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Google, Ambiera show off what WebGL and HTML5 can do for browser-based 3D gaming
One day in the not-so-distant future, we'll all be playing plug-in free games thanks to technologies like HTML5 and WebGL.
It all sounds good, but what about a demo? Ok, says Google. How about a little Quake 2 in your browser?
They started off with Bytonic Software's Jake2, a Java port of the open source Quake engine. From there, they re-compiled the engine using the Google Web Toolkit (also OSS), created a WebGL renderer to display the graphics, moved multiplayer communications from UDP to WebSockets (part of the HTML5 spec), and bolted on an emulated filesystem to allow game and preference saves.
Google's not the only one pushing web 3d, of course. Ambiera's Copperlicht is another exciting project. It's a JavaScript 3D engine which, like Google's recompile, utilizes WebGL and the HTML5 canvas tag. No browser plug-ins required!
Ambiera has some impressive screens posted of Copperlicht-powered Quake 3 -- check 'em out after the break!
It all sounds good, but what about a demo? Ok, says Google. How about a little Quake 2 in your browser?
They started off with Bytonic Software's Jake2, a Java port of the open source Quake engine. From there, they re-compiled the engine using the Google Web Toolkit (also OSS), created a WebGL renderer to display the graphics, moved multiplayer communications from UDP to WebSockets (part of the HTML5 spec), and bolted on an emulated filesystem to allow game and preference saves.
Google's not the only one pushing web 3d, of course. Ambiera's Copperlicht is another exciting project. It's a JavaScript 3D engine which, like Google's recompile, utilizes WebGL and the HTML5 canvas tag. No browser plug-ins required!
Ambiera has some impressive screens posted of Copperlicht-powered Quake 3 -- check 'em out after the break!
Those who have gotten the Google Quake 2 port to run report FPS of between 30-40. Ambiera claims Copperlicht is capable of pushing 110 FPS. They've got three interactive demos posted on their site -- just make sure you have a compatible browser before you head over.
Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari should all work but you might need to enable WebGL first. Check the instructions at the Khronos project wiki if you need help!
[via Google Web Toolkit blog]
Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari should all work but you might need to enable WebGL first. Check the instructions at the Khronos project wiki if you need help!
[via Google Web Toolkit blog]
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsSpankyApr 2nd 2010 10:14AM
Went to CopperLicht. Added the --enable-webgl extension to the latest build of Chrome 5.0.366.2 and got an "AW, SNAP!" error every time I tried to run the CopperLicht Demos.
I could go through and remove the 4 or 5 Chrome extensions I've added but the reality is that this type of thing needs to be better baked into the browser from the get go.
Perhaps someone with better browser knowledge than me can explain what could possibly go wrong with having webgl default to enabled in Chrome.
jared.heinrichsApr 2nd 2010 10:56AM
What's the big deal! I ran Quake 3 in my browser playing against other people for a while now! and I didn't need google to do it either. I was running good old internet explorer 8. This is not news. :P
Lee MathewsApr 2nd 2010 10:57AM
Jared, are you referring to QuakeLive? 'Cause that requires a plug-in. It's an entirely different beast...
jared.heinrichsApr 2nd 2010 11:42AM
Sorry, Yes I mean QuakeLive. Which is just a online Java version of Quake 3. I lost my Q3 disk years ago in a move!
Again, I've never had any issues with QuakeOnline, the plugin took no time to install and download, and the game ran PERFECTLY... In fact it ran better because QuakeLive can now match you up based on your previous matches and how well you did.
I am just a bit leary of google and anything that is using a toolkit from them as they have shown time after time... The only reason why they make something is to benifit them and NOT the sonsumer. Have you ever used fiddler while using Chrome? You'd be amazed every key stroke is sent back to Google.
http://www.fiddlertool.com/Fiddler/help/hookup.asp
5518443720Apr 2nd 2010 2:42PM
I played that too, but beware of the googlers.
TobinApr 2nd 2010 2:50PM
Jared,
See http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/03/microsoft-google-chrome-doesn-your-privacy-microsoft-google-chrome-doesnt-respect-your-privacy.ars
It's sending stuff to google on each keystroke if it's set as your default search engine. If you change your default search engine to Bing, it'll send every keystroke to Bing. It's an auto-suggest thing. But you can also put it in Incognito mode if that's a problem.
Not saying you shouldn't be concerned about what your software is doing. Just not that in particular.
atomic1fireApr 11th 2010 11:01PM
Actually Quake Live probably isn't java,
for one, I don't think you even need java to run QL, its a custom plugin using the full game.