MatthewDoyleArt.com Blog

As preparation to take on my new job role, I wrote a small flash game using ActionScript 3 and OOP (object oriented programming) to brush up on my flash scripting skillz.

So far, so good.  It is still a work in progress, and there are many known issues:

• the enemy you shoot isn’t always the one that is removed from the game
• player may leave the screen (need to add screen limits)
• placeholder art asset for explosion & torpedoes
• no enemy AI beyond basic movement
• enemies pop into view rather ugly sometimes
• ship heading is suffers from rounding errors
• torpedo heading suffers from the same rounding errors
• …and lots more

Features to add:

• radar
• lasers
• shields
• enemy combat AI
• pick-ups
• scrolling background
• …and whatever else I find time to add

The game is composed of several class files which can easily be reused for other 2D space shooters:

• Main.as (main game loop)
• PlayerShip.as
• EnemyShip.as
• Torpedo.as
• Explosion.as
• UserInterface.as
• Collision.as (code thanks to gSkinner)

You may download a full source code zip file, or play the game from here (World Building).

I recently flew into the D.C. area to interview and hang out with the guys and gals at Scaleform. I had a great time, and ended up getting the job. I’m very excited to get started, and have been spending my days refreshing my Action Script skills.

I start on Dec. 1. The company is full of talented and passionate people, and the Scaleform product is an impressive UI solution.  The most appealing part of the job for me is the knowledge that I’ll be able to travel around to some of the biggest studios in the business to help them develop UIs for their games.

Just a quick run of android thumbnails.  Enjoy.

Tools:  ZBrush, Painter, Photoshop

Click thumbnail to enlarge.

Please accept my apologies for not posting in quite a while.  Times have been a bit tough, and I’m sure the rest of you out there will probably agree.  I’ve had several contracts and a few jobs over the past few months, most of which have fallen through for one reason or another (funding, bad timing, etc.)  And I’m sure the economic situation we all find ourselves in right now isn’t helping things out.  I’ve heard of several studios laying off large numbers of developers in Austin and Canada (those two places I can confirm anyway).  Finding a job right now is becoming increasingly difficult.  Many studios are freezing hiring until next year.  On the plus side, my drawing tablet issues have finally been rectified.  I got a new one thanks to an unexpected and greatly appreciated gift.  Same size and everything.

I’ve been concentrating on updating my portfolio for perspective employers and contract work.  I have a few possible jobs on the horizon, and am waiting to hear back from them.  Regardless of where I end up, I plan to plant my flag firmly in the ground and hopefully, despite the way things are, buy a house to raise my family in.

I’ll have some new artwork, and hopefully complete some of the old stuff this month and post it.  Be on the look out for links to design docs and an Unreal 3 test map as well.  I also plan to post screenshots from my old game Cleric and a few other items from my older stuff.

A new piece I’m working on - still a work in progress.

Tools:  Adobe Photoshop
Time to complete:4 hours to date