Construct- Questions

Hi everyone. I am considering whether not to install Construct. It looks like a nice program and I would like to learn Python. I am very experienced with another program, Game Maker (I hard code everything, I am very fluent in it's language, etc). Here are some of my questions. . .

1) Can it be installed on an external hard drive? I do not have my own PC and I switch between two.

2) Python is a very flexible language, correct? How much of the game can be hard-coded in Python?

3) Is it easy to learn?

4) Can you link me to a features list?

5) How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Thanks. Some insight would be *awesome*.

Kudos.

Here's my view:

Hi everyone. I am considering whether not to install Construct.

Well, right away, I'd say it wouldn't hurt just to install it and run through the Ghost Shooter tutorial, and see what you think!

[quote:238e5hnh]1) Can it be installed on an external hard drive? I do not have my own PC and I switch between two.

To run Construct you need DirectX up-to-date and the Visual C++ redistributable installed. As long as both machines have that you can run off an external drive. To be honest it would probably actually be easier just to install Construct on each machine locally.

[quote:238e5hnh]2) Python is a very flexible language, correct? How much of the game can be hard-coded in Python?

Python is very powerful, but Construct's Python features are designed to work side-by-side with the event system, which is also very powerful. So I wouldn't say Construct is designed to allow you to write a full game in Python - just use Python snippets where events wont do.

[quote:238e5hnh]3) Is it easy to learn?

I think so, but someone else can chime in on that, I'm one of the developers

[quote:238e5hnh]4) Can you link me to a features list?

The main site gives a pretty comprehensive overview.

[quote:238e5hnh]5) How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

I initially read that as "how many clicks does it take"... aside from the fact I probably need to get away from the internet a bit more, would that change the answer?

Here's my view:

> Hi everyone. I am considering whether not to install Construct.

>

Well, right away, I'd say it wouldn't hurt just to install it and run through the Ghost Shooter tutorial, and see what you think!

[quote:14ata073]1) Can it be installed on an external hard drive? I do not have my own PC and I switch between two.

To run Construct you need DirectX up-to-date and the Visual C++ redistributable installed. As long as both machines have that you can run off an external drive. To be honest it would probably actually be easier just to install Construct on each machine locally.

[quote:14ata073]2) Python is a very flexible language, correct? How much of the game can be hard-coded in Python?

Python is very powerful, but Construct's Python features are designed to work side-by-side with the event system, which is also very powerful. So I wouldn't say Construct is designed to allow you to write a full game in Python - just use Python snippets where events wont do.

[quote:14ata073]3) Is it easy to learn?

I think so, but someone else can chime in on that, I'm one of the developers

[quote:14ata073]4) Can you link me to a features list?

The main site gives a pretty comprehensive overview.

[quote:14ata073]5) How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

I initially read that as "how many clicks does it take"... aside from the fact I probably need to get away from the internet a bit more, would that change the answer?

Thanks a million for the reply!

I would definately install it if I had my own computer. That's why I have my EHD. I know for sure that both computers have the latest DX, but I'm not sure about Visual C++. I'll check out those links. Still looking for an answer on #5.

I found it easy to learn, but I started with MMF. It is significantly different from game maker, so I think you might have to try approaching it with a bit of a mental blank slate.

I almost found the answer to #5 once. Then I got bored most of the way through and munched it.

The world may never know...

5)

I have installed construct. One thing I've noticed... It freezes. Quite a bit. In the middle of the first tutorial, I was loading the 'bullet' sprite, and it froze on me. Took me around a minute to get it to respond once again... Is this something to expect?

Was the sprite over 9000?

No, but it did have this strange sense about him. I think he was wearing a turtle shell on his back!

What are your system specs? I'm pretty certain that construct uses a lot more resources than game maker. If you are running a really old graphics card that might be the problem.

Freezing is normal if you're previewing fullscreen. Windowed doesn't have that issue and is thus encouraged.

5) How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

42.

Freezing is normal if you're previewing fullscreen. Windowed doesn't have that issue and is thus encouraged.

It happens windowed, too. Mine freezes all the time. Loading and saving freezes and often takes a long time even when loading a set of just 20 230kb's images. My computer is way beyond minimum requirements, is brand new and in tip-top shape and runs every other program I have flawlessly. I've even taken the same images plus backgrounds, put them into xna and ran them and they ran fast, loaded fast and saved fast with no problem.

I hope this is being looked into, and I hope this issue can be worked out at some point.