FlashTrek Broken Mirror: STARSHIP CONSTRUCTOR
Alpha Release 0.11
2006-06-27
-PROJECT DISCONTINUED-
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
___________________________
Thank you for your interest in
FlashTrek Broken Mirror: STARSHIP CONSTRUCTOR. This free-use application is an abandonware project by
Nephian Entertainment Ventures with the assistance of
VX Flash Productions. Please refer to this document if you have any questions or concerns regarding the application or the conditions of its free-use policy.
___________________________
1. USAGE
Q: Where can I find the
FlashTrek - Broken Mirror: Starship Constructor?
A: For the moment, you can find it
here. It'll stretch to the page as-is, so if you want to save the file to your hard disk, you can create the following HTML file to display the SC at its proper size:
Code:
<html>
<head>
<title>FlashTrek: Broken Mirror - Starship Constructor</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#000000">
<table height="100%" width="100%" align="center">
<tr><td valign="center"><center><embed src="FTBM-SC.swf" width="640" height="480"></center></td></tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>
( Be sure to select all of the code - it's a scrollable window. )
Q: What is the purpose of the Starship Constructor?
A: The Starship Constructor was created in the Macromedia Flash MX 2004 authoring environment to freely allow players of the FlashTrek: Broken Mirror series to design their own "kit-bashed" starships without any previous experience in the use of a graphics-editing suite. Any and all designs created with the Starship Constructor are for
personal entertainment purposes only.
Q: How do I create a "kit-bashed" starship using the Starship Constructor?
A: All you have to do is load the application into your web browser and then click on any part of any starship and drag it to a new location. You can mix and match Nacelles, Saucers, Stardrives, Nacelle Struts and Pods / Equipment Modules until your design looks right. Simple, n'est pas?
Q: Cool, I put 10 different kinds of nacelles on a Galaxy Class ship. Now how do I save my work?
A: Currently, your only option is to create a
screenshot within your internet browser:
· While the Starship Constructor's internet browser window has focus (ie. it is maximized and at the "front" of your desktop) press the Print Screen key; it should be near the top-right corner of your keyboard.
· A large image showing the contents of your internet browser's BMSC window is now stored on the system "clipboard", waiting to be "pasted" somewhere.
· Open an image-editing program like
GIMP, PhotoFiltre, Paint Shop Pro or
Microsoft Paint and "paste" your clipboard contents into a new image.
· Select the area of the image that displays your desired ship design using your program's selection tool (ie. dotted rectangular selection box)
· Crop out the excess part of the image and save your work as a PNG, GIF, or JPG/JPEG format image.
· In MS Paint, you'll need to right-click your selection and use the "Copy To..." command to create a bitmap image from the selection, then open your newly-created bitmap and re-save it as a PNG, GIF or JPG/JPEG format file. You can delete the bitmap when you're satisfied with the new "final" image.
· Your work is saved! Huzzah!
+ If you are using any version of
Microsoft Windows:
· You can open MS Paint by pressing the Windows key, pressing the R key and then typing "mspaint" without the quotes.
· You can paste your clipboard contents in using the keys: CTRL and V.
Q: How do I share my saved image with members of the VX Flash Community, or on other forums that I visit?
A: You must upload your saved image to an internet server. You can use a web-based photo-hosting service like
Photobucket or
ImageShack for example. Then you simply link to your image file using the following Bulletin Board Code:
Code:
[img src=http://www.imagestorage.com/restoftheURL/example.png]
Simple as can be, no? Now go visit the Graphics forum and show off your work! (I humbly suggest that everyone post in one "BMSC Creations" or Gallery thread to avoid clutter.
Q: How do I import my new kit-bashed design into FlashTrek: Broken Mirror or its sequel?
A:
You don't. You'll just need to find joy in the act of creating and sharing your kit-bashes. Sorry.
Q: I made a really cool design that I'm sure Vex will want to include in Broken Mirror 2. Where should I send it?
A: Vex has terminated development of BM2 and is working on other projects. You could always try making your own mod using the BM1/2 source code, if you wish. Alternatively you could find someone who is already making a mod and team up with them. Regardless,
Don't bug the Vex-man.
2. USER FEEDBACK
Q: What was the purpose of holding Alpha and Beta testing phases for the Starship Constructor?
A: Alpha Releases are to used to gauge the reactions of the community to the software while it is still in a developmental stage. Beta Releases are used for quality-assurance purposes, A.K.A. bug-testing and finalizing the software. Both are necessary steps is designing and refining the finished product.
Q: I have feedback on the Starship Constructor that I would like to submit to the author. Where should I send it?
A: You can find me (The Nephian) on the VX Flash Community's website. Please note that the project is discontinued and is no longer under development.
Q: Is there somewhere I can find a list of planned or upcoming features for the Starship Constructor?
A: No - the project is dead. If you are interested in continuing development of the FTBM-SC project yourself, you may contact me privately to request the source code. You must provide an e-mail address to send the files to. I will not provide technical support, so be prepared to go through the file all by yourself - or don't ask for it.
Q: I want to tell you that your stupid flash thing sucks. Why don't you go kill yourself instead of making useless flash?
A: You are obviously not part of the target audience and thus your opinions aren't relevant. Go find something more useful to do with yourself.
3. RELEASE-SPECIFIC / DEVELOPMENT
Q: Why did you put that crappy music in?
A: The Starship Constructor was my first experiment with ActionScript in Flash. I wanted to create a preloader, interactivity and figure out how to import mp3 files for AS manipulation purposes. Turn it off if you don't like it; that's what the button is for.
Q: Why are there only Starfleet ships to kit-bash with?
A: Because the program was never completed. Any subsequent attempt that I would make at "finishing" this program would involve re-coding it from the ground up (using arrays, a menu-driven part creation system, etc).
Q: Why does the Galaxy Class saucer look like it belongs to the Galaxy-X? Where is the Galaxy-X for that matter?
A: I made a boo-boo. It kinda looks cool regardless though, doesn't it? I omitted the Galaxy-X because it looked pretty much the same as the original Galaxy.
Q: Why are there pieces missing from the stardrive sections of the Constitution classes, the Excelsior and...
A: Because of the nature of the original graphics; I would've had to draw those "obscured" components in Photoshop.
4. TECHNICAL
Q: What are the system requirements for the Starship Constructor?
A: Please ensure that your computer or multimedia device complies with the following specifications:
· minimum 800x600 resolution
· minimum 256-colour display (16-bit display device recommended)
· working mouse or compatible pointing device
· 28.8 Kbps modem or higher (for downloading from the VX Flash website)
· working sound card (speakers or headphones also recommended)
· Macromedia Flash Player 8 or later
Q: My system lags when I attempt to use the Starship Constructor. How can I fix that?
A: There is no cure-all solution to this problem. Ensure that your system complies with the recommended specifications. Try reducing the number of programs and processes being run on your system before loading the Starship Constructor. If the problem persists, your system resources may simply be insufficient to run the application. You might consider upgrading from your current computer.
5. CUSTOMIZING / MODIFYING THE SOFTWARE
Q: Can I host the Starship Constructor on my website?
A: Sure, if it's advertisement-free and generates no revenue. Please include a disclaimer beneath the .swf file indicating that it is DISCONTINUED SOFTWARE / has been abandoned by the author.
Q: I don't care what you say, I'm hosting it anyway. What's the worst that could happen?
A: If your site generates revenue in any way, you are committing an act of copyright infringement against Paramount / Viacom. Rumour has it that they have a legal department for things like that / people like you.
Q: I want to modify the code and content of the Starship Constructor. Are you going to make the source code available at some point?
A: Contact me via site P.M. on the VX forums and supply an e-mail address for me to send the .fla & .html files to. Please remember that I will not provide technical support for any issues you may experience utilizing the source files. You're on your own.
starship constructor and under the FAQ were it says click here the link either isnt there or doesn't work. 
