Comments on: My book is out!

By: T.

T. — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:46:35 +0000

Thanks Jason for explaining the reasoning. I am still surprised though that you would be meeting with such opposition from clients once the virtual machine differences were explained to them. In the older versions it really didn’t matter, as it wasn’t broken out into 2 separate virtual machines. Targeting a really low version or programming in even AS1 made sense. However, now one could arguably say that by targeting the VM2, they would be getting faster performance from the very same ad (which would be helpful on older, less hardware machines). I have also been told by colleagues that the reason player 9 penetration is so high is that MySpace and YouTube and a large majority of highly trafficked sites all require it.

If I wasn’t looking to use the information with Flex 2 sites (or had been warned of its content), I wouldn’t have been so disappointed in the book. I am sure this book is exactly what many people who are still required to use AS2 need. However, I still feel that it should say somewhere in the information online that this is the case (either in the review, or a ’search inside the book’ like many tech books on Amazon have enabled) so no surprises when it comes. I also think your reasoning outlined in your previous post should be addressed somewhere in the book, so novices know. In fact, the only mention I could find was contrary to what you just said, and it was located in the ‘author’s tip’ on page 9. I do not think it is unreasonable to assume a book published several months after the latest version came out with a copyright of 2008 would be AS3. Even the front and back covers give no indication as to the version.

I think much of your information is insightful and the book does contain some great ‘insider’s way of doing things’. I look forward to an AS3 update of your Chapter 13 classes.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:02:38 +0000

Hi T. First, thank you very much for picking up the book and I’m extremely sorry you are disappointed. There are a couple of reasons the code ended up being AS2. The main reason (and a very big one) is that when you’re working with advertising, you are almost always going to be behind by a version or two. Even though the penetration rate of the latest player may be well over 90%, the sites that run the ads never seem to be comfortable assuming that their viewers have that latest version.

In my years working for an interactive advertising agency, I’ve seen one site allow us to use the latest version one single time. Outside of that one exception, 99% of the sites have always required us to develop at least 2 versions back, 0.9% would let us develop 1 version back and sites like AOL went back as far as Flash Player 5 when 8 was out.

I was VERY torn on how to handle this issue while I was writing the book and I was very concerned about many readers feeling the same as you have told me you feel. In the end, I went with AS2 so the book could be used right away rather than having readers wait for the sites to catch up with the technology. That said, there are indeed talks of reworking the book for AS3 at some point in the future.

I hope that speaks to your question and concern but please don’t hesitate to email me via the contact form on this site (”My Contact” in the menu at the upper right) if I can expand on any of this.

By: T.

T. — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:31:23 +0000

I just got the book, and I have to say I am disappointed. Is there a good reason it is all AS2 code in Flash 8 even though it was just published? I just gave it a horrible review on Amazon (for this reason- published now and with a 2008! copyright in book) and nowhere mentions that it is not AS3 (old way of getting depth, no use of listeners on buttons, etc., and not adding to the stage with addChild, etc.) I didn’t like that it gave no warning until I actually got it. I was especially disappointed as Flash Player 9 has like 90% penetration and using AS2 code makes it unable to use in Flex 2 apps. Also is problematic due to the ‘either or of AS2 and AS3′ of the Flash 9 player. I then decided after a few moments to delete the negative post and ask you here instead. There is lot of great advertising info and image optimization stuff, but the code being old without warning and the pub date really makes me mad. Or am I missing something? Any chance for updated code and classes being posted on here soon? Thanks.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:32:47 +0000

Heh heh… Thanks Lomes! I think you should go for the Flash “F” costume.

By: Lomes

Lomes — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:51:23 +0000

AAHWOO! Major Congrats!! Can’t wait to read it….now should I stand in line dressed like the Flash “F” or a Star Wars ‘Tard….hmmmmmm……