Learning About 3d Java Games: Grades, Material Standards, and Industrial Applications

Types of 3D Java Games

The 3D Java games ecosystem offers a diverse range of experiences, appealing to strategic thinkers, rhythm enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and casual players alike. As one of the foundational programming languages for Android game development, Java enables robust cross-platform compatibility and performance optimization. While primarily associated with Android, Java-based games also extend to other mobile operating systems and standalone platforms.

Developers leverage frameworks such as JavaSE, JavaME CLDC, and JavaME MIDP—each offering distinct graphics rendering capabilities and hardware access levels—to build immersive 3D experiences. These frameworks support various distribution channels, including independent gaming portals, messaging apps, and official marketplaces like Google Play, contributing to a rich library of genres and gameplay mechanics.

Solid Sphere Racing

Racing / Arcade

In this futuristic racing experience, players control a high-speed vehicle conceptualized as a dynamic solid sphere, navigating through gravity-defying tracks filled with sharp turns, loops, and obstacles. The physics-based gameplay emphasizes momentum, balance, and precision timing.

Players must master the inertia of their spherical craft across multiple challenging circuits, each increasing in complexity. Success requires reflexes, spatial awareness, and practice to perfect racing lines and avoid collisions.

Pro Tip: Focus on smooth directional transitions rather than abrupt movements—maintaining controlled drifts can help preserve speed through tight corners.

Act Now!: The Music Game

Rhythm / Action

A vibrant fusion of rhythm mechanics and action gameplay, Act Now! immerses players in a musical universe where beats dictate movement and combat. With an energetic soundtrack featuring intergalactic melodies and danceable rhythms, the game challenges players to synchronize their inputs with the music.

Using a gamepad or touchscreen, players guide an animated character through colorful levels, executing timed button presses or gestures that match the musical cues. Precision leads to higher scores, combo multipliers, and unlockable content.

Pro Tip: Tap your foot or nod your head to internalize the beat—this improves timing accuracy and helps anticipate upcoming sequences.

Terra Incognita: The Creepy Journey, Part 2

Adventure / Puzzle / Horror

The sequel to the acclaimed Terra Incognita: Part 1, this installment continues the eerie 3D exploration through mysterious environments filled with cryptic puzzles, hidden dangers, and atmospheric tension. Picking up immediately after the first game’s cliffhanger, it deepens the lore and raises the stakes.

Players embark on perilous quests—such as recovering a lost angel statue from a moonlit graveyard before sunset—requiring logic, observation, and courage. Some mazes are deceptively complex, while others hide subtle clues in plain sight, rewarding attentive exploration.

Pro Tip: Keep a mental or written log of symbols and patterns encountered—they often reappear as keys to later puzzles.

Monkey Swing 3D

Platformer / Casual

In this lighthearted 3D platformer, players control an agile monkey swinging through lush jungle canopies using vines and ropes. Designed for accessibility, the game features intuitive touch or mouse controls, vibrant visuals, and an upbeat soundtrack that enhances the playful atmosphere.

The objective is to collect as many bananas as possible while avoiding obstacles like spikes, birds, or falling branches. Each swing requires timing and coordination, with momentum carrying the monkey across gaps. Challenges increase with time limits and longer chains of consecutive swings.

Pro Tip: Release the vine at the peak of your swing for maximum distance—timing is key to reaching faraway platforms and bonus items.

Game Title	Genre	Core Mechanics	Platform Suitability	Player Skill Focus
Solid Sphere Racing	Racing / Arcade	Physics-based momentum control, obstacle avoidance	Android, JavaME MIDP	Reflexes, spatial awareness
Act Now!: The Music Game	Rhythm / Action	Beat synchronization, timed inputs	Android, mobile web	Timing, rhythm perception
Terra Incognita: Part 2	Adventure / Puzzle	Exploration, puzzle solving, quest completion	JavaSE, Android	Logic, observation, patience
Monkey Swing 3D	Platformer / Casual	Swinging mechanics, collection challenges	Android, touchscreen devices	Timing, hand-eye coordination

Developer Insight: When building 3D Java games for older devices, consider optimizing polygon counts and texture sizes—using JavaME CLDC allows broader device compatibility while maintaining smooth frame rates.

Functions and Features of 3D Java Games: A Comprehensive Guide

The 3D Java games market is experiencing significant growth as developers leverage Java’s robust, cross-platform capabilities to build high-performance, web-compatible gaming experiences. Known for its portability and extensive library support, Java enables the creation of immersive 3D environments that run efficiently across desktops, web browsers, and even mobile platforms with minimal configuration. To meet modern performance standards, developers are increasingly focused on optimizing rendering pipelines and enhancing real-time responsiveness to eliminate lag and ensure smooth gameplay.

Below are the core functionalities that define contemporary 3D Java games, each playing a vital role in delivering engaging, realistic, and interactive experiences.

Core Functionalities of 3D Java Games

Object Manipulation and Animation

Creating dynamic and lifelike 3D environments requires precise control over in-game objects. Java, combined with 3D engines like JMonkeyEngine or libraries such as Java 3D, allows developers to manipulate objects through transformations including rotation, translation, scaling, and mesh deformation.

These capabilities enable rich animations—such as character movements, vehicle physics, or environmental effects like swaying trees and collapsing structures. For example, when a player fires a weapon, developers can trigger particle systems and object destruction sequences to simulate explosions. Similarly, character models can display real-time damage effects like limping or armor degradation upon impact, significantly enhancing immersion and visual storytelling.

Collision Detection and Response

Realistic interaction between game entities is essential for immersive gameplay. Collision detection ensures that characters, projectiles, and obstacles respond appropriately when they come into contact. In Java, developers implement algorithms such as bounding box, sphere collision, or more advanced mesh-based detection to determine when and how objects intersect.

This functionality enables complex behaviors like platform jumping, bullet ricochets, object stacking, or sliding down slopes. When a collision is detected, the game engine calculates the appropriate physical response—such as recoil, damage application, or sound effects—using physics engines integrated with Java (e.g., JBullet). Accurate collision systems not only improve realism but also ensure fair and predictable gameplay mechanics.

Lighting and Shading

Visual fidelity in 3D games heavily depends on lighting and shading techniques. Java-based 3D engines support multiple light types—including directional (sunlight), point (lamps), spotlights (flashlights), and ambient (global illumination)—to create depth and atmosphere.

Advanced shading models like Phong and Blinn-Phong are used to simulate how light reflects off surfaces, adding highlights, shadows, and surface textures. These models consider factors like surface normals, viewer angle, and light position to render materials realistically—whether it’s the glossy shine of metal, the roughness of stone, or the translucency of glass. Proper lighting not only enhances aesthetics but also guides player attention and improves spatial awareness within the game world.

User Interfaces (UI)

An intuitive and responsive UI is crucial for player engagement. In 3D Java games, user interfaces typically include HUD elements such as health bars, ammo counters, mini-maps, inventory panels, and interactive menus. These are often rendered in 2D overlay layers but synchronized with 3D game states.

Java’s strong GUI frameworks—like Swing or JavaFX—can be integrated with 3D engines to create customizable, scalable UIs. Developers prioritize responsiveness and cross-platform compatibility, ensuring that buttons, sliders, and tooltips function seamlessly across different devices. Some games even allow runtime UI modification, letting players rearrange HUD elements or adjust transparency, thereby personalizing their gaming experience.

Networking and Multiplayer Support

Multiplayer functionality is a major driver of engagement in modern gaming. Java’s powerful networking capabilities—through Socket programming, NIO, or frameworks like Netty and KryoNet—make it ideal for building real-time multiplayer 3D games.

Developers use these tools to implement features such as player matchmaking, synchronized game states, chat systems, and server-authoritative logic. For instance, in a multiplayer shooter, Java can manage the transmission of player positions, actions, and scores between clients and servers with low latency. Additionally, server-side logic ensures fairness and prevents cheating, while client-side prediction and interpolation smooth out network delays for a seamless experience.

Performance Optimization and Rendering

One of the biggest challenges in 3D game development is maintaining high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality. Java developers optimize rendering performance using techniques like level-of-detail (LOD) rendering, frustum culling, and occlusion culling to reduce the number of objects processed per frame.

Additionally, efficient memory management and garbage collection tuning are critical in Java to prevent stuttering. Leveraging hardware acceleration via OpenGL bindings (e.g., through LWJGL) allows Java games to offload graphics processing to the GPU, enabling complex scenes with thousands of polygons and high-resolution textures. These optimizations ensure that even resource-intensive 3D games run smoothly on a wide range of systems.

Feature	Primary Benefit	Common Java Tools & Libraries
Object Animation	Enhances realism and interactivity	JMonkeyEngine, Java 3D, LibGDX
Collision Detection	Enables accurate physical interactions	JBullet, Phys2D, custom AABB algorithms
Lighting & Shading	Improves visual depth and realism	OpenGL (via LWJGL), GLSL shaders, Phong model
User Interface	Boosts usability and player engagement	Swing, JavaFX, Nifty GUI
Multiplayer Networking	Supports real-time online gameplay	Netty, KryoNet, Java Sockets, WebSockets

Emerging Trends in 3D Java Game Development

Cross-Platform Deployment: Java’s “write once, run anywhere” philosophy allows 3D games to be deployed on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Android with minimal code changes.

Integration with Web Technologies: Using WebStart (legacy) or WebAssembly alternatives, Java 3D games can be embedded in web pages for browser-based play.

Procedural Content Generation: Developers use Java algorithms to generate terrain, dungeons, or textures dynamically, increasing replayability.

AI and NPC Behavior: Java supports complex AI scripting for non-player characters, enabling pathfinding, decision-making, and adaptive difficulty.

Modding Support: Many Java games expose APIs or configuration files, allowing players to create custom content and extend gameplay.

Important: While Java offers powerful tools for 3D game development, performance-critical applications may require careful optimization to compete with native engines like Unity or Unreal. Developers should profile memory usage, minimize object creation in loops, and leverage native bindings (e.g., LWJGL) for graphics and audio. Choosing the right framework and adhering to best practices ensures that Java remains a viable and efficient choice for modern 3D gaming projects.

Key Use Cases of 3D Java Games Across Industries

Java remains a powerful and versatile programming language for game development, particularly in 3D environments. Its platform independence, strong community support, and robust libraries like Java 3D, LWJGL, and JMonkeyEngine make it ideal for building cross-platform games and simulations. Beyond entertainment, Java-powered 3D games are being adapted across diverse industries—from education to defense—offering scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions.

With the global video game market reaching $133.6 billion in revenue in 2023—a 3.8% year-over-year increase—the demand for innovative game technologies continues to grow. Java’s flexibility allows developers and businesses to leverage this momentum across multiple domains. Below are six major use cases demonstrating the real-world impact of 3D Java game development.

Entertainment and Leisure

Java is widely used to develop engaging and interactive games for desktop and mobile platforms. Its object-oriented architecture and extensive graphics libraries enable developers to build immersive 2D and 3D experiences, from puzzle games to action-adventure titles.

The booming gaming industry presents a lucrative opportunity for wholesalers and distributors of Java-based game development tools, engines, and hardware. As consumer demand for digital entertainment rises, particularly in emerging markets, stocking Java-compatible development kits and educational resources can position suppliers at the forefront of this growth.

• Java supports cross-platform deployment, enabling games to run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
• Open-source frameworks reduce development costs and accelerate time-to-market
• Indie developers benefit from Java’s low entry barrier and strong debugging tools

Market Insight: The rise of indie game development has been fueled by accessible languages like Java, contributing to the diversification of the global gaming ecosystem.

Game Development and Prototyping

Professional game studios and independent developers frequently use Java as a prototyping tool to test gameplay mechanics, user interfaces, and AI behaviors before committing to full-scale production in more complex engines like Unity or Unreal.

Java’s clean syntax and real-time debugging capabilities make it ideal for rapid iteration. Developers can simulate physics, implement basic AI, and render 3D models using libraries such as JMonkeyEngine, which provides a complete suite for scene management, lighting, and animation.

• Quickly validate game concepts with minimal setup
• Test core mechanics like collision detection, pathfinding, and scoring systems
• Integrate with IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse for efficient coding and testing

Pro tip: Use Java applets or web-start applications to share prototypes with stakeholders without requiring installation.

Training and Simulation

3D Java games are increasingly used in high-stakes training environments where realism and interactivity are critical. From military operations to aviation, Java-powered simulations offer safe, repeatable, and cost-effective training scenarios.

For example, flight simulators integrated with Virtual Reality (VR) headsets use Java-based rendering engines to create lifelike cockpit environments and weather conditions. These systems allow pilots to practice emergency procedures and navigation without risk.

• Military organizations use Java simulations for tactical decision-making and battlefield awareness
• Medical training programs simulate surgeries and patient responses using 3D game environments
• Industrial operators train on virtual machinery to reduce equipment damage and improve safety

Technical advantage: Java’s multithreading support enables smooth real-time simulation of complex systems like radar, communication networks, and vehicle dynamics.

Education and Skill Development

Educators and institutions are leveraging 3D Java games to transform traditional learning into interactive, engaging experiences. These games help students grasp abstract concepts in math, science, programming, and history through hands-on exploration.

For instance, a physics-based Java game can teach Newtonian mechanics by allowing students to manipulate gravity, friction, and velocity in real time. Similarly, coding games can introduce beginners to Java syntax and logic in a gamified environment.

• Enhances student engagement and knowledge retention through active learning
• Develops problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills
• Supports STEM/STEAM curriculum goals with customizable educational content

Cognitive benefit: Studies show that gamified learning improves long-term memory retention by up to 40% compared to traditional methods.

Marketing and Customer Engagement

Brands are turning to Java-based mini-games as innovative marketing tools to boost customer engagement and brand visibility. These interactive experiences can be embedded on websites, shared via social media, or used in promotional campaigns.

For example, a wholesaler might create a branded 3D puzzle game where players assemble products to win discounts or exclusive merchandise. Such games not only entertain but also reinforce brand identity and drive traffic.

• Increases time spent on website and improves conversion rates
• Encourages social sharing and viral marketing potential
• Collects user data (with consent) for targeted marketing and analytics

Engagement strategy: Offer tiered rewards based on game performance to incentivize repeat play and customer loyalty.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Quality assurance (QA) teams use 3D Java games as testbeds to evaluate software performance, detect bugs, and simulate user interactions under various conditions. These virtual environments allow for automated stress testing, regression analysis, and usability studies.

By simulating thousands of concurrent users or edge-case scenarios, developers can identify memory leaks, rendering glitches, and logic errors before deployment. Java’s robust exception handling and logging frameworks further enhance debugging precision.

• Automate repetitive test cases using Java-based scripting tools
• Simulate network latency, low memory, and device fragmentation
• Validate UI responsiveness and input handling across platforms

Best practice: Integrate JUnit and Selenium with 3D game environments for comprehensive automated testing pipelines.

Strategic Insight: Java’s versatility extends far beyond gaming. Businesses and developers who invest in Java-based 3D applications gain access to a scalable, maintainable, and future-proof technology stack. Whether building educational tools, training simulators, or customer engagement platforms, Java offers a proven foundation for innovation across industries.

Use Case	Primary Benefit	Target Audience	Development Tools
Entertainment & Leisure	High user engagement and monetization potential	General consumers, gamers	JMonkeyEngine, LibGDX, LWJGL
Game Prototyping	Rapid concept validation and iteration	Game developers, studios	IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, NetBeans
Training & Simulation	Safe, repeatable, and realistic practice environments	Military, aviation, healthcare	Java 3D, JOGL, VR SDKs
Education & Learning	Improved comprehension and retention	Students, educators	Greenfoot, BlueJ, Processing
Marketing & Engagement	Increased brand visibility and customer interaction	Consumers, social media users	JavaFX, HTML5 wrappers, web export tools
QA & Software Testing	Early bug detection and performance optimization	QA engineers, developers	JUnit, Selenium, TestNG

Emerging Trends and Future Outlook

• Integration with VR/AR: Java is increasingly being used in conjunction with VR headsets and AR applications, expanding its role in immersive training and gaming.
• Cloud-Based Game Streaming: Java’s network capabilities make it suitable for developing backend systems that support cloud gaming platforms.
• AI-Driven Gameplay: Machine learning models can be embedded in Java games for adaptive difficulty, NPC behavior, and personalized learning paths.
• Open-Source Collaboration: Communities like GitHub host numerous Java game projects, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.
• Sustainability in Development: Java’s efficiency and long-term support reduce technical debt and promote sustainable software practices.

How to Choose 3D Java Games: A Comprehensive Buyer's Guide

Selecting the right 3D Java games requires careful consideration of multiple factors to ensure an optimal user experience, technical compatibility, and market relevance. Whether you're purchasing for personal use, educational purposes, or commercial distribution, this guide provides a structured approach to evaluating 3D Java games across key dimensions including audience suitability, technical requirements, content quality, and legal compliance.

Important Note: While Java-based 3D games were once widely supported on mobile and desktop platforms, modern compatibility varies significantly. Always verify current platform support (Android, desktop Java runtime, legacy systems) before purchase or distribution.

1. Match Games to User Skill Level

Tailoring game selection to the player's experience ensures engagement and satisfaction. Consider these audience-specific guidelines:

• Beginners: Look for games with intuitive controls, step-by-step tutorials, on-screen prompts, and adjustable difficulty settings. Titles with forgiving mechanics help new players learn without frustration.
• Intermediate Players: Choose games offering progressive challenges, unlockable content, and moderate learning curves. These maintain interest through skill development.
• Advanced Gamers: Prioritize titles with complex mechanics, high difficulty modes, leaderboards, and minimal hand-holding. Experienced players often prefer immersion over instruction.

2. Align with Age Appropriateness and Interests

Age and personal interests significantly influence game preference and engagement:

• Children (Ages 6–12): Select games with cartoonish graphics, positive themes, and no violent or mature content. Educational elements (problem-solving, basic physics) add value.
• Teens (13–17): Opt for action, adventure, or sports games with moderate challenge levels. Ensure content ratings align with parental guidelines.
• Adults (18+): Mature audiences may appreciate strategy, simulation, or narrative-driven games with deeper mechanics and realistic themes.

Additionally, match genres to customer interests:

• Sports enthusiasts → Racing, basketball, football, or tennis simulators
• Adventure seekers → Exploration, puzzle-solving, or survival games
• Strategy lovers → Tower defense, real-time strategy, or resource management titles
• Casual players → Arcade-style, rhythm, or simple platformers

3. Ensure Device Compatibility and Technical Requirements

Technical compatibility is crucial for smooth gameplay and avoiding user dissatisfaction:

• Check if the game supports the target platform (e.g., J2ME for older phones, Java SE for desktops)
• Verify Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version requirements
• Assess device specifications: RAM, processor speed, and available storage
• Confirm support for 3D acceleration (OpenGL ES, Java3D, or JOGL) for enhanced graphics performance
• Test on actual devices when possible, especially for legacy or niche platforms

Device Specification	Minimum for Basic 3D Games	Recommended for High-Quality 3D	Game Examples
Processor	500 MHz	1 GHz or higher	Simple maze vs. 3D racing games
RAM	128 MB	512 MB+	Puzzle games vs. action-adventure
Graphics Support	Basic 3D rendering	OpenGL ES 1.1+	Low-poly models vs. textured environments
Storage Space	5–10 MB	20–50 MB	Mini-games vs. full-featured titles
Java Version	J2ME / Java 1.4	Java SE 6+ or JavaFX	Mobile vs. desktop applications

4. Evaluate Graphics Quality and Performance

Visual fidelity impacts user immersion and perceived value:

• Prioritize games with optimized rendering for smooth frame rates
• Look for proper texture mapping, lighting effects, and polygon efficiency
• Avoid games with excessive lag or screen tearing on target devices
• Consider games that offer graphics settings (low/medium/high) for flexibility
• Higher-quality graphics typically require more powerful hardware

5. Assess File Size and Storage Requirements

Download and install size directly affect accessibility:

• Check the compressed download size and final installed size
• Ensure adequate free space on target devices (2x the install size is ideal)
• Smaller file sizes are better for low-bandwidth users or older devices
• Balancing quality and size is key—some games use compression effectively

6. Research Popularity, Reviews, and Developer Reputation

Community feedback and developer credibility are strong indicators of quality:

• Read user reviews on trusted platforms for insights on bugs, enjoyment, and stability
• Look for games with consistent updates, active forums, or community support
• Reputable developers often provide documentation, customer support, and patches
• Check for awards, features in Java gaming communities, or open-source contributions
• Avoid games with numerous complaints about crashes, poor controls, or misleading descriptions

Expert Tip: For commercial buyers or educators, consider requesting demo versions or trial licenses before bulk purchases. This allows hands-on evaluation of gameplay, performance, and suitability for your audience.

7. Verify Licensing and Legal Compliance

Ensure your purchase adheres to legal and distribution standards:

• Confirm the game is legally licensed for distribution or resale (if applicable)
• Check for proper copyright notices and developer attribution
• Avoid pirated or modded versions that may contain malware
• Understand usage rights: personal, educational, or commercial
• For open-source games, review the license type (GPL, MIT, Apache) for redistribution rules

Final Recommendations

• Maintain a diverse portfolio across genres (sports, adventure, puzzle, strategy) to appeal to varied interests
• Regularly update your game library based on user feedback and technological advances
• Test games on multiple devices to ensure broad compatibility
• Keep records of licenses, purchase dates, and system requirements for inventory management
• Stay informed about the evolving Java gaming ecosystem, including migration to modern frameworks

By systematically evaluating 3D Java games across these dimensions, buyers can make informed decisions that maximize user satisfaction, technical performance, and long-term value. Remember that the best game is not always the most advanced—it's the one that best fits the player's skills, interests, and device capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Java 3D Games

Q1: What Are Java 3D Games?

Java 3D games are interactive computer games developed using the Java programming language, specifically leveraging 3D graphics libraries such as Java 3D API, Lightweight Java Game Library (LWJGL), or other rendering frameworks. These games simulate a three-dimensional virtual environment where players can navigate, interact with objects, and experience depth and perspective, much like real-world spatial dynamics.

Java’s platform-independent nature allows developers to create immersive 3D experiences that can run across different operating systems without major code modifications. These games often use advanced rendering techniques like lighting, shading, textures, and camera controls to enhance realism and gameplay immersion.

• Core Technology: Built on Java with extensions like JOGL (Java Binding for OpenGL) or third-party engines.
• Rendering: Utilizes 3D geometry, meshes, and transformation matrices to render scenes.
• Interactivity: Supports real-time user input through keyboard, mouse, or controllers.

Q2: What Are Some Popular Java 3D Games?

While Java is not the most dominant language in AAA game development, it has powered several influential and widely played 3D games, particularly in the indie and browser-based gaming space. Notable examples include:

• Minecraft: The most iconic Java 3D game, originally developed by Markus Persson using LWJGL. It features procedurally generated 3D worlds, block-based construction, and multiplayer capabilities. Its success helped popularize Java as a viable game development platform.
• Runescape: A long-running MMORPG that transitioned from 2D to 3D using custom Java-based rendering. It supports thousands of concurrent players in a persistent 3D world and remains accessible through web browsers.
• Hexel's Cube Escape: A lesser-known but innovative puzzle-adventure game that uses voxel-based 3D environments, showcasing Java’s capability in experimental game design.

These titles demonstrate Java’s flexibility in supporting diverse gameplay mechanics, networked environments, and cross-platform compatibility—making it a valuable tool for educational projects and indie developers.

Q3: Can Java 3D Games Be Played on Any Device?

Java 3D games can be played on a wide range of devices, but compatibility depends on the presence of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and hardware support for 3D graphics. Here's a breakdown of device compatibility:

Device Type	Support Status	Requirements
Windows PCs	Yes	JRE installed, compatible graphics card (OpenGL/DirectX support)
macOS	Limited (older versions)	Legacy JRE support; newer macOS versions may require workarounds
Linux	Yes	OpenJDK or Oracle JDK, OpenGL drivers
Mobile Devices (Android/iOS)	No (native)	Java 3D apps don’t run natively; Android uses Dalvik/ART, not standard JRE
Web Browsers	Historically yes, now limited	Required Java plugin (now deprecated in most browsers)

While Java’s “write once, run anywhere” philosophy offers broad potential, modern limitations—such as the deprecation of browser plugins and lack of mobile support—mean that many Java 3D games now rely on standalone launchers or conversion tools. For optimal performance, users should ensure up-to-date JRE installations and adequate GPU capabilities.

Future-proof alternatives often involve porting Java games to other platforms (e.g., Minecraft’s Bedrock Edition uses C++), but the original Java editions remain popular among enthusiasts and modders.