Web Start vs Applet

[Darrin]

Hi all,

So I basically completed my first Java game.  Woot!   I want to release it as a traffic builder, hopefully capturing ad revenue from it from my web site.  After I get a chance to show it to you all of course.

I was thinking that it would be easy just to convert it to an applet but that doesn't seem to be the case.  I'm using a Canvas on a panel with a doublebuffer strategy.   800x600.  There are tons of warnings about terrible frame rates at this size.    Many people talk about the bugs and slow graphics of applets.    I looked over Brackeen's pulpcode frame work and got a bit scared--dang that guy has put in a ton of work into it.   

I then started looking at Web start but it seems like once it is installed the user doesn't have to go back to the website to launch the application.    Is there an easy way to make sure they always return to your website to launch with weblaunch?   Or perhaps launch the website everytime the application is run...putting up a message like application up to date.

I think the target audience should have the latest greatest java 1.6.  Any thoughts if I should just continue converting to an applet or go for web start?

Thanks.

Darrin

[DzzD]

this one may help :

http://www.java-gaming.org/topics/applet-vs-webstart-what-do-you-prefer-as-a-end-user/20044/view.html

[SimonH]

If your game doesn't need local storage or native libs then applets every time. Applets and webstart are almost identical in performance terms (+you can webstart an applet). I'd target 1.4 or 1.5 though; java 1.4+ means about 75% of machines, 1.6 is about 50% (and boy do those mac users get annoyed about not having 1.6!).