2d/3d

[Jimmt]

Hello guys, you may have seen my previous post regarding which 3d libraries were best, however now I'm not sure whether to jump to 3d or not. I have 2-3 years before my college app., and I want to sell a game before that. If I do choose to stay with 2d I'll probably just learn Slick, but what do you guys think? And any game ideas?(any, just need inspiration.)

[jonjava]

Learn libGDX and stick to 2d. (more platforms, easier to "sell"/"publish")

Delve into 3d when you're comfortable with 2d and you really want to LEARN open_gl.

imo.

Also: http://the-witness.net/news/2011/06/how-to-program-independent-games/

[davedes]

IMO there are two ways to tackle 3D:

- Learn the "graphics programming" aspects; i.e. using OpenGL, shaders, matrix math, etc. This is relatively advanced, but it will make you a more versatile and knowledgeable game programmer.

- Learn the "game programming" aspects; i.e. using Unity3D or JMonkeyEngine and focusing on AI, pathfinding, game mechanics, game architecture, networking, and other "higher level" aspects.

If you just want to make games, stick to 2D as it will be easier (there will always be a market for 2D). I'd suggest using LibGDX over Slick, or even writing your own bare-bones 2D sprite engine with LWJGL (as it will give you a much greater understanding of the graphics pipeline).

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[ctomni231]

Really, you want to stick with what is easier, and that is going to be 2D.

It is much easier to design for and focus on the idea of the game. Especially since you really don't know what ideas you are going for. As for gaming ideas, I find it is easiest to look for inspiration from contests, since they really focus your thoughts into getting one thing done. Like in this thread for example...

http://www.java-gaming.org/topics/so-time-for-a-ld-thread-already/27159/msg/242691/view.html#msg242691

Sticking to a few of these ideas without the constrain of LD might make a really cool 2D game.

1000 Kittens
Abandoned
Afterlife
Beginning of Time
Break the Rules
Castles
Chain Reaction
Colony
Companion
Creation and Destruction
Curiosity
Deep Space
Don't Go Outside
End of the World
Evolution
Night
Parallel Worlds
Ruins
Survive
Trapped in Another World
Tunnels

So yeah, stick to learning LibGDX or Slick2D and get a good simple 2D game out there. Good luck!

[Jimmt]

Oh wow, libgdx sounds cool
Where do you recommend I learn it?

[jonjava]

http://libgdx.badlogicgames.com/getstarted.html

[Jimmt]

Hah, more difficult to set up on nbeans, but I'll figure it out

[ReBirth]

Better use Eclipse if you havent tried.

[delt0r]

I am going to go against the grain here and say that for some thing 3d is easier. Currently my game is 2d sprite based (my own code, shader based). But i want say simple animation, like a aircraft banking in turns... this is pretty easy in 3d, but in 2d the animation systems get complicated fast, and sometimes just impractical.

But restricticing yourself to 2d is a good idea for at least the start. I am not switching yet. We are going to go for some stylized art and game pace that removed the "wrongness" of things like banking in turns...

[matheus23]

I am going to go against the grain here and say that for some thing 3d is easier. Currently my game is 2d sprite based (my own code, shader based). But i want say simple animation, like a aircraft banking in turns... this is pretty easy in 3d, but in 2d the animation systems get complicated fast, and sometimes just impractical.

But restricticing yourself to 2d is a good idea for at least the start. I am not switching yet. We are going to go for some stylized art and game pace that removed the "wrongness" of things like banking in turns...

I'd say 3D is harder. Just because you need to do real modeling if you want to program real 3D games.
Making 2D Sprites is much easier than modeling 3D objects in blender for example.

(also, if you want, you can also create a model for your aircraft, then render images of it with different animations. Then put the aircraft into your game as sprites. It works and is often used. If you are able to model objects, or are modeller...)