v2 logo

I’ve had my current theme for more than half a year, and I’m currently working on the next version during leisure time. “But the current one is good, simple and plain” – Yes it is, but it lacks things that I didn’t knew yet when I first made this. Actually v1 is my first full WP template. So basically, the current theme (v1) doesn’t support wordpress widgets. Oh yes, widgets, also known as the “sidebar accessories” which are plugins that can be integrated into the sidebar. [ Read more... ]

I'm on twitter!

Everyone else is doing it, so why not me! It’s about time, Jayc Santos is on Tweeter!

For those who don’t know, Twitter is a free micro-blogging service that lets you send short and quick updates to your user page on Twitter via SMS, instant messaging and tons of third party apps.

To follow me; [ Read more... ]

Hardcourt

Working with AI is a real pain, but I say, it most likely depends on what your game needs, what you want it to do. Most developers who are new would quickly ask the magical word “how?” or “how to start?”. If you haven’t had experience or good experience with AI patterns and behaviors, hear me out on how I did it with this game.

With my first game, Hardcourt, it was also my first time to encounter programming (or should I say cheating) artificial intelligence (AI). I myself didn’t have proper educational background with AI patterns and behaviors else haven’t even read anything about it when I made that game (I still had dial-up before, so no online tutorials too). With the first build of Hardcourt there were no AI so no playing with CPU, it was just a 2 player on a single PC game. After some time I decided to make it into a much complete game and had been finalized as it is now. I’ve had received good reviews with how the AI performs. It can totally beat the players up (esp with quick play, hard mode).

AI was the most troubling part as I thought; I didn’t even have an idea where to begin with. Now let me share a little knowledge on how I have dealt with this so called “artificial intelligence” and cheated my way through it. This shall be some multi-part discussion on the step by step methods when I dealt with them.

[ Read more... ]

Cel-shading

I’ve introduce cel-shading – my personal preference on art style (and its currently the best I have ) – in a previous post Using Cel-shading. And now I have something to share on basically how to apply them in flat drawings using flash. This is based on my experience from how I started drawing it to how I do it these days.

With tools provided with flash we can achieve a cel-shaded effect in quite different ways and yet achieve similar (if not so the same) results. As for this, we’ll be using the rectangle tool, line tool and brush, but of course all with the help of the selection tool and paint bucket tool for our color fill needs.  Just remember the base rule, to have consistent light source when adding the shades.

Our sample character

I’ve prepared a hand drawn character where we will be applying shading. Now, don’t tell me that my drawing doesn’t look any good, it’s all that I can do. :-p

Rectangle Tool

First off the bat, is the rectangle tool. Why the rectangle, not the cirle? Hence the edge points will be needed to snap on other line’s edges. The rectangle tool is only good for simple shapes with not so much detail, so for this example I can only see the nose to be simple enough. [ Read more... ]