ActionScript School? Need thoughts...

[Marz]

So. I was responding to a post. The Monthly Project post to be precise... and some of the posts got me thinking. Even though my time is a little bit limited, I would still be able to start up some sort of ActionScript School.

It would contain everything and I'd teach a number of classes. Say ActionScript Basics, Advanced ActionScript, Game ActionScript and a couple of others later on if need-be. I'd propose this to be a free service but maybe with a catch. You know... Something like, every first student has to help build the website or something like that.

Every student who passes would get an ActionScript certification directly from me. This certification might not be worth anything now but it may sometime in the future, who knows. And you'll get to learn some cool shizter.

So, now I need your opinions on this. Would you be interested, will it be useful... Take the poll and tell me what you think.

[superNoobice]

YES!!! This is great. That would be awesome. And maybe, after every class you could make your student do some project "monthly project" either be individual or group. And the ideea would be dependent on the topic you discussed... I would surely enroll in this school of yours marz.

This is exciting. :thumb:

[signifer123]

I'd be nice if more than one person taught :P

[squishy]

So. I was responding to a post. The Monthly Project post to be precise... and some of the posts got me thinking. Even though my time is a little bit limited, I would still be able to start up some sort of ActionScript School.

It would contain everything and I'd teach a number of classes. Say ActionScript Basics, Advanced ActionScript, Game ActionScript and a couple of others later on if need-be. I'd propose this to be a free service but maybe with a catch. You know... Something like, every first student has to help build the website or something like that.

Every student who passes would get an ActionScript certification directly from me. This certification might not be worth anything now but it may sometime in the future, who knows. And you'll get to learn some cool shizter.

So, now I need your opinions on this. Would you be interested, will it be useful... Take the poll and tell me what you think.
good idea I think you'd need some help to run the thing though just think of all those poor stranded programers that would join to lern action script! :kir:

[lunatic]

Sign me up - I'd love to learn more. :thumb:

[Marz]

Well. That's completely understandable. But the classes would be small and it would be first come first serve type basis. To get in the more advanced classes you would have to have passed some of the earlier courses or you'll have to take a small entrance knowledge exam..

One of those types of things.

[eiefai]

seems ok to me

[Marz]

And yes, I would definetly need some help here and there... That would be the basic fee. If you help me out with some things here and there, you get this free actionscript course that helps you out alot. website work, graphics work or whatever.. You get what I mean?

And if you can't help me out... oh well. It's just an added bonus to help out the school function.

[von_dragon]

Your ideas sound great! Sign me up, just ask me if u want me to help u with anything.

[alzor]

if you're talking about a physical school... I dont know I think opening up a school to learn c++ or assembler and different graphics libraries for game programming would be cooler and more necessary. Actionscript doesn't really come across as that hard to me (not that I know it all but most of it can be self taught as it's only a scripting language...albeit a powerful one.)...then again what the hell do I know if people see a need for it and it would help them and thats what you really want to do then go for it dude.

[signifer123]

Its not a physical school unless we all feel like buyng plae tickets to marz's house

[sdinsider23]

it sounds really cool, anything that i can help with just tell me

[Marz]

Its not a physical school unless we all feel like buyng plae tickets to marz's house

I got beer and barbeque.... :worried: =)

But anyways. Yeah I could see teaching C++... But seeing as how that's alot different and alot harder to teach someone than ActionScript.. I would most definetly charge for that service.. Too MUCH time involved with that.

But seeing as how Action Script has become extremely popular.. It might not e a bad idea to transfer the knowledge I know onto people with this. And, it will help people out with more assemblance written languages if they were to try them out.

[Infinitation]

I like the idea a lot, something like w3schools.com I think is one of the best teaching references that I have learned from over the years. As a college instructor myself, I would love to help.

[superNoobice]

so when do we start teacher? :)

Yup C++ is a lot harder.

[Lord Rahl]

Ok, this idea is uniqe and would help many people. + reduce the repeated posts for things. It helps people in many ways. But this idea is on a wide scale. You can't just teach C++, AS, html and other programing in one simple class. These scripts take time to learn for those who know nothing of them. Several people who are late to join will result to learning somewhere else. If you are going to do this I suggest short (not too short) class's for different subjects. Kinda like a school layout. Class's certain times and days. That way people can focus on one class and learn about it rather than learning this all in one big setup. Many other things have to be taken into consideration aswell. I am not trying to bring this down. In fact I am incouraging it. This would be like I said before, GREAT HELP to many. Just make sure everything is well thought out before starting such a large idea. In fact, depending on what you teach and how this goes, I may even check it out myself. And good luck on this.:thumb:

[signifer123]

Uhhh you should remove HTML from that list its nto a prgramming l;anguage and it wouldn't be t ohard to learn in one class considering the class lasts like 8 hours :P

yeah you should defiantly have a schedule for this

[Copes]

sounds good to me :) maybe i can learn how to do things the un numpty way :tie:

[alzor]

I was saying c++ was much harder! Thats the whole point behind my belief there would be a greater need for that as opposed to actionscript. Flash is awesome/very easy for games...a 10 year old could make a game in it if he learned the basics whereas with c++ a 10 year old would have much more trouble...whatever. forget it.

[GW02]

I'll help teach if you need it.

[Marz]

I was saying c++ was much harder! Thats the whole point behind my belief there would be a greater need for that as opposed to actionscript. Flash is awesome/very easy for games...a 10 year old could make a game in it if he learned the basics whereas with c++ a 10 year old would have much more trouble...whatever. forget it.

Acually that's not true.. I want you to try and create a 3-dimensional game using the flash basics... Flash gives you one lesson, how to optimie your code. A 60 fps game using C++ would probably equal out to be 10-15 fps on Flash... Is this bad? NO.. It teaches you guys how to optimize your code. Somethign I wish 98% of programmers out there knew... It's sickening run ning a year old machine and half these graphic engines won't run off it.. SICKENING! And all because the programmers don't want to optimize... Anyways... Gotta go.

[Blackspirit]

I agree learning AS will be easier then C++. Just beacuse its not powerfull doesn't mean its not a good learning tool.
Look at Qbasic, wasn't that a whole language designed to help people learn harder programs like pascal and c and cobol and all those oldchool stuff.
Good programming techniques should be learnt from the start, and with C++ its harder to remember to comment and layout your code correctly when your worrying about trying to get your program to run. Flash is qbasic of the 21st century :P

[alzor]

black spirit... I started on Qbasic, and I could not agree with you more. Im saying all this stuff about c++ but at the same time you see me on a flash forum, why? because flash is nice and easy and comfortable and it's a great starting point to learning c++/java, etc. because the code is similarly structured.I have a c++ compiler, and I think Im capable of teaching it to myself (maybe partially at best), but I havent really delved into it yet because flash can make creating games and fun stuff like that easy and quick. I suppose I shouldnt have gone off on that rant in the first place. If an actionscript school would help out alot of people then more power to marz and I withdraw my comments.But I was simply stating that if presented with the choice to go to school on a programming language would you pick qbasic, or assembly? (personally I would pick assembly because as hard as it would be it would be tougher teaching it to yourself) That was the point I was trying to make.

[alzor]

and furthermore, Ive heard (emphasis on heard) that flash can now do everything that java can, so calling it the qbasic of the 21st century maybe an outdated comparison.

[GW02]

Meh, not QUITE everything Java can, but it's getting there.

[paddy.]

I'm in. I could do with learning some AS.

[Marz]

black spirit... I started on Qbasic, and I could not agree with you more. Im saying all this stuff about c++ but at the same time you see me on a flash forum, why? because flash is nice and easy and comfortable and it's a great starting point to learning c++/java, etc. because the code is similarly structured.I have a c++ compiler, and I think Im capable of teaching it to myself (maybe partially at best), but I havent really delved into it yet because flash can make creating games and fun stuff like that easy and quick. I suppose I shouldnt have gone off on that rant in the first place. If an actionscript school would help out alot of people then more power to marz and I withdraw my comments.But I was simply stating that if presented with the choice to go to school on a programming language would you pick qbasic, or assembly? (personally I would pick assembly because as hard as it would be it would be tougher teaching it to yourself) That was the point I was trying to make.

Bah... Sorry about the major rant last night... I was completely hammered. But I still meant alot of what I said.

Yes, C++ is a "heavier" language. But a majority of games (console and computer) hardly have room for learning things like creating a game engine and the likes. Most companies buy engines anymore and that's about it.

I absolutely hate Java. I have worked around with it a couple of times and I don't like the structure of it at all. If I'm going to go into a program and go that extra length, I'm just going to open my Borlands and plug in some C++.

Anyways. An ActionScript school may sound demeaning to some of you. It's a real shame that the two that voted it would be useless couldn't tell me exactly why they thought that way... I really want opinions, good or bad on this matter.

I'm not teaching a C++ course because that is something you can get a real education on in school. Would I ever in the future? Maybe... but I would like to be a college professor first if I did so. So, we shouldn't even bother talking about C++ anymore in this thread. The only thing I want to hear about is Flash.. or AS.. or anything that has to do with those items.

Who knows... Later on in the future I'd like to expand out to teaching php too because that's another language that I love and the symbiance that you can get with flash and php is just incredible.

Sorry for the yada yadas and the whozit whatzits, but please keep this thread about a topic dealing with the original intent. I'm really being serious about this idea.

[rugget]

Yeah this would be really cool, and I would do ever I could (not much) to have this thing work.

[Eh?]

This is an awesome idea.....i would love to join

[superNoobice]

hey people. do you know the game alien hominid? it started as a flash game now its a console game and the creators are earning money. Flash can be use to make the game that you are aiming for and make a prototype of it first in flash. wouldn't it be good to make it in flash first so that you could focus on optimizing the game (just like marz said)? then if you are really into it you could use C++ to recode it and put it in the market. C++ and AS is somewhat similar in structure so AS could help people to have a good background in C++ programming.

Dont worry about me i learned C++ in school.

[jerez_z]

I think thats a cool idea. I'd like to help with the teaching.

[Blackspirit]

lol, I just did a year of java at school, and most of the java teachers rant on about c++ how its terrible and stuff.
I'm just hoping that I can go to c++ easily when I have a learnt java. Java is very........blah.

So is the AS going to be AS2.0 or 1.0? I haven't used 2.0 so I don't know whether its easier to learn or what.

[jerez_z]

AS 2.0 is basically the same with some suttle differences:
- case matters (varName and varname are different)
- better OOP support
- a few more things (Sen could probably answer this better than me)

[FatHuntresS]

good idea, count me in if u've got it.

[Marz]

Most likely dealing with AS2.0, but not everyone has MX2004. So I will offer most of my lessons as a backwards compatability too.

Thanks for the input so far everyone. I'm taking everyone's ideas and mending them into what I should do.

[squishy]

I was saying c++ was much harder! Thats the whole point behind my belief there would be a greater need for that as opposed to actionscript. Flash is awesome/very easy for games...a 10 year old could make a game in it if he learned the basics whereas with c++ a 10 year old would have much more trouble...whatever. forget it.
yeah But you sould say 12 year old my ten year old brother can't do flash but I can

[alzor]

thats your particular case kantaman...Im very sure there's some ten year old that can write simple actionscript. sorry for sorta ****ing the thread up marz...I'll stay on topic I guess.

[Marz]

thats your particular case kantaman...Im very sure there's some ten year old that can write simple actionscript. sorry for sorta ****ing the thread up marz...I'll stay on topic I guess.

No worries guys....

And btw.. I've been doing C++ since I was 10 so... There goes the idea that only ten year olds can do ActionScript level scripting. It's just an easier escape for most kids to actually do something with something.

Making a game in C++ can be rather difficult if you don't know what you are doing. With ActionScript, it allows kids to have alot more hope without giving up :) Giving up is the worst thing you can do... reduces morale and self-improvement.

[GW02]

I'm 16, and I've known all the major programming languages out there (except Java, which I loathe with every atom of my being) for about 4 years now, so....

Actionscript and Javascript (basically EMCAscript) are some of the best conceived languages there are. They're truly a delight to work with after some other nightmarish languages.

The biggest advantage Actionscript has going for it in the context of this discussion is Flash, which basically provides a simple graphics engine built-in without the need to program one or learn someone else's, which would be necessary in C++, as an example. When I first started programming (VB, about 7 years ago), I used VB's forms and pictureboxes... it was a nightmare. Had I known about and used Flash+Actionscript instead I daresay I would've had better luck with my earlier games.

[alzor]

wow I guess I underestimated everyone...sorry! I started out with Qbasic when I was 13 and I never learned how to write a graphical game with it(but I did make an interactive fiction engine which helped me learn the basics of game programming).I didn't know anyone screwed with C/C++ at 9..did you do anything cool with it?

[evileks]

Sounds like a great idea. Would this be a site with tutorials, or something else? Either way I want into Marz Academy.

[E-Slayer]

I personally think it's a great idea, self teaching can only go so far. I would love to see someone else's coding habits and perhaps learn of some of (likely many) coding flaws.

[GreenLantern]

Sweet idea. Have you gone anywhere with it yet?

[jerez_z]

Ya I think this is a great idea. I'd definatley like to help.

[nih]

I think you already have this on Kirupa in the form of tutorials. Only two things need to be added:

1. Useful things from the forums need to be migrated to the tutorial area more regularly.
2. People need to be able to attach comments to the tutorials with further questions, answers and examples that can then be added to the tutorial later on.

The tutorials here are extremely well written, and I'd love to see them expanded upon.

If you mean as a paid service - brilliant! I'd put down my credit card just to get answers to some of my posts quicker. ;)

[Amish]

Well sign me up if there is going to be classes. but for the advanced classes. I may be new here. But i have been working with flash for 2 years now. So yeah.

In these Advanced Classes what would we be likly to learn. I wouldnt mind learning. Some 3D, OOP and just some general shortcut tips.

[Marz]

In the advanced classes, you would learn the hard parts of OOP, you would learn about some of those hidden, but awesome classes / functions. Some functions like SharedObject, LoadVars, Constructing Classes, LocalConnection, PrintJob, System.capabilities.... and even more...

As for 3D. That's something I would discuss in an advanced game programming course. Like, one tailored for 3d alone. The classes will be more oriented to learning all of what Flash has to offer and how it will help you out in your games / applications. But I will have specific game programming classes as well.

[alzor]

ok never mind what I said before... that last post of yours sounds awesome! count me in! Ive always been interested in those secret as commands.

[jerez_z]

so when do you think this will be starting up? and what platform are you hoping? cause its hard to run a "class" on a forum.. maybe you should design a whiteboard type system or something (hmmm I think I found a new project ;))

[Amish]

Yeah. I know how to use System commands. the Print Jobs commends will be good to learn. Shared Objects i know. But Local connection shoudl be good to learn.

I cant wait. Sign me up. :} :beam:

[yindi]

Where can we sign up for the Marz Academy of Action Script. I am definately in. I think the idea is great. Not everyone knows AS, I have had more trouble than you can imagine just trying to get the simplest things to work for a project I am working on. I would give anything to know what the hell i'm doing. If you have little knowledge on AS, then it's to even know how to ask the right questions sometimes, without sounding like a complete DHead. I could really have used your help instead of fumling away for weeks trying to work out the simplest things. I have posted questions on the macromedia forum, but they usually go unanswered. About the only good thing I have got from there in the last few weeks was a link to this site. I would really like to be in your class if you get started, so please contact me if you do get it going.

Yindi

[squishy]

man i will join

[Gazler]

This sounds awesome, I'd like to help teach, but my actionscript knowledge is a bit limited, I do however know enough PHP to allow interaction between the teacher and pupils :)

[fasterthanlight™]

Sign me up!!!!! If you need any help with graphics/examples or what not I'd be glad to help!!

[DDD]

Hey Marz.....are you serious about this? Or is it already going?...Sounds like a great idea and I have a couple of folks who would be interested in taking classes.

Dude Marz you could be sittin on a gold mine with this idea.

[SeiferTim]

Need a co-teacher? ;)

[Skywire]

SWEET! I wish I had seen this thread sooner, but I don't normally use the forum.

It's an awesome idea. I feel stuck at my current level with Flash because of the fact that many of my questions aren't answered specifically by tutorials, and a help topic in a forum takes a long time, with ungaurenteed results.

But I'm majorly seeking to up my AS skills. This summer I'm going to try freelance web-development, and you never know when AS might come in handy.

Plus I use it all the time in my personal projects. :P

Well, my AIM screen name is skywire01 - I'm on the majority of the day, so if you actually start this thing, and I'm not responding on this thread, talk to me on there. I'm on most of the time (that I'm not at school, anyway).

[offtopic] Whatever happened to the RPG engine you were building? *goes to check other threads for info*

[squishy]

good thing for me I'm home most of the time so I could work for a long time unles one of my siblings wants the compy *cough leveler cough*

[ar]

How are you going to start the classes with? Are you going to do them live or just prerecorded, because I think macro's breeze would work perfectly for the live broadcast. As for that, are you going to make a separate site for the classes? And if so, what are you going to put into it?






!GB! - PEACE -

[vyravan]

Sign me up............how can i join?:}

[macleod1106]

We have a very large flash/actionscript project that we would love to partner with a flash training school and provide some support, work and employment. Let me know if you're interested.

Scott



So. I was responding to a post. The Monthly Project post to be precise... and some of the posts got me thinking. Even though my time is a little bit limited, I would still be able to start up some sort of ActionScript School.

It would contain everything and I'd teach a number of classes. Say ActionScript Basics, Advanced ActionScript, Game ActionScript and a couple of others later on if need-be. I'd propose this to be a free service but maybe with a catch. You know... Something like, every first student has to help build the website or something like that.

Every student who passes would get an ActionScript certification directly from me. This certification might not be worth anything now but it may sometime in the future, who knows. And you'll get to learn some cool shizter.

So, now I need your opinions on this. Would you be interested, will it be useful... Take the poll and tell me what you think.

[Mr beef]

nvm...

[moralito]

i take it that this school never saw the sunlight? too bad, would be very interesting to check out :(

[thejoeknows.com]

yeah i agree with moralito, i hope this happens

[h00d]

Maybe you can organize your lectures into presentation/tutorial form. I'm sure Kirupa wouldn't mind hosting the content, right?

I also think that maybe you shouldn't rely on your own certification (too much effort, money and work). Instead why don't you write the lectures so that they help pass the Adobe certification.

http://www.adobe.com/support/certification/

[moralito]

Even if the first post was posted more than 3 years ago, i would really like to know what ever happened to this wonderful project? Cuz out of the replies i've read through out the post i cant really see what happened.

Hopefully Marz is still around here and willing to revive this project!

[bluemagica]

Hmm, i am already working on a school like this myself....maybe, if i get some interested people i will start it sooner. I used to run a gmschool before, that was for teaching game development with a software called "game maker", but due to some unforseen circumstances i had to close it down.
When i came to flash, i thought of reopening the school again, but then i though, if i am gonna teach actionscript in there, then why use old style, why not make the whole school system in flash....but to do that, i need to learn more flash, and specially remoting, and thus my plans are on hold now.

[moralito]

Well im definitly interrested in helping out in anyway i can! And also interrested in joining the class ofc :)

[basitjee]

Infact I am looking for ActionScript Certification. I appreciate you on this idea and i would like to join your classes and get certified from you.here is my email address.If there is any improvment let me know basitjee1@hotmail.com
:hoser:

[scottc]

General as3:
* Teach how to write classes, properly.
* Teach how to make a flash website, with xml.
* Teach how to make a smooth and dynamic gui using tweener classes. (tweenmax/tweenlite)

Flash games:
* General geometry/trigonometry (2d vectors).
* Movement using 2d vectors
* Collision using 2d vectors.
* Collision broadphases tiles/quadtrees/sort n prune.
* Particle effects / bitmapData. (bullet trails, smoke, fire etc).

That game maker is crap... sure its great for beginners who are wannabe game devs, but ultimately they will be stuck using things like hitTest in flash, which is not the way to go.

You want to teach them from a solid foundation, and teach them about geometry/trigonometry and how to use it in flash. Then one day they might actually make something worth making, instead of a broken/buggy platformer.

or teach them how to use box2d as3 library, if they find all the low level stuff too hard.

3D in Flash:
* How to do basic 3d with fp10. (.rotationY etc)
* How to do advance 3d with papervision3d.

Networking in Flash:
* About flash security.
* URLLoader();
* About binary sockets.
* Maybe a basic chat server in java.

Profit:
Teach them how to make profit from flash.
* Getting your flash games sponsored by armored games, monkey games etc. ($100 -> $6,000 USD depending on quality of game, some godlike games even go for $20k.) http://www.flashgamelicense.com/ <- nice place to start.
* Placing ads on your flash games, using mocha ads/newgrounds ads api etc.
* Selling/producing games on xbox live/steam etc. (N+, castle crashers, alien homid, popcap games etc.)
* Producing games that have a trial, and can purchase the full game.
* Making random flash websites, games & apps, for clients.



I would teach, if i got paid... ;)

Too bad I'm from Australia, would probably need irc + whiteboard + mic and maybe that new "share screen" function in the cs4 apps.

By the way, I'm not advertising a teaching service, so don't pm me.
I'm just listing the things that should/could be learned. :P

[bluemagica]

As i said before, i am now starting to work towards this goal, but i am at the moment working alone, and i have school plus freelance projects on my head, so progress is really, really slow! If anyone wants to see the current thing or help me with writing courses, go to http://www.burningice-games.com/gmschool