Java Games

Developed by Sun Microsystems and launched in 1995, Java is a computer programming language and it the key part of Sun's Java platform. The language gets much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a less complicated object model and fewer low-level facilities.

Since it was introduced in late 1995, it has become one of the world's most popular programming languages.

In order to allow programs written in the Java language to be run on almost any device, programs are conformed to byte code, which can be achieved by any JVM, despite the environment.

Java is used in three editions: Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition and the Micro Edition (Java ME). The latter is used to create software with small, limited resources, such as mobile phones and PDA's.

Jave ME was built to replace a similar technology called PersonalJava. Sun provides reference implementation for Java ME, which helps others implement their own versions of the standard. But it does not provide free binary implementations onto mobile phones, rather letting third parties provide their own.

Java ME is a very well-liked option for generating games for cell phones, as they can be copied onto a PC during the development stage and easily uploaded to mobile phones.

Java ME devices employ a profile. The most used of these are the Mobile Information Device Profile aimed at cell phones. These are Over the Air (OTA) files and are used via a wireless carrier network.

Built for cell phones, the Mobile Information Device Profile boasts GUI API, and MIDP 2.0 includes a basic 2D gaming API. Applications written for this profile are called MIDlets. Almost all new cell phones come with a MIDP implementation, and it is now "the" standard for downloadable cell phone games. However, many cell phones can run only those MIDlets that have been approved by the carrier, especially in North America.

However Jave ME limitations have led to the implementation of other native binary formats for more sophisticated games.

One of the most popular supported Jave ME games is Tourality, a real life multiplayer GPS game for mobile phones. The challenge is to reach specific geographic locations by running, biking or driving before others in real-time.