Browser based games, must I learn Java?

[Neoncamouflage]

I've recently had an interest in browser based games, like all the flash games you see on various sites I'm sure everyone visits when they're bored. Now I've been playing around with game design in Python, but in researching it I've discovered there's really no decent way to use Python alone in creating these games.

Everywhere I read says use Java, but to be honest I spent some time with Java and I hate it. Is there any other good language, possibly like Python, that can be used to create these games? Or am I just SOL without Java?

EDIT: Was also not at all sure whether to place this in this section or the programming one, so I apologize if I picked wrong.

[Beacon11]

Hahaha, I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get a particularly fuzzy feeling from Java. It just sorta feels dirty. That said, I'd point you towards HTML5/Javascript development.

[Neoncamouflage]

I had always kind of lumped Javascript in with Java, assumed it was just a simpler version of it, after a little research it seems they're two vastly different languages. I may check it out, thanks.

[Beacon11]

I had always kind of lumped Javascript in with Java, assumed it was just a simpler version of it, after a little research it seems they're two vastly different languages. I may check it out, thanks.

Oh heavens no, they are quite different. That's funny though, I used to lump them together when I was a kid.

Let me know if you've got any questions! I'd direct you to http://www.chromeexperiments.com/ -- it has some pretty cool Javascript examples.

[donkyhotay]

I had always kind of lumped Javascript in with Java, assumed it was just a simpler version of it, after a little research it seems they're two vastly different languages. I may check it out, thanks.

It's the name, just hearing javascript you (well I at least) think of a watered-down script version of regular java.

[DangerOnTheRanger]

There are much better options, IMHO, if you don't care about having your game work on some mobile devices. Namely, Panda3D - a complete FOSS Python game engine (that's used by Disney and CMU) has a web plugin available for it. Considering just how much more powerful Panda is over flat HTML5 + Javascript (not to mention it lets you use hardware-accelerated 3D graphics in the browser), I think it's the better choice.

[Beacon11]

Considering just how much more powerful Panda is over flat HTML5 + Javascript (not to mention it lets you use hardware-accelerated 3D graphics in the browser), I think it's the better choice.

I don't disagree (I had never heard of Panda3D before now), but you can get hardware acceleration from Javascript too using WebGL: http://www.chromeexperiments.com/webgl

[DangerOnTheRanger]

I don't disagree (I had never heard of Panda3D before now), but you can get hardware acceleration from Javascript too using WebGL: http://www.chromeexperiments.com/webgl

Panda's hardware acceleration works even on browsers that don't support WebGL, most notably Firefox <= 3.6 and Internet Explorer.

[R33D3M33R]

I would recommend JavaScript/HTML5. JavaScript is very easy to learn, especially if you are familiar with languages like PHP/Python/etc..

[Beacon11]

Panda's hardware acceleration works even on browsers that don't support WebGL, most notably Firefox <= 3.6 and Internet Explorer.

But Firefox is going to be on version 15 in a couple months!

Panda does look rather interesting though.