From understanding the basics to creating advanced effects like explosions and smoke, ActionScript 3.0: Building Particle Systems covers each step involved in creating particles and building particle systems. Instructor Todd Perkins explains how to make a versatile particle class that controls particle movement, gravity, friction, spin, rotation, fading, scaling, and other movement effects. He also demonstrates how each unique particle system can be added to a real world application. Exercise files accompany the course.
Table of contents

Introduction
Welcome 1:30 3.4 MB Prerequisites 0:58 0.9 MB
Using the exercise files 0:50 0.7 MB
1. Understanding Particle Systems
Understanding what particles are 0:50 2.2 MB
Understanding how particle systems work 1:46 3.4 MB
2. Making Particles Move
Building the particle class 1:34 1.6 MB
Creating particle velocity 1:35 1.8 MB
Connecting a movie clip to the particle class 1:35 1.8 MB
Animating a particle 1:07 1.2 MB
Creating a particle system 1:57 2.4 MB
Regenerating particles 1:49 2.9 MB
In practice pt.1:
Building rain in a weather application 5:17 7.7 MB
3. Adding Realistic Motion to Particles
Creating particle gravity 2:18 3.6 MB
Creating particle friction 2:47 3.8 MB
Growing and shrinking particles 2:27 3.8 MB
Fading particles 2:22 3.4 MB
Creating particle rotation 5:29 8.2 MB
In practice pt. 2:
Creating boat spray 5:49 9.9 MB
4. Optimizing a Particle System
Understanding garbage collection 3:23 4.5 MB
Recycling particles 1:54 2.7 MB
5. Adding Collision Detection to Particles
Using position-based collision detection 2:50 3 MB
Using built-in collision detection methods 4:03 4.9 MB
6. Exploding Particles Adding particle spin 2:00 3.5 MB
Making child objects explode 3:37 5.1 MB
In practice pt. 3:
Exploding superheroes 1:49 4.1 MB
7. Creating a Smoke Particle System
Using timeline-animated particles 3:03 4.8 MB
In practice pt. 4:
Making a boat break down 0:57 1.8 MB
8. Integrating a Particle System with Video
Accessing pixel color 9:15 10.3 MB
Triggering particles based on pixel colors 4:55 7.1 MB
In practice pt. 5:
Adding particles to video 1:43 2.6 MB
Conclusion
Goodbye 0:26 0.5 M
download links:
http://rapidshare.com/files/248308306/AS3_Building_Particle_Systems.rar