I thought I would share a little snippet I use from time to time to allow me to turn on and off the trace function in my Flash work.

Basically instead of typing “trace(‘hello world’);” you type “debug(‘hello world’);”.

Then once you are done developing the swf you just change the debugMode variable to false and turn off all your trace functions to save a good bit of processing in the final product. It’s quite handy.

Here is the code I use:

var debugMode:Boolean = true;

function debug(STRING:String){
     if(debugMode){
          trace(STRING);
     }
}

I put together a Facebook app for my new game Lifeguard Larry Deluxe. I’m actually pretty happy with how it turned out and I’m pretty sure that I will be integrating more social networking features into my games from this point on.

The hurtle that I was able to get over was making the facebook calls work from the swf itself. The swf currently has to be on facebook to work properly but I believe I might be able to figure out a way to make it work when the user isn’t on facebook.

Click here to play Lifeguard Larry Deluxe on Facebook.

This is a funny flash game where you have one minute to find a way to save the drowning boy in the pool. It is a little morbid but it’s really funny and memorable and people like games that surprise them. This was a project that was made with another artist and a musician. Click see more to play the game. Read the rest of this entry »

Primary is an action platformer puzzle game where you control Roy. A HUEman super soldier who must climb to the top of Prizim tower to stop an invasion of color eating monsters who want to lay waste to his planet.

Game design, programming, character design and sound design done by Dave Fulton. Additional artwork and animation done by Matt Ackerman (Frozenfire).

W:Jump
A and D move left and right
S: Go invisible when yellow or drop from ledge when hanging.
J K L or Clicking the screen: Change the color of your body.
SpaceBar: actions for each ability.
R: flip switches and enter doorways

Read the rest of this entry »

I will be away from March 7th through the 9th to head out to San Francisco for the Flash Gaming Summit. I will be taking many pictures and I will be sharing them here on my blog with you.

I will be reachable by phone if you need to contact me otherwise please have a great weekend and I will talk with you on Wednesday!

Hey in my travels around the internet I stumble across some really neat things. Case in point is a great tutorial for animators about how to animate smoke. It’s really worth checking out if you are an animator like myself.
Here is a link.

So last summer I started a project with another developer online.  To make an action puzzle platformer game.   I have been working on this game for months and months now and after many ups and downs it’s nearly done!   I have spent all night putting elements into the game such as leaderboards, an intro and ending animation.    I’m working on the menus tonight, I am still waiting on some new music for the game to be completed but hopefully that won’t hold us up to much.

The game’s name is Primary.  It is about your character named Roy who is a man made of color, he can phase between the primary colors, red, yellow, and blue.  When he phases his body and his powers change, allowing you to solve puzzles and fight enemies.

It’s hopefully going to be popular, though you can never really tell.  I have been developing flash games for a long time now and this is one of my more complex personal endeavors… and though I don’t expect it to be a Bejeweled type hit I do hope for a few million plays in the first month.  That would be nice.

I have had several things happen to me while I was developing this game.  I became an uncle, I started freelancing again, and I started the meetup group that I have been leading.  I’m sure there are many more things but those are the big ones that come to mind.  It’s funny how I look back on my games and I don’t think about the games or the money that I get from them… I think about what happened to me in the time it to to develop the game.

When making a game the developer knows that game inside and out, and honestly by the time you are done developing and testing a game you can’t stand to see it anymore.  It’s a ton of work and anyone who creates games does it cause they love it.  So I’m really excited to be done with my new game and about ready to send it out into the world to sink or swim.  I’m so nervous… I hope it makes friends.

Here are some screenshots:

Hey I found a really nice tutorial on Lip syncing animated characters in flash. I already use most of these tips but the order that the phonims are added was something I never thought of. Here is a link.

Here is some interesting information about me, I run a meetup for independent video game developers in the Chicagoland area twice a month.  We set a topic to talk about a few weeks in advance and we all come to the meetup and hash that topic among many many others.  We have a wide range of participants in the meetup and I really like going and talking with people who love this stuff as much as I do.

We have been having the meetups for almost 6 months now I believe.  We are working toward teaming up on projects and actually making games in the group.  Hopefully in a few months we will have a playable game or two.

So, I just thought I would post and say that I am really happy with how the work I have done on Portal-Studios.com has turned out.  I think it looks pretty snazzy if I do say so myself.  I have been working hard to get more work lately,  the jobs don’t just fall into your lap or anything right?

I am going to be setting a goal for myself with this blog.  A post a week minimum.  Not just some fluff about a picture of a cat I saw on some website either.  I want to convey something with every post… though I bet they won’t be the most educational.

If you would like to comment on the design or you have found an issue you would like to bring to my attention please contact me about it.