Chet Haase

Part 1 of this article ("Java Gaming: Understanding the Basic Concepts," [JDJ, Vol. 9, issue 10]) covered the basics of a game framework. Part 2 goes into more depth on the actual 2D rendering specifics and the resulting demo: the Ping program (see Figure 1). 2D Rendering Game rendering is a subject that has great depth and complexity. This article focuses on the topics that we believe are the most important to 2D games and Java games programmers: Fullscreen and DisplayMode management Buffering Images Video memory constraints Performance tip: intermediate images Fullscreen and DisplayMode Management A game developer must decide whether to run a game in fullscreen mode (where it occupies the entire monitor display) or windowed mode (where it is one of many windows on the user's desktop). Both modes are appropriate for different types of games. For example, a game that... (more)

Cover Story: Java Gaming - Understanding the Basic Concepts

At JavaOne 2004 we gave a presentation on Java game development that included general framework information and tips and tricks on using the media APIs effectively. We also showed an application named "Ping" that demonstrated some of the ideas we discussed (see Figure 1). Working code is a great way to illustrate an API, and we have posted the source code that accompanied our presentation on http://ping.dev.java.net. This article fully explains the ideas behind our JavaOne presentation as well as the elements of interest in the Ping application. This two-part article is divided i... (more)

Java Software on Vista

People have been wondering lately: How does Java software work on Windows Vista? The short answer is: Java software works great on Vista. In fact, the entire Sun engineering team working on Java Platform Standard Edition has been tuned into Vista and making Java software work on it since it was named after a breed of cattle. Between regular calls with Microsoft, interaction with their engineers when problems or questions arose, bugs being submitted and fixed on both sides, and regular testing and engineering during Vista's development, we have been building a rock-solid release ... (more)