The Java Game Development Tutorial

German version / Deutsche Version

Welcome! These pages are not another introduction into the computer language java, but we want to teach you in a very detailed and simple way how to program online games in Java. This means, that you should be already able to program in Java, you should know classes, inheritance and of course the core language elements of Java. You don't have to know anything about Applets, Threads... . You will learn all these things in the tutorial section on these pages.
If you are not able to program in Java or any other language, then look at our Online Games section, where you can find, play and download some of the best online games in the web. Sometimes even the source code is included.
All suggestions, your own java games, your own tutorial about java game programming (for example AI, ...) are welcomed.
So have fun!

After a lot of hard work, we have made it to finish the English version of the tutorial. As I said, you should be already able to program in Java, although you don't have to be a expert! The tutorial will give you a very detailed introduction into the development of online games using Java. We will talk about Java Applets because everyone has a Internet browser, so everyone is able to play these games without installing the JDK! The first 5 chapters will lead you from the basic structure of a applet to the development of a whole (although pretty small) game. The next chapters (6 - ...) will give you solutions to problems like AI, level editors, random generation of landscapes... . At the end of every chapter you'll find a link to download the sourcecode of the applet we programmed in this chapter and you can take a look at the working applet too. You can also download the tutorial to read it offline! Alright, here we go!

1. Basic structure of an applet
2. Animation
1. Move a ball
2. Double buffering
3. Ball bouncing and change the direction
3. Sound und Gif's
1. Using sound in applets
2. Using pictures in applets
4. Event handling in applets
1. Mouse events
2. Keyboard events
5. The first complete game
1. Outline of the program and structure of classes
2. Random movement of the ball
3. Hit a ball by clicking on it
4. Count score and loose lifes
5. Change the mouse pointer
6. Start the game after double clicing on the applet
6. Advanced topics
1. Artificial intelligence for a pong like game
2. Generation of random 2D landscapes
3. A leveleditor for arraybased games
4. Scrolling
5. Movement of a cannonball in games like Worms, Ballerburg, Castles... (Applet + Sourcecode), Tutorial will be available someday
6. Movement of a snake in a Nibbles like game (Applet + Sourcecode), Tutorial will be available someday

You find the original version of this Tutorial under www.javacooperation.gmxhome.de