Slick 2D
I’ve been really getting into writing computer games in Java over the last 12 months. I tried all sorts of different libraries to find one which would help speed up the process and after trying a few like Java2D etc I came across Slick. This is an excellent library built on top of LWJGL (Light Weight Java Game Library). This also means that it uses accelerated graphics with full access to OpenGL.
Slick was created by a chap called Kev Glass and provides an excellent API. Its light, simple to understand but provides a great deal of flexibility so that you can do what ever you like both inside the library and outside it if necessary. One thing it is not is a game engine which forces you to do everything in a specific way defined by the creator of the engine. Slick is really their to help take care of the common low level stuff you always need to do in games and lets you implement than however you like.
The Slick website has loads of useful information, code examples and an active forum where you can get help with any problems you are having.
Since using Slick I have really been able to make progress in a couple of projects I’ve been wanting to work on. One is a remake of the 1984 classic MegaBlast by the BitMap Brothers and the other is a remake of Atic Atac from 1983 by Ultimate Play The Game.
I am afterall 30something and therefore these are the games I cut my teeth on as a lad. I like playing 3D games, but I have none of the mathematical skills necessary to create such a game. Instead I am like to create 2D games for which I have a least some chance of completing :-)
I plan to share my projects and experience with Slick in this blog which people will hopefully find useful. If you are interested in game programming in Java then I strongly suggest you check out Slick, it really is very good.
If your interested in checking out the progress of my projects, and they are far from finished, you can follow the links below.
Mike
