Step by step AS3 translation of Flash game creation tutorial – part 1

Today I am glad to publish the work of Tim Edelaar that translated all AS2 files of the most successful post of this blog, Flash game creation tutorial – part 1.

The most interesting thing is he did not use a class, but he wrote the actionscript directly in the timeline in the… let’s call it “AS2 way”.

I said “interesting” because I think this way is easier to understand for all you “afraid to learn AS3″ guys.

Obviously I suggest to read Flash game creation tutorial – part 1 before continuing.

In some cases you may need to reload the page to see examples working, because the ball will fly off stage when you are looking at another example.

Then, let’s start with some well commented code:

Moving the hero

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		hero.x -= 5;
	}
	if(key_right){
		hero.x += 5;
	}
	if(key_up){
		hero.y -= 5;
	}
	if(key_down){
		hero.y += 5;
	}
}

Moving the hero at a given speed

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:int = 5;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		hero.x -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		hero.x += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		hero.y -= speed;
	}
	if(key_down){
		hero.y += speed;
	}
}

Moving the hero with acceleration

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:Number = 0.08;
var xspeed:Number = 0;
var yspeed:Number = 0;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
	MoveHero();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		xspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		xspeed += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		yspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_down){
		yspeed += speed;
	}
}
 
function MoveHero(){
	hero.x += xspeed;
	hero.y += yspeed;
}

The friction

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:Number = 0.08;
var xspeed:Number = 0;
var yspeed:Number = 0;
var friction:Number = 0.98;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
	MoveHero();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		xspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		xspeed += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		yspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_down){
		yspeed += speed;
	}
}
 
function MoveHero(){
	hero.x += xspeed;
	hero.y += yspeed;
	xspeed *= friction;
	yspeed *= friction;
}

The gravity

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:Number = 0.08;
var xspeed:Number = 0;
var yspeed:Number = 0;
var friction:Number = 0.98;
var gravity:Number = 0.04;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
	MoveHero();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		xspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		xspeed += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		yspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_down){
		yspeed += speed;
	}
}
 
function MoveHero(){
	hero.x += xspeed;
	hero.y += yspeed;
	xspeed *= friction;
	yspeed *= friction;
	yspeed += gravity;
}

The thrust

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:Number = 0.08;
var xspeed:Number = 0;
var yspeed:Number = 0;
var friction:Number = 0.98;
var gravity:Number = 0.04;
var thrust:Number = 0.8;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
	MoveHero();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		xspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		xspeed += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		yspeed -= speed*thrust;
	}
	if(key_down){
		yspeed += speed*thrust;
	}
}
 
function MoveHero(){
	hero.x += xspeed;
	hero.y += yspeed;
	xspeed *= friction;
	yspeed *= friction;
	yspeed += gravity;
}

The wind

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:Number = 0.08;
var xspeed:Number = 0;
var yspeed:Number = 0;
var friction:Number = 0.98;
var gravity:Number = 0.04;
var thrust:Number = 0.8;
var wind:Number = 0.02;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
	MoveHero();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		xspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		xspeed += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		yspeed -= speed*thrust;
	}
	if(key_down){
		yspeed += speed*thrust;
	}
}
 
function MoveHero(){
	hero.x += xspeed;
	hero.y += yspeed;
	xspeed += wind;
	xspeed *= friction;
	yspeed += gravity;
	yspeed *= friction;
}

The rotation

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//import some important flash libraries.
import flash.events.KeyboardEvent;
import flash.events.Event;
import flash.display.MovieClip;
 
//initializes variables.
var speed:Number = 0.08;
var xspeed:Number = 0;
var yspeed:Number = 0;
var friction:Number = 0.98;
var gravity:Number = 0.04;
var thrust:Number = 0.8;
var wind:Number = 0.02;
var key_left:Boolean = false;
var key_right:Boolean = false;
var key_up:Boolean = false;
var key_down:Boolean = false;
 
//Checks if the player presses a key.
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN,KeyDown);
stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_UP,KeyUp);
 
//Lets the function main play every frame.
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,Main);
 
//create the function main.
function Main(event:Event){
	CheckKeys();
	MoveHero();
}
 
//create the function KeyDown.
function KeyDown(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is pressed.
		key_left = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is pressed.
		key_right = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is pressed.
		key_up = true;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is pressed.
		key_down = true;
	}
}
 
function KeyUp(event:KeyboardEvent){
	if(event.keyCode == 37){		//checks if left arrowkey is released.
		key_left = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 39){		//checks if right arrowkey is released.
		key_right = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 38){		//checks if up arrowkey is released.
		key_up = false;
	}
	if(event.keyCode == 40){		//checks if down arrowkey is released.
		key_down = false;
	}
}
 
function CheckKeys(){
	if(key_left){
		xspeed -= speed;
	}
	if(key_right){
		xspeed += speed;
	}
	if(key_up){
		yspeed -= speed*thrust;
	}
	if(key_down){
		yspeed += speed*thrust;
	}
}
 
function MoveHero(){
	hero.x += xspeed;
	hero.y += yspeed;
	hero.rotation += xspeed;
	xspeed += wind;
	xspeed *= friction;
	yspeed += gravity;
	yspeed *= friction;
}

Now you have no excuses to refuse making a ball game with AS3

Download the source codes.

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17 Responses

  1. souled says:
    June 11, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    You got the swfs mixed up. :S

    The one with acceleration is the same as the first, the one with friction is jsut acceleration etc.

    Very nice tutorial, may have to start learning some AS3 over the summer.

    Reply
  2. Evra says:
    June 12, 2008 at 12:16 am

    Good, good.

    But you should have added the Reset button like you did on the tutorial with AC2. Because the hero is long gone when you reach that point of the site.

    Souled: No, the swfs are not mixed up. The headlines aren’t under the swf idiot.

    Reply
  3. Frozenhaddock says:
    June 12, 2008 at 3:24 am

    Awesome, so you -can- still do this in AS3?

    I too shall be diving into AS3 over the summer, last exam was today, so I’ve got a loooong lazy holiday to learn :D

    And this seems the best place to start, Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Junxron says:
    June 12, 2008 at 5:35 am

    Cool.. Well Done.. I was sooooo afraid of going into AS3 as i ran into some problems the previous time because i didnt know there are things like events.KeyboardEvent. I had to change my gameplay to use mouse only.

    Thanks heaps. =P

    Reply
  5. bob says:
    June 12, 2008 at 7:55 am

    nice, thanks

    Reply
  6. RJGames says:
    June 12, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Great! Thanks a lot!

    This makes AS3 look easy and simple

    Reply
  7. Monkios says:
    June 12, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    Nice tutorial as always.

    The only thing I find weird is the fact that when the hero can rotate and he is pushed by the wind, he goes rotating as if the player had pushed the left or right button.

    I don’t know if that’s the way you intended it but I wanted to tell you.

    Reply
  8. ptz says:
    June 12, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Great job. Now i will love to see same tutorial writed using class-method ;p

    Reply
  9. brart says:
    June 12, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    I was next to Tim…. He did this under one hour :P

    Reply
  10. souled says:
    June 12, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    My bad its because there are two swfs with normal movement. And don’t call me an idiot.

    Reply
  11. JDog says:
    June 13, 2008 at 7:20 pm

    @ Souled, you’re right !

    Reply
  12. Step by step AS3 translation of Flash game creation tutorial - part 2 : Emanuele Feronato - italian geek and PROgrammer says:
    June 21, 2008 at 9:01 am

    [...] This is the second part of Tim Edelaar’s step by step AS3 translation of Flash game creation tutorial. [...]

    Reply
  13. Void says:
    July 23, 2008 at 12:47 am

    Really great. Keep up the good work!!!

    Reply
  14. Flash game creation tutorial - part 1 (with AS3 classes) : Emanuele Feronato says:
    October 31, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    [...] Tim Edelaar coded it into AS3 in Step by step AS3 translation of Flash game creation tutorial – part 1, but with the whole code in a single class, and now it’s time for me to release the AS3 version of [...]

    Reply
  15. idiot says:
    February 21, 2009 at 2:39 am

    souled you’re an idiot… :P

    great tut (mhh im a little late, but i guess as3 still existing XD)

    Reply
  16. martin says:
    March 4, 2009 at 1:40 am

    why

    import flash.display.MovieClip;

    and not

    import flash.display.*;

    if you want to make a full game is the second option not better???

    Reply
  17. Tez Grant says:
    October 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    brilliant, this should help me unravel how to build a physics engine for a uni project, saved me days of theory, now i can reverse engineer stuff!

    Reply

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