Ok guys, Needing to start somewhere - books?

Newbie & Debugging Questions
#1

EDIT: (Kind of bump edit)
Will get a book next week, which one is the one to go with according to you?

Hey all (Lazy? - start reading under the bold words)
My knowledge in Java is kind of basic and “newbie”, but, as a project for school, I’ve decided to expand my knowledge, and create some kind of game.

To this project, we should spend about 160 hours (layed out during a half year) and do what we’ve decided.
Then we’ll document it, write reports, what went good/bad etc.

Anyway, I’ve just begun, and need something to follow, so my question is:
I’ve looked all over the internet for online guides, there are some, but mostly about graphics in general.

I’ve found two books, “Killer game programming in java” and “Pro Java 6 3D Game Development” (Here http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jg2/ and here http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jg/)
Does anyone have any experience of these books, and can recommend them?
Or do you have other books with guides where to begin java game programming?

THANK YOU very much in advance for answers

EDIT 30(29?)/8 (Also added a post lower down)
“Books I’ve read a little about:
Killer Game Programming in Java - Andrew Davison
Pro Java 6 3D Game Development - Andrew Davison
Developing Games in Java - David Brackeen”

"Books that I haven’t read about yet:
Black Art of Java Game Programming - Joel Fan
Practical Java Game Programming - Dustin Clingman
Advanced Java Game Programming - David Wallace Croft
Beginning Java Game Programming Second Edition - Jonathan S. "

Are there more? Are these any good?

EDIT 3/9

I found a “new” book that is released in 2010, does anyone know anything about it? ???
“Introduction to Java Programming with Games - Ladd, B C”

#2

my favorite java games book is Developing Games in Java by David Brackeen and do highly recommend it.

#3

I own “Killer game programming in java” and I recommend it.

#4

I own both Brackeen’s book and killer game programming. Both are good.

Brackeen talks about developing a specific game framework, threadpool, sprites animation a bit of networking and finally 3D. It gives you piece by piece until you have made a complete game designed by Brackeen, first 2D and then 3D. If you want to know about how to implement a software 3D engine, this is the book for you (I didn’t :slight_smile: ).

Killer game programming is much more general. It talks about a multitude of techniques. You are given more pieces and more diverse pieces. They do not always fit togheter. More toolbox style. The 3D part deals with java 3d, not very up to date today. But the knowledge are mostly good as general 3D knowledge.

#5

Thanks! And it seems to be available here in Sweden also :slight_smile:
I’ll look into it and hope for more recommendations

Great, thanks :slight_smile:

What book is “Brackeens book”, by googling I think you mean the one also recommended by psychopat316?
Overall, thank you very much for this explanation! But, would you recommend one for my project?
What type of game is the “end-product” in the Brackeens game - I mean - 2D/3D, game type etc?
Would you recommend Killer Game Programming for my use? Because it seems better for me - but also seems to take more time to work through?
But, thanks again for the explanations!

Overall, haven’t anyone tried Pro Java 6 3D Game Development?

Thakns for answers until now at least! :slight_smile:

#6

‘Brackeens book’ == “Developing Games in Java by David Brackeen”

But to be honest, if your Java skills are only basic and ‘newbie’, maybe you should first brush up on those.
Or else using the books will only reduce you down to copy & pasting everything.

Because even without those books, you should be able to get something up and running.

A good java book I could recommend is Thinking in Java.
btw: are you German speaking? (I am assuming from the name). You could also check out “Java in 21 Tagen”, it is available as an open book and a nice resource. (publisher is gallileo computing iirc)

#7

If I am going to pick any one book, it is “Killer game programming in java”. It is both 2D and 3D and it is toolbox style, pick what you want, skip the rest (almost).

If you say you come from Sweden:
Du är händelsevis inte från Malmö eller däromkring?

#8

Ok, the “basic/newbie” is what I’m assuming my knowledge to be, I mean, there are so much more to learn.
But I’ve went through “Programming A/B” (Half year each) here at this school, but still I do not believe it’s a high level of knowledge.

Sorry if this sounds “arrogant” or something, but it’ll be a java gaming book, mostly because books are expensive and our libaries around here aren’t interested in books like these :slight_smile:

Also, not german, Sweden here :slight_smile:

Blekinge, hur visste du det? :wink:
(How are the rules here about not writing in English?)
Sounds good, again, maybe that book will be the one… :wink:

Still noone with experience of “Pro Java 6 3D Game Development”? I mean, it’s a newer book from the same author as “Killer Game Programming in Java”

This thread got better response than I expected, thanks :slight_smile:
But keep writing here, I probably won’t order any book before next week.

#9

[quote]I own both Brackeen’s book and killer game programming. Both are good.
[/quote]
Seconded. Those would be my recommendations.

#10

[quote]Blekinge, hur visste du det?
[/quote]
Darn, a bit to far I think. I have both of my java game books at my old work in Malmö. Since I will never go there again, anyone willing to pick them up there can have them.
Malmö, southen sweden, pretty close to Copenhagen. :slight_smile:

#11

Noted, thanks :slight_smile:

I like the idea :slight_smile:
Maybe, just maybe, I could get there… Do you have any prices in mind? :wink:
And, if I went there, how would I find them if you aren’t there? ;D

(To many smileys, sorry ::slight_smile: )

#12

[quote]Maybe, just maybe, I could get there… Do you have any prices in mind?
[/quote]
how about 50 sek each? But before you go, let me check that they are still there.

#13

@Mattedatten@Books:
Thinking in java you can get in a downloadable form.
Also iirc the killer game java book is also available online in some form.

#14

I asked around and it seems like I cannot get to Malmö, sorry :-
Do you have any way to send the book(s) (Which one was the second book?)
I can send the “payment” in some way ;D

You mean killer game programming in java?
Lets say it like this … the book is available “illegaly”, I’ve thought about downloading it to check it out … But, reading a .pdf on a screen is worthless, really… :wink: ::slight_smile:

#15

Are we still talking about books? :wink:
But can’t Amazon help you?

No, if you check the site it does contain the contents of the book, more or less.
Might not be much, but hey, it’s free and can hold you over till you get the book.

#16

[quote]I asked around and it seems like I cannot get to Malmö, sorry
Do you have any way to send the book(s)
[/quote]
I’m afraid not. It would be cheaper for me to buy the books new than to go there and get them.

[quote]Are we still talking about books? Wink
But can’t Amazon help you?
[/quote]
I’m offering to sell mine for 50 SEK = $8. Cheaper than amazon, don’t you think? :slight_smile: ($38 and $41 plus shipping)
We usually pay lots for shipping to Sweden.

#17

Hm, too bad :-
Anyway, thanks for trying…
What book(s) did you offer? Because we are going to “east skåne” (Vi ska till Ivö) tommorrow … but, probably to little time to plan something … or is it? :slight_smile:

So true :frowning:

#18

Sorry for double-posting
But I felt like I needed a “bump”, and I’ll also add some facts…
(I could say tomorrow, but, so everyone will know)
In about 12 hours the teachers should have told me if my project gets “green light”
If it goes that way, I’ll start doing some research about the different books… Because I can only afford one … Maybe two if the second one is badly needed ::slight_smile:

Anyway, here is a list of the books I’ve got right now listed as “Java gaming books”, and I haven’t checked the availability of these in Sweden, nor listed them in any specific order other than:

“Books I’ve read a little about:
Killer Game Programming in Java - Andrew Davison
Pro Java 6 3D Game Development - Andrew Davison
Developing Games in Java - David Brackeen”

And "Books that I haven’t read about yet:
Black Art of Java Game Programming - Joel Fan
Practical Java Game Programming - Dustin Clingman
Advanced Java Game Programming - David Wallace Croft
Beginning Java Game Programming Second Edition - Jonathan S. "

Are there more? Are these any good?
All help until now and during the next week is very appreciated :wink:
//M

#19

Trying to bump a last time
I’ve got green light to start, and I’m buying a book next week
Which one to go with? ::slight_smile:

#20

Short-term : the one in which an example complete game is similar to the one you want to do.

Long-term : the one with the most diverse range of subjects, and least platform specific OR totally problem specific.

I find Ive bought quite a few code books but they were more useful in the days before the internetz.
Now they are all semi-obsolete, for example DirectX7 specific books. They make great doorstops.
But yeah, they did their part in helping out to advance. The more theoretical ones are often the ones
I end up returning to, ones which dont care what language youre using, and which have often been too
hard to even understand half of. In the end it’s you making the things tick the way you want is where you learn the most.