Palm Helping WebOS Game Development 24
There's been a lot of concern surrounding the WebOS and gaming development. Having an SDK based on html/js/css limits things and virtually rules out 3D gaming. However, Palm wants to remind us that some level of gaming is possible and that HTML5 is more powerful than you might think.
To that end, Palm has posted a "webOS™ and Game Development" article on their developer website detailing what kinds of games are possible on the WebOS; "puzzles, word games, card and board games, innovative social games, and the list goes on – even simple arcade games" according to Palm. Also posted, is an article describing Palm's implementation of the
Not only that, yesterday it was announced on the Palm Developer Network that Palm has opened up a "webOS Game Developer Café" forum section where game developers can share experiences, tips, and most importantly, give Palm feedback that they can use to improve the SDK. The new forums section is already starting to payoff. This thread reveals both a lightweight javascript animation library and information on CCS3 animations.
These things, combined with that recent Game Frameworks Engineer job listing make us think Palm's actually listening to users and wants gaming to be a competent part of the WebOS. I wonder what the gaming situation will be like a year from now. If the twenty five games already in our Homebrew App gallery are any indication, we'll be seeing better games in the App Catalog than you might have expected.
24 Comments
I think 3D gaming on a phone is lame at best anyway. If I really wanted that, I would own a PSP or the like.
Give me very good graphics and sound in my apps and some cool thinking/logic/puzzle games and I am happy.
Most 3D games I ever played on my iPod Touch, Treo and older PalmOS devices were cool but only ran to try. I played them, said wow, then loaded up Mahjong.
I am more concerned for the lower level radio, graphic and sound control to make good utilities. Things like real time mapping software, Internet video/audio streaming and GPS/WiFi tracking utilities etc...
This is just my opinion of course and I am sure having a PSP clone on the Pre is important to others.
Would it be possible to create a sub system that is 3D graphics capable?
IE Classic, but for Gaming
I don't need 3D gaming either. On the iphone, it sucks anyways.
But at this point, we don't even have a decent 2D game. I'm still surprised Palm didn't assure a couple of decent games at launch or by now. I'm thinking on the level of Bejeweled. Not the crap that's passed for games so far.
Pandora is still the only one palm app i'd pay for and its free. The only other one i'd actually pay for..i did (my tether).
Once again palm can't get things straight. They just can't get it through their thick skulls that OpenGL is more then just gaming. It can be used to speed up the Pre in every aspect. It can be used to save battery life. The possibilities are endless.
The Pre can already handle 2D for the most part, all of this we know. For them to post this, its almost a joke. They aren't listening to customers. Just tell us, will you open low level access so we can have OpenGL? Or aren't you. Personally , I'll leave and take my losses. I've been eagerly awaiting some kind of confirmation (along with A LOT of other developers), so we can start making intense applications. OpenGL isn't just for gaming.
That guy who made the calculator app posted a video about his time at the pre dev camp. In the video someone showed a multiplatform multiplayer card game. So there are some multiplayer games in the works :).
I would love games based on the accelerometer. Like bowling, fishing.....
I would pay for that (anyone listening?)!
Yes we are....
Thanks, my credit card is ready.
Palm (currently) doesn't allow access to the accelerometer at a high enough sample rate to make it useful for games
The problem is, they can't do it. Why? They shot themselves in the foot and they know it. They are going to let developers try and dig them out of a hole.
They can make game's, from 1995 work on the pre. of course. But they can't make any intensive app/game w/ out opengl. This is a long shot announcement from them, hoping to calm developers and consumers down. Its a joke. Trust me, if Palm COULD get openGL to run on the pre right now, they would. It would solve a lot of Lag issues w/ the pre. Something is wrong and they aren't going to be forward about it.
I'm pretty sure OpernGL will come. Will like to see some cool 2D games in the mean time, however I know these things take time.
Actually, 30fps is all you need for "smooth" motion. 60+fps is "silky-smooth". Remember the PSX was 30fps in the early years until devs learned how to utilize the hard ware better.
The other thing that no one has mentioned is since Pre is a WEB os device and Flash is comming, that opens up TONS in *browser* based games for us. :) which would run natively on the Pre just how Java games are running now no? Some quick examples.
http://www.newgrounds.com/game/
www.adventurequest.com
www.mechquest.com
http://www.flash-game.net/
.
Great javascript HTML 5 example that will work on your palm Pre. Just dont try to rotate the screen when its loading/running.
http://9elements.com/io/projects/html5/canvas/
Which leads me to believe that we need space invaders pre asap.