Getting started with Flash game development

[axcho]

As you may or may not know, I started out with calculator programming, but for the last few years I've been focusing on Flash development. I haven't done a whole lot with it, but I've done a bit.

Earlier this year, I started transitioning entirely to free tools for Flash development, and recently have begun using a free game engine called Flixel.

The reason I'm posting about it here is that after a day or two of using Flixel, I was thinking, "Wow, this is fun. I haven't felt this fluent since my calculator programming days."

And then I realized that I should share this discovery with you. So if any of you are interested in learning Flash, start with Flixel! There are other new game engines out there, but Flixel felt so natural, my brain fit right into it, like it did with the calculator. And it's perfect for retro, pixelated games.

I've taken the time to put together a handy guide to getting started, aggregating the tutorials that I've found most useful and the free tools that I've found essential, so that you can save the time and frustration of searching for these things on your own.

And here it is:

Where to Start with AS3, FlashDevelop and Flixel

If you've ever wanted to learn to make Flash games, this is the easiest way to do it, at least if you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on Adobe Flash. Doesn't mean it's easy, but the other ways are harder. ;)

Let me know what you think. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.