First Person Game

[crimsonsmeagol]

I have a couple questions for a game I am trying to create

1. I was initially thinking I wanted to create the game from a first person point of view so that you never actually see the character, just what the chacter would be seeing. Is there any way to do this?
I tried looking up information and couldn't find any games or info that covered what I was thinking. Is the only way to do this to actually show the character and load a new section of the game when the player reaches the 'edge'?

For a little more specifics. The character will be walking through a maze but will only see the small section in front of them at one time. I just don't know how to continously update the screen to reflect the characters change in what they see as they are walking.

2. I'm wanting to read in an external file with questions/answers. Am I better off using a flat file or an XML file? What are the advantages/disadvantages of both?
The only information I have found show reading in an XML file but I know people that read in flat files a lot before.

I'm using CS3 if that makes a difference on anything. I'm still learning all the differences between Flash 8 and CS3

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue working out the details. Thank you ahead of time for all your help.

[Medyman]

I'm using CS3 if that makes a difference on anything. I'm still learning all the differences between Flash 8 and CS3

The differences between Flash 8 and CS3 make no difference. The difference is if you're using AS3 vs. AS2

I'm wanting to read in an external file with questions/answers. Am I better off using a flat file or an XML file? What are the advantages/disadvantages of both?
The only information I have found show reading in an XML file but I know people that read in flat files a lot before.

There really is no advantage/disadvantage from Flash's perspective. They're both raw text files. It's really a personal preference. I find XML to be easier to deal with. If you need structure and will be managing a lot of data, XML would be the way to go.

I was initially thinking I wanted to create the game from a first person point of view so that you never actually see the character, just what the chacter would be seeing. Is there any way to do this?
I tried looking up information and couldn't find any games or info that covered what I was thinking. Is the only way to do this to actually show the character and load a new section of the game when the player reaches the 'edge'?

It really depends on how you code it. Flash game development is usually done by hardened Flash professionals. It's not where I would recommend getting your start with ActionScript.

My general recommendation here is to learn the basics. Walk before you can run...

[crimsonsmeagol]

Thanks Medyman.
I should have been more specific, I'll be using AS3.

I have a decent understanding of the basics...At least I did with AS2, I am working on learning AS3 now. I have created a few games before, just none quite as complicated. The entire point of me doing this project is to get into the more detailed and complex aspects of Flash and AS3.

Can you give me any suggestions (Just a general guideline) on how I would need to code it? I don't want the code, just an idea of how it can be done. Or possibly an article or tutorial? Basically ANY info at all that I can look into. I've tried countless searches and looking through several books, but haven't had any luck.

The only ways I have been able to think of is actually showing the character moving on the screen and when the character reaches the edge loading the next section. Or doing a top down version, where the character is always in the middle of the screen.
I am still in the planning stages and if I can't find a logical way to do it from a first person p.o.v. I will probably switch to the top down version. I just had the first person idea in my head and really liked it for what I'm wanting to do, but can't think of a way to get it to work and allow the character to move forwards/left/right and turn around.
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions and help you can give me.

[Medyman]

Can you give me any suggestions (Just a general guideline) on how I would need to code it? I don't want the code, just an idea of how it can be done. Or possibly an article or tutorial? Basically ANY info at all that I can look into. I've tried countless searches and looking through several books, but haven't had any luck.

Sorry for the assumptions. I was afraid you were just getting your start with AS and wanted to dive into this. I'm sure you'd agree that doing so would be an almost impossible task without having prior knowledge of AS.

Anyway...
What are the specific dynamics you want to encorporate into the game (i.e. what level of realism?). 2D? 3D? Physics?

Honestly, I don't know if Flash is really the technology to create a game like this. You would need a lot of processing power to run a rendering engine that can make all the computations necessary to pull this off well. There is probably a valid reason why these types of games don't exist in Flash. The only "first person" flash games I can think of is where the player is stationary (sniper/shooting games). When you get into moving into a 3D space and having to render new scenes based on user input, you have to plan for a TON of variables.

You should check out some of the 3d rendering engines. Even if you're not creating a 3D space, you'll still need some of the capabilities of these engines. Papervision3D, and Sandy 3D are some... You might want to check out some of the physics engines too.

[BLiZZaRD]

Heh, now that I am back everyone will once again see where Medy and I differ in our Flash approach. To me, games are the ONLY way to go

And creating a 3d game, first person or not, in Flash can be tricky, but does not have to be complicated. ISO views, 2d, 3d it makes no difference. What I love about it is the ability to either fake a 3d look, or to use a 3rd party application, like SWIFT3D, FLAX etc, and actually have 3d effects.

For this post I read it as the OP wants to create a Doom type game. 3D and we only see the hands of the player and the barrel of the gun...

For that, there are a few tutorials... some better than others, but the basics are there...

this is an example of what you can do with it. There are other and better ones out there as well, some look just like Doom

[Medyman]

Heh, now that I am back everyone will once again see where Medy and I differ in our Flash approach. To me, games are the ONLY way to go

Heh...i think it's fun that we do thing totally differently.

http://www.aeonity.com/ab/games/shooters/assassination-simulator.php is an example of what you can do with it. There are other and better ones out there as well, some look just like Doom

I'd be interested in seening more dynamic first-person games, if you know of any. Something like what you've linked isn't hard to replicate. What the OP wants is something like Doom. But, from my understanding Flash won't be able to handle that kind of processing.

[BLiZZaRD]

Oh ye of little faith...

Heh I was never big into FPS style games so I never saved any, but I have seen a few that replicate Doom and the like very well (of course using Flax and Swift3D helped with the graphics, but I will look for them again.

You would be surprised how using a 3D world/Map system building off of a TBW will greatly reduce the resources. That and you can reuse so many of the "tiles" that once fully loaded you just preload the spikes and it is near flawless at around 32frames.

I will look for those other games and link them here as I come across them.

[crimsonsmeagol]

Sorry for the assumptions. I was afraid you were just getting your start with AS and wanted to dive into this. I'm sure you'd agree that doing so would be an almost impossible task without having prior knowledge of AS.

No problem, I would completely agree that this is not a beginners project.

For this post I read it as the OP wants to create a Doom type game. 3D and we only see the hands of the player and the barrel of the gun...

That's basically exactly what I want, only without a gun.

[url=http://www.aeonity.com/ab/games/shooters/assassination-simulator.php]is an example of what you can do with it. There are other and better ones out there as well, some look just like Doom

This would be great but I still have the problem that the character doesn't actually move. Which is where I'm running into a problem. I'm starting to agree with Medyman here and thinking it's not a great idea to do in Flash. Am I wrong?

I will try to look into some physics and 3D engines. I don't specifically care if it looks very realistic, its just going to be a maze with various 'doors' in the graphics (The doors won't actually go anywhere, they have a different purpose)

Would you suggest I pursue the concept of a FPS view in Flash or just go with the top down view instead? Both views will work for the project, I was just thinking the FPS view would be really cool.(If it sways your opinion I'm also HORRIBLE with graphics as it is pretty much impossible for me to draw, which is why I was trying to avoid drawing the character) But I have to have a way to keep the same 'view' even considering the character will be moving forward, backward, and side-to-side.

Thank you both for all the help so far.

[Medyman]

Hey...

I did a little searching and came across this. If done properly, it could work in your case. Ideally, you should use 100% vector graphics but that's not always possible.

The concept is simple. You're basically manipulating the perspective and giving the allusion of movement. This does require a fairly static scene though. Using the same principle and add some 3D action (like Papervision3D), you could actually pull it off.

Check out this tutorial of P3D for more info.