Java 1.4 Game Programming

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.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed, April 20, 2003
By A Customer
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.