I’ve done a lot of programs in C# using Visual Studio. I know that C# is terrible for games (it becomes slower as more objects are on screen), and I’ve heard that Java is better for games, so I decided to try re-doing a board game in Java, using the NetBeans 7.0.1
I’ve done some basic things in the past, and by basic, I mean Java programs where the user can move a shark around or something.
But I’ve noticed that most of my Java programs were hard coded. If I wanted a window (a Frame), I’d have to type it in, set the size, blah blah blah. I’ve gotten used to the drag, drop, edit of Visual Studio, and while I am aware of (and trying to use) the drag and drop component functionality of NetBeans, I’m still having a hard time.
For instance, when creating a Java Desktop Application (from NetBeans), it automatically provides me with a Panel, which I believe would serve as the main “Window”. But I can’t edit it, or at least, can’t find the properties that I need to edit (size, start position, no min, max, close buttons, background images, etc.). My attempts at coding usually fails, because apparently, the Panel automatically generates code that I can’t edit.
I don’t want to hard code everything, since I can imagine it would be a nightmare (the board is an 8 x 9 square one. Every square is a button).
So, how should I begin? I tried doing both Java Application and Java Desktop Application (don’t know the difference between the two), but I still fall to the same problem; I can’t edit anything, at least not in the quick and easy way I’m used to in Visual Studio?
If this impossible, then I’m afraid I’ll have to stick to C#. A friend told me XNA is okay for games (said friend also told me XNA is overkill for a relatively simple board game).
Check out this post to first decide the language that best suits the kind of game(s) that you wish to build. The IDE choice to follow.