Size of games written in Java.

General Discussions
#1

Hello everyone, I am new to Java and I was wondering about the size and complexity of games that can be written in it. To get right to the point,
I want to know if it’s possible to write complete full-sized rpgs like Baldur’s Gate and Diablo/Diablo 2 with Java. The graphic quality that I would like to use is
also like the games I just mentioned, I don’t need next-gen graphics or anything like that.

Before everyone thinks I’m getting ahead of myself, I would like to note that I’m not starting to learn Java by making a giant rpg. I know that would be a mistake.
I’m learning Java itself and then I’ll start with small games like Pong or Tetris. I’m just wondering if Java is capable of doing what I want in the long run.

#2

[quote=“Mechennyy,post:1,topic:48624”]
Yes.

On an unrelated note, the forum is telling me that 90% of my post consists of quotes, so I either have to remove quotes (which is rather silly in this case, since I only have one – the question I’m answering) or write something interesting before the post will be accepted. Since my answer really needs no more information other than a simple “yes”, I’m putting filler here so that the post will be accepted. I really don’t understand this. Never seen such a thing on any forum in all my years of trawling the net.

#3

Just to be more clear I don’t mean just a game with similar graphics and a couple quests. I’m talking about a complete rpg. Large gameworld, classes, companions, full of side quests, cities/towns, loot, everything. I guess another way to ask this question is could Baldur’s Gate or Diablo 2 be rewritten in Java?

#4

Java itself is a programming language, not a gaming library. Although, of course, gaming libraries exist for it.

If you only want to make games, I suggest you go with some kind of gaming engine, like Unity perhaps, that has less to do with programming in itself.

#5

I don’t see why this wouldn’t be possible. If you’re using the right libraries for the graphics, the only thing you need to worry about is how to implement all these things you just listed. This is just a case of knowing your design patterns.

#6

Java can easily accomplish what you want; the real limitation is of course, yourself.

Cas :slight_smile:

#7

I’m aware of that. I have messed around with Unity before, but regardless of what engine or library you use unless you program or script it you just have a bunch of
art on the screen. I want to make games, but I also want to be a programmer regardless of games. Games are the main reason I’m into programming but not the only.
If games were my very main concern I would’ve went with C++ and wouldn’t need to ask this question in the first place.
I messed around with Java and C++ and since I would never get a job as a pro I went with the one I preferred which was Java.

#8

You can write games bigger than Baldur’s Gate and Diablo. Write a sandbox RPG like the Elder Scrolls games, if you want. Java isn’t going to prevent you from doing any of that as long as you can bring your skill set up to the challenge.

#9

You may have heard of a MMORPG called RuneScape…

#10

[quote]You may have heard of a MMORPG called RuneScape…
[/quote]
It is a good exaple, but possibly not the best.

#11

I completely forgot about Runescape. I never played it but I have heard about it before.

#12

I know it’s a bit cliché but… Minecraft.

#13

People used to say that Java could not make commercial AAA titles such as Call of Duty or Battlefield.

They blamed it on OpenGL and unfortunately a lot of people refused to use OpenGL due to this bad reputation, which afaik was actually fitting as OpenGL was apparently terribly optimized, if someone wants to clarify on that.

Nowadays, OpenGL is just as fast if not faster than DirectX, however thanks to the past we are stuck in a rut with AAA companies using DirectX and propriety engines they have developed over the years, with no sign of them moving over to a more robust, open source tech like OpenGL.

So yeah, long story short…these days you are only limited by yourself, the language you use and OpenGL are more than capable.

#14

The size depends on the number of people you can get to participate and their experience and knowledge.

#15

OpenGL has never really been any slower than DirectX. In fact it started out somewhat faster. DX and GL have just leapfrogged each other in terms of features over the last 15 years or so, which is great. It should come as no surprise that the bottleneck is nearly always the actual GPU hardware anyway.

Cas :slight_smile:

#16

I think that Spiral Knights is made in java (correct me if I’m wrong) and that’s a pretty in depth game.

#17

Yup, all Java.

Cas :slight_smile:

#18

Since no one else pointed it out, the important bit about using Minecraft as an example, is that it began as a one-man project, and it has grown to the point that an actual company had to be built to accommodate its development needs.

So yes, as has been said, size depends on how big you want to go, the technology used is not that critical.

#19

Likewise Runescape. That just started out as a college project, I seem to recall.

Cas :slight_smile:

#20

Indeed. Nowadays the CS department in Cambridge bans games for dissertation projects.