First off, Sorry for all the newbie type questions but trying to make a full length game and be a full time college student at the same time is a bit of a challenge.

Basically I just a need an easy way to find the coordinates of simple shapes for the physics engine. I know you can work it out by hand but that is far too tedious. I also saw the extension for Fireworks that found all the coords, but I dont have Fireworks or the money to purchases it.

So any ideas?

Thank you in advance!

Draw the shape on graph paper and then get the coordinates from the graph. If you think that is still too tedious, I'm not sure you have the temperament for programming a game.

http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/01/06/physics-shape-panel-adobe-fireworks

If you think that is still too tedious, I'm not sure you have the temperament for programming a game.

Pfffft! :)

Why do you think I write tools? It's because I hate tedious things! :D

Here's one (simple) way to find the coordinates of objects in your app:
http://gamedevnation.com/video/graphic-layout-tool/

Jay

PS - But Joe's idea of doing it with graph paper makes a lot of sense -- because then you can do it during your classes when they talking about boring stuff. ;)

Btw, Anyone that has this same question and comes across this thread, for a future reference here is your answer:

http://www.nerderer.com/Gumbo/

Have you tried SpritDeck.com?
See the demo at:
SpriteDeck in 30-seconds from Citrify on Vimeo.

Not sure if it is just me or not but I got Gumbo to create the coordinates without a problem (however)9 out of 10 attempts at generating geometry crash the physics engine when I copy them into my project. Not sure which to really blame, the physics code and or the coordinates. Once I generate a set that works, it works just fine, just getting there is painful.

@codepunk: The created code that Gumbo makes should really be the same as if you wrote them by hand. Just make sure you follow the rules for how to create shapes, like you can't make concave shapes. And if you make shapes without any points I think it will crash, but so will it if you coded it by hand.

I will figure it out this weekend I have to go back and do a bunch of custom shapes. It may have been the concave thing giving me the most issues.

FYI: I just ran the new version of gumbo today and knocked out about a half dozen items in a couple of minutes without a single crash....

See! Gumbo is a miracle. It's saved me so much time. I dont know what Id do without it.

This does it automatically (if you want)...

http://www.physicseditor.de/features/

evs