Help for the Newb?
Ok, I'm new to Java and I need to know a few things.
First off, I need to know what Java can handle. I want to make a game with super high quality 2D graphics, probably prerendered 3D graphics. The standard resolution would be high, 1024 x 768 minimum. Would I be able to program this in Java with no problems?
Secondly, I need to know if I would be able to play AVIs or other videos as my game was played. Animations for particular points in the game and the like. These would also be prerendered and high resolution.
Thanks in advance.
Alot is going to rest on your hardware--graphics card, memory, and cpu speed--your ability to write tight code, what you plan on supporting for your "MAXIMUM", and your extent of processing between each frame.
If you are looking to limit yourself to high-end gaming machines, then you are probably ok, but if you are looking to appeal to some of the less dedicated gamers, then you'll have to do some comprimise on your design specs.
Hmm... Good questions.
Maximum settings will be around 1240 x 1024. I'll probably be forced to try to get the code tight. And I'm not sure what you meant by the last question.
I want to focus on high-end gaming machines, but would also like to have settings allowing less powerful computers to play. Perhaps the resolution could be decreased a little?
Other than that I still need to know if I will be able to use AVIs in my game.
Thanks for your help.
Have a look at http://www.tribaltrouble.com/. It's a realtime 3D strategy game written entirely in Java. I works fine at 1280x1024 on my P4-3Ghz with a GF4-4600, which is not a slow machine, but not a mega super duper gaming rig either. And this is real-time 3D graphics.
So I would say it's very possible to create a 2D game that performs well, graphics wise. Easily? Probably not :)
As far as AVI's are concerned, here's the list of audio and video formats supported by the Java Media Framework: http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/jmf/2.1.1/formats.html (which you could have found yourself by typing "java avi support" into Google...)
Ah, thanks for the help. As I said I am relatively new to Java. So new that I had no idea what the JMF was, though if I can use it I'm set.Now, to find/make a good 2D Java game engine.Thanks for the help!
2D game engines are easy to find, they're even advertised on this forum... Otherwise, Google is your friend.
Yes, like this :) Golden T Game Engine (GTGE) http://www.goldenstudios.or.id/products/GTGE/
Now, to find/make a good 2D Java game engine.
Well, if you're looking to make your own engine, I would suggest Tetris, which is a nice challenge. Of course, it all depends on how good you are as a programmer. You might be able to only do Pong on your first try (like me >_>) or you could be a prodigy and make, say, Halo 3 by yourself.
> make, say, Halo 3 by yourself.LOL. Or maybe just write a disasterous worm for it
Heh, funny. I won't be making this game by myself, I do have friends helping. About 20 of them.
Anyway, one of them mentioned something interesting to me a while ago. He said that, if we used the Java 3D api, it would be easier to make 3D graphics for out game than 2D.
Is that true? Would that be hard to render? I've never really looked into 3D game programming and would like to know what the best way to go is.
In my experience (granted it is all c/c++/vb with directX) 3d is easier once you have the complexities of the engine behind you. Building the full 3d engine is much more complex than a 2d engine. However, once you have the engine built, a 3d game will come together with less work than a 2d game. This is because most of what you do in a 2d game is repeated process, such as creating 8 images for a character who can face 8 different directions. While in 3d world you plop your 3d model down (usually designed in some nice 3d editor) and then you have a camera which handles all possible views of said 3d model.
The question would be, can you come up with a 3d engine?
iivena at 2007-7-15 15:36:26 >
