Code a Java Game

23-Jan-2023

Video games are a favorite pastime of almost everyone. Even if you don't plan to become a professional game developer, or simply don't know enough, it is a great idea to learn a programming language through practice. It could also be a great motivator for your learning.

This article is for all Java beginners and prospective students. It also addresses anyone who wants to create a Java game project but doesn't know where or how to start.

Is Java bad news for GameDev? Reality and myths

You might think Java is not the best choice for game development if you read forums and articles about it, especially those that are older. This opinion is outdated and inaccurate. The video games industry is very diverse. You can divide video games into these categories:

“Big” games. Examples include 3D-shooters, large scale action adventures / action RPG. This category also includes AAA-level projects. These are usually high-budget games that are targeted at a large audience, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, or Assassin Creed Originals. These games are often written in C++ and accompanied by game engines.

Due to the peculiarities and limitations of the JVM, Java is a rare guest in this type of game development. It can be used, for instance, to create back-end components.

Indie games. One gamer treats indie games with contempt, while the other loves them with passion. Indie game is a game that was created independently by a small group or one developer.

Many Indie projects are amateur, and some don't make any money. Indie is about originality and gameplay, good scripts, subjective vision, and creativity rather than high-end graphics and performance. However, Indie projects have become hugely popular and exploded onto the market. Minecraft is a good example of such a game, which was originally created by Markus Persson. Over 176 million Minecraft copies had been sold as of May 2019. This makes it one the most popular video games ever. Microsoft purchased Mojang and Minecraft for US$ 2.5 billion in 2014. Markus Persson, a Java Developer, wrote his famous brainchild in Java. Java is great for Indie projects.

Mobile games. This market is growing with the performance and quantity of smartphones. Nearly everyone has played a mobile game. It could have been 2048 or a mobile remake of an older game, or a game with a new idea. Java is good for mobile game development. The answer is a solid, “yes”. Android smartphones now hold 80% of the market. Java is the native language of Android. There are many mobile games written in Java.

Conclusions. Conclusions. Java is great for mobile games and Indie project development (these markets are somewhat intertwined) as well as for the development and maintenance of servers for high-loaded online games. This is Indie growth time. You can make these games during your Java learning.

Java is also a universal language. It is used in server side Enterprise development, in Big Data and Mobile apps, Trading apps and embedded space. Java Developer can switch roles. Java allows you to choose more than any other programming language.

If you are certain that you want to become a major games developer, then C++ or some game engines like Unity and Unreal are the best options for learning.

Is it possible for a beginner programmer to create their own game? How do you do it?

Even the simplest video games can be difficult to create, especially for someone who doesn't have any programming experience. We live in an open information era, which means that we can find different steps and courses for different levels. This paragraph will cover three options for Java beginners to create games.

Case 1. Step-by-step instructions for creating a new case. CodeGym Games section

This feature is suitable for beginners. You can create your own version of 3 (for the moment, 3 more are under development) classic games using very basic Java knowledge. CodeGym's Games section is part of the main course. It is free for all users and not just CodeGym students.

The CodeGym Games section allows you to create your own versions legendary video games like Minesweeper or Snake (Space Invaders and Moon Lander are currently in development).

Each game has two dozen subtasks with step-by-step instructions. The student receives the subtask and tips, and then writes code. It is then checked by the auto CodeGym System. Student moves on to the next step if the code is correct. All code is written in CodeGym directly or in IntelliJ IDEA using special plugins that you can find on the CodeGym.

Once you've completed the last step, you can publish your game on the site. You can customize it as you like and share it with your friends. These games use the CodeGym game engine. You can read more about it in this article.

What are the basics of coding these games? This is the first level of Java programs. It includes knowledge about classes and objects, basic data types such as String and loops, and arrays. To gain this knowledge, CodeGym recommends that you complete the first five levels of the course. You can use this useful theory to help you solve the tasks if you are not confident enough. CodeGym Games is still a great option for those who are familiar with Java Core, but have never made games. You can modify your existing solutions and create new ones after they are approved.

Use CodeGym Games without payment

Case 2.

It is a good idea to do mods (modifications), with Java if you enjoy Minecraft. Mods are used to add content to the game or to give players more control over how they interact with Minecraft. You might code a more precise bow, or something similar. Some people create mini-games right inside Minecraft.

Even if you don't like the game, it is a good idea for anyone new to learn how to decompile code and modify it. You may later be able to create your own Minecraft modes.

Before you can start modding, make sure that your IDE and JDK are installed. Forge is a popular tool for Java modding. There are many tutorials and courses on Java Minecraft modding.

What are the basics of modding Minecraft with Java

It all depends on what complexity you are trying to achieve. It is important to know Java Classes and Objects. However, it would be more useful if there were more or less solid skills in OOP using, introductions to streams and threads, and Java Collections.

Payment: Usually, you will need to buy your own Minecraft version. You can find paid courses online if you don't want the responsibility of modding.

Case 3.

This is not a case for complete novices. We will now tell you what Java novice programmers who decide to create a game should be paying attention to.

Are you a developer with an idea for an indy mobile or cross-platform project? Perhaps you have the ability to create your own version of the popular game. What should you do if Java Core is all you know about game development? It can be difficult to write a game using raw Java, but there are many useful libraries and frameworks that will help you bring your idea to life.

What is the game made up of?

Graphics-Physics (the interaction of objects in a game)
– AI (it's not in every game, but it's quite common).
GUI
– Sound
OpenGL is an open-source cross-platform application programming interface. It allows you to render vector graphics in 2D and 3D. OpenGL functions can be used in Java with certain libraries, such as Java3D (Java OpenGL), JOGL (Java OpenGL), and LWJGL(Lightweight Java Game Library). All of them are cross-platform, free, and open source. LWJGL is the most popular. It is the core technology of many other game engines, libraries, and programs. LWJGL allows you to access the OpenGL graphics library. It contains everything you need for creating 2D and 3-D games. LWJGL supports the powerful cross platform API OpenAL for creating music and sound effects, and OpenCL for cross-platform parallel programming.

libGDX is an LWJGL framework that allows cross-platform games. It includes a Box 2D engine, which allows you to create game physics and many graphics classes.

libGDX is made up of many modules. You can use it to create AI-based characters and control light behavior and physics.

You can create games for multiple platforms using libGDX or box2d, including Android, iOS, Windows and Linux. Cross-platform means that you don't have to create the code for every platform.

It is therefore a good idea for beginners to learn libGDX as a Java game developer.

What more?

Game development is more than just programming. You should also learn how to manage your project yourself.

Create pixel art, textures, and sprites of characters. This can be done with an image editor. You can use Paint.Net or Pinta to do this.

Design level maps. A tile set is required to create a map. A graphic editor can create it. To create a map using tiles, you can use Tiled.

Create texture atlases. Texture atlas is a single image that contains all of our sprites. Atlas speeds up the development process. This task can be completed with a Sprite Sheet Packer.

Make a graphical interface. Use Overlap2D, for example.

Many tutorials are available on how to use libGDX. Here's a link to the official one.

Conclusions

You can create your own game, regardless of whether you want to be a game designer or choose another branch of programming. This is a great way to learn Java. You are involved in every stage of a typical software project, from creation to release, when you code a game. You can see the results of your work, and you may share it with your friends or publish it somewhere (Google Play).