Noobest question ever.

[you_wish]

I would like to make a game and i'm tired of using BAD programs like "RPG Maker 2000" or something. So i'm wondering how do you make Java games? Where do i download a program that lets me make these? And how long would it take for me to learn/understand Java language and be able to create my own stuff?
Any help is appreciated. And please....be kind.

[Jeff]

Hm.

Have you ever done any kind of programming before?  From your question I'm assuming not.

Java itself is a programming language.   There are some "game-editor" type apps out there written in Java if that what yo uare  lookign for. Some of the other guys may havew good pointer for those.

Otherwise, you are taking the step from program-user to programmer.  Welcome, but be aware that you have a lot to learn.  Before you can start writing your dream game you need to learn some programming fundementals on simpler projects.  

"Head First Java" is not a bad book for beginning programmers.  Some of the other guys may have other suggestions.  We'd be happy to help you as you run into things in those you don't understand.

Learning some basic coding is pretty easy.  Learnign everything there is to know about computer programming cna take more then one lifetime.  Somewhere inbetween there, you will be ready to tackle your game project. it all depends  on how ambitious that game project is.  As I mentioned Id start with some very simple goals.  Something like minesweeper.  Following that I'd suggest diving into a classic-game.  Pong, Pac man, Asteroids, something of abotu that levelk of complexity.

Ocne you've done that, you'll probably be where you cna start to gauge your own skill level and consider further projects.

[CaptainJester]

You can start with "The Java Tutorial" -> http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html.

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

[Malohkan]

www.gamelizard.com

I made all of those games except for Rimscape using a summer's worth of learning.  I started having one class of C++, then I went online and looked for some example source for Java, played with some demo's, and started writing code.  Any time I needed to do something I didn't know how to do, I went to http://www.javaalmanac.com .  If I couldn't find my answers there or on Google, I'd search forums here.  That's all you need.

[Schabby]

When I started learning Java several years ago, I also had the dream to develop my own game (something like a space trading battle science simulator). I had many disappointing moments in this time, especially when professional games entered the market that covered my idea but were far better.

At work and in the university, I programmed a lot of programs, but they never reached the complexity and the degree of difficulty of game development. I realized that games combine all the tough things at the same time: nice and smooth graphics, sound, AI, physics, Software Engineering and it has to run fast (which is actually the most difficult thing). Of course some games don't require some of these aspects that much.

I'm still a greenhorn in game development but it's fun. It just takes some time...  

[FoolishFate]

I took a java course, but the most advanced topic it covered was threads, so it wasn't a lot of use, but I have learned a lot from this forum, and some tutorials on the net. The one that has helped me most was probably this space invaders one.. http://www.planetalia.com/cursos/index.jsp
it doesn't go into a lot of detail, but after months and months of messing with the code, using techniques from other tutorials, and reading posts on this board, I've almost finished my first main project, and learnt a hell of a lot more than my course could ever teach me.