Java 1.4 Game Programming (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) [Paperback]

Andrew Mulholland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wordware Game and Graphics Library | Publication Date: February 25, 2003

Java 1.4 Game Programming covers a number of key features in the game development environment, including graphics, sound, input, networking, and databases.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Mullholland and Glenn Murphy have each been programming games for more than six years and have several years of experience with Java. They are both in the final year of the Computer Games Technology program at the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland. Andrew is also a co-author of Developer's Guide to Multiplayer Games from Wordware Publishing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: Wordware Publishing, Inc. (February 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556229631
• ISBN-13: 978-1556229633
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,871,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed, April 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Java 1.4 Game Programming (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) (Paperback)

Let's see, int the book's preface, one author mentions that he hopes "this book makes me as much money as possible." That certainly should have been edited out, as it set the tone for the rest of book.

This (18 chapter, 647 pg) book is unfortunately another overpriced and disappointing attempt at cashing-in on the burgeoning game programming book industry.

The first 10 chapters, 338 pgs (yes HALF the book!) describe mere introductory Java -- Types, Classes, Arrays, Packages, Stream I/O, Threads, Applets, AWT, Keyboard/Mouse listeners -- nothing game programming-specific. Any decent Java tutorial book will cover this material. You don't need this book for that. I thought we were going to cover Game Programming, not intro Java?

The next 3 chapters, 162 pages, are devoted to slightly more advanced material (if you've never programmed in Java before) -- 2d animation, 1.4 Image I/O, MediaTracker, Java Sound API, Playing MIDI music, Garbage Collection, Object Creation, primitive Collision detection (via bounded circles and boxes), Swing -- Nothing extraordinary, but at least more related to game programming.

The following 3 chapters, 68 pages, discuss databases -- DB Intro, Using SQL with MySQL via command-line, JDBC.

The last 2 chapters, 70 pages, cover intro Java Networking and an brief intro to Jdk 1.4 NIO package: TCP Echo Server/Client, UDP Echo Server/Client, and of the 70 pages in this section, 16 pages are on JDK 1.4 NIO: channels, ByteBuffer, Blocking/Non-Blocking Buffers.

Yeah, just 16 pages on NIO. That and a bit mentioned on the 1.4 ImageI/O API's earlier in Java 2D section the book seemed to be the only Java 1.4 material in the book. Was that all for 1.4? If so, then the title "Java 1.4 Game Programming" was sure misleading.

The index is 9 pages long.

Java 3D programming isn't covered.

There are code snippets and many references on what would go in a "Game Framework" but where's the cool final showcase game to display it? As their final "I'm a Circle!" game in chapter 17 left much to be desired. What a let down.

Even the dated book "Java Game Programming for Dummies" had more usuable games than this book.

I felt cheated by this book. I was looking for more Java 1.4 game programming "meat", yet all I found was overpriced, rehashed, introductory Java gristle that can easily be found online, for free.

I don't recommend this book if you already know introductory Java and are ready to move to game development. You'll be disappointed by the first half of the book.

Unfortunately, until a good new Java Game programming book comes out, you'll find better Java code examples on the net ...Maybe the title "A Game Programming Introduction for Java beginners" would have been more appropriate.

I hope the author certainly doesn't make "alot of money" with this piece, as it really wasn't worth it. Keep looking elsewhere. A good Java game programming book will emerge, some day.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Extremely disappointed Buyer, April 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Java 1.4 Game Programming (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) (Paperback)

This book is nothing more than a rehash introduction to Java programming. You can find cheaper books on this subject as well as free tutorials on the web. There is very little of this book dedicated to actual game programming that can be used in today's game development. Some of the material covered on gaming I have seen in early and I mean earlier books. To have a book released in 2003 and not cover or even mention Java 3D or OpenGL is shameful. I don't know what the reason for releasing a Game Programming book without covering modern material is beyond me but perhaps the comments by one of the authors that the primary reason for the book was to make money is the clue. Come on guys.....that should have been edited out of the book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars To call this a "Game Programming" Book is a farce..., November 7, 2003

By 

Kristian H. Leigh (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java 1.4 Game Programming (Wordware Game and Graphics Library) (Paperback)

While not THE worst Java game programming book I have seen, it certainly is one of them. This is a 2003 title which adds practically nothing that hasn't been available for free on the net since '98. If you are looking for a legitimate guide on Java game dev, the book these two jokers have written is certainly NOT it. Short and sweet, this is a complete and utter waste of time.