Game Programming and Development Tools

Java game making – matthias

Matthias

Member

Posts: 23
From: Spencer, Iowa, USA
Registered: 07-28-2004
Hey all, I know that at least a few of you (like Klumsy and Archangel) know about Java, so I thought I'd pose a few questions. You see, I am currently taking a course on Java programming (and the final exam is comming up really really soon, so plz pray for me) and it seems to focus on calculator style applications and not any really fancy graphcs or games or anything. I just got to the part on creating new classes and everything, and it looks like some web-meshing is comming up soon, but no gamming related things that I can see.
So my questions are: Where might I find a resource for Java that will help with game design? Is Java a good language for that kind of thing in the first place?

Matthias

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Eyesore? I like to think of it as fertilizer. After all, it isn't really littering if it's biodegradable.

en972

Member

Posts: 562
From: NOT TELLING!
Registered: 08-27-2004
There is a two week siminar at www.gameinstitue.com on Java game development. And yes, Java is good for games, but more internet type games, like Runescape. www.miniclip.com is pretty much consisted of Java games, check'em out. Hope I helped

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Keep the holy day sacred.......halllllllukan

ArchAngel

Member

Posts: 3450
From: SV, CA, USA
Registered: 01-29-2002
java is good for web games, using applets and all.

for other games, I'd suggest using C++ or some other language.

but don't forget:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/docs/api/
gotta have the API...


miniclip is more flash-based, actually.

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en972

Member

Posts: 562
From: NOT TELLING!
Registered: 08-27-2004
Miniclip is flash? I'm shocked. Atleast I'm right about runescape.

Oh yeah Arch, Matt is learning Java! LOL!

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Keep the holy day sacred.......halllllllukan

Matthias

Member

Posts: 23
From: Spencer, Iowa, USA
Registered: 07-28-2004
Actually, "Runescape runs mainly on Linux OS, with Visual Basic graphics, Javascripting, and some .dos."

Source: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Game_Programming-t17529.html

So, it has some java involved, but it isn't completely Java by any means...

The seminar link didn't work for me though.

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Eyesore? I like to think of it as fertilizer. After all, it isn't really littering if it's biodegradable.

en972

Member

Posts: 562
From: NOT TELLING!
Registered: 08-27-2004
hmm...well google it should come up

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Keep the holy day sacred.......halllllllukan

HeardTheWord

Member

Posts: 224
From: Des Moines, IA
Registered: 08-16-2004
Using Java to make games is pretty simple. I created a simple space shooter with Java for one of my college projects. Now I am porting it to C++ for another class. Although I am unhappy with the speed of Java since you could write something in C# that is much faster.

C# is my new best friend...

ArchAngel

Member

Posts: 3450
From: SV, CA, USA
Registered: 01-29-2002
well, all java has to run through the JVM, so that reduces speed alot.

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CobraA1

Member

Posts: 926
From: MN
Registered: 02-19-2001
Cool! I like Java . Very good OOP language.

I'm not in front of my desktop PC right now, so I can't give you some specific tricks I've learned, but Java is a good language for games.

quote:
java is good for web games, using applets and all.

Yes, that's one thing it can do.

It can also do regular apps that look just like Windows.

And, believe it or not, it can also do fullscreen games!
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/extra/fullscreen/

And yes, gotta have the API . Very useful . Except you want 1.5, not 1.3.

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/api/

And I think there are some misconceptions floating around about Runescape - that idea of "Runescape runs mainly on Linux OS, with Visual Basic graphics, Javascripting, and some .dos." comes from a forum from an author I don't recognize. "Major Payne" is quoting a scammer who's merely trying to take advantage of other players.

I've been playing Runescape for a while - since close to the beginning, in fact, when there was ony a few hundered people playing, and you could chat with Andrew and Paul Gower (developers).

What you see when you play Runescape is a Java client - that you can bet on. In fact, if you have Sun's JVM like I do, it will show the Java logo when first loading! And no, there is no Visual Basic in Runescape. I challenge anybody to prove otherwise.

About Java's speed: Microsoft's JVM is slow! Try Sun's JVM, it compiles much better, and is therefore much faster.

C# is still faster, I think - because it compiles it fully the first time and stores the compiled file.

Java currently compiles on the fly, so it still does a bit of interpreted code. Once a program has run for a while, though, it should eventually compile all the way and perform as well as any compiled language.

quote:
C# is my new best friend...

Mine too. It just may replace my old friend Java.

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6 "This is what the LORD says --
Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.

7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come—
yes, let him foretell what will come.

8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." -- Isaiah 44:6-8, NIV

ArchAngel

Member

Posts: 3450
From: SV, CA, USA
Registered: 01-29-2002
quote:
And yes, gotta have the API . Very useful . Except you want 1.5, not 1.3.

whoops.. *looks other way*
how did.. uh.. that get there...

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CobraA1

Member

Posts: 926
From: MN
Registered: 02-19-2001
Time to upgrade, eh ArchAngel?
ArchAngel

Member

Posts: 3450
From: SV, CA, USA
Registered: 01-29-2002
haha.

I just did a quick google and that's what popped up.

yeah, that's right... googled it...

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en972

Member

Posts: 562
From: NOT TELLING!
Registered: 08-27-2004
LIAR!

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Keep the holy day sacred.......halllllllukan