Which framework or library should I use for a puzzle game, match 3 style.

[johnnyJava]

Besides the stock Java libraries, is there a standard path developers start down to create games?  I don't mean learning Java.  That part is obvious.  I mean which library besides Oracle's, unless you think Java2d is appropriate.  I looked at JOGL, but that does not appear to be the best route because of the complexity.  I don't know about the other libraries.  There seems to be tons of possible things I could use.

Thanks.  I'm sure it has been asked, but I don't know if it has been this specific.

[Slyth2727]

Wow I'm predicting these with pretty good accuracy.
This is the 3rd time in a very short period of time that this has been asked. Please. Use the damn search bar.
You don't need to be specific about this, there's plenty of information on what the different libraries offer. The main ones are LWJGL, LibGDX, and jMonkeyEngine as well as maybe a couple others.
It's generally suggested to use LWJGL because you get a better idea of what's going on under the hood.

Now I'll direct you to this thread here: http://www.java-gaming.org/topics/from-2d-to-3d-game-libraries/32897/msg/308350/view.html#msg308350

I predict the next one will be in 4 days.

[johnnyJava]

I did use the search bar.  I saw very few posts about match three style games.  I will read the other thread.

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[Opiop]

A game library isn't developed for one game or style in particular. I have no idea why you think that searching for a match three style game library would return any results.

[Slyth2727]

Didn't realize how harsh that sounded, excuse me for that.
But anyways, for that game type. From what I've seen in google, it's like a flying sim or something? So I'd either suggest jMonkeyEngine or LWJGL, depending on the amount of work you want to do. You can get the different information about those two from the different threads here.

[johnnyJava]

Didn't realize how harsh that sounded, excuse me for that.
But anyways, for that game type. From what I've seen in google, it's like a flying sim or something? So I'd either suggest jMonkeyEngine or LWJGL, depending on the amount of work you want to do. You can get the different information about those two from the different threads here.

No worries.  By match 3 I mean the ones where you move some object into a pattern of three to make the block disappear.  There is a boatload of them on Facebook.  I guess Bewjeweled is the first one.  The latest giant is Candy Crush.  There are all sorts with candy, fruit, you name it.

I'll look into LWJGL.  I would try something more abstracted, but I like to stay low level, at least until I understand what's going on, and I see myself writing lots of boilerplate code nor falling in to the NIH syndrome.

I have seen the many libraries available.  Like Java EE, there is a big stack with lots of possibilities.  Some lend to 3D, some 2D to 3D, some 2D, and so on.

[Slyth2727]

Ah those types of games. In that case, check out LWJGL/JOGL or LibGDX. Those are both 2D capable libraries, LibGDX based more on 2D and LWJGL can go either way 3D or 2D. You can find out more on those other threads here. Check out each one's site too.

http://libgdx.badlogicgames.com/
http://lwjgl.org/
http://jogamp.org/

[ctomni231]

Well played Slyth, well played. Medal unlocked... 

Though, yeah, I'd just look into LibGDX if I am heading for match 3. I mean, the simplest of that game has to be Tic-Tac-Toe (Naughts and Crosses), and you can literally code that in anything. The only type of game I've seen LibGDX promote well is physics using Box2D, Tiled (2D tile based games), and Scene2D (for making fluid menu systems). However, I think there isn't really great library support for specific game types and that you'll have to do most of the heavy lifting (graphics & logic) yourself.

[JESTERRRRRR]

I've been in this position and tried pretty much all the routes (Libgdx, jogl, jme3, JPCT(favourite), libgdx, slick, java2d) and I'm gonna go ahead and recommend libgdx for anything 2d. Learning opengl via lwjgl or jogl just wasn't worth the effort in my personal experience; just wanted to get on and make games.

[johnnyJava]

I've been in this position and tried pretty much all the routes (Libgdx, jogl, jme3, JPCT(favourite), libgdx, slick, java2d) and I'm gonna go ahead and recommend libgdx for anything 2d. Learning opengl via lwjgl or jogl just wasn't worth the effort in my personal experience; just wanted to get on and make games.

Do you think the OpenGL would help you learn how to do things you wouldn't otherwise know how to do?  Is it worth knowing?

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[gimbal]

Do you think the OpenGL would help you learn how to do things you wouldn't otherwise know how to do?  Is it worth knowing?

Knowledge is everything. There is never a reason not to learn something, any piece of the puzzle you add to your knowledge base ultimately leads to a better understanding of the beast you're trying to tame.

Its more a question of WHEN to learn it. If you want to do only 2D games then you don't really have a reason to learn it when you have LibGDX - not yet anyway. It starts to become interesting to learn computer graphics theory and OpenGL when you want to go a little further than the bare basics, applying graphical effects and doing transformations and such.

[ForeignGuy]

Yeah i think libGDX the best!

[JESTERRRRRR]

I have to be honest, so far using Libgdx, JPCT and JME3 my knowledge of openGL has not helped me whatsoever. There probably will come a time when I'd like to do something that isn't provided 'out of the box' by these llibraries, but I spent only a few months learning openGL and definitly wont be enough knowledge if the time comes. In my experience it was time wasted. (Just me, plenty will disagree and everyone wants to do different things)