How to Create a Flash Game

Creating a Flash game can be done in a number of ways, even if you have no programming experience. Some websites offer game-making kits with templates and pre-defined, graphical objects for making Flash games quickly.

Instructions

1. Point your browser to one of the sites listed in the Resources section of this article and click the link that leads to the game development environment.

   For Playcrafter, the link is the Launch Playcrafter button. The remaining steps in this article will show how to make a Flash game at Playcrafter, though the same steps generally apply to the other Flash game sites.

2. Select a game to load from one of the templates and click its Play button. Jot down the objectives and obstacles of the game, and how you might make it more fun.

3. Begin editing the game by pressing the Done button to end gameplay, followed by clicking one of the sprites, or characters.

4. Make copies of the selected sprites by clicking its stamp icon, then clicking different places on the game's canvas, or background. Release the stamping function by double clicking.

5. Move sprites and environment pieces (e.g. squares, blocks) by single-clicking them and dragging them to various parts of the canvas.

6. Delete sprites and other pieces by clicking them, then clicking their X icon.

7. Test play the level you're editing periodically to ensure it's matching your design ideas.

8. Add another level to the game by pressing the Add Level button. Position or add sprites and other objects such that gameplay is more challenging than the previous level. Simply add more enemy sprites, for example.

9. Save and publish your game for others to play, and play the games others have made. Jot down elements of gameplay you'd like to include in your game. Make notes of what you'd like to delete from your game.

10. Load your game for editing and improve its playability by referring to your notes.

11. Personalize the game even further by editing the sprites and background pieces themselves. Load a sprite into the Piece Editor from the Game Kit window by clicking its pen icon.

    Create new pieces: press the Create New Piece button. Read the instructions accessed by the Need Help button and notice clear elements in the piece's XML file (e.g.: "<circle x="0" y="0" radius="1.0"/>"). Experiment by changing the numbers inside these elements.

12. Save your new piece, then drag it onto the canvas to add it to your game. Save and publish your revised game.

References

• Playcrafter: Create Flash Games

Resources

• Highlight Kids Fun Finder
• Games at Sploder - Make Your Own Flash Game