Flash based game UI.

[Dolby]

Was just reading an article on our sister site and it looks like Jumpgate Evolution is going to have a flash based UI. I guess I'm not that familiar with flash and wondering what kinda limitations it would have versus just going blizzards way?

Any one here a flash and lua expert?

ZAM: From what we saw, the User Interface looked really customizable and like you guys had spent a lot of time polishing it and getting it ready for players to enjoy. What kind of support will you guys give the UI community and the UI modders? Scott: We built it with the goal of letting people mod the UI. There's still a little bit more work to do that, so I don't know if it'll be ready at launch, but all of our UI is built in flash. This is with the idea that anybody can build something with Flash and put it in the game. Now, there are problems, for example, if you do certain things in flash that might cause the game to perform really slowly. We've still got to figure out how to educate people or how we verify this so that you don't make a mod that I download and my game experience is destroyed. We want it to be easier than that. I think that there will be some work to do, but the goal is that, eventually, people will be able to, using Flash, make their own UI.

Article: http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=18078

[Bri-an]

but does WoW Support Flash? if so, never known that

[kraftman]

In my (fairly limited) experience of flash, it would be much easier to create nice animations and effects than lua, but also much easier to chew away at the CPU. There are also a massive amount of tutorials for flash, so It's probably more accessible to the average gamer.

[Zyonin]

Originally Posted by Bri-an but does WoW Support Flash? if so, never known that

The answer to that is: No. WoW is built on XML and Lua. Blizzard is not known to use Flash or other Adobe/Macromedia formats in its products.

[Dolby]

I guess I am wondering more about the action script and what people may be able to do with it in a game.

[Psychophan7]

I'm wondering if people will be able to make Flash games, a la Newgrounds, for use in-game. That would be funny, playing a Flash game within a real game.

[PerfectH]

I'm sure Blizzard is avoiding Flash with their UI structure deliberately because of the security scare about a year ago... or whenever it was. Maybe not, but I'm sure they have their reasons.

Anyway, if PopCap Games made Peggle and Bejeweled for WoW, I'm sure there are a lot of Flash based games could be ported to WoW, it would take a lot of work, but I'm sure it could be done.

[jadakren]

/golfclap

worst move ever.

As far as I remember the only program able to output valid and workable flash files that deal with high-interaction is the offical flash suite made by adobe/macromedia.

there are others, but they don't provide nearly as much as the offical IDE does

[Dolby]

I didn't think of that, so those that aspire to be addon authors for that game will have to plunk down some money for the adobe Flash editor. If I remember correctly it isnt cheap either, about $600.

[Elhana]

Last time I checked piratebay it was free, so that won't stop people from making UIs. However flash is known to eat alot of cpu, hence bad decision.

[Dolby]

Sorry, I don't pirate software and I'm sure there are many other programmers that feel the same way especially if you make a living off of selling software you help develop.

It adds an interesting problem to the mix. The CPU issues are already well known and they even state them but the fact that authors either have to pay $$ for development tools or go another route (5 finger discount) is an interesting road block.

[Maul]

I think the idea of a "flash-like" UI is a good one, but using flash itself would certainly be a CPU issue, even for the next few or so years.

However, I think Blizzard is maybe actually thinking flash-like but retain the current XML/Lua scheme through their new animation system. The system may not see its full glory in WoW, but could possibly be the prototype for Blizzard's future MMO UI's.

And yeah, the issue of needing tools that can cost in the hundreds as opposed to the many legitimately free editors authors use for a WoW UI creation is certainly a minus for the actual use of flash.

IMHO -

Flash like UI - good
Actual flash in a game - bad

[septor]

Originally Posted by Elhana Last time I checked piratebay it was free, so that won't stop people from making UIs. However flash is known to eat alot of cpu, hence bad decision.

If you've personally downloaded flash from a torrent I hope you're enjoying the trojans you've installed on your system.

There is not a single Adobe product on a torrent site that isn't infected. Do you honestly think someone (or a group of people) is going to crack an expensive application like that just for fun?

Sorry to hijack the thread.