Multiplayer game hosted on a Web Server?

[Bakabaka]

So originally, I was going to make a multiplayer (client/server based) Atari Combat clone.  However, for portability and easier distribution, I was thinking of making it into an applet client with the server being on the web server.  Is there a way to do this?  What API's should I consider?

Here's a basic description of the game:
Simple 2D map (no scrolling)
Overhead view
Tank moves in only 4 directions (unlike original that rotates and moves forward and backword)
Tank can only shoot 5 bullets at a time (no bounce, straight shot)
Maximum of 10 players
Random respawn (with variable delay)
Scoreboard

Would I just use applets for the clients and then a servlet for the server?  Would there be performance issues?

[Jeff]

So originally, I was going to make a multiplayer (client/server based) Atari Combat clone.  However, for portability and easier distribution, I was thinking of making it into an applet client with the server being on the web server.  Is there a way to do this?

Probably a servlet.

Would there be performance issues?

Almost certainly if you try to pass game traffic through it.

If you went peer to peer for game traffic and only used the servlet for matchmaking it woudl likely work.

In  order to do peer to peer from a downloaded Java program (applet or webstart) though you will need to sign the code.

[blahblahblahh]

Would there be performance issues?

Almost certainly if you try to pass game traffic through it.

Disagree entirely. Even the godawful Tomcat can do > 100,000 requests / minute for servlets on normal server hardware (2.4Ghz p4). For the game described, it should work fine (although it's obviously not the easiest way of doing things if you had a shell account and could run arbitrary java server, getting a J2EE account is much easier)