Overview & Package Contents

COST: $295.00

The ISOinteractive Studio is software and additional components that allow rapid development of cross platform Isometric development for communications (such as multi user), games and other interactive online, downloadable or CD/DVD environments. Although it is a stand alone product, the various files it exports is designed to be used as added functionality Macromedia Director projects.

The ISOinteractive Studio is simple to use and designed for beginner as well as more advanced Macromedia Director users. In fact, we designed application with Macromedia Director and Macromedia FLASH users in mind. With the new Macromedia Director MX 2004 it is very easy for FLASH (or Director) users to understand how the ISOinteractive Engine works and effectively incorporate a powerful game engine with current work.

The Macromedia Director MX 2004 is incorporates the MX 2004 interface and work flow. There is also the ability to cross platform publishing, sprite naming and most importantly (for Director, Web and FLASH developers) a choice of scripting languages. This would be the standard LINGO and now JavaScript. The feature provides a more common language and syntax between Macromedia Flash MX and Macromedia Director MX 2004.

On a given project, avatars (or characters) could be created in a isometric (rendered 3D or semi-3D) environment. With the Collisions Map Editor (Part of the ISOinteractive Studio), borders or walls can be added to function as a map for collision detection. Individual or multiple avatars can then walk from point “A” to point “B” while navigating around the borders or walls created.

Notice there are 2 modes “Blocks Mode” and “Avatar Mode”. It can switch back an forth as needed. The “Block Mode” shows paths and the “Avatar Mode” shows walking and additional options.

Walk paths are generated all by the ISOinteractive Engine so no programming knowledge is required. In addition there are no Xtras required. This gives a seamless user experience with out the interruptions of downloading additional components from the web.

The ISOinterctive Studio is actually three different types of products rolled in one package. These three items are the Collision Map Editor or CME, the ISOinteractive Engine and the ISOinteractive Behaviors.

FIRTS
The first item is the Collision Map Editor or CME. This application stand alone CME it pronounced as “See Me” ,because it allows you to see avatars in walking action. Any way, the CME allows you import a background graphic (usually isometric or rendered 3d in nature) and actually draw out and edit borders or walls for collision detection. The CME incorporates a number of additional documented functionality as well.

CME Functionality:

Import Images for background or environment
Save the entire project for later use (.IIP file or ISOinteractive Project)
Export the map as a .CST file to user with Macromedia Director (main feature)
Export the map as a .TXT file to be used in other programs
Export the Grid Image as an Image (used for comps)
Choice of 13 different sizes of tiles or grids (use for more detailed walking paths)
Block and unblock tiles for collision detection
Change settings for graphical display of elements
Built in ISOinteractive Engine to display path generation and avatar walking algorithms (this has a number of additional features to allow path tracing, path interpolation or walking features and debugging)
Help section that links out to this help file and opens the samples folder with a number of projects already included

SECOND
Is the smallest item (14k) and also the most important, the ISOinteractive Engine. This Engine allows all the functionality to take place. In fact the ISOinteractive Engine was built from the ground up and offers a wider range of functionality compared to most similar technologies.

The ISOinteractive Engine is developed to extend the size of the entire background area (what ever shape it is) vs. limiting it to per determined shapes (such as diamonds or squares). It also has a number of useful pieces of functionality built in that extend beyond the traditional isometric engine capabilities.

The ISOinteractive Engine is designed as a LDM (Linked Director Movie) in order to take advantage of ISOinteractive Director behaviors as well as direct communication through handlers, functions & properties. The ISOinteractive Engine is not an Xtra and does not require any additional third party Xtras to work. So this advantage allows simple online and offline usage as well as cross platform compatibility.

After functions are set up and working properly from with in Macromedia Director authoring mode you just publish the project and add the LDM (it is a .DCR file) ISOinteractive Engine relative to your project (like any other LDM).

For online use with shockwave you may want to preload the LDM (14k) and make sure it is linked with the standard http protocol (link them out to a relative or absolute web address (as normal practice of LDM usage).

THIRD
Is the ISOinteractive behaviors. These allow you visually connect with the engine to allow functionality. These are a set of 5 behaviors that control major features of the ISOinteractive Engine. This makes it really easy to get things going. Detailed information on how these are used can be found in the “Using the Behaviors” section.

I you are using the Windows version of Macromedia Director 8.5, MX or MX 2004 the behaviors will automatically install in the Library Pallet under ISOinteractive. If you are using and older version of Macromedia Director then you can always go to the ISOinteractive “Goodies folder” and copy and past them in your “Libs” folder (in your Macromedia Director Applications folder).

All three of these (the CME, Engine and Behaviors) work together with Macromedia Director (or other applications) in order to have a more complete authoring environment. The simple to use interface and engine significantly reduces the time it takes to create and modify modules that use these type of environments.

PACKAGE
The full licensed version of the ISOinteractive Engine comes with the following.

Installer/Uninstaller
LDM engine
Collisions Map Editor
Behaviours Library
Patterns of isometric tiles for Photoshop 7.0 and above
Tables of compatible Tiles Sizes & Images Sizes
An avatar with its full 8 directions and animations (ISOinteractive Avatar)
Demo movies
Help Section

COST: $295.00