Creating games with Macromedia Flash MX 2004 is a rewarding endeavor for aspiring and seasoned programmers alike, and the newly published Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Game Development (Glen Rhodes, Charles River Media) helps make the most of Flash's quick download time, cross-platform deployment, ease of use, and power.

Intended for both game and Web developers, Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Game Development teaches developers how to maximize Flash for the creation of online and standalone games. The entire development process is covered, from design, story and character development, to the physics and motion of a game, audio issues, optimization, and deployment. As developers work through the book, they'll create eight fun games as they learn and apply the tools of Flash. After completing these projects, they'll be ready to produce their own games, and they'll have the skills needed to take on more complex games.

This comprehensive book covers the essential elements of good game design, including challenge, reward, plot, story, and motivation. It explains advanced topics physics, collision detection, and more in an easy-to-understand way. The book also provides specific tricks for game optimization including bitmaps versus vectors, and details game performance enhancement ideas. It details the various issues of multi-platform development for the PC, Mac, and handheld/wireless devices, and teaches how to develop standalone games with executables stored on the local hard drive.

Glen Rhodes, the book's author, has been developing games professionally for 10 years. He is currently a Senior Flash Developer for the dot com entertainment Group. He has developed games such as Catch the Train for Nike and Domino Dementia for www.shockwave.com. He has also written and co-authored a number of successful titles on Flash MX.

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Game Development is available from Charles River Media. More information can be found at www.charlesriver.com, or call 1-800-382-8505. To see a sample chapter, visit www.charlesriver.com/chapters.html.