ch1.htm

对于程序员来说可以利用JAVA来开发网络游戏！

a standard usage of the Web.
<H2><A NAME="NonJavaBasedGames"><B><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#FF0000>Non-Java
Based Games</FONT></B></A></H2>
<P>
There are already a variety of gaming environments on the Internet
carving out the future of gaming. Some of these environments are
Web-based, whereas others have little dependence on the Web. They
are all dependent on client software running on a particular platform.
Nevertheless, they are worth checking out because they are a solid
sign of the changing climate surrounding the commercial game community
and how it addresses the Internet. First, let's take a look at
the Internet game services that don't rely on Java technology.
<P>
<CENTER><TABLE BORDERCOLOR=#000000 BORDER=1 WIDTH=80%>
<TR><TD><B>Note</B></TD></TR>
<TR><TD>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
Most of the non-Java based Internet game services don't actually develop their own games. They typically allow you to play existing commercial games having Internet support. The role of the service is mainly to provide a standard means to connect with 
other players and correlate playing the games.</BLOCKQUOTE>

</TD></TR>
</TABLE></CENTER>
<P>
<P>
The following are some of the more popular Internet game services
that aren't based on Java:
<UL>
<LI>Mpath
<LI>Cyber Warrior Network
<LI>ImagiNation Network
<LI>Total Entertainment Network
<LI>Outland
<LI>Sim-Net
</UL>
<H3><A NAME="Mpath"><B>Mpath</B></A></H3>
<P>
Mpath Interactive has announced plans for a summer, 1996 release
of a Web-based game service called Mplayer, which promises to
&quot;bring the excitement of real-time multiplayer gaming to
the Internet's World Wide Web for the first time.&quot; Mplayer
is pc-based and plans to offer games from well-known game publishers
aimed at adult gamers. Mpath also plans to have contests, tournaments,
and special events all oriented toward gaming and leisure interests.
<P>
The Mplayer service will be speech-enabled so that players will
be able to share verbal dialog as they play. In addition, the
service will provide a general chat area for post-game conversation
and strategic planning. The Mpath Web site is located at <TT><A HREF="http://www.mpath.com">http://www.mpath.com</A></TT>,
and is shown in Figure 1.3.
<P>
<A HREF="f1-3.gif" ><B>Figure 1.3 :</B> <I>The Mpath Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="CyberWarriorNetwork"><B>Cyber Warrior Network</B></A>
</H3>
<P>
The Cyber Warrior Network is an Internet game service currently
focusing on a single game, Rubies of Eventide. Rubies of Eventide
is a pc-based multiplayer 3-D fantasy adventure game that has
been developed exclusively for Internet play via the Cyber Warrior
Network. For more information about the Cyber Warrior Network
and Rubies of Eventide, check out its Web site at </TT><A HREF="http://www.cyberwar.com">http://www.cyberwar.com</A></TT>
(see Figure 1.4).
<P>
<A HREF="f1-4.gif" ><B>Figure 1.4 :</B> <I>The Cyber Warrior Network Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="ImagiNationNetwork"><B>ImagiNation Network</B></A>
</H3>
<P>
Another pc-based gaming service, the ImagiNation Network, sports
more than 40 multiplayer games and hundreds of chat rooms, bulletin
boards, and tournaments. The ImagiNation Network even has an e-mail
list and newsletter to keep its members informed. To find out
more, go to its Web site at <TT><A HREF="http://www.inngames.com">http://www.inngames.com</A></TT>
(see Figure 1.5).
<P>
<A HREF="f1-5.gif" ><B>Figure 1.5 : </B><I>The ImagiNation Network Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="TotalEntertainmentNetwork"><B>Total Entertainment
Network</B></A></H3>
<P>
The Total Entertainment Network (TEN) is one of the more promising
Internet game services, because of its connection with established
commercial game publishers. Several major companies in the game
industry have signed on with TEN, some of them exclusively. The
list currently includes Apogee/3D Realms, Maxis, MicroProse, SimTex,
Spectrum Holobyte, and SSI. For more information on the Total
Entertainment Network, look at its Web site, which is located
at <TT><A HREF="http://www.ten.net">http://www.ten.net</A></TT> (see
Figure 1.6).
<P>
<A HREF="f1-6.gif" ><B>Figure 1.6 : </B><I>The Total Entertainment Network Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="Outland"><B>Outland</B></A></H3>
<P>
Outland is a Macintosh-based Internet gaming service offering
multiplayer games such as Chess, Go, Backstab, Reversi, and the
popular space strategy game, Spaceward Ho! Outland also includes
chat rooms and the capability to play multiple games at once.
For the latest scoop on Outland, visit its Web site at <TT><A HREF="http://www.outland.com">http://www.outland.com</A></TT>
(see Figure 1.7).
<P>
<A HREF="f1-7.gif" ><B>Figure 1.7 : </B><I>The Outland Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="SimNet"><B>Sim-Net</B></A></H3>
<P>
Sim-Net is the only Internet gaming service mentioned here that
supports both pcs and Macintoshes. Sim-Net includes a chat feature
as well as organized tournaments. For more information about Sim-Net,
check out its Web site at <TT><A HREF="http://www.simnet1.com">http://www.simnet1.com</A></TT>
(see Fig-ure 1.8).
<P>
<A HREF="f1-8.gif" ><B>Figure 1.8 : </B><I>The Sim-Net Web site.</I></A>
<H2><A NAME="JavaBasedWebGames"><B><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#FF0000>Java-Based
Web Games</FONT></B></A></H2>
<P>
Along with the Internet game services that don't rely on the Java
technology, there are already a few online games and services
based on Java. These games are good examples of the excitement
Java has already generated in an amazingly short amount of time.
They are also interesting in how they each handle the details
of integrating games into the Web page environment.
<P>
The following are some of these Java-based Web games and services:
<UL>
<LI>Avalon
<LI>Internet MahJong Server
<LI>iChess
<LI>Unearthed
</UL>
<H3><A NAME="Avalon"><B>Avalon</B></A></H3>
<P>
Avalon is a multiplayer role-playing game that includes both human-controlled
characters and imaginary computer-controlled creatures. Although
the core gaming environment itself is not based on Java, there
is a Java client that interacts with the central game server.
Avalon is presented as an entire world that evolves as new players
join and contribute their actions. The Avalon Web site, which
is shown in Figure 1.9, is located at <TT><A HREF="http://www.avalon-rpg.com">http://www.avalon-rpg.com</A></TT>.
<P>
<A HREF="f1-9.gif" ><B>Figure 1.9 : </B><I>The Avalon Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="InternetMahJongServer"><B>Internet MahJong Server</B></A>
</H3>
<P>
The Internet MahJong Server (IMS) is an entirely Java-based game
server that provides virtual gambling rooms for the popular Chinese
tile game MahJong. The fact that it is entirely built on Java
means that players using a variety of different types of computer
systems can seamlessly play games together. IMS is located at
<TT><A HREF="http://www.real-time.com/MJ/mj.html">http://www.real-time.com/MJ/mj.html</A></TT>
and is shown in Figure 1.10.
<P>
<A HREF="f1-10.gif" ><B>Figure 1.10 : </B><I>The MahJong Server Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="iChess"><B>iChess</B></A></H3>
<P>
iChess is a multiplayer chess game written entirely in Java. It
includes a chat window and a lot of freedom with regard to how
a game is carried out. For example, you can play live with another
player or you can connect and make a move when the other player
is not connected. In the latter case, the game progresses while
players make moves at their own leisure. To try out a game of
iChess, check it out at <TT><A HREF="http://www.ichess.com">http://www.ichess.com</A></TT>
(see Figure 1.11).
<P>
<A HREF="f1-11.gif" ><B>Figure 1.11 : </B><I>The iChess Web site.</I></A>
<H3><A NAME="Unearthed"><B>Unearthed</B></A></H3>
<P>
Unearthed is a multiplayer fantasy world that enables different
players to interact together in real time. It is written entirely
in Java and demonstrates the usage of a high level of graphical
content in Java. Although it is still in its early development
stages, Unearthed is worth checking out. It is located at <TT><A HREF="http://www.mit.edu/people/twm/unearthed">http://www.mit.edu/people/twm/unearthed</A></TT>
and is shown in Figure 1.12.
<P>
<A HREF="f1-12.gif" ><B>Figure 1.12 : </B><I>The Unearthed Web site.</I></A>
<H2><A NAME="Summary"><B><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#FF0000>Summary</FONT></B></A>
</H2>
<P>
Today you learned about the current climate surrounding the Internet
and the World Wide Web and how it impacts gaming. You found out
some of the aspects of the Web that are appealing to game players,
which are in turn causing a rush for game developers to move their
games to the Web. This discussion gave you some insight into why
the Web is so important to the future of games.
<P>
The second half of today's lesson focused on some of the more
popular Web sites that support online gaming. Some of them are
strictly Internet-based and require platform-specific client applications,
whereas others consist of full-blown Java games. These Web sites
give you a good place to start when you are assessing the state
of games on the Web. Tomorrow you move on to learning more specifics
about how Java impacts Web games.
<H2><A NAME="QA"><B><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#FF0000>Q&amp;A</FONT></B></A>
<BR>
</H2>

<TABLE>
<TR VALIGN=TOP><TD WIDTH=50><B>Q</B></TD><TD ><B>Are interactive commercial Web games poised to replace traditional games as we know them?</B>
</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=TOP><TD WIDTH=50><B>A</B></TD><TD>Maybe someday, but not in the immediate future. You can expect to see more games supporting the Internet as a networking medium for multiple players, but games based solely on the Web are still a ways off. This 
is mainly due to the fact that programming languages supporting Web-based games, such as Java, are still in their infancy. You learn a lot more about this in tomorrow's lesson.
</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=TOP><TD WIDTH=50><B>Q</B></TD><TD><B>Are there any other obstacles slowing the evolution of the Web as a medium for gaming?</B>
</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=TOP><TD WIDTH=50><B>A</B></TD><TD>Yes, the other big obstacle facing Web games is the bandwidth limitation imposed by modem connections. Because most Web users connect to the Web over a relatively slow modem connection, there are very real 
limitations on how much game data can be sent during a game.
</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=TOP><TD WIDTH=50><B>Q</B></TD><TD><B>Because Web games are online, and therefore readily available without any extra software, how do game companies make money from them?</B>
</TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=TOP><TD WIDTH=50><B>A</B></TD><TD>The current trend is toward charging a monthly membership fee for belonging to an online game service. This membership typically entitles you to a certain number of hours and the option to play a variety of 
different games. It's not yet clear whether this arrangement will work as Web games get more established. I'm not sure how many game players like the idea of paying a monthly bill for a gaming service, even if it ends up averaging to be around the same 
cost of buying games outright.
</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="Workshop"><B><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#FF0000>Workshop</FONT></B></A>
</H2>
<P>
The Workshop section provides questions and exercises to help
solidify the material you learned today. Try to answer the questions
and go over the exercises before moving on to tomorrow's lesson.
You'll find the answers to the questions in appendix A, &quot;Quiz
Answers.&quot;
<H3><A NAME="Quiz"><B>Quiz</B></A></H3>
<OL>
<LI>What technology is poised to bring interactive gaming to the
Web?
<LI>What is potentially the most intriguing aspect of writing
games for the Web?
</OL>
<H3><A NAME="Exercises"><B>Exercises</B></A></H3>
<OL>
<LI>Try out a few of the Internet and Web-based games listed in
today's lesson.
<LI>Think of some of some of your favorite games and how they
might scale to the Web environment. Does the Web stand a chance
of enhancing their playability?
</OL>
<P>
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