[casual_games] browser based game engines

[Jeff Murray]

Not wanting to blow Unity's trumpet for them, however ... Unity3d is
totally committed to browser-based games. It's their core focus and
their game engine is totally geared in that direction, although it's
just as easy to create a standalone executable as it is a browser app.

 

Whilst the plugin penetration rate is still relatively low compared to
Flash or Shockwave, they have the best plugin installer out of all of
them and the installation success rate is among the highest. It won't
hijack users to their own homepage and there are no annoying toolbar
installations, either ;)

 

The major drawback is that development is Mac only at the moment. That's
huge for a studio like ours where everything is geared up for PC and
makes it difficult for the company to adopt.

 

Unity development is in C# or Javascript and you can use the supplied
Unitron text editor or any other IDE like Visual Studio (even the free
express edition!) to develop with, which makes programmers very happy!
Source control is totally possible either through their own asset
management system or the usual systems (we use SVN). I haven't seen a
Unity-built game that failed to install or run on either my PCs or Macs.

 

Their support is incredible and they are a very approachable, friendly
company ... which in my book rates them very high after so many bad
support experiences with others in the past.

 

Thanks,

Jeff.

Jeff Murray  |  Director, Game Development

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tel: 613.224.6738
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________________________________

From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Gert-Jan Brok
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 4:04 AM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: [casual_games] browser based game engines

 

In a search for the holy grail of browser based game engines. It always
seems that they stay in a niche.
Flash managed to grab the major part of the market, even surpassing it's
(then superior) brother Director (shockwave).
Wild Tangent has turned more towards consoles, Virtools is only getting
picked up slowely, Otoy (I was impressed by the 2006 presentation at the
GDC) hasn't made any announcement since (buy out?). Anark isn't really
suited well for online games. Adobe is working on their new version of
Flash, that has hardware support and the ability to create extensions or
code entire projects in C++. But it isn't here yet.
But it seems that here in the Netherlands we've got a company that is
not only developing a great 3D online platform. But is also specifically
aimed at and supporting game developers. I spoke with them and they are
really passionate about their product. I would suggest to check out
there site and register for the beta http://www.kalydo.com/

Does anyone here know of any other platforms out there that are serious
about bringing good quality 3D games to the browser?

Gert-Jan Brok
Fantazm



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