Design Document

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How to calculate jumping height

Assume that jumping mechanic is using Cartesian Projection on y-position

jump_init is the start jump speed
gravity_pull is the constant gravity pull (weight is ignored)

Assume that x is jump_init and y is gravity_pull

maximum jumping height = x * (x/y + 1) / 2

Flappy Bird v2 source code

_root.flag_gameover = false;
function gameover() {
_root.flag_gameover = true;
_root.bg0_mc.stop();
_root.bg1_mc.stop();
_root.bg2_mc.stop();
}
function updateTimer():Void {
if (_root.flag_gameover) {
return;
}
var i:Number = _root.container_mc.getNextHighestDepth();
var mc:MovieClip;
mc = _root.container_mc.attachMovie("Pipe", "pipe_mc_" + i, i, {_x:550, _y:100 + random(150)});
_root.pipe_list.push(mc);
mc.onEnterFrame = function() {
if (_root.flag_gameover) {
return;
}
this._x -= 10;
if (this._x < -100) {
removeMovieClip(this);
}
if (this.hitbox_top_mc.hitTest(_root.bird_mc.hitbox_mc)) {
_root.gameover();
}
if (this.hitbox_btm_mc.hitTest(_root.bird_mc.hitbox_mc)) {
_root.gameover();
}
};
}
var intervalID:Number = setInterval(updateTimer, 1000);

Vertical Shooter

Vertical Shooter

1) Create the MovieClips for a Shooter, a Enemy and a Bullet in the library

2) Set the Linkage for the MovieClips in the library, make sure the names are precise

3) Create a text box, set it to Dynamic Text and name it score_txt

4) Copy and paste the code in the root frame

5) Test Movie

6) For version two, create the MovieClips for EnemyBullet and GameOver in the library

7) Copy and paste to overwrite the code in the root frame

Version 1:

//Copy the code and put it on the frame

var interval_dur = 50;

var shooter_mc = createMC("Shooter", 400, 500);

_root.bullet_speed = 90;

_root.move_speed = 20;

_root.enemy_move_speed = 10;

_root.stage_width = 800;

_root.spawn_counter = 0;

_root.spawn_max = 15;

_root.score_counter_max = 10;

function createMC(id:String, x_loc:Number, y_loc:Number):MovieClip {

var i = _root.getNextHighestDepth();

var mc:MovieClip = _root.attachMovie(id, "_mc"+i+"_", i, {_x:x_loc, _y:y_loc});

return mc;

}

shooter_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

if (Key.isDown(Key.LEFT)) {

this._x -= _root.move_speed;

}

if (this._x<0) {

this._x = 0;

}

if (Key.isDown(Key.RIGHT)) {

this._x += _root.move_speed;

}

if (this._x>_root.stage_width) {

this._x = _root.stage_width;

}

if (Key.isDown(Key.SPACE) && _root.bullet_mc == undefined) {

_root.bullet_mc = createMC("Bullet", this._x, this._y);

_root.bullet_mc.onUnload = function() {

if (_root.bullet_mc == this) {

_root.bullet_mc = undefined;

}

};

_root.bullet_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

if (this._y<=0) {

removeMovieClip(this);

return;

}

for (i=0; i<_root.bullet_speed; i++) {

this._y--;

for (var j in _root.enemy_list) {

var target_mc:MovieClip = _root.enemy_list[j];

if (target_mc.hitTest(this)) {

_root.score++;

_root.score_txt.text = _root.score;

removeMovieClip(target_mc);

removeMovieClip(this);

}

}

}

};

}

};

function updateTimer():Void {

_root.spawn_counter++;

if (_root.spawn_counter>=_root.spawn_max) {

_root.spawn_counter -= _root.spawn_max;

var r = random(2)*_root.stage_width;

var enemy_mc = createMC("Enemy", r, random(200));

enemy_mc.speed = _root.enemy_move_speed+random(10);

if (r != 0) {

enemy_mc.speed = -enemy_mc.speed;

}

_root.enemy_list.push(enemy_mc);

enemy_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

this._x += this.speed;

if (this._x<-50 || this._x>_root.stage_width+50) {

removeMovieClip(this);

}

};

}

}

_root.score_txt.text = "0";

_root.score = 0;

_root.enemy_list = new Array();

var intervalID:Number = setInterval(updateTimer, interval_dur);

stop();

Version 2:

var interval_dur = 50;

_root.shooter_mc = createMC("Shooter", 400, 500);

_root.bullet_speed = 90;

_root.move_speed = 20;

_root.enemy_move_speed = 10;

_root.stage_width = 800;

_root.spawn_counter = 0;

_root.spawn_max = 15;

_root.score_counter_max = 10;

function createMC(id:String, x_loc:Number, y_loc:Number):MovieClip {

var i = _root.getNextHighestDepth();

var mc:MovieClip = _root.attachMovie(id, "_mc"+i+"_", i, {_x:x_loc, _y:y_loc});

return mc;

}

_root.shooter_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

if (Key.isDown(Key.LEFT)) {

this._x -= _root.move_speed;

}

if (this._x<0) {

this._x = 0;

}

if (Key.isDown(Key.RIGHT)) {

this._x += _root.move_speed;

}

if (this._x>_root.stage_width) {

this._x = _root.stage_width;

}

if (Key.isDown(Key.SPACE) && _root.bullet_mc == undefined) {

_root.bullet_mc = createMC("Bullet", this._x, this._y);

_root.bullet_mc.onUnload = function() {

if (_root.bullet_mc == this) {

_root.bullet_mc = undefined;

}

};

_root.bullet_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

if (this._y<=0) {

removeMovieClip(this);

return;

}

for (i=0; i<_root.bullet_speed; i++) {

this._y--;

for (var j in _root.enemy_list) {

var target_mc:MovieClip = _root.enemy_list[j];

if (target_mc.hitTest(this)) {

_root.score++;

_root.score_txt.text = _root.score;

removeMovieClip(target_mc);

removeMovieClip(this);

}

}

}

};

}

};

function updateTimer():Void {

_root.spawn_counter++;

if (_root.spawn_counter>=_root.spawn_max) {

_root.spawn_counter -= _root.spawn_max;

var r = random(2)*_root.stage_width;

var enemy_mc = createMC("Enemy", r, random(200));

enemy_mc.speed = _root.enemy_move_speed+random(10);

if (r != 0) {

enemy_mc.speed = -enemy_mc.speed;

}

_root.enemy_list.push(enemy_mc);

enemy_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

this._x += this.speed;

if (this._x<-50 || this._x>_root.stage_width+50) {

removeMovieClip(this);

}

if (random(33) == 0) {

var bullet_mc = createMC("EnemyBullet", this._x, this._y);

bullet_mc.onEnterFrame = function() {

this._y += 10;

if (this._y>600) {

removeMovieClip(this);

return;

}

if (this.hitTest(_root.shooter_mc)) {

createMC("GameOver", _root.shooter_mc._x, _root.shooter_mc._y);

removeMovieClip(_root.shooter_mc);

removeMovieClip(this);

return;

}

};

}

};

}

}

_root.score_txt.text = "0";

_root.score = 0;

_root.enemy_list = new Array();

var intervalID:Number = setInterval(updateTimer, interval_dur);

stop();

Simple Minigame - Electric Rod

Simple Minigame

1) Draw a maze using Brush Tool, then convert it into MovieClip

2) Create a new layer for buttons with 3 key frames

3) Create a start button at the first key frame

4) Create a end button at the second key frame

5) Pull in the custom cursor MovieClip into the second key frame

6) Create the third key frame for victory

7) Put a "stop();" at the first key frame

8) Copy the code into corresponding buttons and MovieClips

Source Code:

//Custom cursor

onClipEvent (load) {

this._x = _root._xmouse;

this._y = _root._ymouse;

Mouse.hide();

startDrag(this);

}

onClipEvent (unload) {

Mouse.show();

}

//Maze

onClipEvent (mouseMove) {

if (_root.bln && this.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse, true)) {

_root.prevFrame();

}

}

onClipEvent (enterFrame) {

if (_root.bln && this.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse, true)) {

_root.prevFrame();

}

}

//Start button

on (release) {

_root.bln = true;

_root.nextFrame();

}

//End button

on (rollOver) {

nextFrame();

}

Creating a game from scratch

As a game can be built on many different platforms, the difference in device, machine and language can eventually be blurred with higher and more comprehensive tools that allow user to create a game without the need of programming (ideally)

However, given the skills of game design, mastering the planning aspect is the most crucial as games can be written in so many languages using different game engine.

By focusing on the creating the plan and game design, the tasks required in a project to be done by anyone that fulfills the technical requirements of the given task.

So, the focus will be based on the following criteria:
- Depth of gameplay complexity (casual game or hardcore game)
- Learning curve, challenge, rewards (level editing)
- The role given to the player (story driven or non-story based)
- Mechanics - collision, algorithm, calculation, AI

Level Editing Formula

This is how I create the formula where only minimum and maximum variables are given, especially during balancing phase.


Here is the scenario:
Level 1 requires 60 exp
Level 30 requires 9000 exp

To create a formula, we assume:

x = Level
e = exp

Since it start with Level 1, so we could assume that Level 1 is the base, hence, formula A:

exp = (x - 1) * A + 60

Now, at Level 30 requires 9000 exp, hence:

exp = 9000

then we replace exp with formula A, hence:

(x - 1) * A + 60 = 9000

because we are at Level 30, so, x = 30

(30 - 1) * A + 60 = 9000
29 * A + 60 = 9000
29 * A = 9000 - 60
29 * A = 8940
A = 8940 / 29

Now, we can also conclude formula B:

A = (max exp - min exp) / (max level - min level)

Given that:

exp = (x - 1) * A + 60

So, the algorithm

exp = (x - 1) * (max_exp - min_exp) / (max_level - min_level) + min_exp

Constant variables (controlled) : max_exp, min_exp, max_level, min_level
Input variable (independent) : x
Result variable (dependent) : exp