With the release of Java 1.4, it is now possible to develop more advanced computer games using the Java language than ever before. Java 1.4 Game Programming focuses on the technical aspects of game coding using the latest release of Java, beginning with an introduction to the Java coding language and building upon that knowledge by exploring the key elements required to develop games, such as graphics, input, sound, and networking. Features new in Java 1.4, including full-screen exclusive mode, new graphics features, and NIO networking, are also covered.

• Gain a solid foundation in the Java 1.4 language.
• Learn key issues associated with graphics coding in Java.
• Understand the importance of threads throughout all related topics.
• Find out how to handle mouse and keyboard input correctly in a game environment.
• Develop a reusable sound manager for your games.
• Learn about animation, collision detection, and high-resolution timing.
• See how to create your own in-game GUI system.
• Create a solid game framework for use in your own game projects.
• Learn how to develop multiplayer games in Java.

About the Authors Andrew Mullholland and Glenn Murphy have each been coding 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.