Do I need to learn more about Gamesalad?
The_Gamesalad_Guru
Member Posts: 9,922
The secret to becoming a power user in GS. Study your a$$ off! Take the time to just focus on learning. As yourself this questions. Do I know three to five methods on how to do a particular thing in GS? I could tell you, for example, 5-10 ways to do a random number non-repeat. Watch lots of videos on all topics, as each video teaches you something useful that could be used for anything. GS is straight logic programming. So basically, everything and every method; no matter the topic, can be applied to other things. Variables are variables, rules are rules, conditions are conditions. It's all relative. You have to see past the GUI.
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10 ways to do a random number non-repeat, feel free to share
@Lost_Oasis_Games
I think its an interesting attitude some here take to master the tool.
For me personally the result is always more important.
I am not interested in x ways of doing the same thing I am only look for the simplest/most elegant form to do it but I also don't worry about the once i do not know right now. I am moving within my limitations only learning what I really have to else searching for ways around it. Of course I do what I love and over time I also gather a lot of knowledge but thats more joining along the way then me actively going for it.
I am grateful for all of you that try to aspire to become masters in the tool rather then focusing finalzided personal creations, since its you guys that answer the most questions here and present us the tutorials, to go our own way with you in our backs.
But the craving for knowledge often is a kind of avoidance, can also be a pleasure in itself or an art in itself. Just be aware of what it is in your case.
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Let me name a couple off the top of my head.
Is the very old method taught by Tshirtbooth. You use a self variable and store the number picked. Then you match the next random selection against the last selection and if they match another selection is done this loops until they don't match. You can add more previous selections to this method.
Is the random number picker created by @tatiang which uses tables and reshuffling and deletions of rows.
Would be to build layers of random selections and then have one of those be chosen at random in cooperation with a method similar to method 1.
There is also the method where you use the textfind function to create a random sequence of numbers so if I wanted to sort and list of number in a random order without duplicating any of the numbers.
I created this method for a clients game. They needed to have random balls coming down a shoot. So first I created a random spawning generator. Then I build a holding area above the screen where the random balls were spawned. Then I built a mechanical mixer that mixed the balls physically. Then the balls we sent down the shoot. The mechanical aspect, as all the balls were different sizes, make a total random method basically using chaos theory.
Each method can be used depending on what is trying to be achieved. This is the key to integrated logic building. So let's bring in multiplayer for example. If you don't know all the things you can do with tables, forget about being able to build a multiplayer game as it's all about tables. So it depends on your goals as a game developer. Do what fits your long term vision.
@BigDave my advice isn't for everyone. But just remember if it wasn't for the methods invented by the veterans would you be able to do what you do without having to figure it out for yourself? You are standing on the shoulders of giants in this community. And that legacy needs to keep going. Without new users advancing in knowledge, the community doesn't grow in knowledge. Who knows what some up and coming person may enlighten us all on. My goal is not to criticize but to inspire others to become better at what they do and help enrich themselves and the community. I am able to do both. That is build games, do client work and constantly learn and increase my skills. This helps me to achieve my long term goals and vision.
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@BigDave agreed. As the IT industry is evolving fast, we all look for the simplest way to do things to keep up with the generation, that's why we are here and I can also agree that there are many possibilities with GameSalad as @Lost_Oasis_Games said, since I recently tried to replicate another game(for testing purposes) and succeeded, but the drawback was that it was taking way too many actors for collisions and slowed down the game. And if they were to increase the price of yearly/monthly subscription, and speed up their process of implementing features like fast load times/scene changes and many more in the bug tracker, I wouldn't mind that too.
How does one find the simplest way without some experimentation? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?
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I'm not saying that you shouldn't learn coding, of course you should, even I learned Javascript and PHP back when I never even heard about GameSalad, but with GameSalad, it has been made easier for the Indie people like me to implement an idea fast, without spending months to build something simple like flappy bird or a bigger game that might take a year to code and debug. Even though I am experimenting with Unity too, but that doesn't mean I should just stop finding simple solution, and start to learn extensive coding, when people are making the same idea through only drag and drop features.
let me give you a real life example. @Thunder_Child used to think I was a pain in the a$$. Then one day he decided maybe many of the things us veterans had to say might be useful. He decided to heed the advice. Now look at all that dude is bringing to the community! He became a major asset to this community.
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When did I mention coding here? I'm talking about only GS which is logic coding. Not a language. Let's stay in the lane. I'm only talking about creator.
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Well I did agree that GameSalad has endless possibilities, but since you asked which came first(the chicken or egg) and you also mentioned that if it weren't for the veterans, we wouldn't be making games here, that's why I brought up real coding example
@Lost_Oasis_Games Yes very happy to stand on that shoulders
My Apps
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I didn't say you can't make games without me..lol anyone can very well take the time to figure out creator. If one doesn't wish to take that road which was the point big dave was making then you can learn from those who have taken the time to do so. That was the point I was making. But if you want to be defensive then yes you would accuse me of being on a horse or a horse's a$$..lol
Are you saying I don't make games? I have games out and have 2 ready to go but my partner who does the art is busy with his day job he started last year at a startup which is very demanding and I am too loyal to him to just hire another artist. I can wait.
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I'm pretty sure that if it weren't for the giants, upon whose shoulders I also stand, I would have either dropped GS after a few weeks, or stabbed my computer in the face! I'm indebted to those who offer knowledge gained from experience, for free, and just hope that one day I'll be able to return the favour, or help someone with something I've learned. I still experiment for myself, but it's a wonderful thing to be able to fall back on acquired knowledge should I need it. Perhaps the world at large could learn a thing or two from the community spirit present here, and in similar forums...
Don't you get bored of doing these posts?
I've been here well over 6 years and I still learn new things on a regular basis. Reading every thread, downloading every demo, and endless experimenting and trial and error. I also learn a surprising amount by learning things outside of GameSalad. Things like RThurman showed us at the meet-up last week - maths and physics and things that can be applied in GameSalad with a little adaptation.
I have a love of making logic as efficient as possible, like @Lost_Oasis_Games, and there's always new ways of combining and condensing and slimming that can be found with a bit of effort.
I love GameSalad!
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The chicken! haha. @Lost_Oasis_Games thanks for being a giant that helps a lot of us. I agree with you about knowing how to do something. That is what I ask myself a lot, "Is there a faster or better way to do this?" Then I go and ask some of the 'giants' as you put it. I still have a lot of learning to do on tables and many other things and I love to work with GS and hope to learn a lot through my life with it... And the giants will help lol
Standing on the shoulders of giants is a phrase not coined by me. It is a common term used to describe how we learn from the discoveries of others, as @Armelline pointed out.
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" Isaac Newton
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Where is the fun in that. Believe it or not many people actually agree with me... Can you imagine that...shocking.
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Good points in here, but let's keep it cool and remember we are all here to help each other and do what we love - making games!
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I would agree, I know 5 ways to make a character jump and react to gravity 5 different ways ha, and wothout my experimentation and past users experimentation I wouldn't have came up with my current games I'm working in, looking forward to revealing soon
So I owe thanks to the guys that game salad for Lego type fun
I find these posts entertaining so keep em coming
HAHA
Shocking! People that have been using the software for quite some time and know how to go about getting something done, either by searching the forum, searching for videos, templates or just experimenting...
Stop being so arsey and almighty, let people work it out at their own pace! There's only so much help people can give. These kind of posts can't be very motivating/welcoming for newcomers.
And who has time to learn how to do everything 5-10 different ways?
There will always be newcomers who have never heard about the giants, and they might not appreciate the efforts you have put into the community, since they are new, and they don't know much. And I'd like to thank everyone(not only giants) who put their efforts into this community, and didn't have to brag about it.
@KevinCross what is wrong with this post? He told people that to get good stuff: work hard.
I would never make it to where i am today if it wasn't for Lost_Oasis_Games GS logic video tutorials on youtube , I use to copy and paste rules without understanding, until i got to his logic series where he explained every thing in a good way. At that moment , i knew that GS was the right engine for me , I think these posts are good too , he just gave advice on how to learn more in GS. thank you and to everyone that helps in this community.
This is and was true. There are times I strive to gain the same knowledge he has...and I know it takes time. Would t it be great we all jump into a creator and make a swift million in the first few months...hahaa....then as new comers we think man I wish the creator coukd do this or that...when really we are able to use tools the vermterans have been fighting to have and had way less.
I found a few thing I excelled at and do what I can to make sure NO ONE has to struggle with thise things. I still have to watch for good threads like @Armelline recently posted on bounce and such...things I havent had a clue how to use and know the differences between them. The forums are great to learn from.
I will also add there can be simple ways to do things and very long way around to doing things...that do the same thing. The key to making these games is when you may not know the correct way to do a function but that day when you...figure it all out on your own...and it works. Man what a day that was for me...but then one day I saw the same thing...done diffently but Soooooo simple...mind blown !
Now I can do that task and have less code. :-)
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The Giants is not a relation to anyone specific as we all stand on the shoulders of giants that was my point but people assume I meant I was bragging. I stand on the shoulder of the things I've learned from other users every week. Which Is why I read the forum like a hawk. Just last Thursday I was blown away by the presentation @RThurman put on! I am always thankful to those guys I mention often. I am often amazed at the math wizardry they conger up. I am always thankful there are so many who give of their time to help others realize their goal of making a game. I suppose I am often misunderstood around here by some. That's okay... I would hope new users are inspired that they can do great things with hard work and study.
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@Lost_Oasis_Games when I read the heading for this post I said, "Really? The Guru learn more?" Bet then I read what you were saying in it and I totally agree with working and studying VERY hard. And about the standing on giants shoulders I'm fine with you saying you are a "giant" here because you and many others have put a lot of work into this tool and community. And like you said, even you learn about the tool still. There is always a bigger fish...
@Lost_Oasis_Games Truly, even I have been watching your videos since you were The_GameSalad_Guru and the one with In app purchases really helped me a lot, and I'm thankful for that, because I've seen you help people a lot and you've helped me too, but as @KevinCross said that when newcomers come in, they get intimidated by looking at these kind of posts where "Programming" or "Coding" is mentioned, without realising it's for their own good. Because I have spoken to these kind of people and they expect GameSalad to just be a "drag a character and tell him to run, jump and shoot without programming at all" kind of program, where as they need to learn the hard truth slowly until they get the hang of the software first and they will enjoy it later.
And I didn't call you a brag, but suggested to anyone, if they start bragging for every tip they give, then it'll be better for them to just charge for that help instead of bragging.
So I'll ask for some help here now. Is there anyway, even if it requires extensive coding, to add chartboost reward video ads into gamesalad. And I know it's a requested feature, but maybe there might be some way of integrating that too?