[gameprogrammer] Re: A newbie Java Question - GUI/Animation etc...

[Tom Clifford <tjclifford@yahoo.com>]

Richard:

Java is viewed generally as slow; but in my 
tests so far, frame rates of up to 100 fps are 
possible with simple scene graphs, but I have 
a 2GHz machine with an ATI x1050 vid card (not 
the most powerful).  I think it will be considered 
more in the near future, especially for its cross-
platform capabilities.

I'm currently experimenting with a messaging system, 
and viewplatform entry/exit behaviors.  Once I get 
something presentable for simple gaming concepts, 
I'll publish it for review.

But currently, some are available:

http://www.frontiernet.net/~imaging/games_with_java3d.html

http://www.java.com/en/games/

http://www.java-gaming.com/

If I come across more, I'll let everyone know.

Thanks....Tom 

--- richard sabbarton <richard.sabbarton@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Tom,
> 
> Ahhh... OK.  So I could potentially use JPanel to
> create a double
> buffer for drawing.  I guess that would be a lot
> quicker because I am
> assuming it would switch pointer of the JPanel
> rather than, in my
> example, copying the pixel data from one buffer to
> another.
> 
> I will certainly look at it for my next project but
> I don't believe I
> will be pushing the boundries with my current task. 
> I am really only
> doing it to get the hang of Java. (I'm normally a
> C++ Win32 kinda
> guy!)
> 
> Can I ask...  What your thoughts on the suitability
> of Java for Game
> Development?  I think I might just be having trouble
> shaking some
> preconceptions I have through other (non-game
> related) experiences.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Richard
> 
> On 05/02/2008, Tom Clifford <tjclifford@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> > Hello Richard.
> >
> > I know that in the Killer Game Programming code
> the
> > author used a double-buffering command:
> >
> >    setDoubleBuffered(true/false);
> >
> > which is from JPanel/JComponent, and this is also
> > supposed to eliminate flicker, I believe.
> >
> > Anyway, a custom paint function would also work.
> >
> > I'm working on making some techniques work for a
> > java game.  I wish you luck with your efforts.
> >
> > Tom.
> >
> >
> > --- richard sabbarton
> <richard.sabbarton@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Tom,
> > >
> > > I downloaded the Java3D API from Sun.  It looks
> good
> > > but I think it
> > > was a bit much for what I was looking for. 
> Anyway,
> > > after a little
> > > further digging I managed to work out how to do
> what
> > > I was trying to
> > > do.
> > >
> > > The key to getting rid of the flicker was not
> using
> > > the paint()
> > > function but instead, using my own.
> > >
> > > Firstly, I created a new Image and then obtained
> the
> > > Graphics
> > > interface for the image.  This gave me my
> offscreen
> > > location to
> > > assemble my GUI.  I then use this image and draw
> it
> > > to the Graphics
> > > interface of my Applet
> > >
> > > // Variables and members
> > > Image offScreenImage;
> > > Graphics offScreenGraphics;
> > > Graphics onScreenGraphics;
> > >
> > > In the init function I run the following:
> > >
> > >     offScreenImage = createImage( width, height
> );
> > >     offScreenGraphics =
> > > offScreenImage.getGraphics();
> > >     onScreenGraphics = this.getGraphics();
> > >
> > >
> > > I then setup a timer to keep the screen
> up-to-date
> > > every xxx
> > > milliseconds which basically runs the following:
> > >
> > >     // Draw everything I need to my offscreen
> > > Graphics Interface
> > >     offScreenGraphics.drawImage( etc. etc. etc. 
> );
> > >     offScreenGraphics.drawImage( etc. etc. etc. 
> );
> > >     offScreenGraphics.drawImage( etc. etc. etc. 
> );
> > >
> > >     // Then draw the whole thing to screen with
> the
> > > Image Interface
> > >     onScreenGraphics.drawImage(offScreenImage,
> xxx ,
> > > yyyy , this );
> > >
> > > Seems to work quite well for simple graphics and
> GUI
> > > etc.  If I want
> > > anything more complex then I will go down the
> Java3D
> > > route but for now
> > > this will do.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Richard
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 04/02/2008, Tom Clifford
> <tjclifford@yahoo.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > Java has it's own Java3D interface, found at:
> > > >
> > > > http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/
> > > >
> > > > It allows you to do what is called active
> > > rendering,
> > > > which is similar to the c/c++ WinMain/WndProc
> > > loops,
> > > > that uses double-buffering,
> > > > or you can create the objects you want and
> allow
> > > > Java3D to do the looping for you, while doing
> > > > animation with their Behavior objects.
> > > >
> > > > There are some good java examples with source
> > > > code, at Killer Game Programming with Java, by
> > > >  Andrew Davison
> > > >  O'Reilly, May 2005
> > > >  ISBN: 0-596-00730-2
> > > >  http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/killergame/
> > > >  Web Site for the book:
> > > >  http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jg
> > > >
> > > > code downloads and instructions at:
> > > >
> > > > http://fivedots.coe.psu.ac.th/~ad/jg/code/
> > > >
> > > > Tom C.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- richard sabbarton
> > > <richard.sabbarton@gmail.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi Guys,
> > > > >
> > > > > In C++ on windows I would use animation by
> > > creating
> > > > > a compatible
> > > > > device context in memory with
> > > CreateCompatibleDC().
> > > > > I would write my
> > > > > game and all of its elements to the MemoryDC
> and
> > > > > then use something
> > > > > like BitBlt() to push it to my main DC.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have recently started learning Java and I
> want
> > > to
> > > > > perform a similar
> > > > > function.  I want to write all of the
> elements
> > > to
> > > > > memory and then
> > > > > transfer it to the screen every x
> milliseconds.
> > > > > This is to eliminate
> > > > > flicker etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have been looking online through tutorials
> > > etc.
> > > > > and I can't seem to
> > > > > find a description of how to do this.  Do I
> need
> 
=== message truncated ===



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