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[java] regarding a 2D tile based engine..help!

Started by amemorex Jan 15, 2003 at 10:28 PM 5 replies 250+ views

Original Post

Jan 15, 2003 at 10:28 PM

ok, here''s the deal. ive made quite a few 2D tile-based games in the past using straight API calls like BitBlt and what not..they all ran pretty fast, using simple win32 API commands is nice and easy to read, etc. well im currently working in java and basically im looking for a way to A. load images into an array, buffer, or something B. blit them out to the window in an easy manner, like blit(offsetX, offsetY, width, height, masktype). what should i look up? what library can achieve this in the most simplistic but efficient manner? ive heard of java2D but im not sure what the extent of it is, or if its overkill in this situation (ie: overloaded with useless stuff i dont need), or if its the ONLY thing i can use? basically what''s the most immediate way to jump from win32 API blitting in a C++ envrionment to drawing tiles in java. thanks!

stustill

Jan 15, 2003 at 11:00 PM

Java2D is what you are looking for!

I am not an expert on the topic (check out www.javagaming.org it has lots of info) but I believe VolatileImages are what you are after. Trying asking about it there, someone with more knowledge should be able to help you

Stu

Akujin13

Jan 16, 2003 at 3:46 PM

Easy topic.

What you want is some training in Pixel management. You can take any image and break it down into pixels using the PixelGrabber class. Then, you can reconstruct it using the MemoryImageSource class. Look both up and do some research. That should get you what you need to know.

-Akujin

Kentaro

Jan 17, 2003 at 9:06 PM

Maybe this solution can also be practical, but I''m an idiot at graphics myself...

Create a BufferedImage that''s about screen width and screen height and pad it with about two tiles on all sides. Then use getGraphics() to get a Graphics object. Then, for an appropriate 2-dimensional array, use the drawImage method from the Graphics object. Once you''ve iterated over the entire array, you''ll have a nice back-buffer but you don''t want to write it to the screen yet because it has more than you need. Use the getSubImage() method to get a BufferedImage the size of the screen from the one you just created.

What does everyone think? I''m curious about rendering a 2D tile-based engine as well.

This isn''''t life in the fast lane, it''''s life in the oncoming traffic.
-- Terry Pratchett

nonnus29

101

nonnus29

Jan 18, 2003 at 12:27 PM

I''m getting tired of pimping my stuff around here, I should just put it in a sig or something....

You can find the sources to two applet games on my site:

www.geocities.com/nonnus29/index.htm

and an example of a 2d side scrolling tile engine demo here (email me and I can get you a link to the source):

www.geocities.com/nonnus29/unionjack/test.htm

AWT is the way to go for making games; MemoryImageSource and BufferedImages are way overkill unless you want to do some interesting/wacko pixel effects. To me the only benefits of Java2d are effects like rotation and scaling which are too slow to be used in a game. And if anyone wants to play your game they will have to download a new JRE since 95% of users only have the OEM JRE. Of course the choice is yours.

microsage

Jan 19, 2003 at 5:23 PM

I too prefer AWT.

Ditto Brother Rat

Jan 19, 2003 at 8:05 PM

Hey, if we all made high quality WebStart games then no one would mind downloading it. No one minds downloading the new DirectX every year, do they? OK, I do. Plus it does feel like a waste not to use jview.exe which is sitting on almost everybody''s drive (except the ones with WinXP I guess). But Swing, collections, JAXP, etc are so nice...

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