[Corrupt]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and thought, what better way to introduce myself than by doing it with some of my work.

__________________________________________________ _______

4th Eagle Squadron - Gaming Website - Flash Interactive

The WHM - My un-official/free lance company (being replaced by a new name/site) - Flash Interactive

Jims Discount Tire and Brake Store - Company in Kansas - Flash/HTML hybrid site

The Bar - Online Community - Flash Interactive

__________________________________________________ _______

I'm also currently looking for work;

so I can quit my part time job (wasting time stocking shelves), and spend more time advancing my skills in web development and design. I'm also studying Interactive Media Design at the Art Institute of Vancouver, Just started the program in august after a year of engineering at the University of British Columbia.

I can be contacted at curt@thewhm.com

Take care all,
- Curt

[5P4C3]

Hi "Corrupt" and welcome to designers talk ^^. There should be a own section for this kind of thing. Whats the song in the intro movie on the first website called?

[Corrupt]

Its called, Requiem for a Dream, by Paul Oakenfield

[freelancr]

what does WHM mean, only time ive seen it used is by the uber popular control panel called Web Host Manager - you may want to consider a name change.

Your work is nice, shame its only in flash tho

[Corrupt]

Full name was WHM Designs, and yes it is also an acronym for Cpanel, Web Host Management. However I didn't choose the name, my business partner already had it.

I am in the process of changing names, I've already reserved a domain, created the logo/name, and going to be building a new website for it. Will be a 2 part website, the design "center" so to speak will be flash multimedia.. hosting and other avenues will have its own html site.

Xaurora Media is my new name.
www.xaurora.com is my reserved domain.

And theres no shame in Flash lol, Interactive Multimedia rich content is the future of the web. Which eventually will be at the point where it matches usability and functionality of pure coding pages, and the reason nothing will ever beat flash, in my eyes, is for its ability for absolute design control of all elements, Graphics, motion picture, audio,

I'll admit html/css/asp/php right now, have more power for practical usability... but static web pages are extremely boring for me, and usually carry weak design, not very captivating. Sure if I want to use it to pay my bills... but If its related to something im interested in, I would like to be engaged to what i'm viewing.

[freelancr]

Sure, flash is a good way of showing off nice design skills, and for certain elements. I am just against its use for FULL sites. You are kidding yourself if you think it will ever be more powerful than a true server side programming language. Im guessing here you use flash because its the easy way out.

Sure, actionscript has come a long way since its conception - but if Adobe/Macromedia can't even be arsed to support Linux users with anything higher than Flash Player 7.... they wont get very far in convincing developers to give up php for actionscript.

[PS]

whaaa... no-one would give up PHP for Flash or vice versa, they are 2 totally different things, actionscript is the programming language to control movieclips inside of flash, although it can be used to perform server side actions you need to use PHP and flash vars to acheive this, it is actually more dificult to do things like this as you use flash as a front end to send and receive vars, the benefit is you can do anything with the data, the limit is your imagination.

Why compare ? stop this silly bikering :P flash is powerful and has its merits, php/html/css is powerful and its merits, whats better? whatever suits the client or your purpose, if your selling things, dont use full flash, if your showing things off, use flash.

[pgo]

What's so "interactive" about these sites? Is it because whizz around and move and make loud noises such that I have to turn my speakers down? Please. If by interactive you mean long load times and harder/slower to navigate, then, yes, it's definitely "interactive".

Flash is great for certain things (see: flash games, YouTube, Google Video, etc.), but not for full websites.

It's not accessible, bad for search engine optimization, requires the Flash plugin to be installed, goes against the idea of the web as an open medium for everyone (i.e. it's not an open standard and puts the web at the behest of one company). Flash sites won't work for the disabled and won't work on small screens (i.e. cell phones, PDAs).

They prevent the bookmarking of pages. They break the function of the browser by rendering the back button useless.

the reason nothing will ever beat flash, in my eyes, is for its ability for absolute design control of all elements, Graphics, motion picture, audio,

Maybe you should look into print design since all you're doing is going against everything the web is meant to be - an open, accessible, fast source of information for everyone (not just people on desktop PCs using a popular web browser with Adobe's Flash plugin installed).

The web is a flexible medium. It's not a graphic medium, it's an information medium.

[jase1000]

Originally Posted by pgo

The web is a flexible medium. It's not a graphic medium, it's an information medium.

Says who? Clearly Flash can make it a graphic medium.

[freelancr]

what PGO said

[PS]

hmm these kinda threads always seem to end in the same place

[Corrupt]

Originally Posted by freelancr

Im guessing here you use flash because its the easy way out.

I have knowledge in:

Advanced Photoshop design
Flash Authoring
actionscripting
C+ programming
HTML/XHTML authoring
CSS authoring
basic PHP fundamentals
Flash authoring
Maya 7.0 Unlimited
Adobe After Effects and Particle Illusion

- All of these are used at some point in my Flash Webdesigns ... So maybe you should do your homework on flash before you make judgements.

Yeah... the easy way out for sure. The underlying bones of a good flash site is just as complicated as any other authoring language... its object orientated programming, similar to javascript and C++.

And I may not have as much experience in regular php/html authoring I think I more than make up for that with all my other skills... and my ability to learn anything very quickly.. I learn what I need to do the job... If I need more skill with PHP, I'll get it.

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by Corrupt

I have knowledge in:

Advanced Photoshop design
Flash Authoring
actionscripting
C+ programming
HTML/XHTML authoring
CSS authoring
basic PHP fundamentals
Flash authoring
Maya 7.0 Unlimited
Adobe After Effects and Particle Illusion

You wrote Flash authoring twice, and sorry I didnt mean to offend, no need to get all defensive.

Originally Posted by Corrupt

- All of these are used at some point in my Flash Webdesigns ... So maybe you should do your homework on flash before you make judgements.

I've been learning web development for nearly 10 years now, Ive done my homework and come to the same conclusion that PGO has. Flash has some legitimate uses for creating full sites.... your site isnt really one of those. Someone using Moo.FX javascript could replicate your website in XHTML/CSS.

Originally Posted by corrupt

Yeah... the easy way out for sure. The underlying bones of a good flash site is just as complicated as any other authoring language... its object orientated programming, similar to javascript and C++.

True, but you are just using actionscript for the buttons. You didnt even do your forms in flash. You can't bullshit a bullshitter.

Originally Posted by corrupt

And I may not have as much experience in regular php/html authoring I think I more than make up for that with all my other skills... and my ability to learn anything very quickly.. I learn what I need to do the job... If I need more skill with PHP, I'll get it.

Good, I recommend you practice those. Or if you want to stick with design, get into Adobe's Creative Suite.

[Corrupt]

my 4theaglesquadron site is my most advanced flash website, which is what i was talking about mainly. its not "just buttons" I've done soo much more with that.

Unfortunately as of last night the domain has expired, I have to get my friend to renew it since he has the account details.

This is an MP3 player in my 4theaglesquadron website that I wrote from scratch.

// Creates Empty Movie Clip for sound Variable 4thTrack to target
// since all sounds need to be targeted to a movie clip, just as if I was
// draging it to the timeline, on the stage.
/* Set Up */
this.createEmptyMovieClip("mcSoundHolder", this.getNextHighestDepth());
var soundtrack:Number = 0;
var soundtrack4th:Sound = new Sound(mcSoundHolder);

/*Refreshing Function*/

/*function UpdateDisplay():Void {
this.trackdisplay = trackdisplay;
}
setInterval("UpdateDisplay",100);
/*Sound Track Code*/

changetrack();

//Forward Skip Button
_parent.Bfwdskip.Bfwd.onRelease = function(){
if(soundtrack < trackstotal){
soundtrack ++;
changetrack();
}

}
//Previous Skip Button
_parent.Bprevskip.Bprev.onRelease = function(){
if(soundtrack > 1){
soundtrack --;
changetrack();
}
}

//Play
_parent.Bplay.Bplay.onRelease = function(){
soundtrack4th.stop();
soundtrack4th.start(soundtrack4th.position/1000);
}


//Pause
_parent.Bpause.Bpause.onRelease = function(){
soundtrack4th.stop();
}

stop();

___________________________________

/* This function will determine what happens when you click
Forward or Rewind skip options.
*/
var LoadInterval:Number

function changetrack():Void{

clearInterval(displaypercentinterval);
//clearInterval(autoswitch);
turnondpinterval = "Off";

if(soundtrack == 0){ // used as a dummy to trick head to playing first track //
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 1;
}

if(soundtrack == 1){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 1;
}
if(soundtrack == 2){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 2;
}
if(soundtrack == 3){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 3;
}
if(soundtrack == 4){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 4;
}
if(soundtrack == 5){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 5;
}
if(soundtrack == 6){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 6;
}
if(soundtrack == 7){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 7;
}
if(soundtrack == 8){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
soundtrack4th.loadSound("*****.mp3", false);
LoadInterval = setInterval(loadingsound, 300);
_parent.trackdisplay = 8;
}
else
{
stop();
}

}

__________________________________

/* Loading Progress */

var soundloaded;
var totalload;
var soundpercent;
var turnondpinterval:String = "Off"

function displaypercent():Void{
soundloaded = soundtrack4th.getBytesLoaded();
totalload = soundtrack4th.getBytesTotal();
soundpercent = Math.round((soundloaded/totalload)*100);
//trace(soundtrack4th.getBytesLoaded());
_parent.trackloaded = soundpercent;
}

function loadingsound():Void{
clearInterval(autoswitch);
if(turnondpinterval == "Off")
{
var displaypercentinterval:Number = setInterval(displaypercent, 50);
turnondpinterval = "On";
}
/*
soundloaded = soundtrack4th.getBytesLoaded();
totalload = soundtrack4th.getBytesTotal();
soundpercent = Math.round((soundloaded/totalload)*100);
//trace(soundtrack4th.getBytesLoaded());
_parent.trackloaded = soundpercent;*/

soundtrack4th.onLoad = function(bSuccess:Boolean):Void{

if(bSuccess){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
clearInterval(displaypercentinterval);
turnondpinterval = "Off";
trace("Sound Has Loaded, and Is Playing");
soundtrack4th.start();
soundlength = (soundtrack4th.duration/1000);
autoswitch = setInterval(Soundchecker, 1000);
soundpercent = 100;
_parent.trackloaded = soundpercent;
trace("Load Interval Cleared");
}

}
//dummy load trick
if(soundtrack == 0){
clearInterval(LoadInterval);
//clearInterval(displaypercentinterval);
soundtrack4th.start();
soundlength = (soundtrack4th.duration/1000);
autoswitch = setInterval(Soundchecker, 500);
}


}

____________________________________

var soundposition:Number;
var soundlength:Number;
var trackstotal:Number = 8;

function Soundchecker():Void
{
soundposition = (soundtrack4th.position/1000);
// If musics position is at the end of the track, change to next track//
if(soundposition >= soundlength && soundposition >=10 && soundlength != 0 || soundtrack == 0)
{
trace("I have passed the soundposition >= Soundlength Test");
if(soundtrack < trackstotal || soundtrack == 0)
{
soundtrack ++;
clearInterval(autoswitch);
changetrack();
}
if(soundtrack == trackstotal)
{
soundtrack = 1;
clearInterval(autoswitch);
changetrack();
}


}
}

__________________________________

_parent.slidercontainer.slider.onPress = function():Void{
_parent.slidercontainer.slider.startDrag(false,2,2 ,108,2);
var settingvolumeinterval:Number = setInterval(settingvolume,50);
}

_parent.slidercontainer.slider.onRelease = function():Void{
_parent.slidercontainer.slider.stopDrag();
clearInterval(settingvolumeinterval);
}

_parent.slidercontainer.slider.onReleaseOutside = function():Void{
_parent.slidercontainer.slider.stopDrag();
clearInterval(settingvolumeinterval);
}

//Drag Intervals from 2 - 108 //

// Initial Volume : 100%
_parent.slidercontainer.slider._x = 108;



//Set Volume Function
function settingvolume():Void{

var soundlevel = ((_parent.slidercontainer.slider._x - 2) * 1.06);
soundtrack4th.setVolume(soundlevel);

}

//Volume Set Interval, sets volume 20X's per second.
//var settingvolumeinterval:Number = setInterval(settingvolume,50);

So just buttons my ass.

And reason I would be defensive. I dont appreciate people saying what I do is a waste or useless simply because of bias.

I have another big flash project coming which will be way more advanced than even the eagle squadron website.

[riquock]

to be honest, you have good flash skills... I like 4th eagle squadron... but the rest have poor layout...

Just a little comment. hope you don't get offended...

Peace

[Daniel Diggle]

GO GO GO FLASH!!!



The net wasnt designed to do half of what it does today, so I guess we should just keep embracing all the new technologies that allow us to present information and 'experience' in new, better ways. Im in the process of trying to create a full flash site at the moment, but it's looking like a html with flash parts is going to be a much easier and more flexible option for me personally.

[zbo09]

Originally Posted by Corrupt

I'll admit html/css/asp/php right now, have more power for practical usability... but static web pages are extremely boring for me, and usually carry weak design, not very captivating. Sure if I want to use it to pay my bills... but If its related to something im interested in, I would like to be engaged to what i'm viewing.

Thats exactly why you'll stick with stacking shelves!

Static web pages are what the majority of web users want. Also, generally most corporate clients (at least whom I have spoken to) desire to have a flash site, that is until they learn of the problems derived from using flash for a site!!! then they tend to go against it. Flash sites, whether optimized or not, will not gain significant PR within the major search engines, unless of course your like Nike, or Sony or some other HUGE corporation with litterally 1000's of hits per day (maybe more).

and usually carry weak design

that is an unusal comment, I think its the opposite! Flash is a breeze to design in, XHTML & CSS on the other hand requires skill to achieve a good layout withcompliant markup. Graphic Design skills do come into play when designing "static" pages using XHTML & CSS... are magazines animated??? I dont think so so that comment is quite weak.

I tend to feel Flash is "old" and dying out and CSS is becoming WAY more popular. I started using flash and argued the very same point until I learned how to do it right. Now I see the benifits (both financially and educationally) of learning how to code a site using XHTML, CSS and a server side scripting language.

http://www.webcreme.com/ <-- check some of the "static" sites there.

I understand about "motion", however, a static page does not need to be boring. If you have to add animation to make it interesting then probably you need to learn more about design!

I would like to be engaged to what i'm viewing

Again that comment is kind wierd. Enaged?? what do you mean by enaged? Do you mean "user interaction"? Well what are XHTML Forms for? User input is the driving force behind any application, user input == interaction with the app... be it in flash, java, C++ (console), C, PHP... doesnt matter where the input comes from it all requires "interaction" by the user!

Flash is good for making things move about... thats really about it, other than that all it does is piss the majority of users (the folks you want to visit the site) off and keep happy the very small minority of users who actally like a site which is a pain the rear end! Anything you can do with Flash you can do more with a good Server Side language... hell you can call Java objects and execute C++ with PHP, not only that with a bit of ajax, create a socket and you can make a pretty good non flash IRC client!!! How much more power do you need?

I can write actionscript and tween flash movies but I highly discourage clients from using flash when I can.

rant over...

p.s. dont take offence!

[zbo09]

Originally Posted by Corrupt

my 4theaglesquadron site is my most advanced flash website, which is what i was talking about mainly. its not "just buttons" I've done soo much more with that.

Unfortunately as of last night the domain has expired, I have to get my friend to renew it since he has the account details.

This is an MP3 player in my 4theaglesquadron website that I wrote from scratch.




So just buttons my ass.

And reason I would be defensive. I dont appreciate people saying what I do is a waste or useless simply because of bias.

I have another big flash project coming which will be way more advanced than even the eagle squadron website.

Dude out of curiosity, how do you plan to maintain these "flash sites"??
To be honest, the actionscript involved looks more complicated than it really is... in fact its actually quite simple to do. Also i see so many "if" statements... this old app of yours will eventually grow into a behemoth of conditionals.... you speak about C++ and having knowledge in OOP... do you understand OOD?? Maybe you should look into refactoring your code and building a framework around which you can extend and maintain.

Think MVC!

[jase1000]

It's high time we moved beyond this polarised Flash vesus CSS/XHTML debate.

There's plenty of sites on cssbeauty using Flash content, and given that it's so easy to specify alternative static content these days then why not?

Flash adds a lot to the experience of going online, and although I'll admit that 100% Flash sites have probably had their day, there's still plenty of legitimite reasons to use Flash.

[i3lance]

Originally Posted by jase1000

It's high time we moved beyond this polarised Flash vesus CSS/XHTML debate.

There's plenty of sites on cssbeauty using Flash content, and given that it's so easy to specify alternative static content these days then why not?

Flash adds a lot to the experience of going online, and although I'll admit that 100% Flash sites have probably had their day, there's still plenty of legitimite reasons to use Flash.

Well said.