Browsergames in JavaScript – is it an Alternative to Flash?

dhtml-lemmings.png
DHTML Lemmings

Maybe JavaScript is the “next big thing”. After millions of widgets and other stuff written in JavaScript on the Web 2.0-aged internet, making of browser-based games could be the next thing in the obscure career of JavaScript, since every modern browser and at least every modern user has JavaScript enabled to get AJAX and MashUp-goodness. I would bet, that since GoogleMaps everyone will have JavaScript enabled. That’s the presence or the recent history.

But then. Have a look at a complete implementation of Lemmings and a clone of Super Mario Brothers to see the abilities of JavaScript in browsers in gaming action. How do you do this? Follow this short tutorial on get your html to JavaScript games. It is not that difficult as you might imagine, because basically you model user input, game logic and the visible objects on the screen. I haven’t researched into performance yet, but JavaScript games in browsers could be an alternative to 2D-Flash games. The good side on JavaScript is, that it integrates seamlessly into the Web 2.0 wonderland plus it is easy, straightforward and open-source. Hi-scores and community-features galore!

Blog - Date published: November 16, 2007 | 5 Comments

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  1. Daniel Kabs said:

    It is nice to see what some folks create using Javascript. But it’s really hard work as Javascript, HTML and CSS don’t lend themselves well for game programming. There isn’t even a collision detection, somthing even the Commodore 64 sported. And when it comes to sound, you are almost lost with Javascript as there is little support in browsers for it.

    For browser games, I favour Flash. See for example http://official-linerider.com/

    Posted on November 19th, 2007 at 23:57
  2. nabeel hyatt said:

    What. A post about DHTML web games and no mention of Weewar?

    Posted on November 26th, 2007 at 14:37
  3. Martin Wisniowski said:

    Indeed, seems that I overlooked that one. Will do homework. Link: Weewar

    Posted on November 26th, 2007 at 15:32
  4. Breton said:

    you make a poor argument for why javascript is bad for games. By your logic, flash doesn’t lend itself to game programming either. Flash doesn’t have collision detection, and its sound support is very primitive indeed. However, I think you’ll find that the NES, the original Gameboy, the SNES, the Sega Genesis, the Gameboy Advance, the playstation, and the N64.. NONE of them have built in collision detection, and, arguably primative sound systems (though admittedly some more sophisticated, some less sophisticated)

    Posted on June 5th, 2008 at 17:57
  5. Digital Tools said:

    Hi Breton,

    in that point you are arguably right!

    Posted on June 6th, 2008 at 13:26