[IGDA Mobile-SIG List] Flash Mobile? (was user ping request)

[miikka.lyytikainen at aniway.fi]

Hi Matt,

> I come from a console development background, so I'm by no means saying
> the
> amount of code work needs to be minimal-but I just find that mobile dev in
> Java involves a MUCH higher proportion of development time to art time
> than
> in those environments. I also find that real code reusability is a lot
> more
> difficult to achieve on mobiles than on console/PC game development. Now
> coming in at a higher level with a tool like flash, I think that _could_
> be
> less of a problem.

Agree.
Actually, the Flash Actionscript 2 is very similar to the syntax of the
Java/J2ME, and it is object oriented (using classes). One is able to use
some of the same codebase for the J2ME and Flash Lite development.



> Agreed on the profitability, I think that's something we all look to :) I
> just think that a rapid dev solution like flash could (if implemented
> properly) do away with some of the expensive, time consuming issues
> associated with mobile Java in it's current form-one of which is that high
> proportion of coding to asset generation.
>
> I also agree with you 100% that _for now_ java is the way to go; however I
> want to look forward as well. Flash has proved exceptionally well suited
> to
> the casual PC market, and I still see a far bigger future for casual games
> on mobiles than ports of console franchises (2D or 3D).

Also agree, J2ME is the tool to make games for masses in the western
countries - for now. Flash Lite can´t do all the things J2ME can, and vice
versa. Both casual and hardcore games are needed, casual has obviously a
bigger potential. One of the risks with rapid development tool like Flash
Lite is flooding the market, as we have already seen in the J2ME market.
Imagine when the 1-2 million existing Flash developers get a hold of the
mobile Flash... ;)

Cheers,
Miikka


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Miikka Lyytikäinen
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