LudumData

Using Flash Libraries?

[raw] LD23LD #23 04. Apr 2012 · 05:16 UTC · 15 days before compo start by Jezzamon · 0

So, I’ve seen a lot of games which use, and heard a lot of people talking about different libraries in Flash, such as Flixel, Box2D, FlashPunk, etc. Personally, I’ve only used Flash CS5, with the regular API and no external code, nothing I haven’t written myself.

But a lot of people use these libraries, and they seem to be particularly effective, especially with pixel based games. Furthermore, the regular graphics in Flash is supposedly inefficient, and lags up quite a bit whenever you try and get it to do too much.

So does anyone have any recommendations as to what direction I should take my programming, especially for the next Ludum Dare? I’m not a complete noob, and I have made tile-based games and things like that myself, I’m mainly concerned with efficiency and reducing lag, and also the 48 hour time limit.

Comments

leedo
04. Apr 2012 · 07:46 UTC
From what I’ve understood, you are safe as long as you use libraries which everyone can use. If it’s your one personal library, tell it with your « I’m in ! » post, make your code available on the internet, write a bit of documentation.

Rule of thumb could be « no gameplay code before or after the 48h ». The plan is to make a game, not an engine.
huhwhozat
04. Apr 2012 · 17:29 UTC
I am not sure whee the boundaries lie on using your old code, but since you have experience with the base Flash API, I’d recommend sticking with it. I have been using flixel lately myself and though its a very nice little codebase, I wouldn’t suggest picking it up for the purposes of using it in this Ludum Dare. Yes, it is easy to learn and use but just over two weeks is not enough to really become familiar with a package IMHO, and familiarity is important under the 48hr time constraint. I would imagine the same thing holds for the other packages out there.