I have been given a project to learn lwjgl and openGL and OpenAL, and to make a graphically updated version of space invaders. Having played with the example code on the lwjgl website i noticed that the graphics look bad no matter what i do to the gif images.
I am looking to make the graphics as good as possible but not too complicated as i am new to all of this, i do know java however.
As you lot know more than me about all this can you tell me if the best i would get it looking is by making it in 3d but viewing it from a fixed angle, just so it looks better, still got to actually play 2d you see. Is the best way to do this by using 3ds images (3d models) off a website and loading them in using a texture loader of some sort.
I don't really know where to start you see but if i get it to look and play well my uni will start teaching it in the modules which will be really good!
Any replies will be greatly appreciated, basically as i dont know what you can and cant do with opengl and lwjgl, i would like it if someone experienced can just give me the best options.
Thanks everyone, this is my first post but hopefully it won't be my last ay!

ps would jogl be better, i have just found out that if i had to i could use that instead to do this