Mobile HTML5 games
Mobile Warsaw #3
Andrzej Mazur / @end3r / Enclave Games
About me
- Enclave Games
- js13kGames compo
- Gamedev.js meetups
- dev.end3r.com blog
- twitter: @end3r
- github: end3r
What is HTML5?
- Theoretically... a W3C specification.
What is "HTML5"?
- JavaScript
- CSS3
- HTML5 APIs
- WebGL
- ...and all the cool stuff in the browser!
Is HTML5 ready?
The weak spots
- Audio API
- Performance?
- Monetisation?
- Offline?
- Development environment?
- Limited availability?
Audio API
...is still broken on mobile.
Performance
- Limited hardware access
- HTML5 != Native
- Multiplatform vs one platform
Monetisation
- Publishers
- Distribution platforms
- Licensing
- Advertisements
- Client work
- Native marketplaces
Working Offline
- LocalStorage
- Cookies
- Web SQL Database
- AppCache
- IndexedDB
Development Environment
- Browser!
- Text editor (or IDE)
- Web development tools (like Firebug)
- Engine specific tools
Availability
Devices: phones, tablets, laptops, desktop PCs, Smart TVs, handheld devices, consoles, fridges, microwaves...
Operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Tizen, Firefox OS... Windows, Mac, Linux...
...a browser is all you need!
The good parts
- Free
- One code base
- Thousands of developers already
- True cross platform
- For every device with a browser
- Distribution through URLs
- Ease of use, plugin-free
- Open source code, easy to learn
- Instant updates
- Store independent
Avoid mistakes
- Mobile first
- Don't code for one browser only
- Feature detection, not browser sniffing
- Build finished products, not demos
- Not iOS and Android killer, but new alternative
- Not a silver bullet, just a tool
Is HTML5 ready for gaming?
All the tools are already here
HTML5 APIs
- Gamepad
- Pointer Lock
- Fullscreen
- Storage
- Geolocation
Technology demos
Quake 4, Bananabread, Epic Citadel...
Full-blown games
Save The Day, HexGL, Fieldrunners, Emberwind, Cut The Rope, Angry Birds...
Game engines
- ImpactJS
- Turbulenz
- Construct 2
- EaselJS
- Crafty
- Game Maker
- Codos2D-HTML5
- MelonJS
- Unreal Engine
- Delight
Community
Competitions, conferences, websites
The future of HTML5 game dev is bright
- Faster browsers
- Distribution platforms
- Better game engines
- HTML5 APIs (Payment, Audio)
Firefox OS
- Mobile operating system
- Developed by Mozilla
- Pure HTML5 and JavaScript
- Freely customizable
- Open sourced
- Targeted for low-end devices
- "New old" ecosystem
Test in the browser
Grab your device
Geeksphone developer preview, more coming soon.
Firefox Marketplace
- Just before the official launch
- You can add apps already!
- Packaged or self hosted apps
- Open sourced platform
- Instant install button
- Almost no competition
- ...waiting for your content!
Prepare your game
for the Fifefox OS platform
- It's just HTML5!
- Nothing new to learn
- Manifest file and a submit process
The manifest file
manifest.webapp
{
"name": "My App",
"description": "My description goes here",
"launch_path": "/",
"icons": {
"128": "/img/icon-128.png"
},
"developer": {
"name": "Your name or organization",
"url": "http://your-homepage-here.org"
},
"default_locale": "en"
} The submit form
Case study - Captain Rogers
marketplace.firefox.com/app/captain-rogers
Andrzej Mazur (coding, Enclave Games)
Robert Podgórski (graphics, Blackmoon Design)
Rogers story
- Very simple, but polished game
- Built with ImpactJS game engine
- Prepared and optimized for Firefox OS devices
- Submitted to the Marketplace in minutes
In the Marketplace
On the actual device
Lessons learned
- It's very easy to adapt your game
- Documentation is ready
- Attend events to gain experience
- Ask questions, give feedback
- Use the opportunity
Wrapping up
- Fast growing market
- Publishers are learning
- Huge potential
- Grab the chance
- Outrun the competition
