gyroscopeI am here.Member, Sous Chef, PROPosts: 6,598
stevethorn said: In the sorry time it's taken to discuss semantics, the same amount of time could have been used in learning how to use the tool named GameSalad.
If it were just a matter of common sense, English expression using words and logic, there would be far fewer questions to ask. But, GameSalad ways are not English, textual ways - they are symbolic and stand to be questioned and explained.
That is, unless we just want to "copy and paste" unwittingly from one place to another.
Psmith
gyroscopeI am here.Member, Sous Chef, PROPosts: 6,598
And that's what we're here for, Psmith, to help out. I think the other guys are trying to say that you'd have less questions if you'd known about the Help files, that's all! Good luck with them, and once you've immersed yourself, and done plenty of hands-on tests in GS, it'll all start to click into place for you.
And to summarise: past experience in a high level programming language is a definite advantage but not a prerequisite to learning GS.
:-)
SlickZeroHouston, TexasMember, Sous ChefPosts: 2,870
I thought the same thing about GameSalad the first day I downloaded and started to use it. But then I eventually realized...When you drag and drop in GameSalad, what you don't see are actual blocks of hundreds of lines of code that are written for each and every drag and drop behavior.
Wether it's Lua or Objective C, I don't know because I can't see it and I cannot code. And the expression editor is exactly what it says. It edits the expressions that are in that block of code. It's an addendum to the actual code to adjust and tweak the math to get the desired results.
Although it's not a programming language, you have to understand how to use the expression editor properly, not how to code properly. And learning the expression editor is really not much different than learning the tools palette in Photoshop or Illustrator, or the tools for any other software. You have to put in some learning effort to know how to use the software properly, just like any other software. It's the best program for people that do not know how to code, and want to make apps and games for iOS.
gyroscopeI am here.Member, Sous Chef, PROPosts: 6,598
Nicely put by SlickZero, I think.
I've just thought it necessary to point out to you, Psmith, that the comment you made to one of our forum members was not on (you know which one though I've deleted it now). On some Forums, you could have been heading for a ban before you started... So a small warning; best to keep it friendly around here.
Thanks. I guess I have not watched one of the videos that show use of the "Expression Editor". Perhaps it is in some of the more advanced ones.
So far, the videos I have watched, (some several times), demonstrate procedures, but don't tell why. This creates frustration, in my opinion.
Time is precious, maybe the most precious thing we possess. Trepidation on committing to any training discipline shouldn't be dismissed or scoffed at. I've been around software long enough to know that applications appear, make splashes of various sizes, gather a following - only to stagnate or disappear entirely.
Take a look at what happened with HyperCard, for example - brilliant software made and presented by Apple, itself. QuickTimeVR, (Apple, again). We have 3 decades worth of such examples. I've spent 25 years of my life taking various "time" risks with many different software platforms that promise much. Many never deliver - especially on the training side. Some expire without even delivering adequate or continual functionality.
Gone With The Wind
Psmith
gyroscopeI am here.Member, Sous Chef, PROPosts: 6,598
I feel it in my bones that GameSalad is here to stay for a very long time...
SlickZeroHouston, TexasMember, Sous ChefPosts: 2,870
I would request that you give it a try for a bit. See if it's right for you. The people on the forums here are very helpful, and most know the software very well. Any questions you have about any particular procedure can be explained by someone, usually several people actually.
The videos are helpful for specific objectives, but none really give an overview of how and why things are done, I agree, but they are a great reference when making a game, and you will eventually come across the need for something that's in the videos during the course of your project. And after a few of those, it get's more and more understandable. But like I said, I was in the same mindset as you about the software, but after a little tinkering, and some questions on the forums, it's been a smooth ride altogether. Stick around, start making a game, and any problem you come across, if you can't solve it through a video or the wiki, post it here and someone will be glad to help.
Ahh, but feelings don't amount to much in regard to software longevity - not even positive feelings shared among thousands of users.
I've read something about 6.X million dollars of venture capital invested in Gendai Games. It sounds like a fortune to you and to me - but that can be frittered away faster than you can say "Hotmail". Especially if monies are aimed primarily at promotion.
Psmith
gyroscopeI am here.Member, Sous Chef, PROPosts: 6,598
6 mill. sure would be a fortune to me! I know what you're saying but Gendai aren't into the advertising thing as far as I can tell (other than Trade Shows + Press Releases) plus as far as I know they're not a huge organization, so there's that to it. Although money can only last so long, agreed. :P
Put it this way then, they're gonna be around for at least.... 3 years more....guaranteed!! (I made that up; who knows?)... :-) That should be enough time to make quite a few games and put into the App store.
Comments
I think you assume too much. If you want a brawl, or to be insulting, I don't think this is the place to do that.
Psmith
That is, unless we just want to "copy and paste" unwittingly from one place to another.
Psmith
And to summarise: past experience in a high level programming language is a definite advantage but not a prerequisite to learning GS.
:-)
Wether it's Lua or Objective C, I don't know because I can't see it and I cannot code. And the expression editor is exactly what it says. It edits the expressions that are in that block of code. It's an addendum to the actual code to adjust and tweak the math to get the desired results.
Although it's not a programming language, you have to understand how to use the expression editor properly, not how to code properly. And learning the expression editor is really not much different than learning the tools palette in Photoshop or Illustrator, or the tools for any other software. You have to put in some learning effort to know how to use the software properly, just like any other software. It's the best program for people that do not know how to code, and want to make apps and games for iOS.
I've just thought it necessary to point out to you, Psmith, that the comment you made to one of our forum members was not on (you know which one though I've deleted it now). On some Forums, you could have been heading for a ban before you started... So a small warning; best to keep it friendly around here.
Thanks. I guess I have not watched one of the videos that show use of the "Expression Editor". Perhaps it is in some of the more advanced ones.
So far, the videos I have watched, (some several times), demonstrate procedures, but don't tell why. This creates frustration, in my opinion.
Time is precious, maybe the most precious thing we possess. Trepidation on committing to any training discipline shouldn't be dismissed or scoffed at. I've been around software long enough to know that applications appear, make splashes of various sizes, gather a following - only to stagnate or disappear entirely.
Take a look at what happened with HyperCard, for example - brilliant software made and presented by Apple, itself. QuickTimeVR, (Apple, again). We have 3 decades worth of such examples. I've spent 25 years of my life taking various "time" risks with many different software platforms that promise much. Many never deliver - especially on the training side. Some expire without even delivering adequate or continual functionality.
Gone With The Wind
Psmith
I feel it in my bones that GameSalad is here to stay for a very long time...
The videos are helpful for specific objectives, but none really give an overview of how and why things are done, I agree, but they are a great reference when making a game, and you will eventually come across the need for something that's in the videos during the course of your project. And after a few of those, it get's more and more understandable. But like I said, I was in the same mindset as you about the software, but after a little tinkering, and some questions on the forums, it's been a smooth ride altogether. Stick around, start making a game, and any problem you come across, if you can't solve it through a video or the wiki, post it here and someone will be glad to help.
Ahh, but feelings don't amount to much in regard to software longevity - not even positive feelings shared among thousands of users.
I've read something about 6.X million dollars of venture capital invested in Gendai Games. It sounds like a fortune to you and to me - but that can be frittered away faster than you can say "Hotmail". Especially if monies are aimed primarily at promotion.
Psmith
Put it this way then, they're gonna be around for at least.... 3 years more....guaranteed!! (I made that up; who knows?)... :-) That should be enough time to make quite a few games and put into the App store.