“Yes” for the first 3… Killer Game Programming in Java for the 4th.
PS Don’t rush it too much, don’t expect to make a full-on game right off the bat. Keep plugging away though and eventually you’ll have it!
[quote="<MagicSpark.org [ BlueSky ]>,post:16,topic:27665"]
I don’t remember who first posted this, but here it is…
And what comes to choosing an IDE… When still learning the basics of programming, it’s best to use a simple text editor (Notepad or something slightly better) so that you’ll learn to look for simple syntax errors and the basics of compiling code. After that having syntax highlighting, autocompletion, automatic error checking, easy compiling and running, quick access to javadocs etc. helps much. And when you start doing real work, refactoring, version management, debugger and other advanced features provided by IDE’s help to increase your performance.
My first Java editor, which I used the first 2-3 years, was JCreator (quite OK, fast on a slow computer, but lacking in features). Now I’m using IntelliJ IDEA and even though it is commercial ($250 for personal license, but there is a 30 day trial and the EAP (beta, somewhat buggy) versions are free), in my opinion its usability is much better than Eclipse’s. My performance is much faster with IDEA and I get less headache compared to the times I use Eclipse. NetBeans I haven’t tried properly, but it has some promising features (a free profiler and GUI editor). Although last time I tried NetBeans, I got the impression that it’s refactoring abilities were quite much lower than what I’ve gotten used to.
I recommend you to install both Eclipse and NetBeans, and try using each of them for a week or two (when creating a real but simple program) so that you could decide between them. Also have a look at IDEA in the same way, if you please.
I have never seen The Source for that quote…that is just TOO funny. Thanks for finding and sharing. ;D ;D ;D
thank you guys , those were really some good advices , i’m new at game programming (…well i’m still preparing to be a beginer )
things are reaaaaaaaly complicated for me, can somone help me fing an extreme-easy-for-dumbs tutorial ? ???
The coke-and-code tutorials are probably the best, basic game-specific tutorials you’ll find.
HOWEVER, they do assume some general Java knowledge in advance. If you’re looking for some good on-line tutorials for that, then head over to Sun’s Java website and go thru the ones they have up. They help a lot.
i’m doing the space invaders tutorial , ;D even it’s not that easy lool , i hope i can make it trough
One suggestion: Following the tutorials to completion is a bit of a challenge but you may not really feel like you “know” what you did after since you were really just following a recipie. ??? When you finish it up ( and it’s working! ;D ), go back thru and tweak things. Change the speed of the ship or invaders, add new weapons or shields to the player, put in some random elements ( random mother ship flys across the top and can spawn new invaders ), things like that.
It will get you to really understand what is going on and how without having to write a whole new game. It will also help build your confidence that you are understanding Java game programming because you WILL be understanding Java game programming ( not just following a recipie ). 8)
lool you read my mind :o , i was really starting to be lost but i tried to complete the tutorial , now i’ll try to rewrite the code by myself and then i’ll try to plug new stuffs , i cant wait to learn how to make my game ;D
little addition: free software is ALWAYS open source, but open source is NOT ALWAYS free software. what you meant is freeware which shouldn’t be confused with free software. yeah, the term “free software” sucks, because of it’s various possible interpretations. god, or rms as others call him ;), suggested the use of free/libre/open source software, FLOSS, but that doesn’t sound any better.
I think you meant “open source is ALWAYS free software, but free software is NOT ALWAYS open source”. I could write a piece of software and give it away for free but not give you the source code.
I could also sell someone the source code to a piece of software, but then it wouldn’t really be “open” source. The only way I can think of that a piece of software could be open source but not free is if you withhold the map files, image files, etc. that would be required to actually run the software.
I think you missed the point. “Free software” does not mean zero cost; it means that you have the freedom to do what you like with the software. It is therefore necessary to have the source code for the software. PavelJ had the right definition, but your argument emphasizes the point that our language’s ambiguity makes it hard to discuss what Free is.
thanks for clarifying, purpleguitar.
for further information it may be worth reading the free software definition of the fsf, http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html, the open source definition of the osi, http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php, and an fsf discussion of both terms, http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html.
I think the problm is that both the experssions “free software” and “open source” have been coopted by those witha poltical agenda to mean JUST what fits into their agenda.
Btw the FSF and the self described “Open Source Community”, George Bush and the religous right Orwell would either by horrified or gratified-- Im not sure which.