Loading Levels on demand

[StingRay]

Hi!

I'm at the start of creating a jump'n'run for a client. This will be for iOS too, so graphics should be nice (and big)

Is it possible for the swf-version to make the levels load on demand? so if the user finished level 1,
load another swf?!? i will store the user data in an ini on the pc of the user, so the level2-swf could take the data out of it.

before the project starts i already know, that the total game would be too huge for a one-load scenario. (or i cut the image quality level massive down, but i wanna avoid that)

is there a solution for this problem? (like: end of frame --> load application and finish existing one?!?)

thanks for your help!

[Danny]

Hmm, tough one to call. I vision your scenario, however even if this was possible you would have the issue of 'preloading' the next SWF as and when it is called to load. If there isn't many frames you could just do it frame-for-frame.

I would recommend loading the level dynamically loading objects on-call, where you are constantly reading from a set of predefined level setups. Example:
Level1.ini >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> RUNNING >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Checkpoint > Load Level2.ini >>> Slowly merge Level1 into Level2>>>>>>>REPEAT

[StingRay]

i think the main problem is, that the total app with all graphics will be loaded at once at the start. i can think of:

1. main .swf (Main Menu) --> exit and start level1.swf (has an own preloader)
2. level1.swf --> if player finished exit and start level2.swf (again own preloader)
...

if the user has lost his lives, the current .swf will exit and start the main.swf.

so every .swf should be totally independent.

[Francois]

I do not think there is a way to do this unfortunately.

[StingRay]

i've seen an 'external files' extension some time ago. this doesnt work anymore, right?

is there a solution for this? maybe create the main menue in html5 and execute .swf from it? or any workaround to lower loading time?

[Danny]

If you base the entire game inside of one frame and optimise it enough I see no reason why you can't load and merge an array of levels one after the other using arrays, ini or xml files. The key is optimisation I know it can sometimes be a struggle with the SWF exporter but there are ways to iron these out. It would make development alot easier and more compact developing an engine in just one frame and render everything right-to-left as the level(s) progress.

[StingRay]

The problem will still exist - if i've many big graphic junks in the background (and this jump'n'run should have) - loading times for the different levels in one go will be huge. (i think the game will get at the end about 20-30mb)

most of the big flash games out there load graphics dynamically.

bad or good idea:

1. use the mainmenu as 'preloader' in the mfa?!? (but if, how about level2?)
2. jump to/load/execute another .swf (would be the best solution, but i think this isnt possible)
3. loading the graphics dynamically at start of the level from server (possible? with actives?)
stream music from server,...

btw, this game should be a facebook app too.

[Danny]

You could restrict it all to one frame. It might take a while to preload but if you make a fancy preloader I think you could entertain your players whilst it loads

This entire concept from what you given me would easily load into one frame and dynamically change as the player progresses, it just depends how you want to take the bull by the horns on it. I have coded numerous engines both in Flash and XNA that are just one-frame based and dynamically run. The only difficulty would be how to 'merge' them but if your level structures are defined in an INI file and/or Array then you could easily merge level to level even displaying a 'break' in between if you wanted.

Externally loading graphics COULD be an option I think using Jens Flash Images Plus but I don't have installed atm and I've never used it before, I know it loads external images. If you could then even better for the solution above!

[StingRay]

ok. I've never thought about doing level design with array or ini. do you have an example how this works for you, Danny? would be great!