Making my own game...

[xRyokenx]

What would I have to learn to make a simple RTS game with Java?

I've decided on Java because it works with pretty much every OS and all that. Just some key features would be good gameplay, the ability to edit attributes of units along with creating your own, have a map/mission editor, etc. I know it'll take time to get it the way I want it and learn what I need to... I have time though. :think:

EDIT: Wasn't sure where this was supposed to go so I put it here...

[.Maleficus.]

First, you need to learn Java :D. I suggest buying Head First Java, it's an excellent book. Then after that, Killer Game Programming in Java is a solid choice. As far as game design...

1. The logic. Biggest, longest, hardest part of game design. User input, game output, serialization (saving), interfaces, objects... :dead:
2. Graphics. OpenGL is what you'll probably use, so you could just JOGL, jMonkeyEngine, or any of the other premade graphics libraries/APIs/engines.
3. Sound. Simple MIDI beeps and boops I'm guessing, right?
4. Networking (maybe). Multiplayer over the internet (don't worry about it until you actually have a playable game), LAN connections..
5. Deployment. Packaging into either an executable .JAR or packaging into an installer, getting your game out on the net and getting it played...

That's what I have from off the top of my head. Some advice (limited advice..):

1. Use an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). It makes readability and debugging so much easier and makes packaging TONS easier. I'd recommend Eclipse or NetBeans.
2. Start out small. Make a simple number game, like "Guess this number" or maybe a game like Hangman (which isn't actually a small task). Slowly progress into the graphics department.

I guess that's all I have. Good luck with Java. I've got some experience with it, so if you have some problems I can see what I can help with. Otherwise, check out DreamInCode. Very nice programming forum, with specific forums on Java and game programming.

[xRyokenx]

Thanks dude. As soon as I get my life under better control and less stressful I'll go ahead and pick up that book and give this a shot... along with learning to play the guitar and all, lol.

[Trace]

I'm teaching myself java right now. Do you know it?

When I learn some, I would be happy to lend a hand...

[xRyokenx]

I don't know any at the moment and do'nt quite have the time to pick up a book and start figuring it out but any tips will be welcome when I do have the time for it. :)

[.Maleficus.]

I don't know any at the moment and do'nt quite have the time to pick up a book and start figuring it out but any tips will be welcome when I do have the time for it. :)
You want advice? Don't wait to start. Seriously. The more time you spend on it, the more chance you have of it turning into something.

Plus, once you start, you realize how cool it is knowing you can think of a problem and then find a way to fix it. I'm actually going to brush up on my Java and make a little text-based game before I start with 2D and 3D stuff.

[xRyokenx]

I've gotta get my life a little more... less stressful first. Just left a hellhole home about three or so weeks ago and am living in NY with my grandparents instead of in NC with my mom and dad... got some stuff to figure out first. But yeah, I'll hopefully pick this up in a couple weeks.

[Eclecticos]

You could try 3D Flash Animator.

[crenn]

It's also possible to program games is C++... since most games are actually programmed in C++ anyway!

[xRyokenx]

I just don't have any programming experience yet, lol. I'll get on it soon enough.

[crenn]

My personal advice... if you're planning to learn C++.... learn C first.

[mtekk]

My personal advice... if you're planning to learn C++.... learn C first.

I'd say the more important thing is to not dive straight into doing GUIs and object orientated programing. Once you think you have a good grasp on classes, then you can try doing GUIs using wxWidgets, it's documented well and not too difficult to use. Oh, and it is cross-platform as well as open-source. It includes classes for interfacing with a joystick and doing other things. Using OpenGL is not the easiest thing I've ever done, the biggest thing to remember about OpenGL is it is a state-machine. The other complexity to OpenGL is that it is very bare-bones, so doing simple things like drawing a circle don't have their own command/function you'll have to make one yourself.

The book "Problem Solving with C++" by Walter Savitch is what I learned from, and it is absolutely newbie friendly.

[crenn]

I think I have to get a book called "Engineering Problem Solving with C" xP

Luckily I start C++ this semester.... bad news is that I have a 3 hour exam.

[mtekk]

I guess I should mention that it looks like there is a new version of Problem Solving With C++ (seventh edition), I have the sixth which is what we used in class a year ago.

If you like algorithms you may want to check out Numerical Recipes in C++ or the C version if you must. The old versions are available online for free, require a stupid Adobe Acrobat plug-in but they are free :).

For OpenGL tutorials, definitely check out NeHe Productions (http://nehe.gamedev.net/). Their tutorials are solid, however be warned that some/many of them use GLUT, which has more or less been discontinued. The OpenGL code, however, is still good, you just need to figure out how to either get GLUT working or how to write around not having it (not that difficult if you are using wxWidgets).

Three hour test, ouch. I can't remember ever having a final that was three hours long except for physics I and II. I don't think I'd want to go through writing C++ on paper for three hours. Though it wouldn't be nearly as bad as writing assembly for the PIC18F452 on paper for an hour and half that we get for midterm exams. The PIC is 'special' in the bad kinda way, even the C18 compiler does things that aren't ANSI C or C99 compatible, and any code you write for it is inherently non-portable, the exact opposite of what C was meant for :bash:.

[.Maleficus.]

Definitely don't start with GUIs. Getting a workable command line game is hard enough. Adding a GUI and drawing is even harder. I didn't realize until I started it, but my Word Guess game is actually very complicated. It turns out the best way to do what I need is through a database like MySQL or Java DB which is territory I've seldom stepped into.

I think I'm going to make a super cheezy fantasy text-based adventure game. It will be extremely wordy and WoW players question their fantasy addictions.

[xRyokenx]

Ever play Thy Dungeon Man? Really fun series. jfgi

[.Maleficus.]

... He wears a sporty frock coat and long jimber jam. Obvious exits are NOT DENNIS.

[xRyokenx]

... He wears a sporty frock coat and long jimber jam. Obvious exits are NOT DENNIS.

Exactly. :D