PlayMaker News > General Discussion

I just posted a review...

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Damian:
I have use it for some days now and I do think its great.
Many things is alot more easy to do then make the code for yourselves.
But one thing thats not good is the lack of information on what the different action do.
There should be en example on every function.
Also more tutorials on doing some stuff.
Sure you do have some video, but thats very few and its a little hard to switch between the video and unity when you try to learn it.
It would be better to have it in a pdf file so you can print it out.
So a quick user manual with easy examples to follow that cover all functions would be awsome.
Also I think that should make more people use it.
I do think this is a great way to learn and it can be a standard way for a new user to learn unity and make games.
Bottom line is that playmaker is very good, but it lack information to get started with it.
I do have over 30 years of programming experience, so this way i very different way to do it then write your code yourselves.

jeanfabre:
Hi,

Each action has a help icon on its title bar on the left side, click on it and you will be redirected to the online documentation. If some actions lacks of help content, mention it on the forum, this will help Playmaker team focus.

Every function ( I think :) ) is covered in the sample provided ( check the testlab folder in playmakerSamples folder). This is mandatory in my opinion that you allocate enough time to go through each examples and try to understand everything about them. They are simple enough to be digested and understood fairly quickly. Mess with them, break them, and rebuild them. if you bump into an example that you don't understand, don't be afraid to point it out and ask for more details on the forum.


 I am generally against screen casts, but since playmaker is such a visual tool, I think it makes sense to deliver as much tutorials and information that way.

It is indeed a mental shift to start using playmaker when you've always been a scripter.


Bye,

 Jean

Damian:

--- Quote from: jeanfabre on July 25, 2011, 01:33:47 AM ---Hi,

Each action has a help icon on its title bar on the left side, click on it and you will be redirected to the online documentation. If some actions lacks of help content, mention it on the forum, this will help Playmaker team focus.

--- End quote ---

Yes I know that, but it was not what i mean.
Its good to have a that help, but it dont show how to use it.
Thats a big different.


--- Quote ---Every function ( I think :) ) is covered in the sample provided ( check the testlab folder in playmakerSamples folder). This is mandatory in my opinion that you allocate enough time to go through each examples and try to understand everything about them. They are simple enough to be digested and understood fairly quickly. Mess with them, break them, and rebuild them. if you bump into an example that you don't understand, don't be afraid to point it out and ask for more details on the forum.

--- End quote ---

Yes but its a pain in the ass to have reload the example when you sitting with your game development.
Thats why a online/pdf would be a great help.
Sure i do look at them and try them, but Im new on this so its not that simple.
And there is to few videos or example project here to show how things can be made.

But I do have a great idea, but I dont know if its doable or not.
That we all here make a game with playmaker that show action in a real game how it can be done.
That would be awesome and I think it would be a good way to spread playmaker even more.
Sure I understand that the people that has used it for long do understand all functions, but I new one like me its not that easy. So it would help all new with this alot.
There is an exit game in the package.
We can start with that and do expand it alot to show all function in playmaker.
Do a intro scene with animations and cool lights and a game menu system for the levels, highscore system....
I think you know the rest thats needed.
Maybe I dream to much, but i think playmaker should really show what it can do.
The example exit scene is kind of lame.


--- Quote --- I am generally against screen casts, but since playmaker is such a visual tool, I think it makes sense to deliver as much tutorials and information that way.

--- End quote ---

Its a good way to do it so you can see it real time, but it dont work well when you sitting in your game and you need to know how something works. thats where a good example is the best way and its has to be written so you can studied it in detail.


--- Quote ---
It is indeed a mental shift to start using playmaker when you've always been a scripter.


Bye,

 Jean


--- End quote ---

Sure it is. Visual tools is always strange to use when you dont code it yourselves.
Dont get me wrong. I love visual tools, but you do loose some control and all things is not easy to do in the start compared to coding, where you have full control.

Right now I start making a 2.5D side scroller game just to learn things with playmaker and I think that is a good way to do it. Basically you know how the game flow is and how it will be in the end.
You only need to add things in the world and make playmaker do the work.

Sorry if this is little of-topic, but it still on how playmaker is and what can make it alot better.
Doing what I suggest here should generate more action in this forum, for its almost dead.
 

jeanfabre:
Hi Damian,

 I agree with you actually, and I faced the same difficulties and got away with what I told you. tho a book is missing just like a proper intermediate/advanced book is missing on Unity actually.

 I have at the back of my mind the will to do an open source project with playmaker, but my problem currently is time... Once I get a project in cruise mode, I would be a lot more available for that kind of community work. But that would be no more than  a bigger testlab project, o not really helpfull in the end, unless a proper documentation is created along the project to support it, like a question/answer type fo progress.

Right now, your best option is to hammer the community with your question, we will do our best to answer you and provide you with explanations. you'll quickly realize there isn't much to learn after all, playmaker being that author friendly!

Bye,

Jean

Damian:
Sure I do understand if you and other dont have much time.
But i think its a thing the owner should make happen and it will only spread this good tool more.
And that should give him more money :-)

The problem is that i did not buy this at first. just for the demo was so lame and did not show much.
Also i did look at the site and it looked unfinished and well not what i do expect from one the make tool for making games.
The tool is great, but the help around it so you learn it is not good.
its also hard to find anything on internet about it to help you out.
So the lack of good material on it will hold back people to buy it.
Thats way I think a simple game that show what playmaker can do and some document on all that has been made in the game would be a gold mine for all developer that start with playmaker.
 

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