Do I need to use OpenGL in my 2D Java sim game?

Question

Hi all. I have recently been developing a sim game in java, as many of my questions show, and it's come a long way! Graphically, it is somewhat lacking, and at current I'm using shapes for items, people, rooms ect.

I was looking at other similar projects, and noticed that one was using OpenGL. I have been reading CokeAndCode "space invaders 103 - refactoring and OpenGL", and I still don't know if it is something I need in my game or not.

Here is a video that I used for a previous question, but it still shows basically what I have so far (http://www.screenjelly.com/watch/Bd7d7pObyFo), although I have done a lot of refactoring and re coding over the last few weeks, but graphically, nothing has changed. As I understand it, I'm currently using java2D to do this.

I really don't know how I should continue graphically with this game. This is my first project I have done outside of learning for my own enjoyment, and so I'm still rather new to this.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

According to this, it's still largely possible to implement a working graphical game in Java2D with decent performance, as long as you make sure not to do a certain number of bad things.

It might help you to check and see how your approach is, compared to this.

I have no idea how far along Java has come with OpenGL support, so were I in your place I would probably just see how much refactoring of the Java2D code I could do, and figure out what to do from there.

Hope this helps, at least a bit.

Answer 2

How to continue graphically: use textures, more interesting animations (implement a simple physics engine and/or collision detection, that always looks nice).

When you go 3d (for example using opengl) you can add lighting effects to the equation, that usually does a lot to the aesthetics of the whole. For example if the moving circle was a sphere with a nice texture (marble or something), then you could make it really role over the board, and you could specify diffuse and specular reflection values to vary the lighting like for example here.

Camera movement can also beef up the graphics.

Answer 3

This could turn into a long subjective conversation quickly but I want to state the fact that you don't need openGL. Your application doesn't need to be the best looking one out there. Nethack still attracts people and between you and me : the graphics sucks.

Do you want to learn about 2D and 3D graphics and textures and so on ? Then try stuff... best way to learn. Then you can add this to your resume.

There are a lot of tutorial to do your first steps in OpenGL or some other graphic library. You can even try Qt Jambi. But once you start, you're in for a ride ;)

Answer 4

One good side of using opengl (even for 2D graphics) is that you will get (if properly done) hardware graphics acceleration for your scenes.

Also, you can use orthogonal projection and keep one of the axis (Z) as zero to do your 2D graphics. It will be easy if you want to add a 3D effect (like lightning or something) if you use OpenGL.

However it all depends on how much you want to improve the graphics, since adding OpenGL might make things a little more complicated than plain Java2D.