It was identified relatively early the decision for which software would be used to develop the application. It was decided that Macromedia Flash would be used as the main multimedia authoring tool, the main reason for this, was the opportunity to learn another application, which the author was not too familiar with, it was a chance to see if skills from other applications were transferable, what methods and process were similar. The author had more knowledge and confidence of software called Director, which has similar functions to Macromedia Flash and capabilities that could be used to develop the required prototype. Both applications had image editing facilities and an internal language to manipulate multimedia elements. Adobe Photoshop was used for all the image editing and manipulations and 3D Max was used for the start up sequence, initially it was decided to try and use the Flash application for the loading sequence, but used 3D Max instead to determine any issues with regards to importing from other applications.
Click here to download prototype |
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| DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS |
The first problem that was discovered was to do with importing a movie clip into the Flash application, the author notice the reduction in quality of the movie. The movie clip was created using the 3D Max software. Which was exported and the same keyframe setting as the file it was being import into. After many attempts to remedy the problem, turning off compression filters that was suggest by the research, trying different setting. It was decided to use the researches suggestion which improved the quality slightly. Further research on accepted movie file types and compressions issues with regards to importing it into Macromedia Flash application would be necessary. The other issue was a particular back button function which the author wished the button to remember which avatar menu page the user was on and return the user to the page. After researching, the author tried many suggestions that fail experimenting with global variables and If and Else statements and commands the author interpreted to provide the function required. The remaining problem was not a technical problem, but resource problem, the author wished it was possible to find an adequate them song for the start up sequence to make the animation more interest. If there was an opportunity for more time, the author would have attempted to create the music personally. |
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