[casual_games] future of shockwave

[Austin Haas]

Brent,

I'm pretty unfamiliar with the strengths and weaknesses of DHTML games. 
Can you comment a little on that?

I'm especially curious because it seems to be the only open source way 
to make browser based games.

-austin

Austin Haas
Pet Tomato, Inc.
http://www.pettomato.com

BRENT SILBY wrote:
>  > Personally, if you're looking to offer more than browser-based, dhtml 
>  > games then I'd recommend flash despite the fact that you may have to 
>  > rewrite a lot more code.
>  
> True, but I'm also looking ahead to the sidebar Gadgets for windows 
> (http://microsoftgadgets.com/default.aspx). They are based on dhtml and 
> offer a very quick small download way to run small applications on the 
> desktop. Whatever I do, I think its in my best interest to continue to 
> offer dhtml versions of the games. Recently I had my "Defense Unit" game 
> converted to a widget for the mac. Widgets are very similar to the 
> Gadgets. It took virtually no extra coding to get it to work since 
> widgets are dhtml. Its quite popular too. It ranks 47th on the widget 
> download list on apple.com :)
>  
> Flash is more difficult to port my games because it doesn't handle 
> bitmaps (I know flash 8 does), and it doesn't have javascript 
> compatibility. It would take a lot more work to port to flash for those 
> reasons. Not worth the effort.
>  
> So, I think I'll test for shockwave. If the visitor does not have 
> shockwave, I'll load the dhtml version of the game rather than directing 
> them to the shockwave player download. Then again, I may be wasting my time.
>  
> Cheers,
> Brent.
> 
> /DEF-LOGIC
> VIDEOGAMES
> www.def-logic.com <http://www.def-logic.com>/
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Duncan Gough" <duncan at 3rdsense.com <mailto:duncan at 3rdsense.com>>
> To: "IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List" <casual_games at igda.org 
> <mailto:casual_games at igda.org>>
> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 10:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [casual_games] future of shockwave
> 
>  > Hello Brent,
>  >
>  > If shockwave is a quick way for you to convert dhtml games then it is 
>  > probably worth the time and effort as it fits the criteria you've 
>  > outlined (browser incosistencies, downloadable versions). However, 
>  > looking ahead it does seem that flash is being given more attention 
>  > by Macromedia. The recent Actionscript 3.0 news certainly make it 
>  > sound that way:
>  >
>  > http://labs.macromedia.com/wiki/index.php/ActionScript_3:overview
>  >
>  > I'd also point you in the direction of the dirGames mailing list, 
>  > especially the start of a thread about Actionscript 3.0, here:
>  >
>  > http://nuttybar.drama.uga.edu/pipermail/dirgames-l/2005-October/
>  > 036341.html
>  >
>  > Personally, if you're looking to offer more than browser-based, dhtml 
>  > games then I'd recommend flash despite the fact that you may have to 
>  > rewrite a lot more code.
>  >
>  > Of course, I can't wait to see what puzzle games you come up.
>  >
>  > Duncan
>  >
>  > --
>  > http://www.millionsofgames.com/members/suttree/
>  >
>  > On 21 Oct 2005, at 20:12, BRENT SILBY wrote:
>  >
>  >> Good morning,
>  >> We are converting some of our dhtml games to shockwave. The reason 
>  >> we chose shockwave is because it can handle javascript, so the 
>  >> conversion is reasonably straightforward--just requiring a 
>  >> reworking of image handling code etc.
>  >>
>  >> The purpose of the conversion is partly to overcome some browser 
>  >> consistency issues with dhtml and partly to open up new 
>  >> opportunities for licensing.
>  >>
>  >> My question is this: What is the future of shockwave? I think that 
>  >> it currently has about a 55% penetration (compared to 97% in 
>  >> flash). Is this figure predicted to remain static, or will it rise 
>  >> (or drop) over the coming years.
>  >>
>  >> I know its difficult to predict future trends, but if anyone can 
>  >> make a good guess, I'd be interested to know.
>  >>
>  >> Cheers,
>  >> Brent Silby.
>  >> DEF-LOGIC
>  >> VIDEOGAMES
>  >> www.def-logic.com <http://www.def-logic.com>
>  >>
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