Books

[JavaFoot]

Ok I know there are a ton of tutorials online for java, but I have problem a with computer screens where if I stare at it for a while I get very bad headaches that causes me to go to sleep. So I am asking what are the best books for learning Java and Java 2d gaming. Because I want to one day create a 2d rpg like Zelda and those kinds of games.

[CodexArcanum]

You could probably just download some Java tutorials and print them, or bring them to a copy shop (like kinkos) and have them print it.  

If you want a good book on Java, I'd reccomend Head First Java.  It has lots of pictures and fun examples.  Plus, it pretty much covers all the basics.  You're making visual stuff, using windows and widgets and such, by chapter 2 or 3.  I got my java basics from it and it seemed to be a good start.

For Java gaming, not sure what to tell you.  Maybe you could get an OpenGl binding (JOGL or LWJGL) and then a book on OpenGL?

[JavaFoot]

Ok I'll keep in mind on that book, but I rather buy a book rather than print tutorials(wastes to much ink and thats expensive).

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

[oNyx]

>I have problem a with computer screens

Check if you can use higher refresh rates. 60hz for example are of course pretty tiresome. 85hz is pretty ok and 100hz is somewhat perfect.

If that still doesn't help you should get a TFT display. Believe me it's really nice to work with those.

If you are wearing contacts - don't. PC work is about the worst thing you can do with those. Just use glasses instead.

---

Books... hmm... I have several Java books, but none of 'em is about game programming (*). I suggest to stop by at your local bookstore. Check out several (general) Java books and just pick the one you like most. Learn all those basics and then move on.

(* but I have several about games in general)

[deepFlame]

There is a good book about Java game programming available from David Brackeen. It's called "Developing Games in Java". There is a homepage also: http://www.brackeen.com/javagamebook/ . You can find all sources and a WebStart game demo there.

I've bought it and I'm quite pleased with it. No introduction to Java, only game related stuff.

[dtjavanet]

To All

I thoroughly recommend David Brackeens book developing Games in Java, good for beginners like myself.

David Thomson

[Shigsy]

Im just about to start my first java game so i was looking for a good book to help me get started. After seeing this thread i read the reviews of this book on amazon and it sounds like exactly what i was looking for. Bought it yesterday, should have it in a few days. Ill post my views of the book here when i get it.
Thanks for the recommendation  

[Alex84]

Hi!
I got Brackeen's book but in my opinion, it is really not for newbies, but for at least intermediates. If you only know Java basics (like me), stay away from it for a while and get knowledge of threads, exceptions, Swing, LinkedLists and other advanced topics first. You should be very familiar with java, I think.

Has anybody read Java2 Game Programming by Thomas Petchel? On german Amazon, it only received good reviews and it seems to cover also beginner-stuff.
What do you think about this book?

All answers are appreciated.
Alex

[gangrel-br]

I got Brackeen's book but in my opinion, it is really not for newbies, but for at least intermediates. If you only know Java basics (like me), stay away from it for a while and get knowledge of threads, exceptions, Swing, LinkedLists and other advanced topics first. You should be very familiar with java, I think.

That's what I love about this book: it is for game dev newbies, not Java newbies, so it can focus on what is important: Game Dev!  

So, learn Java first, then read this book, it is worth it!  

[Alex84]

Maybe we could put it this way:
Brackeen's book is worth learning Java .

-Alex