Is Java a good gaming engine to use?

[Deleted member 386356]

I "accidentally" learned some Java coding whilst doing a very small and easy Minecraft mod (for pete's sake), and from seeing Java coding in hand overall, i see it as a very convenient game engine, i could probably use Java for a game in the future.
Although is it a really good game engine to use? at least for 2D side scrollers?

 

[Foxi4]

Java is not an engine, it's a programming language. You can make a game in it if you want to, sure, but if you only know "a little" of it, chances are you'll need to use some kind of a pre-existing framework that'll do the heavy lifting for you so you don't have to worry about lower level stuff like drawing on the screen.

 

[Deleted member 386356]

Java is not an engine, it's a programming language. You can make a game in it if you want to, sure, but if you only know "a little" of it, chances are you'll need to use some kind of a pre-existing framework that'll do the heavy lifting for you so you don't have to worry about lower level stuff like drawing on the screen.

So it's good for games?

 

[Mrrraou]

So it's good for games?

no

 

[Wuigi]

You can learn some C++ accidently if you want to do more lower level stuff.

 

[migles]

So it's good for games?

it's terrible.

 

[Foxi4]

It's hard to answer that question because it heavily depends on the game you're trying to make. If you want to make a silly side-scroller in 2D like you're saying in the OP, you don't need anything that Java wouldn't be able to give you. If you're coding Crysis 4, you might want to look for a language with more oomph and lower-level access, like C++.

 

[smileyhead]

Minecraft is written in Java.
It runs like shit.

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition is written in C++ (or C, I dunno.)
It runs much better than the Java version.

Go figure.

 

[migles]

Minecraft is written in Java.
It runs like shit.

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition is written in C++ (or C, I dunno.)
It runs much better than the Java version.

Go figure.

every 3d game that i played in java played like shit...
and i could play skyrim and other games at a good framerate....

 

[MarkDarkness]

Just use Game Maker. No need for learning a language in this case.

 

[Touko White]

Don't use Java. It's full of security holes and also is a messy, slow programming language.
C++ is way better.

 

[Subtle Demise]

it's terrible.

Minecraft is written in Java.
It runs like shit.

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition is written in C++ (or C, I dunno.)
It runs much better than the Java version.

Go figure.

every 3d game that i played in java played like shit...
and i could play skyrim and other games at a good framerate....

I logged into Runescape when I was really drunk after 10 years of not even thinking about it, and these days it's really advanced and the graphics have come a long way from barely animated flat ugly sprites. I believe the entire game is still written as a Java web applet, which is a pretty impressive feat. I don't really like the game anymore, but I am still imoressed what Jagex could do with measly Java.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I logged into Runescape when I was really drunk after 10 years of not even thinking about it, and these days it's really advanced and the graphics have come a long way from barely animated flat ugly sprites. I believe the entire game is still written as a Java web applet, which is a pretty impressive feat. I don't really like the game anymore, but I am still imoressed what Jagex could do with measly Java.

Actually, the new Runescape uses HTML5. It abandoned Java sometime this year (though I think the old version still uses it)

 

[Deleted member 366698]

Don't use Java. It's full of security holes and also is a messy, slow programming language.
C++ is way better.

And flash isn't?

 

[Touko White]

And flash isn't?

When did I imply that Flash didn't have security holes? -.-

 

[Deleted member 366698]

When did I imply that Flash didn't have security holes? -.-

I didn't only mention security holes...

 

[Nightwish]

So it's good for games?

Java and the Java ecosystem is fine or even great for many things, but not usually for gaming, probably just because nobody bothered to make it good at it. If you want to make a not very graphically demanding game, you can perfectly do it.
But I'd advise you to do what I'll do when I get around to try to make a game: use an existing engine like Unity or Godot that have the hard generic parts made for you and try to get a simple prototype running quickly, that will motivate you enough to finish your idea.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Don't use Java. It's full of security holes and also is a messy, slow programming language.
C++ is way better.

C++ isn't full of security holes because it comes with barely any libraries for a modern application. And security is the least of the concerns in making a game.
The language is verbose, not messy, and the JVM is pretty good, actually: you just have to wait for the JIT to start working, which is bad for games.

 

[tech3475]

Just use Game Maker. No need for learning a language in this case.

Speaking of which, Humble Bundle are doing a sale at the moment:
https://www.humblebundle.com/gamemaker-bundle

 

[MarkDarkness]

Speaking of which, Humble Bundle are doing a sale at the moment:
https://www.humblebundle.com/gamemaker-bundle

Look no further, OP.

 

[catlover007]

This thread is full myths about Java. Nowdays Java is fully suitable for making games(unless you want to make some big AAA graphics are everything title). Minecraft gets often referenced here, but Minecraft has terrible rendering code.
Also the connection between Java and security holes is only relevant when it comes to Java applet within the browser.

I can recommend this framework for making games in Java, it gives you everything you need to make 2D and 3D games: https://libgdx.badlogicgames.com/