I noticed many of you use Java Web Start to launch your games.
I'm curious-- is Web Start a good alternative to using applets? Does it help get around some of the browser issues problems that applets have? Also, how are some of you getting around browser/plug-in applet problems, or do you even find it a problem?
Thanks!
****
I believe its because few games can be done well with applets.
You have to worry about the overhead of the browser, JRE version, and the fact they look ugly while the classes are loading.
The alternative is to give the files for the game. For some reason people still distribute their binaries insize a zip file. This ends up being being a repetitive process of:
1) downloading the zip file
2) uncomprezing the zip file
3) going through the pakage directories to find the Main class
4) java className // this is usually the hardest part for newbies
Everytime you want to run a java program from the web :(
The steps are simplified if the files are pakaged in a compressed jar
On the other hand Java Webs Start really simplyfies things to the end user. Install javaws and click on the .jnlp file :)
Java Web Start is a very intelligent way of distributing apps/games. It takes a bit of getting used to for the developer but it gives them more control aswell.
And let me say it's simple to deploy an application with Web Start, there's nothing to creating a jnlp file. A few years back it seemed that a lot of people were focusing on applets, they're still somewhat strong but outliving its usefulness. I never liked applets though, it's not good to assume the user has a browser that can handle 1.2+ if that's what you want to use, and many even disable Java in their browser settings thinking it's not secure. Of course you'll need a JRE for running applications, but not much to it. Web Start has a lot of potential :)
Who gives the demands for the game you are developing? Is it the programmer? Then you could demand from the users that they use Web Start, can handle high java versions (1.2 or maybe even 1.4) and/or that they install every nice plug-in that exists. It抯 much easier for the programmer that way.
Or perhaps it is the player that gives the demands? Then an applet running with no plug-ins would be the preferred choice. java.awt based. Java version 1.1.8. No Swing. No Web Start... Poor programmer! Lucky User!!
Yes, I wear two hats. One as forum admin, infrequently, or I try to keep it that way, and one as a programmer and writer. All are business in that learning and writing about Java development is my job, but learning Java programming is the most fun part of my job, an area I often end up doing at home as well.
So to answer your question, yes, dnourie and jdcforumadmin1 are the same person. I try to log in as dnourie when asking programming related questions, and keep the jdcforumadmin1 handle for dealing with forum administration. Sometimes I forget I'm logged in already as one or the other.
I like the Java Web Start app, and it seems like a good alternative over applets for games. But have you folks found that the end user is sometimes confused at having to initially download and install JWS? Do they frequently have problems with this. ****
Another option, at least for a game developed to be a client appliction, is to use InstallAnywhere (http://www.zerog.com/) to build an installer. There is a free version of it and it's really easy to use, and creates files that the average user will have no problem with -- i.e. a .exe that you just double click and go. The only problem is that the deployed file can get big... especially if you package the file with the JVM (which is an option from the application).
I built a little minesweeper clone and used InstallAnywhere with it, it's really quite nice. If you wanna see an example of what it produces, download my game at http://www.projectminer.com/projects/jminesweep/download.html
-Eric
> I like the Java Web Start app, and it seems like a
> good alternative over applets for games. But have you
> folks found that the end user is sometimes confused at
> having to initially download and install JWS? Do they
> frequently have problems with this. ****
yes, i have found quite a few users have struggled with the downloading and successful installation of JWS...we have had to write quite detailed instructions that are trying to 'idiot proof' the process, but since most people tend to not read instructions...
the biggest issues we get are people download the JWS installer and don't run it... and quite often if the user has their browser open when they run the installer it fails to install correctly.
If you want some pretty good info you should have a look at Gerald's unofficial faq at http://www.vamphq.com/jwsfaq.html if you haven't already done so.:-)
