Flash Alternative for developing app with lots of 2D Animation

First let me say, I know Flash does not run on iPad. And I'm not looking for an alternative to Flash Video.

I want to create an app for the iPad, with a lot of full screen, 24 frames-per-second animation. Basically an interactive Animated Movie, like the game Dragon's Lair, from days of yore.

I know how to do this in Flash, using the timeline and drawing and animation tools, and using Actionscript to track user clicks and trigger events in the movie.

Are there any alternative tools I can use for iPad app development, that will allow me to:

-- Draw directly in the tool
-- Do frame by frame animation in the tool
-- Uses a timeline
-- Uses vector images to keep the file size down
-- Has a scripting language that will allow me to track the user clicking on invisible buttons and trigger new animations?

I've looked at all of Apple's Developer tools for the iPhone and iPad, but they all seem to use Bitmapped Sprites which would make the file size way too big, and animation a nightmare.

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

Message was edited by: shackleram

Posted on Aug 29, 2010 12:01 PM

Reply
6 replies

Aug 29, 2010 12:05 PM in response to shackleram

shackleram wrote:
First let me say, I know Flash does not run on iPad. And I'm not looking for an alternative to Flash Video.

I want to create an app for the iPad, with a lot of full screen, 24 frames-per-second animation. Basically an interactive Animated Movie, like the game Dragon's Lair, from days of yore.

I know how to do this in Flash, using the timeline and drawing and animation tools, and using Actionscript to track click and trigger events in the movie.

Are there any alternative tools I can use for iPad app development, that will allow me to:

-- Draw directly in the tool
-- Do frame by frame animation in the tool
-- Uses a timeline
-- Uses vector images to keep the file size down
-- Has a scripting language that will allow me to track the user clicking on invisible buttons and trigger new animations?

I've looked at all of Apples Developer tools for the iPhone and iPad, but they all seem to use Bitmapped Sprites which would make the file size way too big, and animation a nightmare.

Thanks in advance for any help on this.


Well, there are several 3D game developers for the iOS operating system including EA Sports and id Software's Doom Engine. And in the Apple Software Development Kit for iOS, there are numerous API's for game development. I think you should google game development for the iOS (ipad and iphone), and see what they've got.

Aug 29, 2010 2:58 PM in response to OrangeMarlin

Thanks, OrangeMarlin.

I'm doing 2D Animation, not 3D. And I've googled "game development for iOS" numerous times and haven't found anything even remotely similar to the drawing and timeline animation tools in Flash.

Are there any vector-based 2D drawing and animation tools that I can use to make an app for iOS?

Think more full motion, 2D animation tool and less game tool.

Aug 30, 2010 7:16 AM in response to jaxjason

Thanks, Jason.

I did log in to the Apple Developer Program, but that doesn't seem to give me access to the forums: http://developer.apple.com/devforums/

When I click Log In, it just kicks me back to the same page.

It looks like I have to pay $99 to access the forums, which I'm reluctant to do just to find out if there are any developer tools for animation equivalent to Flash.

Aug 30, 2010 10:00 AM in response to shackleram

I don't know much about it, but you might look into cocos2d:

http://www.cocos2d.org/

If that's of interest, there's a side dedicated to learning cocos2d that might be helpful:

http://www.learn-cocos2d.com/

There are also commercial development tools such as:

http://www.torquepowered.com/products/torque-2d/iphone

It's pricey but not much more so than a retail copy of Flash CS5.

Regards.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Flash Alternative for developing app with lots of 2D Animation

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.