Why are there more games developed using AS3 than OpenFL on the Steam platform?
It seems that independent game developers prefer to use AS3
My friend has developed multiple games using “flash8+as2.0” and released them on Steam
How many people are still using AS3 for development?
AS3 in its heyday was incredibly popular. It had a buzzing active community of developers making every imaginable thing, whether in web, or for AIR, ANE’s and libraries solving every imaginable problem. What’s more, you could develop and produce apps with it for free. The SDK, which I’d argue remains unparalleled in it’s feature set and native media support, under Adobe’s control, was entirely free to use.
The demise of the Flash browser plugin at the behest of Apple, prematurely ended its day in the sun, even though that should have made no difference to AIR (applications).
I love OpenFL, but to wonder why it isn’t more used than AS3, doesn’t really acknowledge just how massive the AS3 ecosystem once was.
AS3 was a big turning point for ActionScript, that at the time ruffled many feathers. It was when ActionScript finally grew up and became a respectable programming language, but it was a learning curve for anyone only familiar with AS2.
No, don’t use AS2, unless it’s the only language you know. If you don’t know it, invest your time somewhere else.
It’s still completely viable. Given the right project (video?), I’d use it at the drop of a hat.
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As an ex flash developer/creative I think you would be wise to drop adobe tech. The creator of Haxe decided to move away from Adobe my feelings are because they did not care that he was successful and shaking up the games industry. Adobe had different plans to rinse Photoshop and to bin Flash ( Animate ). They even sold AIR to a subdivision of a multinational, lets be clear the multinational is probably oblivious to flash tech!
AS3 is not completely tied to Adobe, check the Away3D TS community, but they do not trust Adobe either.
Air under Harman may go somewhere but if you code it in Haxe then atleast you will not go under if they decide to abandon it.
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I suspect you’re probably right, that corporate Adobe did not care enough about AS3/AIR. The proof is in the fact that they ultimately dropped it.
None the less, AS3/AIR was, and still is a fantastic offering, even if Adobe don’t appreciate it. It’s good despite Adobe. The fact that anyone could freely use the SDK to make desktop and mobile apps without paying a cent to Adobe, is great, but also probably didn’t help the matter when Adobe heads review profit margins.
They’ve been doing a great job, maintaining and advancing the SDK feature set (release notes). They’re also engaged with and responsive to the community.
It doesn’t really matter which option you choose, all could realistically be abandoned unexpectedly. That doesn’t spell the immediate end for a developer. I mean, we can still use Adobe’s AIR SDK 32 freely to develop desktop applications years on, although mobile support has probably progressed beyond it (64-bit ARM support was one of the first pressing issues Harman addressed).
(I say all this with Haxe/OpenFL being my first preference when it comes to development)
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It seem like you’re not aware of the history of Flash AS3. Some of the developer here came from flash and some of us move on! it is what it is! Technology moves on, we move on.
But doesn’t mean you cant use it. Cheers!