Fitc 2007 - The Art and Zen of Mobile Game Creation with Flash

Yes, it is a Mobile World Yes, it is a Mobile World This photo was NOT photo‐shopped. It is an actual images of old recycled 90’s devices.

Some “Boston‐ian Lingo” 1. CLAM CHOW‐DAHH 1 CLAM “CHOW‐DAHH” 2. DOOR‐CHEST‐AHHH 3. P‐ahh‐k the K‐ahh on the T‐ahh

The Art and Zen of Mobile Game Creation with Flash Scott Janousek, Technical Director Scott Janousek, Technical Director www.hookenmobile.com fitc2007@hookenmobile.com fitc2007@hookenmobile com

About Me About Me GENERAL INFO From Boston, Massachusetts, USA F Bt M h tt USA – Working with desktop Flash for six years – Designer & Developer Designer & Developer – 3+ year old blog (time for a new one!) – MOBILE Working with Flash Lite 1.1 and 2.x – Flash Lite 1.1/2.x Training Instructor – Coauthor: “Foundation Flash Applications for Mobile Devices” – Mobile Gaming Enthusiast – – ™

Flash Lite Design, Development, Training, Consulting

Mobile Games Portfolio Mobile Games Portfolio • Flash Lite 1 1 and 2 x Flash Lite 1.1 and 2.x • Distribution: – Working directly with 3rd party mobile game companies Working directly with 3 party mobile game companies – Flash Lite Exchange • More products in 2007 More products in 2007 – Don’t Wake the Dragon, MORE! viliv p1 Sudoku game Symbian Series 60 content iRiver Clix game

M bil G Mobile Games “Worldwide revenue for mobile gaming Worldwide revenue for mobile gaming subscriptions could increase from $3 billion to $10.5 billion in 2009 “– Juniper Research Ltd. Ltd

Mobile Game Markets Mobile Game Markets “Power” “Casual” – Power Gamers – Fun, Addictive – High Learning Curve No learning curve – – More Expensive Inexpensive – – Guilt in not finishing No guilt – – More time Less time investment – investment

Mobile Game Genres Mobile Game Genres • Arcade/Action • Multiplayer – Snake Bomber Alien Snake, Bomber, Alien – Mario Kart Texas Hold’em Mario Kart, Texas Hold em Invasion … • 2‐D, 3‐D Racers • Role playing games (RPG) – Tron, Mario Kart Tron, Mario Kart – Final Fantasy, etc. • Card and board games • Sports – Slots, Blackjack, Monopoly – EA SPORTS™ Madden 07 • First Person Shooters • Skill, Strategy, Logic – Quake, Doom … – Mi S Mine Sweeper, Sudoku Sdk Above: these just happen to be Flash Lite games that fit some of the genres …

Mobile Game Design with Flash “Casual Games make most use of the inherent advantages of the mobile platform. People want to fill ‘dead time’ with easy to use, but fun games Bruce Gibson, Research Director with Juniper Research. fun games” – Bruce Gibson Research Director with Juniper Research

Mobile Game Challenges Mobile Game Challenges Smaller Screen Sizes Smaller Screen Sizes User Input User Input • • Color Depths Walled Gardens • • Limited Memory Portability • • Limited Processor Limited Processor Learning Platforms Learning Platforms • • File Size Fragmentation • • Battery Life … many more! • •

“Holy Grail” = W.O.R.A. Holy Grail W.O.R.A. • Write Once Run Anywhere • Nice idea for mobile, but … – Lots of devices different capabilities implementations etc Lots of devices, different capabilities, implementations, etc • Fragmentation is “fact of life” – N ti J2ME t Native, J2ME, etc – Flash Lite is NOT immune, but much LESS affected Handsets PDAs “Consumer Electronics”

Platform Decisions for Mobile Games …

Flash Lite Players * Flash Lite Players * From Boston? Say “Play‐ahs” ☺

Flash Lite Game Life Cycle DESIGN GAME Idea/Concept DEVELOP GAME DEVELOP GAME TEST GAME Other platforms … pf Symbian Series 60 y DISTRIBUTION DEPLOY OTHER DEPLOY OTHER DEPLOY Operators, Aggregators O t A t PLATFORMS & Content Providers .sis packaging

Mobile Game Mobile Game Development with Flash with Flash “The Flash Lite Platform offers one of the best environments for rapid mobile game development for casual type content for rapid mobile game development for casual type content found today.” ‐ Me

Flash Lite 1.1 vs. 2.x Coding Paradigms FL 2.x ‐ Class Based FL 1.1 ‐ Timeline Driven • Penetration = Lower Penetration = Lower • Penetration = Higher Penetration = Higher • ActionScript 2.0 • “ActionScript 0.5” Code Reuse Code Reuse – – Modularity Modularity – – Maintenance Maintainance – – Extensibility Extensibility – – Less time to learn Less time to learn Less time to learn Less time to learn – – Larger project content Smaller project content – –

Flash Lite 1.1 Syntax Refresher Flash Lite 1.1 Syntax Refresher • tellTarget() – tellTarget( /player_mc/ ) { /:x =+ 1; } – movie clips can act as libraries (“function clips”) p ( p) • eval() – Si l t P d A Simulate Pseudo Arrays using variables and eval i i bl d l – x1 = 23; eval( “x” add i ); • Game state Frame Labels (menu, gameplay, etc) • More ... More ... – My Flash Lite 1.1 “Reference Sheet” (PDF)

Device Keys/Text Input Device Keys/Text Input • Target devices often vary g f y • Keys: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, #, * • Soft Keys y – Typically LEFT, RIGHT – FL 2.x supports multiple softkeys • Text Input – FL 1.1 uses device for input uses de ce o put – FL 2.x built in text input (T9) • 5 Way Direction Joystick – UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, SELECT

Keys in Flash Lite 1.1 Keys in Flash Lite 1.1 • Flash 4 style syntax • “Key Catchers” – button off Stage with ActionScript button off Stage with ActionScript on( keyPress “<UP>” ) { /player_mc/:y += 1; } • Soft Keys Soft Keys – Typically 2 or more retVal = fscommand2( setSoftKeys left right ); retVal = fscommand2( “setSoftKeys”, “left”, “right” ); on( keyPress “<PAGEUP>” ) { //‐‐do xyz } EXAMPLE

Keys in Flash Lite 2.x Keys in Flash Lite 2.x //‐‐ method #2 – Key Listener //‐‐ method #2 – keyDown event move_obj:Object = new Object(); bj Obj t Obj t() player_mc.onKeyDown = function() { l KD f ti () { switch (Key.getCode()) { move_obj.onKeyDown = function() { case Key.UP : switch (Key.getCode()) { this y += 1; this._y += 1; case Key.UP : break; player_mc._y += 1; } break; } } } } Key.addListener( move_obj ); Key.addListener( player_mc ); //‐‐ method #3 ‐ onEnterFrame and isDown() move_mc.onEnterFrame = function() { EXAMPLE if (Key.isDown(Key.UP)) { player_mc._y += 1; } if ( i ( )) { l } }

ne Button Casual Games ne Button Casual Games • Focus 5 Min Sample – user input, game play and graphics i t l d hi • Should be very responsive –SSmooth Animations th A i ti – Immediate Actions • Game Challenge Game Challenge – Better to have many stages/levels – Timing + Rhythm + Reaction = GAME EXPERIENCE Timing Rhythm Reaction GAME EXPERIENCE • Key Lag – Between device platforms Between device platforms – Tweak timing calculations (if needed)

Collision Detection Collision Detection FLASH LITE 1.1 FLASH LITE 2.x FLASH LITE 1.1 FLASH LITE 2.x Flash 4 syntax ActionScript 2.0 ! • • hitTest() hitT t() hitTest() available hitT t() il bl • • Like Math? More complexity possible • • Chapter 6 in our book Ch 6i bk … also in 6 l i6 • • EXAMPLE EXAMPLE

onEnterFrame() • Can be your friend for Flash Lite 2.x games y g – i.e. Character movement, etc. enemy_mc.onEnterFrame = move; player_mc.onEnterFrame = function() { //‐‐ do xyz } • Performance – Remember call is executed X times per FPS – LIMIT multiple onEnterFrames() p () • Use only for more robust target devices • I l h Li 1 1 “f In Flash Lite 1.1 = “frame looping” l i”

File Size File Size • Typically no more than 500 KB for SWF • Some carriers restrict file size (KB) • Available Bandwidth Available Bandwidth – GPRS, 2/2.5G, 3G, others … • OTA content delivery – Sometimes user pays per kB download • Decompression – FL 2 x SWF decompresses incurring penalty FL 2.x SWF decompresses incurring penalty – Images, Sounds must decompress

Mobile Sound Mobile Sound Device Sounds Native Sounds • Playback outside of Flash Lite • Playback within Flash Lite • Smaller size • Larger Size • Common formats: • Common formats: – MIDI, MFi, SMAF, AMR, others – PCM, ADPCM, .WAV, .MP3 “Proxy Sounds” “P S d” • FL 2.x device sound synch • Background MIDI Tracks Background MIDI Tracks • Lots of handsets support MIDI • SONIFY ORG SOUND RESOURCES SONIFY.ORG: SOUND RESOURCES Articles by Hayden Porter

Mobile Game Text Mobile Game Text Device Fonts Pixel Fonts • Preinstalled device fonts • Hundreds available • Results in smaller file size • Larger file size • Position anywhere on x, y • Position on x, y integer values doesn’t matter – i.e. x=0.0, y=0.0 • Nt Not consistent look & feel i t tl k&f l • C i t tl k&f l Consistent look & feel • No anti‐aliasing • No anti‐aliasing • Point Size Restrictions Point Size Restrictions • Use various point sizes Use various point sizes Device fonts save space Use pixel fonts for look/feel Use pixel fonts for look/feel Device fonts save space Use pixel fonts for look/feel Device fonts save space

Mobile Game Graphics Mobile Game Graphics “Versus” Bitmap Vector “Larger” file size “Smaller” file size • • Less CPU resources More CPU resources • • More memory Less memory • • Scaling/Rotating = Bad Scaling/Rotating Bad Scaling/Rotating = OK Scaling/Rotating OK • • Vectors preserve look when scaled Pixilation occurs on bitmap assets when scaled

Target Device Memory Target Device Memory • Memory Heaps: • Static – nearly guaranteed l d • Dynamic • Typically 1000 KB 0 kB and up to 6 000 KB 1000 KB … 0 kB and up to 6,000 • Fluctuates depending on other apps, etc. • FSCommand2 API FSCommand2 API var total_num:Number = fscommand2( “GetTotalPlayerMemory” ); var free_num:Number = fscommand2( “GetFreePlayerMemory” ); • P bl Problem with Content #1: “Out of Memory” ith C t t #1 “O t f M ” • Garbage Collection • 60 60 seconds idle or significant rise in memory usage d idl i ifi t i i • We need an API to avoid memory leaks!

Memory Profiling Tools Memory Profiling Tools “OLD” SCHOOL “NEW” SCHOOL TASK SPY Adobe Device Central – Symbian Series Devices – Static/Dynamic Heap Info – Download: – Memory usage graphing www.pushl.com/taskspy – Heap Adjustments

Target Device Performance Target Device Performance • CPU • Equivalent to “Pentium PC” Equivalent to Pentium PC • Target FPS • CPU “Timer Resolution” CPU Timer Resolution • Nokia: 16 FPS, iRiver: 20 FPS • Other Flash Lite 1 1 devices Other Flash Lite 1.1 devices • 8 to 20+ FPS • Speed‐o‐meters Speed o meters • Test FPS capabilities • K I S S Principle K.I.S.S. Principle Keep It Simply Silly •

Memory & Performance Tools Memory & Performance Tools OLD NEW ! Adobe Device Central TASK SPY “Performance Calibration Tool” – Symbian S60 Devices Each device has index Each device has “index” – Download: – Simulated CPU usage – www.pushl.com/taskspy Performance reporting – Only visual elements – • AS 2.0 Profiling Tool http://www.nochump.com/asprof

Screen Sizes Screen Sizes • Some common screen sizes on target devices … 176 × 208: Nokia Symbian Series 60 320 × 240/128 x 160: Nokia Series 40 176 × 220 (“204”): Verizon v3c (BREW) 176 220 (“204”) V i 3 (BREW) 320 × 240: Chumby 320 × 240: iRiver u10, Clix 1/2, u20 128 × 128: iRiver e10 480 × 272: PSP Many others! Many others! • Adobe Device Central – Screen size searching, etc Screen size searching etc – Device “Profile sets”

Pixel Depths and Color Pixel Depths and Color • Not all devices support the same color depth! Not all devices support the same color depth! • 12‐bit to 24‐bit … typically 16‐bit • Example Devices l i • Nokia S40 6131 (24‐bit) versus Nokia S40 (18‐bit) • Adobe Device Central • Search capabilities Color Palette may need adjusting if ported to new target device.

Debugging Flash Lite Games • trace() statement trace() statement • Flash Lite Error Codes Flash Lite Error Codes trace( “Got here!” ); • Common Errors • Toggling trace Toggling trace – O t fM Out of Memory – “Bad Data” //trace( “Got here!” ); … or: – ActionScript Stuck • Friendly Ghost Tool • Flash Lite 1.1 Orison Technologies Product

Optimization “Tips and Tricks” Use bitmaps over vectors where possible • .PNG’s over .JPG’s for bitmaps p • Optimize shapes and outlines • Split up and tile complex Background Bitmaps Split up and tile complex Background Bitmaps • AVOID: • – animating simultaneous movieclips – complex uses of Math and looping – a lot of ActionScript contained in one frame

Optimization “Tips and Tricks” • Analyze size reports and optimize l d • Devnet Articles have LOTS OF TIPS! – http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/ p • MANY MORE tricks for Flash Lite (2.x) … “Optimizing content for Flash Lite 2.0” ‐ Josh Ulm (Adobe) http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/flash_lite_optimization.pdf

Misc Platforms “Perhaps the hardest thing with Flash Lite is knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the each and every reference platform. the each and every reference platform ” – Me

iRiver Clix Game iRiver Clix Game • ALIEN INVASION – Casual Game – Rapid Game Development = 2‐3 days for DEMO p p y – Flash Lite 2.0 (ActionScript 2.0) – OOP (Object based style architecture) j y WALKTHROUGH

Chumby Games Chumby Games • Flash Lite “2.1” Player running under Linux •TTarget Frame Rate: 12 fps F R • Screen size: 320 px × 240 px • Sound: MP3 • User Inputs: • Touch Screen, Bend Sensor, • Light Sensor, Accelerometer • “Channels” and “Widgets” • “Throw‐away” type games • Simple == better Experimental Chumby Games

PSP Flash Games PSP Flash Games • Download update configure not preinstalled Download, update, configure … not – Sony PSP ROM update version 2.70 or later • Flash Player 6 (6 0 72 27) Flash Player 6 (6,0,72,27) – Reality = Think “Flash Lite 2.1” • Run methods Run methods – embedded in HTML page, standalone SWFS in web browser – file:/flash/filename.swf • PSP Dev Center on Adobe – Features and Technical Info: • http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/psp.html

Flash Lite Multiplayer games Flash Lite Multiplayer “’Turn style’ games make most sense … but it depends on your deployment environment including: operator, dl i i l di bandwidth, target devices, etc.” – Me

Multiplayer Games Multiplayer Games • What kind of games make sense? – Turn based games … Card Games, Puzzles, etc. bd d l • Communication Methods – HTTP (Polling) Flash Lite 1 1 HTTP (Polling) – Flash Lite 1.1 • loadVariables(), loadVars(), etc Custom Socket Server … Chapter 6 – XML Socket • Flash Lite 2.1 or higher • Sushi Socket Server (Flash Lite API) – Flash Lite = Bluetooth • Intercommunication with 3rd party application p y pp Sushi Socket Server • Look for an “article” soon … EXAMPLES

Mobile Game Testing Mobile Game Testing Emulators help … but “Rule #1: Always test on actual target handsets target handsets” ‐ ME

“Emulators”, Simulators, & Testing Emulators , Simulators, & Testing • All target devices All target devices – Adobe Device Central • GSM – Nokia 3rd Edition SDKs • BREW – Qualcomm Simulator Qualcomm Simulator • Others … ALWAYS TEST CONTENT ON TARGET DEVICES!

M bil G Mobile Game Deployment l “Worldwide revenue for mobile gaming subscriptions could increase from $3 billion to $10.5 billion in 2009 Juniper Research to $10 5 billion in 2009 “– Juniper Research Ltd.

Game Distribution Game Distribution • Aggregators, Content Providers, Operators Aggregators, Content Providers, • Device Manufacturer Pre‐installation … and MANY MANY OTHERS! • Memory Card (MMC) = “Virally”

Wrap Up W U Q&A, Where to go from here?, Future thinking Q&A Where to go from here? “Future thinking”

Q&A Q & A • Questions? • What can we do with Flash Lite 3? – Native Flash Video now supported i l h id d – T.B.D. • “Wi h Li ” f Fl h Li “Wish List” for Flash Lite > 2.x 2 Garbage Collection API – Bitmap Caching? – Access to Camera/Bluetooth Support – LBS Support (Location Based Services) LBS Support (Location Based Services) – Others … –

Where to go from here? Where to go from here? • Foundation Flash Applications for Mobile Devices Foundation Flash Applications for Mobile Devices – http://www.flashmobilebook.com • Adobe DevNet articles – http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/ • – http //frame27 blogspot com http://frame27.blogspot.com • Contact Me fitc2007@scottjanousek com fitc2007@scottjanousek.com • Game Groups:

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MISC (unused/”nix”‐ed) MISC ( n sed/”ni ” ed)

Math and Physics Math and Physics • Limited Device Capabilities – Handsets vs. portable consoles – Memory and Performance EXAMPLE • Avoid overtly complex game computations Avoid overtly complex game computations • Flash Lite 1.1 – supports limited Flash 5 object supports limited Flash 5 object – Drawing API can be simulated (sort of) • Flash Lite 2 x Flash Lite 2.x – supports AS2 Math object – Drawing API Drawing API – onEnterFrame()

Flash Lite Games for iRiver Flash Lite Games for iRiver • iRiver Portable Media Players • Fl h Li 1 1 Flash Lite 1.1: u10 • Flash Lite 2.x: e10, Clix, “u20” (Clix 2G) • D‐Click Flash Lite interface • Up, Down, Left, Right, “softkeys” are +/‐ • Capabilities: • Flash Lite Games Flash Lite Games • MP3, stored data (u10), more! • Custom fscommand2’s • Yuck … Flash Lite API limitations

Methods of Game State Methods of Game State “Shared Objects” External Server • Mobile Shared Objects (FL 2.x) • Requires external data connection • Write2File (FL 1.1) • Databases (MYSQL) • Pros: No data connection • Pros: Persistent in db • Cons: Not always supported (only Flash Lite 2), file size (only Flash Lite 2) file size • Cons: Requires connection Cons: Requires connection Entering Predetermined “Codes” • Enter code “xyz” to get to level 3 • Pros: Simple to implement • Cons: Can decompile to figure out codes EXAMPLE

Leveraging Vibration Leveraging Vibration • Some devices support this feature Some devices support this feature – Nokia 6680 for example • Simulate the result of an action or event Simulate the result of an action or event – Hit wall, Player died, alerts, etc. • retVal = fscommand2(“StartVibrate”,on,off,repeat); tV l f d2(“St tVib t ” ff t) • Enhancement – never require this for game play EXAMPLE

fscommand2 API fscommand2 API SetQuality • FullScreen UnEscape • • StartVibrate • GetTimeHours GetPowerSource • • StopVibrate • GetTimeMinutes GetBatteryLevel • • GetVolumeLevel • GetTimeSeconds GetMaxBatteryLevel • • GetMaxVolumeLevel • GetTimeZoneOffset SetSoftKeys GetSignalLevel • • • GetMaxSignalLevel • GetTotalPlayerMemory ResetSoftKeys • • GetNetworkConnectStatus • GetFreePlayerMemory GetDateDay • • GetNetworkRequestStatus • GetLanguage GetDateWeekDay • • GetNetworkStatus • GetDeviceID GetDateMonth • • GetNetworkName • GetPlatform GetDateYear SetInputTextType • • • Quit • GetDevice GetLocaleShortDate • • ExtendBacklightDuration (FL 2.x) • Launch GetLocaleLongDate • • setFocusRectColor (FL 2.x) • Escape GetLocaleTime • • fscommand2’s execute immediately … not supported on desktop retVal = fscommand2( “FullScreen”, true ); //‐‐ fullscreen mode (if supported)

“Toolsets” Toolsets • Mobile Tools • Simulators • FEExplorer • i‐mode • TaskSpy py • Simulator • Nokia • PC Suite • 3rd edition SDK • Verizon • App Loader • BREW Simulator