Hi, I am working on additing/improving special effects for a Java game. Since I lack the artistic abilities to simpli draw what I need, I guess I have to resort to coding the special effects. I''ve posted the question on the other boards and found out that I should probably look into using a particle system (for effects such as fire/lightning/smoke/etc.) I am trying to find an example or a tutorial on the subject, preferably a tutorial particularly for Java, so I''ve been sent to this board. I am using Java1.1 to achieve widest browser compatibility so things like java3d are out of question. Thank you, Alex

particle systems and Java3D involve 3D, and from the topic of your post it seems like you are looking for a 2D solution. The best and most cross-platform way would be to animate an image of fire or smoke. If drawing them is out of the question you can either find someone to draw them for you, or get a 3D modeling program and render images of smoke/fire. 3D modeling programs usually come with an easy way of creating images of smoke/fire.

You can do particle systems in 2 dimensions. Even if you were to do them in 3d, you could do them without Java3d. I think you should look into particle systems if you need a fire effect, don''t know about smoke or lightning though.

Henry

You can do use particle systems in 2D. Here is a link with some cool examples and source code in Java:

http://www.gamedev.net/columns/features/diariesandsites/javaextreme/

You must click on Effects and Tricks in the left frame. Then click away in the Java applet.

Latrobe,

Thank you so much. This link looks exactly like what I''ve been looking for all this time I knew it exists somewhere...

Alex

PS: I don''t want to sound ungrateful, but if anyone knows of a more detailed tutorial page, or of an example of more general particle system (it seems that you can do anything with it in theory, but the example from latrobe does mostly explosions and is a bit obfuscated).
The exapmple given by latrobe is a good start for me but does not cover everything I plan to do.

Here's a url, I've not had a chance to read through it yet. But you might find it useful.

http://home.worldonline.dk/~erleben/projects/particles/default.html

War doesn't determine who is right, war determines who is left.

Edited by - Wrathnut on August 7, 2000 12:20:51 PM

Thank you for all your help Wrathnut.

Unfortunately, this particular tutorial lacks the important parts... The theory of particle system, conclusion and most importantly the ''general purpose particle system'' are empty pages... The plasma fire page is marginally interesting, but not so useful.

Please let me know of any other tutorials you might find and thank you again,
Alex

I think we should start a new thread devoted to particle systems in java.. Hell I''d be happy to work on a tutorial with a few other people, if anyone else is interested. Who knows if we do a good job we could even get it posted as an article here on GameDev... Any takers?

War doesn't determine who is right, war determines who is left.

Hey Alexr, Here''s another link to a page with some particle theory in it. It''s towards the very bottom of the page.


http://www.it.bond.edu.au/inft340/lecture6/lecture6.htm

War doesn't determine who is right, war determines who is left.