Rating: 
Summary: Not JUST the best ever AS reference for designers...
Review: I thought this would be a reference. Well guess what, I was wrong. This is a reference in the back half, but a How-To in the front half. I'd say, skip every other ActionScript book till you buy this one. If I'd known this would have tutorials in the first half (yes the first 400 or so pages are tutorials), I wouldn't have bought some of the other ones I have. Combined with the CD content, this book is a great first book for the intermediate animator moving into scripting. And, it will stay usefull for as long as you are using Flash MX. Between this book and the O'Reilly book "ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition" by Colin Moock, you'll have all you really need. Then you can buy the specialized stuff on games or UI or whatever.
Rating:
Summary: Not JUST the best ever AS reference for designers...
Review: I thought this would be a reference. Well guess what, I was wrong. This is a reference in the back half, but a How-To in the front half. I'd say, skip every other ActionScript book till you buy this one. If I'd known this would have tutorials in the first half (yes the first 400 or so pages are tutorials), I wouldn't have bought some of the other ones I have. Combined with the CD content, this book is a great first book for the intermediate animator moving into scripting. And, it will stay usefull for as long as you are using Flash MX. Between this book and the O'Reilly book "ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition" by Colin Moock, you'll have all you really need. Then you can buy the specialized stuff on games or UI or whatever.
Rating:
Summary: Get your feet soaking wet
Review: I've just finished getting through a book on Lingo, and decided to pick this book up in the hopes of becoming an Actionscripter. The writing style of this book is excellent-- it wastes NO time with senseless conceptual jargony and gets straight to the point. You'll find yourself actually learning at a quick pace through a series of short examples of Actionscript that become more advanced and build on previous examples in the book. Better yet, the CD is packed full of open source examples for every short tutorial in the book. This book is the definitive actionscript reference. Though, beginners be forewarned-- this is not a book for those who are not familiar with the fundamentals of programming and those who are not fully acquainted with Flash's interface and a conceptual understanding of animation.
Rating:
Summary: Just the Best!
Review: I've read a number of flash MX manuals and this one is the best of them all. I learned a lot I hadn't known, and have found the reference section invaluable. It stays right by my feet in my office for quick perusal and reference. (There's no room at all on my desk.) This is the one to buy.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!!!
Review: If you have been suffering from a malaise after looking at the Flash ActionScript books that have been available, then this book will break the monotony and inspire you to run the New York City Marathon. Okay, you won't want to run the marathon, but you will be invigorated with all of those neurons in your brain working overtime. Because of its weight and volume this book is often referred to as a 'doorstop.' When you peruse the massive volume I think you'll agree that it is more of a 'door opener.' The first-half of the book is one of the most insightful overviews of ActionScript that I've found. Those pages are worth the price of admission by itself. The second-half of the book is the most through treatise of ActionScript that has been written. Maybe treatise is too dry of a word to describe it, but it is closer to the truth than the word dictionary; that the authors named it. If you're still reading this and haven't clicked the order button already, then the scale will tip when you learn about the accompanying CD-ROM. It includes the dictionary that you find in the book, along with hundreds of FLAs and SWFs examples. The only reason for not buying this book is that you don't have the money.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Phenomenal
Review: It seems that if you want a book that will take you from square 1 to square to... I don't know... square PI that you have to buy a cinder block of a book. I was somewhat skeptical about this book when I first opened the cover but quickly noticed the difference between this book and the other book written by Friends of Ed. This book was not written to cater to lowest common denominator. It was written for the person looking to get as much as humanly possible in order to integrate into their own styles. The dictionary is worth its weight in gold and I can't say enough about it. Yes, the size is a little unorthodox, I'll admit, but you can't get this kind of "in your face" information in any other books, including any of the other Friends of Ed books. No more silly references or personal sob stories about "When I was working as a designer full time" [stuff]. This book was written by professionals looking to make more professionals in the field, kudos to them for a superb job on this one. I'll have this book on my desk for as long as I use Flash MX. Keep in mind that this book was not written for the novice Flash designer. There are numerous (and I mean a bunch) of books that can get you up to speed to allow you to fully enjoy this book in all it's splendor. I own several books on Flash 5 and MX, including several from Friends of Ed, and this is by far my favorite one. I give it three thumbs up, 6 stars and a bag of chips for these guys.
Rating:
Summary: Worth every penny
Review: Learn the basics; then practice what you have learned until you develop your unique style. Then pick up this book and take your flash movies to the next level.
Very good and clear explanations for learning action script. I picked this over Macromedia's advanced action scripting because the writing style is more my speed. I'm not a programmer and things are explained in a way where you understand and can apply and achieve results which gradually turn you into an actionscripter.
I'm a quarter of a way into the book; still practicing and developing my basic flash skills between three other books. You only need one for actionscripting and this is it![.]
Rating:
Summary: This book delivers all it says and then some.
Review: One of the few comprehensive actionsctipt titles on the market. The first half of the book boasts a large variety of tutorials and examples that skillfully lead the reader through both the syntax and use of actionscript. Personally I found the text clear and practical. The chapters on OOP were of particular value as they went beyond actionscript basics into application, bordering on philosophical.
The second half is an invaluable reference of the entire actionscript dictionary with a comprehensive CD full of .fla example files and bonus chapters on the XML Object. As a qualified teacher I found it hard to fault the methodology employed by the various authors.
Well worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: great book but
Review: this review really has nothing to do with the book but.. i want to state that it's really funny how a publishing company such as friends of ed or new riders publish myriad of books that cover the same subject. i'm not talking about different experience level books; for instance, why do they publish tons of flash books that cover the same material such as overview of actionscript. making it repetitive for the readers. stupid marketing strategy. they should be confident and set one book to cover a certain subject. this is what happens... i get one actionscript book, then another actionscript book comes out.. then another .. then another... only to realize that they generally have the same content, put in different words. pick a book to write and stick with it, morons. if it's repetitive, then don't publish it. only give the publishing company a bad name. seems to be that they'd rather make money than to help people learn.
Rating:
Summary: it HURT my wrist
Review: Very very nice book. Thank you again Sham. It has more detail than any other. It is incredibile useful to me already in one week. But it is heavy. Very heavy even for my desk. It might be better to print this on thinner papel.
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