I'm making games in flash (but haven't finished yet). anything ideas, tips or stories about adobe flash, (the editor) you'd like to share? whats your opinion on adobe as a company? what's the difference between a rip-off and a spiritual sequel, in your eyes?
I made Epic Battle Fantasy!
Currently working on Matt's Hidden Cats.
Using Flash for 21 years.
Matt Roszak
@matt-likes-swords
Age 35, Male
Developer
Glasgow University
Glasgow, UK
Joined on 6/12/04
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Adobe is an awful company. I wish I didn't have to pay them a subscription.
The editor is outdated, but works pretty well for smaller projects - once you get to bigger stuff you really need to consider being clever about it and breaking things up into several files.
Rip-offs are only bad if they try to mislead the customers into buying the wrong product by accident. If you know you're buying a game just like Pokemon, but NOT Pokemon, that's totally fine.
What makes a good balanced schedule in your opinion?
Get the right amount of sleep, social interactions, and exercise first.
Just recently went through the ebf series again so it's cool to see this, I don't really have any pressing questions so has there been anything you've read, watched or played recently that you found unique or just done exceptionally well?
Games: Returnal, Astro Bot.
Manga: Goodnight PunPun.
Movies: The Substance, The House That Jack Built.
Most of those are... pretty dark.
Was Epic Battle Fantasy supposed to follow this "everything is a simulation" route from the very beginning or was it something you came up with after the series had already started? Ebf1 ~ 4 all follow the same timeline but there are some hints about the simulation plot
I make things up for each game as I go along.
How the idea to release EBF for mobile devices came about?
What was the process like in translating the games into languages like Spanish?
Mouse controls translate pretty well to mobile controls, much easier than making it work on consoles. Also mobile platforms only take 15% of revenue from small devs, which sounded pretty nice.
Translations are done through Google Docs - I put the text files up along with some translation notes, and fans can edit them all at once.
What's your favourite game and do you play on consoles or PC?
I've probably played more Age of Empires 2: DE than everything else put together in the last couple of years.
I have most consoles, and a PC and Steam Deck, Android and iOS, so basically everything...
thoughts on lance? (im his biggest fan trust)
Will EBF4 and 5 ever be available on mac for steam? I recently switched platforms but I can't play the games anymore
It's kind of available. You can still run the .swf file that's in the installation folder, but Steam won't let you install the game, which is silly. So you should consider buying EBF5 on Itch.io instead, or just pirating it, and using a Flashplayer to run the .swf file. Only a few options are disabled if you play this way.
How many swords do you physically own, real or prop?
I bought a cool prop claymore for a friend, but don't own any.
if someone were to make a pokemon fangame with mechanics mimicking EBF 5, how would you feel about it?
Good.
Pokemon mechanics suck.
pizza sword or pannini spatula?
How long does this AMA last?
Until I get bored.
Hey Matt! Sorry if it's already been asked, but I saw your comment about wanting to make other 2D platforming games, does that mean Adventure Story 2 is something that could happen in the future?
As a side note, your work has been a huge inspiration for me ever since I was a little kid to the point I changed my irl name to one of your characters' lol. Anyways have a nice day!
Yeah, it's possible. I think I could come up with some mechanics that aren't common in 2D platformers. Something like a cross between Mario and Cave Story.
Tyler Glaiel has made Flash files compatible with Mewgenics engine. It makes sense considering cats mix with each other visually, but is this like the only case its valid or is there more possibilities of use for flashfiles in asset management like that?
A few developers have done stuff like this. Juicy Beast who made Burrito Bison I think also uses swf files for graphics in Unity. The Behemoth also uses swf assets in some way, and I think they prototype their games in ActionScript first.
3 more questions!
1. If I remember correctly, I think I saw somewhere that EBF4 was originally going to have a lance/polearm wielder as the new playable character. Assuming that was true, are there any plans to revisit this concept or no? If not, why? (My guess would be too much similarities to Matt)
2. Why did you have Lance's sidearm swap from a gunblade to a regular revolver from EBF4 to EBF5? I do like how his revolver looks and how it changes colors based on his primary gun, but I am curious as to what prompted the change. (I suppose this question can also apply to the Valkyrie being replaced by the Neon Valkyrie)
3. Just using this moment to clarify something that would probably be clear if I just replayed the games (lol), but Lance is magic-capable and knows how to integrate it into his tech, right?
1. This idea wasn't developed very far - most of the spears just became weapons for other characters pretty quickly.
2. Lance doesn't actually know how to use a sword, and swords are more for heroes rather than villains.
Ass or tits?
Is there an EBF0? When is EBF7 going to release?
How busy have you been burying whoever asks about EBF6?
back in the day, what annoyed you the most about flash?
whats most annoying about it now?
same for best then and best now?
what was the 'trash genre' of flash games of the day? stuff that many people made in a consistent genre that wasn't that great (stuff that got beyond blammed entries)
things are subjective, of course
Paying a subscription to Adobe for software that is essentially finished really sucks.
The drawing tools have always been buggy and still are, so that's consistently annoying.
It also doesn't take advantage of modern hardware, so buying a super fast computer won't really improve your experience much.
feelsss
If Matt got a swordfish, would he eat it or use it as a sword?
matt-likes-swords
Use it as sword.