Of course, to make Flash games a competence in Flash is required, but that alone is not enough. A good Flash games developer needs programming skills, graphical skills, audio skills, not to mention a good analytical mind, a methodical way of working through problems, and the patience to see a project through to completion. Here is a rough outline of how a single developer might tackle the problem of writing a Flash game from scratch.

Planning and design

Games are complex pieces of software. Even a small puzzle game written in Flash is likely to include several main screens or game states, multiple movieclips which may be nested (giving multiple timelines), one or more actionscipt files and possibly actionscript on the timeline, graphical elements either drawn in Flash or embedded in either bitmap or vector formats, and audio files.

With so many elements, sitting down at a computer with Flash open and starting to code is very unlikely to produce a satisfactory result. Whenever I start to write a new game I first start with a pen and paper, initially with a description of how I'll go about writing the game, then with lists of game starts and main functionality, then with list of assets required. Only then, once I have a good idea of how the game will be written can I start to collate assets, and begin to write the game.

Mock-up

Once a design has been drafted, the next step is to write a mock-up game in Flash. The idea of this stage is to write the code in Flash for the game to be functional, without worrying too much about how the game looks. I often use place holder graphics at this stage, which will later be swapped with graphics produced by an artist, and unless it is integral to the game I leave the audio out entirely.

Graphics and audio

Once the mock-up has been written, and tested, the next stage is to integrate the graphics and audio. If the design phase was completed carefully with consideration to the graphics and audio, the artists (if the developer is not creating the graphics themselves) can be producing the graphical assets while the mock-up is being created. This allows the graphics and audio to be integrated relatively quickly and easily, and the game is now fully tested again.

Final touches

Only after the game is virtually complete do final touches such as introduction and end of level screens, or preloaders get added. This allows testing to be much quicker and easier as the tester doesn't have to repeatedly click through spurious intro screens.

As we have seen, even a simple Flash game is a complicated project to take on. However, with careful planning and by breaking the project down into sensibly sized modules a competent Flash developer can easily tackle small games projects alone, especially if they have the help of an artist for the graphics and audio.

If you've not written a game from scratch before then consider making modifications to an existing game first. That will give you experience working on games, and the confidence to take on larger projects from scratch in the future.

Writing Flash games can be a highly rewarding skill, both intellectually and financially, but tackling a project too large too early is a common mistake. If you're new to writing Flash games start small, and learn how to write a Flash game the right way before moving on to bigger projects!

Billy Deakin is a web designer and Flash games developer who regularly teaches Flash seminars and workshops. He is the founder of Flash Games Classroom and also makes some of his Flash games source code available at Viral Flash Games.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billy_Deakin
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Write-Flash-Games—A-Guide-to-Flash-Game-Development&id=2905224

So exactly how do you learn guitar in order to progress quickly? Easy. You just learn and master the basics. Then you focus most of your practice time on mastering one skill. That skill is playing by ear. But why in the heck would you want to do that when you can take the easy way out and just learn how to read guitar tabs?

Well here is the thing about guitar tabs. Yes you can learn songs very quickly that way. Learning how to read tabs is so easy it takes a few minutes. Then you can go on whatever guitar tablature website you want and look up the lazy man's sheet music for whatever song you want to play.

OR you can learn guitar the more natural way which is by listening to music and then playing along with your guitar. Have you ever watched a skilled guitar player listen to a song and then almost immediately learn it right away? I remember seeing this for the first time and really got inspired to learn guitar.

Learning by ear is the more natural way to learn guitar. Before you even play guitar you have to learn the basics such as some major chords and scales. But then after getting your rhythm down and what not you can then master the art of playing by ear.

This is not only what good guitarists practice but also what any kind musicians do as well. They become so immersed in the music they listen to that they are able to come up with their own arrangements and pieces of music.

This is the key to sounding good on guitar. Most if not all musicians have learned to play their instrument by ear. It is the key to developing a feel for music. It is how you will make your music flow.

Simply put the skill of listening is the best way to learn guitar. Start out learning about the fretboard. Learn the shapes of all the major and minor chords. Then touch up on some guitar theory such as the CAGED method. That way you progress faster because you will have a basic understanding of the fretboard.

Adjust your hands to playing. Then after going through the routine of practicing the basics for a couple of months it is all about learning guitar songs by ear.

If you would like to know more about how to learn guitar then be sure to check out these online guitar lesson where I go over 5 obstacles all beginners need to overcome in order to progress quickly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Jayson
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Best-Way-to-Learn-Guitar-Quickly&id=6692895

First of all, the software you use to make games is Adobe Flash. It does cost quite a bit but is worth every penny if you know how to maximise it to its full extent. You can look for tutorials on other websites to learn how to make games such as Flashkit. On my website, I release video tutorials on how to do something in flash, every once in a while so check that out sometimes.

All right now to get down to business, the scenario is you have made a great flash game that you want to make money from.

1. You could get the game sponsored by another games website. This means that the other website will pay you money in exchange for putting their logos and links in the game. You might be thinking why would they do that, well it's because people who played the game might go on their website through a link and so the other website could earn money from ad revenue or other means. The amount you get paid depends on how good the game is so it could range from $50 – $2000+. Different websites pay different sums of money, their website usually contains information on how much they pay. Some sponsors are ArmorGames, CrazyMonkeyGames and FlashRage. This way is a definite way of getting some money for your hard work.

2. If you have your own website, then in your game, link to your website so you get traffic to your website after you have submitted to some game portals like Newgrounds. On your own website put some advertisements on so when visitors come from through the game, they might click on ads earning you more money.

3. On your game you can put advertisements from Mochi ads in so each time a player plays the game, you earn ad revenue. Mochi ads are The World's First Ad Network for Casual Games and right now they are accepting only some developers so you can apply now and get in line. Even, if your game is placed on other websites, the ads still show so you still get money.

4. Some games websites offer contests and prizes for the best submitted games such as Newgrounds. Check them out every once in a while for new contests. This way usually offers a higher amount of money (depends on the contest hosting by the website) than sponsoring a game, however, if you don't win you might not get any money.

5. Some websites also offer some of the ad revenue from their website if you submit the game to them. This is a great way to get some cash for your game. Some websites that offer this are GameGum.

6. If the game is played a lot by many players, then some websites will pay you quite a lot of money for a non-exclusive license, which means they put their logo on the game but unlike sponsoring, the copy of the game is only allowed to display on their website so you can sell a lot of non-exclusive licenses if the game is good enough.

7. If the game is extremely brilliant and is played a lot, then you could win some awards for the game and get some cash with the awards. If you win one award then your game will be taken into account for other awards as well.

8. If you win some awards, then people will notice especially big game companies and they might ask you to make games for them on a contract basis or getting paid for every game you create. You might even be asked to make console games!

9. The game, if it gets enough awards and lots of people notice it, it could be turned into a console game and you would earn a lot of money through that, however this can only be turned into a reality with an extremely good game that has the potential to be turned into a console game.

10. You could make a demo version of the game and if people want to play the full version, they have to buy it. This could make a lot of money as if players like the game, they will buy it and you can sell the game as many times as you want making a lot of money.

I hope you take some useful information from this article. Now that was 10 ways to make money from flash games and there are many more in the world, go and discover them!

A Dubbaka is the webmaster for Adgamesonline and has created a couple of flash games which are spread around the virtual world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Dubbaka
http://EzineArticles.com/?Flash-Games—10-Ways-To-Make-Money-From-Creating-Them!&id=561236

My first guitar was a borrowed guitar from the music school. At the time I could not hear when a guitar was out of tune but even my totally untrained beginners ears could hear that it was an awful guitar. It sounded dark, flat and ugly and I was embarrassed to bring that to my teacher. Needless to say how frustrated it was to learn to play on it. Despite the guitar I practised every day, my parents saw that I was serious and three months later I had my own guitar, a brand new nylon string classical Yamaha guitar.

Choose your instrument with care.

So how do you go out and buy a good standard guitar without having to spent a ton of money not knowing where the threshold is between a good guitar and one of poor quality? Don't just go out with a couple hundred dollars choosing a guitar within that budget.

The price of a guitar goes from a hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Obviously the more expensive the better the guitar but for six to seven hundred dollars you can buy a decent one that goes a long way. It's is not cheap but far from expensive and it's worth saving until you have the money because over time a good guitar will become a better guitar while a bad guitar will never be a good one.

What makes a great instrument – Things to look out for.

If you have untrained ears ask someone with experience to go with you. You want to make sure that the guitar doesn't have invisible damage or issues.

The neck should also fit properly onto the body. When you hold the guitar the way you would play it look at the neck where it is attached to the body. The body has a cutout and the neck should fit exactly into the space. On some guitars the cutout is wider than the neck. You should not be able to fit your bank card into the space between the neck and the body.

Just remember that what you pay less on buying the instrument you'll pay later in sweat, more practice time and costs to repair and adjust your cheap guitar. For acoustic guitars I can recommend Martin and Taylor and for electric guitars I recommend American made Fender and Gibson.

June Moris has been playing the guitar since she was thirteen. She has been doing research on the use of effects full time for six months. When you hear her live it's like there are two guitar players on stage. Some people mistake her guitar for a couple synthesizers. June lives in NYC where she plays her music and teaches guitar. Some of her lessons can be found on her website @ [http://www.music.junemoris.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=June_Moris
http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitar—Quality-and-Sound—Tips-on-Choosing-Your-Instrument&id=2499513

How to Care For Your Bonsai Ficus Ginseng Plant

The Bonsai Ficus Ginseng Plant is also known as Taiwan Ficus or Banyan Fig.

One of the attractions of this particular bonsai ficus ginseng is of course the roots which are usually exposed. Along with a thickish trunk and a canopy of dark green leaves it is a most attractive plant, creates a wonderful display in the home and is so easy to look after. This makes it ideal for newcomers to indoor plant keeping especially as it is very low maintenance.

Caring For The Bonsai Ficus Ginseng

Although the bonsai ficus ginseng can tolerate low light environments well, it does thrive much better in well lit environments and natural sunlight. So it is important to site the plant beside a window which receives lots of light for as much of the day as possible. I turn my own Ficus Ginseng by one quarter turn to the right each day so the whole ginseng plant has its fair share of the sun.

This bonsai tree does need a little tender loving care. It does need moderate watering in the winter, and I have had good results by feeding the potted soil with tomato plant liquid feed of all things. (Don’t overdo this) Obviously, a little more water will be needed during the warmer summer season and less during the winter season.

The bonsai ficus ginseng does not mind being overwatered once in a while nor does it take offence when you forget to water it sometimes. It will however thrive more when misted regularly to mimic its rainforest home conditions. I do this daily using an old aerosol spray, and where possible I use rainwater rather than tap water which tends to contain Fluoride in this Country and I’m not sure this is good for the plant. Boiling tap water first may be another solution.

The bonsai ficus ginseng is basically a slow grower although this will depend on the condition of the plant and obviously on its environment. Repotting the bonsai plant depends on growth, so you may have to do this annually or bi-annually. I have had my ficus ginseng for about 6 months and growth is slow, so there is plenty of time to think about re-potting at a future time.

As for the soil, the plant does not seem too fussed and I have just used the soil which was in the pot when I bought the ginseng plant. Fertilizers may be added but the bonsai ficus ginseng is a good grower and can survive in lean conditions. (Try the tomato liquid fertilizer trick mentioned earlier)

The bonsai ficus ginseng tree is an easy tree to care for and you will not need to constantly monitor its state. At first you may be worried at the alarming habit the Ficus has of dropping its leaves daily. Look closely however at the plant and you will see that for all the dark green leaves which have been discarded, there will be a roughly equal number of light green new growth leaves to replace them.

The leaves of the bonsai ficus ginseng will need to be pinched when there are more than necessary to make a good looking crown. For every six new leaves that come out, you need to pinch off at least two or three to maintain its beauty and symmetry.

Overall the bonsai ficus ginseng is a hardy tree that is great for novices and beginners!
Labels: bonsai, care, ficus, ginseng, indoors, plant

Convenience? One of the main upsides to flash games is that you can pick up and play whenever you want, there is no preparation needed, no decisions to be made. You play when you want, for how long you want, you can pause the game if needed and quickly alt-tab when your teacher or boss comes over.

Simplicity? The easy controls and simple graphics mean that even people unaccustomed to the Internet or gaming can enjoy a little play on Flash games. Old or young, the designs are made to deliver gameplay without fluff, so it's easy to get something out of it.

Arcade-Style Competition? You are always playing against a score, you can always better yourself and rank higher than before. Everyone wants his or her name on the leader board. This is like the feel of an arcade, where the ultimate prize is your name being on top for all to see. In some countries, arcades are very competitive, and Flash games to a point bring this competition to everybody.

Infinite? Because of the nature of Flash games, you can never 'complete' most of them. In a normal game, when you slay the dragon, or finish the last level, you win. In a Flash game, your goals are only set by yourself, and once you achieve them, you can always set a higher one.

Calming? Lots of games can actually be very stressful. Games cause people to throw controllers, roar at screens and generally make a fool of themselves. Most Flash games feel a lot more 'fun' and 'casual' due to the nature of knowing you can get back to where you were fairly easily.

Cross-Platform? It doesn't matter if you use Windows, MacOS, Linux or any other web-ready operating system. Flash games are easily accessible to everybody, no matter where you are. You can even play them on some modern cellphones and handhelds. This allows users on different platforms to directly compete in a field, something rare in modern OS-specific gaming.

Nostalgia? Many Flash games are clones of Arcade favorites, from Breakout to Space Invaders to Asteroids. This allows us to identify better with them, as they are 'blasts from the past', we feel that we are somewhat re-living our past with these little gems. As proven by the constant success of arcade bundles and arcade ports, nostalgia is a powerful factor in the industry.

These are all fairly obvious reasons why Flash games are appreciated, along with the ease of finding them, and of course, the point that they are FREE. Man has, since the beginning of time, always enjoyed getting something for nothing. It is in our nature to attempt to make this 'profit'. By playing a free game, we know that if we don't enjoy it, we don't lose out on anything, we can simply move on and try another one.

It is this experimentation which allows people to find a game that they really enjoy. The huge variety of online Flash games, combined with the fact that there is no financial or large time investment means that there really is an enjoyable experience to be found for everybody, and more importantly, that people are inclined to find this enjoyable experience.

The guitar has been around for a long time. It is estimated that stringed instruments that are similar to modern guitars have been a part of the music scene for 5,000 years. The oldest picture of an instrument that had the basic elements of a guitar was a Hittite stone carving that was carved 3300 years ago. The very ancient sitar that came from India is one of the ancestors of the guitar family.

The English word “guitar” comes from the Spanish word “quitarra”. Quitarra comes from the Latin word “cithara.” Cithara comes from the Greek word “Kithara” which may have come from the Persian word, sihtar. This word bears a remarkable resemblance to the ancient Indian instrument, the sitar. These name progression shows the evolution of the instrument as well as the spread of the instrument across the ancient world.

The guitar normally has six strings, but there are versions with four, eight, ten, and even twelve strings. It is the primary instrument in blues music, country music, flamenco, rock, and pop music. There is also solo classic guitar music. The guitar is one of the most popular instruments for beginners. One of the reasons for this is that it is fairly easy to learn how to play it, at least at the early stages.

A luthier is a person who builds or repairs guitars. In Europe, during the development of the modern guitar, there were families of luthiers who passed their expertise down from generation to generation. One such family was the Vinaccia family of Naples, Italy. Although they are mostly known as the developers of the mandolin, they might also have made the very first six string guitar that has the characteristics of modern guitars.

Today, the electric guitar is quickly becoming the most popular guitar. An electric guitar may have a solid, semi-hollow, or hollow body. They also make very little sound without amplification. The electric guitar was first developed in 1936 by a man named George Beauchamp. A company named Danelectro is credited with making the electric guitar widely available to the public.

Aazdak Alisimo writes guitar info for GuitarLessonInstructors.com where you can find a directory of instructors for guitar lessons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aazdak_Alisimo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitar—An-Instrument-With-a-Long-Story&id=1093121

Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing trees in small containers in order to obtain a miniature replica of the original tree.

The movement of soil inside the small container restricts the growth of the bonsai plant. A lot of techniques are used in order to beautify the bonsai tree like using wire technique to spread its branches in different directions or in a single direction depending on what style is preferred.

Any tree or shrub can be used for bonsai according to some studies but the ones that have high tolerance to pruning and the training process are used and are considered as popular trees for bonsai.

The Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are probably the most widely used and trained species in bonsai gardening. These species are said to be very tolerant in pruning and grow in towering heights and they even cover shrubs in the forest. Juniper also comes in wide range of shapes and different colors too. The Chinese Juniper, which has a soft and evergreen needle, is one of the world’s most loved species of juniper tree because of its great ability to thrive in almost all types of soils.

The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) trees are mostly found growing in the swamplands of the southeastern part of the U.S. These species are slow growing but still a favorite of many because of their delicate foliage that magically turns into a deep orange in color during the fall season. It can also thrive in almost all soil types as long as it is kept moist. Another reason why it is liked by many is because it seldom suffers from root rot even if you over water them. This also makes them an ideal choice of trees for bonsai beginners.

The Sargent Crabapple (Malus sagentii) trees are another excellent choice for bonsai hobbyists. It became widely popular because of its spring blooming ornamental type of tree and a perfect choice if you want to grow a flowering tree. The flowers usually appear during spring and cover the tree with their white and very fragrant blossoms which can attract passers-by. Its fruit also adds to the attractiveness of the tree which makes it highly ornamental.

The Lucky Bamboo (Dracena saderiana) is also a favorite of many bonsai enthusiasts. Although it is called Lucky Bamboo it is not a bamboo at all. It is only called a bamboo because its appearance resembles that of a bamboo when the Dracena sp. has stripped off its lower leaves.

Another impressive attribute is that the stems can be easily braided for an added aesthetic to the whole bonsai plant. It was traditionally believed to bring good luck to its owner hence the name Lucky Bamboo originated.

These are just some of the most widely used species of trees for bonsai. Any tree can be used for bonsai but the above list stands out the most among them all because of their distinct and likable characteristics.

The juniper bonsai is one of the most common and popular outdoor bonsai trees because it is the easiest to care for; however, there are many people who have been unsuccessful. I’ve included some of the common mistakes made by bonsai owners and some advice on how to overcome these obstacles.

The most common mistake I’ve seen people make with the juniper bonsai is that they keep it indoors. During the past seven years, I noticed that most of all the people who were having trouble keeping their bonsai alive were keeping it indoors and less than twenty percent of the people were having any success at all. I know it may seem obvious that an outdoor bonsai should be kept outdoors, but most people do not know that bonsais have to be in a specific location and climate condition. They assume that they can keep their tree anywhere they want without suffering any consequences without learning how to bonsai correctly.

Another common mistake people make is keeping their juniper in the direct sunlight. The juniper bonsai can be kept in direct sunlight, but it makes it a lot harder to keep alive because the water will evaporate much faster causing the soil to dry out frequently. Also, too much direct sunlight can cause the foliage to yellow.

Yellowing can also be caused by lack of nutrients. Although it is not necessary to feed your bonsai to keep it alive, feeding your bonsai with a slow-release organic fertilizer can keep your bonsai healthy and green. Feeding your plant can also boosts its immune system and prevents diseases making it easier to care for your tree.
Neglecting to repot your bonsai and trim a third of its rooting system is another frequent mistake that bonsai owners face. The juniper bonsai should be repotted and the roots trimmed every two to three years. Many beginners have told me that they thought bonsais do not grow anymore and stay the same size. That is simply not true. All bonsai trees will continually to grow, but usually very slowly. You can keep your bonsai miniaturized by replanting your bonsai back in the original container, but make sure to use new soil when transplanting. Just make sure to trim back your bonsai’s branches and foliage to prevent over burdening the roots.

Many bonsai enthusiasts derive great pleasure from growing their own bonsai trees. Some like to plant the seeds themselves and nurture them from sprouts to young trees, ready for shaping. Others prefer to take cuttings from a “parent tree” so they can grow a new tree with the parent tree’s characteristics. Still others like to grow bonsai from air layering-a technique that’s been practiced in Asia for thousands of years-or grafting, which is typically used by gardeners at bonsai nurseries. These last two propagation techniques are a bit more difficult to master than growing from seeds or cuttings, but they are reliable methods to grow your own bonsai.

Layering involves creating a new bonsai from the developed branches of fully-grown trees or shrubs. One of its advantages is that you will have a mature tree in one growing season, much faster than other methods. The principal behind layering involves intentionally injuring the tree to interrupt the flow of nutrients, or sap, from its roots to a branch. In order to survive, the injured part of the branch will first form a callus and then new buds that form roots to pull nutrients and moisture from the environment. This branch will then eventually become a new bonsai. Layering should always be done in the spring when the tree is growing and the sap is rising, no matter what the species.

There are two techniques to air-layer a tree: the tourniquet method and the ring method. With the tourniquet method, you wrap a wire tightly around the branch to partially stop the flow of sap. As the branch slowly grows, the wire will become tighter, digging into the bark and then underlying soft, green cambium layer, stopping the flow of nutrients. The branch will be forced to grow new roots just above the wire. Some bonsai experts wrap the new rooting area with sphagnum moss, peat moss, or a plastic bag to protect it. Make sure you can water the area through the wrapping. Good species for the tourniquet method include cedars, junipers, azaleas, and wisteria.

The ring method involves using a sharp knife to cut a ring around the diameter of the branch and then remove the ring of bark. Make sure you remove the bark and the cambium, leaving just the tree’s “shiny” hard wood or the tree will not grow new roots. You can dust the ring with hormone, found at bonsai specialty shops, and wrap it with moss or plastic wrap. Japanese maple, Chinese elm, and cotoneaster do well with this technique.

Your goal with either type of layering is to force the tree to send out new roots. They will be easier to see if you’ve used plastic and not moss. It’s important not to remove the branch from the parent tree too soon. Once you can see a mass of roots, or root ball-usually within three-to-six months, you can cleanly cut off the branch and place the root ball in a pot filled with peat most. Freshly potted air-layered plants should be placed in a damp, humid area and misted regularly.

Grafting is a complex method that involves combining two plants-either two parts of the same plant-or of two different plants. This is done by exposing the cambium, the layer under the bark, and joining the two parts together and allowing them to heal or graft together. The cambium of both the transplanted plant, or scion, and the rootstock or under-stock (plant which interacts with the soil) must be kept in contact with each other for several weeks for the graft to take place. The scion is usually a short piece of stem with one or two buds, and the rootstock will become the new root system. Generally, the closer in species two different plants are, the better the chances of a successful graft.

Want to learn more about bonsai planting and propagation techniques? Visit my website at http://www.bonsaitreeanswers.com to learn all about how to buy, grow, and care for beautiful, healthy bonsai trees.