Starting java game programming

What is the best way to learn java game programming?
Is OpenGL what i need to learn?
What is Slick? do i need to know this?
Could anyone please recommend any books / tutorials?
Any help would be appreciated, Thankss. :(happy):

What is your Java experience so far?

If your answer is zero, then start from the basics. Work through the basic tutorials, modifying any examples you come across to be a little more game-like.

When you get to Swing, get a basic display going. Draw a ball bouncing around the screen. Add a key listener to control the ball. Go from there. Start small.

Don't worry about OpenGL or other libraries until you've figured out the basics.

Thanks for the reply :)
I know a fair bit of java, and basic swing. So learn swing and get confident in that and then would i start to learn openGL?

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Originally Posted by scottsweb

Thanks for the reply :)
I know a fair bit of java, and basic swing. So learn swing and get confident in that and then would i start to learn openGL?

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I would use Swing and Java2D to get a basic game under your belt before you try tackling OpenGL or libraries. Learn one thing at a time instead of everything at once. Use a Swing Timer and some basic painting code to write a game of pong or something, then go from there.

Any books or tutorials you would recommend?

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Originally Posted by scottsweb

Any books or tutorials you would recommend?

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I'm working on it, haha, see my signature. But in the meantime:

Java tutorials: The Java™ Tutorials
Swing tutorials: Trail: Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing (The Java™ Tutorials)
Custom painting: Lesson: Performing Custom Painting (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing)
Swing Timers: How to Use Swing Timers (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing > Using Other Swing Features)

haha looks good :)
cheers!

Once you're comfortable with the concepts in java2, take a look at the LWJGL. It's what minecraft was made with, and it includes OpenGL, OpenAL, and OpenCL. I feel it is a better game platform than JOGL (another openGL binding for java) due to the included sound support and it is designed as more of a game library instead of a simple binding.

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Originally Posted by quad64bit

Once you're comfortable with the concepts in java2, take a look at the LWJGL. It's what minecraft was made with, and it includes OpenGL, OpenAL, and OpenCL. I feel it is a better game platform than JOGL (another openGL binding for java) due to the included sound support and it is designed as more of a game library instead of a simple binding.

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Adding on to what you said, if you don't really know where to start with the LWJGL, watch these tutorials. They really helped me. Even though he only has three up so far he said in the first one it will eventually become a game.

LINK: LWJGL For Beginners - YouTube