Behavior
http://drawk.wordpress.com/2007/06/06/as3-interesting-numeric-storage-behavior

Flex RIA Performance Considerations Part 1: Getting Started
http://www.insideria.com/2008/03/flex-ria-performance-considera-1.html

Boost memory performance on data structures using HashMapCollection API
http://elromdesign.com/blog/2008/03/27/boost-memory-performance-on-data-structures-using-hashmapcollection-api

Flash AS3 optimization - Fastest way to copy an array
http://agit8.turbulent.ca/bwp/2008/08/04/flash-as3-optimization-fastest-way-to-copy-an-array

Making dispatchEvent More Efficient
http://www.gskinner.com/blog/archives/2008/12/making_dispatch.htm

ActionScript 3 Vector / Array Performance Comparison
http://www.mikechambers.com/blog/2008/09/24/actioscript-3-vector-array-performance-comparison

ActionScript 3 Performance Tester
http://businessintelligence.me/projects/performance_tester/performanceTester.html

Excellent article about benchmarking
http://www.stephencalenderblog.com/?p=7

Top Ten ActionScript Performance Tips
http://www.stephencalenderblog.com/?p=109

Tips on how to write efficient AS3 - part 1
http://www.lostinactionscript.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/28/tips-on-how-to-write-efficient-as3

Tips on how to write efficient AS3 - part 2
http://www.lostinactionscript.com/blog/index.php/2008/11/01/tips-on-how-to-write-efficient-as3-part-2

AS3 Performance Testing Harness
http://www.gskinner.com/blog/archives/2009/04/as3_performance.html

Joa Ebert: Code Optimization
http://wiki.joa-ebert.com/index.php/Category:Code_Optimization

LinkedGrid
http://pixelero.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/linkedgrid

LinkedList
http://wiki.joa-ebert.com/index.php/LinkedList

Flex Databinding Performance
http://www.screenshot.at/blog/2009/04/18/databinding-under-the-hood-part-1-performance

Round up of ActionScript 3.0 and Flex optimization techniques and practices and some links
http://www.insideria.com/2009/04/51-actionscript-30-and-flex-op.html

Sean Christmann: Optimizing Adobe AIR for Code Execution, Memory, and Rendering
http://www.craftymind.com/2008/11/20/max-2008-session-material/

Dennis Ippel: Some ActionScript 3.0 Optimizations
http://www.rozengain.com/blog/2007/05/01/some-actionscript-30-optimizations/

Shane McCartney: Tips on how to write efficient AS3
http://www.lostinactionscript.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/28/tips-on-how-to-write-efficient-as3/

Flex Application Performance: Tips and Techniques for Improving Client Application Performance
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/client_perf.html

Stephen Calender: ActionScript 3.0 Benchmarking
http://www.stephencalenderblog.com/?p=7

Grant Skinner: Types in AS3: ints not so fast, uints slow!
http://www.gskinner.com/blog/archives/2006/06/types_in_as3_in.html

Grant Skinner: Resource management strategies in Flash Player 9
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplayer/articles/resource_management.html

Gary Grossman: ActionScript 3.0 and AVM2 Performance Tuning
http://www.onflex.org/ACDS/AS3TuningInsideAVM2JIT.pdf

Fastest way to copy an array
http://agit8.turbulent.ca/bwp/2008/08/04/flash-as3-optimization-fastest-way-to-copy-an-array/

Andre Michelle: AS3 optimations & suggestions
http://blog.andre-michelle.com/2005/as3-optimations-suggestions/

Package-level function closures in ActionScript
http://www.ericfeminella.com/blog/2008/05/06/package-level-function-closures-in-actionscript/

ActionScript 3 optimization techniques
http://blog.joa-ebert.com/2008/04/26/actionscript-3-optimization-techniques/

AS3 Performance Tester
http://businessintelligence.me/projects/performance_tester/performanceTester.html

There is a new method drawPath() in FP10 and drawings render faster with drawPath() than with a series of individual lineTo() and curveTo() methods
http://www.flashandmath.com/basic/drawpathCS4/index.html
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AS3LCR/Flash_10.0/flash/display/Graphics.html#drawPath()

AS3 garbage collection monitor
http://www.soundstep.com/blog/2010/01/18/as3-garbage-collection-monitor/

John Iacoviello – Papervision3D Optimization Tips
http://interactivehug.com/2008/04/21/john-iacoviello-papervision3d-optimization-tips/

Polygonal Labs - bitwise operations
http://lab.polygonal.de/2007/05/10/bitwise-gems-fast-integer-math/

There will be more links in future

Audio visual design ¦ part 2

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:29:36 +0000

This post is the continuation of the previous post devoted to amazing and inspiring audio visual design. Unfortunately I dont see many interactive works between them and in first video I present an unique interactive visual design artwork. This is a video shot of my experiment, the original doesnt have sound but the video has music playing, enjoy it…

SwanDive from AlexG on Vimeo.

Next artwork represents an unique combination of technical perfection and human mind researches result.
Its called White Swan. “2009 - An exhausted, shivering girl is captured in a dark machinery world. As she escapes in to her imagination, a mesmerizing world unfolds.”

White Swan from Sil van der Woerd on Vimeo.

In next video the music is generated according to visual motion and in previous video the image was generated according to the music. It seem to be not important but this details can make you look deeper into the audio visual design. Indeed, both cases can be beautiful but this small details can make you see and percept the flow of the authors mind.

ARTIFICIAL PARADISE,INC. from Jp Frenay on Vimeo.

Trigger Event from FKSD on Vimeo.

Next and previous masterpieces belongs to Toni Polkowski.

Taeguk from FKSD on Vimeo.

Playgrounds festival from Rogier Hendriks on Vimeo.

Place - Plus+ 2007 from Clusta on Vimeo.

AEC Facade Visualization from Claus Helfenschneider on Vimeo.

Next one is a work of Japanese artists

Urban Abstract from Musuta on Vimeo.

This one is a bit chaotic but its live performance and its nice and I included it:

Himuro Yoshiteru w/Takafumi Tsuchiya A/V Liveset quick edit promo sample. from takcom™ on Vimeo.

Many thanks to guys from Cromoart for helping me choose this masterpieces.

Audio visual design

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:56:31 +0000

We, the artist of digital era have the opportunity to use motion graphics and sound design to express. In this post I gathered videos of motion design that impressed me or I consider a source of inspiration. Of course the main source of inspiration must be your vision and feelings but its useful to see what other people do. Lets watch, enjoy…

Short Film / Onedreamrush / 42 Below Vodka / China from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

In this edition I placed products of Universal Everything studio which I consider an extremely innovative and talented guys, they use all kind of digital graphics, algorithm motion, post production. Also this studio performs exclusive sound design, mostly devoid of cliches.

MTV / Surprise x 1000% / Jewels and Oil from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

Designing Seeds / Exhibition / SIAD Gallery, Sheffield from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

Nokia E71 launch / 6 Billion People, 6 Billion Colours from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

MTV / History of Dance from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

As you can see even with simple technical solutions which are available in real time rendering you can create amazing visual sound experience design. In this video its not interactive but it could be.

Nokia / Leave No Trace / Video Ringtones from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

George Michael / 25 Live / Freedom from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

Audi TT Launch / Viral Film from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

These are images generated proportional to sound but you can make in your artworks parallel designing of sound and visual or even sound generated by image. Of course you can make interactive artwork which will consist of visual and audio data generated proportional to users activity. I want to make such work, if someone wants to join me, write it in comments and I will respond.

Advanced Beauty 5 of 18 / Directed by Mate Steinforth from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

Advanced Beauty 3 of 18 / Directed by Karsten Schmidt from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

Advanced loading external files in AS3.0

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:49:54 +0000

Loading external clips is very important part of every actionScripter work. In this post I will give you detailed information about handling the loading of external clips and images process. Reading this post you will learn how to use different locations, load crossDomain policies, start and stop the loading, manage the loaded data and loader events and errors. Also you will learn to make preloaders and observe the loading advance.

Here is some very usefull documentation
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AS3LCR/Flash_10.0/flash/display/Loader.html
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AS3LCR/Flash_10.0/flash/display/LoaderInfo.html
notice that I describe here loading of clips and images, if you want to load textual data you must use URLLoader:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AS3LCR/Flash_10.0/flash/net/URLLoader.html

package {
import flash.display.MovieClip
import flash.events.Event
import flash.events.IEventDispatcher
import flash.events.ProgressEvent
import flash.events.IOErrorEvent
import flash.events.MouseEvent
import flash.display.Loader
import flash.net.URLRequest
import flash.text.TextField
import flash.system.Security
import flash.utils.setTimeout

public class AdvancedLoading extends MovieClip {
//creating an instance of Loader
private var loader:Loader=new Loader()
private var url:String=”image.jpg”
//creating an instance of URLRequest
private var theRequest:URLRequest=new URLRequest(url)
//creating a textField which will reflect the loading progress
private var progressTxt:TextField=new TextField()
//also we will make a timer which will close loader connection after some time left
var closeLoadingID:uint = setTimeout(closeLoader, 3000)

public function AdvancedLoading() {
//initialisng listeners of the loader
initListeners(loader.contentLoaderInfo)
//if you load content from alien web site you can load a crossDomain policy XML
try{Security.loadPolicyFile(”http://someAdress.com/crossdomain.xml”)}catch(Error){}
//start loading
loader.load(theRequest)
addChild(progressTxt)};

private function initListeners(dispatcher:IEventDispatcher):void {
dispatcher.addEventListener(Event.INIT, onInit)
dispatcher.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.PROGRESS, onProgress)
dispatcher.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onComplete)
dispatcher.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, onIOError) };

function onInit(evt:Event):void{
/*this function will trigger when first frame of the loaded swf will be loaded. When loading an image INIT event is the same as COMPLETE*/
};

private function onProgress(event:ProgressEvent):void {
//lets show the progress event in percents
var perc:uint=(event.bytesLoaded/event.bytesTotal)*100
progressTxt.text=”Loading “+perc.toString()+”%” };

private function onComplete(event:Event):void {
//when loading is completed you can access loaded staff:
var loadedStaff:*=loader.content
addChild(loadedStaff)
//here I do center loaded staff on x axis
loadedStaff.x=stage.stageWidth/2-loadedStaff.width/2
//lets delete the closing timer
clearTimeout(closeLoadingID) };

private function onIOError(evt:IOErrorEvent):void {
trace(”ioErrorHandler: “+evt) };

private function closeLoader(evt:Event):void{
//this function triggers if the time interval runs before the staff is loaded
loader.close() };

} }

Download the source and use it in any good purposes. Download source(press here)

My friend Andre Venancio wrote a class which could be usefull http://blog.andrevenancio.com/2010/02/19/load-manager-v1/