New GS user? Hope this makes you feel welcome

sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339
edited August 2015 in Working with GS (Mac)

There´s a constant flow of new users coming to the cool world of Gamesalad. I welcome you all to this amazing place!

The forum has got (mostly) a bunch of kind, helpful souls and otherwise friendly people. Sometimes though, you get stuck, start a thread and don´t get anything else but views. No comments, no help, no nothing. There are tons of reasons for this. Lets face it, due to desperation, the questions can sometimes be more like demands and not a humble question. Many times the language is an issue. Or the question is just too confusing and short and just screams of a lazy questioner! The time difference is obviosly another factor. Sometimes people just miss your post and you don´t get any view. Or there are more interesting discussions going on.

Take your time and write down your question thoroughly and try to get as much info in there as possible. Scope the forums, though sometimes even doing so you might miss already existing threads by searching with wrong words. But try anyway. Google stuff before you ask. Try out things yourself first, and so on. So don't solely rely on the forum.

If you need to ask questions, announce a game or anything, and need to show what ever you need to show with a picture, upload it to an image hosting site and attach the URL in the post by clicking the button shown in the image:

Here´s one image hosting site I use:
http://tinypic.com

Enough of that! The idea of this thread is to give you, the new users, a warming welcome and a good start with helpful tips by helpful people and so that when you have a question you have more over-all background knowledge with gamesalad. I remember it being overwhelming to get into everything in the beginning. So hopefully this compilation will help those of you feeling like I did. (Hopefully this thread don´t turn into a war zone like one thread for newcomers did last year...) :disappointed:

So here goes. Below are a handful of awesome Youtube channels that are packed with super helpful videos. Look through these channels and you are fit for fight!

T-shirtbooth´s Youtube channel. No longer active on GS, I believe, but still very helpful videos:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Tshirtbooth

Gamesalad Guru´s Youtube channel. Packed with awesome stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/user/dsouza41

Jamie Cross´s sweet corner on The Tube. A very helpful fella:
https://www.youtube.com/user/jamiecross01

Other great channels:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MonsterRobotStudios
https://www.youtube.com/user/JetPlaneFighter
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbowPYAYlTA06EZPRIpGKZQ <--- Many more great videos will be uploaded here!

These are just a few of many awesome people with awesome guides! But these should get you started.

Another helpful tip is to download templates to really dig deep into and study how others think when developing games and just how stuff works. There are some brilliant minds out there! But here are a few great sites offering awesome templates, check em out below!

GsInvention:
http://www.gsinvention.com/index.html

GSHelper:
http://gshelper.com

Stormy Studios:
http://www.stormystudio.com

Mostly Creative. (Jamie Cross):
http://www.jamie-cross.net

MattButlerStudios: <--- Check this awesome site out regularly!
http://www.learngs.com/

There are many more sites offering templates and guides. But check those out for starters.

Lastly, here are just some really interesting threads you should keep an eye out for:

"Free Game Development Resources Link Mega-thread". Lots of great tips on sound and art plus other things:
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/71745/free-game-development-resources-link-mega-thread

"Spare Code ? Dump It here". An ocean of super sweet bits and pieces of code. You need this!:
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/52494/spare-code-dump-it-here#latest

Optimization threads:

"Timers are for chumps - GS optimisation tips":
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/44707/timers-are-for-chumps-gs-optimization-tips#latest

"★★ 31 Optimization Tips ★★":
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/46652/31-optimization-tips

"[TIP] Optimizing PNG Graphics":
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/9312/tip-optimizing-png-graphics

"Searching and You: How to optimize the "Search" function within the GameSalad forum":
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/43666/searching-and-you-how-to-optimize-the-search-function-within-the-gamesalad-forum

Promotion tips:
http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/70883/a-few-promoting-tips

Make sure you bookmark interesting threads and check them often. This is how you bookmark a thread:

Hopefully this post will be appreciated and get you started fast so that you get the hang of the basics as far as you can, on your own and that way learn the engine even better! After all, "We learn by practice...", as Martha Graham said.

Good luck,
/Seb

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Comments

  • tatiangtatiang Member, Sous Chef, PRO, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 11,949

    Great list of resources and good advice for new members! I've stickied your post.

    Note that the forum rules do prohibit advertising of third-party sites but seeing as how you gave several sites equal billing and this was done with the intent of helping out people new to the community, I think it's fine.

    New to GameSalad? (FAQs)   |   Tutorials   |   Templates   |   Greenleaf Games   |   Educator & Certified GameSalad User

  • jamie_cjamie_c ImagineLabs.rocks Member, PRO Posts: 5,772

    Good idea, nice post. And thanks for the kind mentions. :)

    http://jamie-cross.net/posts/   ✮   Udemy: Introduction to Mobile Games Development   ✮   Learn Mobile Game Development in One Day Using Gamesalad   ✮   My Patreon Page

  • Braydon_SFXBraydon_SFX Member, Sous Chef, Bowlboy Sidekick Posts: 9,273

    Great post!

    My GameSalad Academy Courses! ◦ Check out my quality templates! ◦ Add me on Skype: braydon_sfx

  • robertkdalerobertkdale USAMember Posts: 912

    Thanks @sebmat86. Nice Post! :)

    Big Smile Games Play Happy!
    Check out our other GameSalad exclusives.

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    Yes, @tatiang, I know, I am aware of the forum rule. This was my best shot at trying to help people without breaking the forum rules. Hope its all good! Thanks for making it "sticky"! :relaxed:

    Cheers!
    /Seb

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    Hey, no problem! You're doing so much for the community, it would be aweful not to mention you, @jamie_c.

    /Seb

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    Thanks, @Braydon_SFX and @robertkdale! :smile:

    /Seb

  • LovejoyLovejoy Member Posts: 2,078

    @tatiang said:
    Great list of resources and good advice for new members! I've stickied your post.

    Note that the forum rules do prohibit advertising of third-party sites but seeing as how you gave several sites equal billing and this was done with the intent of helping out people new to the community, I think it's fine.

    It is in clear violation of the forum rules regardless of intent. There is no guessing, it is written clear as day in the forum rules post. Thank you.

    Fortuna Infortuna Forti Una

  • tatiangtatiang Member, Sous Chef, PRO, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 11,949

    Yes, @Lovejoy, and as a moderator I have a choice of being hard-nosed and always deleting posts that mention third-party sites or occasionally and for specific reasons allowing them. If you have additional comments, please send them to me via private message so that we can keep this thread for its intended purpose: to welcome new users.

    New to GameSalad? (FAQs)   |   Tutorials   |   Templates   |   Greenleaf Games   |   Educator & Certified GameSalad User

  • ArmellineArmelline Member, PRO Posts: 5,369

    In support of @sebmat86, when I did my useful links thread a while back it included similar links to template sites, and it was allowed then too. Allowing this is fair and consistent.

    Contact me for custom work - Expert GS developer with 15 years of GS experience - Skype: armelline.support

  • LovejoyLovejoy Member Posts: 2,078

    @tatiang said:
    Yes, Lovejoy, and as a moderator I have a choice of being hard-nosed and always deleting posts that mention third-party sites or occasionally and for specific reasons allowing them. If you have additional comments, please send them to me via private message so that we can keep this thread for its intended purpose: to welcome new users.

    Ok.

    @sebmat86 Nice post, I'm sure plenty of members find it useful.

    Fortuna Infortuna Forti Una

  • Thunder_ChildThunder_Child Member Posts: 2,343
    edited February 2015

    Yes...new users...and over time you will learn how you can use the forums to post certain things...some you cannot. For the most part the forums are very valuable and there are many good assets hidden at first but a few good searches you can find good info.

    Similarly like a recent post from @MattButlerStudios who took a great deal of time to create a very in depth compilation of code and resources for GS members...that took great care to keep within the rules of the forums...is not a sticky..and that is almost buried in the forums and I dont see linked above.

    Here is a link.

    http://www.learngs.com/

    Complete Guide to iOS Publishing {} Complete Guide to Mac Publishing

  • GSgames32GSgames32 Member Posts: 19

    Great! You should put this YouTube channel up in the post. There are lots more videos to come and are sure to be helpful
    Link:

  • Thunder_ChildThunder_Child Member Posts: 2,343

    @GSgames32 said:
    Great! You should put this YouTube channel up in the post. There are lots more videos to come and are sure to be helpful
    Link:

    Did you make this tutorial? Thats sweet. Going to be watching these.

    Complete Guide to iOS Publishing {} Complete Guide to Mac Publishing

  • MattButlerStudiosMattButlerStudios Member Posts: 486

    @Thunder_Child Thank you for mentioning my site. I hope to see @sebmat86 add it to the list in order to help out the newcomers as there is tons of great educational content available there.

    www.mbstudios.co | Free Stuff

  • GSgames32GSgames32 Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2015

    Thanks @Thunder_Child yes I did! Make sure you subscribe to the channel then haha

  • Thunder_ChildThunder_Child Member Posts: 2,343

    Ill do just that sir

    Complete Guide to iOS Publishing {} Complete Guide to Mac Publishing

  • PhilipCCPhilipCC Encounter Bay, South AustraliaMember Posts: 1,390
    edited February 2015

    @GSgames32 A great list that includes a few threads I had not come across yet. Just goes to prove how much stuff is buried here. So if you are new start digging. :)

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339
    edited February 2015

    @Thunder_Child said:
    Here is a link.

    http://www.learngs.com/

    First of all, thank you for the reminder! I was meaning to put that link up in the thread before, but working on the post on and off for hours yesterday, made me forgot to mention a few great sites, youtubers, threads etc. So hopefully, if anyone think I missed something, please, no hard feelings and just post it here and all is good!

    Secondly I just want to quote myself here, just to clarify any unclarity.

    "These are just a few of many awesome people with awesome guides! But these should get you started."

    "There are many more sites offering templates and guides. But check those out for starters."

    "Hopefully this post will be appreciated and get you started fast so that you get the hang of the basics as far as you can, on your own and that way learn the engine even better! After all, "We learn by practice...", as Martha Graham said."

    Again, thank you for reminding me of @MattButlerStudios super great page that I had forgotten to add to the list! It really is a must have on this thread! And now its added! :smile: Thank you so much Matt, for your hard work!

    @GSgames32 said:
    Great! You should put this YouTube channel up in the post. There are lots more videos to come and are sure to be helpful

    Great tutorial, man! Added! :smile:

    Take care everyone!
    /Seb

  • MattButlerStudiosMattButlerStudios Member Posts: 486

    @sebmat86 Thanks for adding the site. I appreciate it! :)

    www.mbstudios.co | Free Stuff

  • -Timo--Timo- Member Posts: 2,313

    Great post! thank you for mentioning us! :)

    ✮ FREE templates at GSinvention ✮

    ✮ Available for hire! support@gsinvention.com ✮

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    Dont mention it, @MattButlerStudios and @timolapre1998! :smile:

  • GSgames32GSgames32 Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2015

    Thanks a lot!
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________

    B) ✮ Game Salad Tutorials ✮ B)

  • The_Gamesalad_GuruThe_Gamesalad_Guru Member Posts: 9,922

    There used to be a yellow sticky at one time where a list like this was posted. I think having this list is perfect. Settles a lot of issues. Keeps the forum clean and gives a list of available resources all in one place without people feeling the need to bombard that forum to remain relative.

    Guru Video Channel   | Lost Oasis Games | FRYING BACON STUDIOS  

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    I think it´s good to point out to new users that GS often slows down after a while, and sometimes even freezes:
    http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/81361/gs-slows-and-freezes#latest

    But don´t panik. It has been, it is, and probably will be pretty normal in the future. Just SAVE YOUR PROJECT REGULARLY, quit and restart GS every now and then.

    Good luck!
    /Seb

  • DocJDocJ Member Posts: 66

    Thank you so much for this compilation of helpful sites. Let me say, as a new person to this site, and to the world of game development, it can be very daunting. Sites like these, and the effort that goes into all the work by the members, makes it less so.
    I have been reading everything I can get my hands on. Sometimes though, I still feel stuck. Thank you in advance for having patience with me, even if my problem appears to be a very basic one.

  • UtopianGamesUtopianGames Member Posts: 5,692

    Nice post :)

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    Thanks, @DeepBlueApps and @DocJ, glad you like it!

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339
    edited April 2015

    I´d like to add yet another useful tip here. Say, if something happened to your computer or something terrible happened to your GS project files and you lost hours and hours of work, there is a way getting to these project files. But this obviously, only works if you have published/uploaded your gameproj file through the web portal, to your portfolio by pressing the "Publish" button in GameSalad Creator.

    To get to your portfolio, log in, click the profile button and hit "Portfolio".

    Choose the game you want to download the .proj file from in your portfolio. Go to the bottom left and click "History" and then "GameProj Versions". Here you´ll find all uploaded versions of the game. Just download the latest zip file and your home free.

    Note that it is really wise to make sure you have a cloud-type of backup so you can always access your files on other devices.
    Cheers,
    /Seb

  • sebmat86sebmat86 Member Posts: 339

    Another useful thread with demos by @Fajlajp:
    http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/57450/demos-for-everyone/p1

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