The official sun site is the best place to go.
But if you really want to get into 3d, may I suggest migrating to C++ and using DirectX or OpenGL. Java 3d is usable, but it is not as feature rich as DirectX/OpenGL and it is a lot slower because of the JVM dependency. The syntax of C++ is very similar to Java, though writing in C++ is a little bit more involved (no garbage collection for you!) but it makes for better 3d.

I have wrote in both Java and C++ in 3d and C++ is definitely the way to go.

Cheers, and good luck with whichever path you choose.

Quote:Original post by Ultimate_Fusion
i was made to learn java at uni and got dam good at it. and wanted to make games.
i have already learned th basics of c++.
I have herd alot of things about c/c++ that it is much better and faster at everything.

so whats the point in java then.

What's the point with Java?

Simple, true object oriented, distributed, robust, secure, portable, architecture neutral and multithreaded.

Though, if you need total control and better speed C++ is the right tool. But for someone starting out in games Java would be just fine. You can make some quite complex games in Java without noticing any appreciable slowdown from the language (unless you code like crap of course [smile]).

I wouldn't use Java3D though. Look for some OGL bindings.

Quote:Original post by Ultimate_Fusion
i was made to learn java at uni and got dam good at it. and wanted to make games.
i have already learned th basics of c++.
I have herd alot of things about c/c++ that it is much better and faster at everything.

so whats the point in java then.

C/C++ are very powerful languages indeed, but they are also much more complex. Don't believe the old lie that java is very slow though, these days its pretty respectable in terms of speed- and more than adequate for 'indie' game development. Also, as I am always saying- a lot of the speed in fast game engines comes from the efficiency of the algorithims, not what language is used.

Java has a lot of good features gunning for it, so don't think its entirely useless altogehter. With java you get a pretty hefty set of easy to use core API functions (no nightmarish WIN32 API to deal with here), automatic heap memory management and garbage collection (though managed C++ and C# has this too), not having to worry about pointer variables, as well as cross platform exectution. The price you pay for all these features is unsuprisingly, extra performance points. Whether you believe these features are worth the performance hit, is your own choice.

As ever, you should read as many informative articles you can find on the net and make your own decision on this, rather than listening to biased opinions from fans of both languages.

Why Java?

Taking game programming aside, it's by far the best language to develop nowadays, from simple desktop applications to scalable (and huge) enterprise or distributed applications. I don't mean to start a flame, that's my personal opinion and I believe many people here share it with me.

It is free to use (though not open source), portable (it will run in many popular OS), robust, etc, etc, etc.. Visit java.com for all the merchandising :)

Taking game programming into consideration, there are a few commercial quality games developed with Java, and many indie games as well.

If you want to see what Java can offer you in game development, take a look at jME. It's a game engine that sits on top of LWJGL, with plans to use JOGL as well.

Son Of Cain

Why does everyone say Java is "A LOT" slower then c++?
Thats not true. ;(
Ok, java3d is a little slower then c, but do you really need 300 Frames or is 280 ok if you can stay with java ??

Quote:Original post by cybergolem
but do you really need 300 Frames or is 280 ok...

Yes...yes I do ;)

I wasn't aware that Java had OGL bindings...looks like I need to do some reading myself.

Java is a wonderful language (it would be better if it were open source *glares at Sun*) and it definitely has its place in enterprise/desktop development and in games. The thing I really like about Java is how easy the Networking is, which is key for games nowadays. Everything Son of Cain said I agree with, yet I prefer C++ for games, for everything else I will use java. But as was said, make your own decision, there is no right or wrong one here.