HTML5 enables the development of games that run across devices, and are both easy to deploy and easy to maintain. Several features that are not yet part of the Web platform would be directly useful for games development, though. The workshop was the occasion to engage with the games community and to start listing features of interest. Workshop participants (including people from Bocoup, Google, Mozilla, RIM, Tecnalia, Wooga) were passionate about games and Web technologies. During the workshop, more than 20 features that would enable the development of better games using regular Web technologies were reviewed, refined and classified:

• 12 new features were identified, such as the need for a Joystick API, a mouse lock mechanism, an orientation lock mechanism, or high performance timers
• Standardization has already started for 5 features such as accurate sound triggering or real-time peer-to-peer communications.
• A few other features mentioned require more discussion, or were seen as out of scope for standardization in W3C.

This report describes the main use case for each of the features of interest and includes a short gap analysis of today’s (end of November 2011) Web platform from the point of view of game development. Where applicable, the W3C working group and links to possible draft proposals are mentioned.

To ensure that games community needs are known and properly addressed in W3C, the W3C Games Community Group was created at the end of the workshop. This group is dedicated to tracking the implementation of Open Web Platform features directly relevant for games development, and communicating how to build games on the Open Web Platform to the general public.

]]> http://openmediaweb.eu/2011/12/14/html5-for-games-gap-analysis/feed/ 1 HTML5 logo http://openmediaweb.eu/2011/12/07/web-and-tv-device-discovery-identified-as-top-requirement-for-home-networking/ http://openmediaweb.eu/2011/12/07/web-and-tv-device-discovery-identified-as-top-requirement-for-home-networking/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:36:52 +0000 hoschka http://omwebw3c.wordpress.com/?p=1253 ]]> With HTML5, Web technology is becoming a serious contender for implementing applications that in the past required writing native code. Much of the excitement around HTML5 is focusing on its new audio and video capabilities. So it’s only natural to look at to what extent Web technology can be used to implement today’s and future home-networking applications, such as “second screen” scenarios or access to home media servers.

That’s exactly what W3C’s Web and TV Interest Group did in recent months. They just published the result of their deliberations: a requirements document. Not only that, the group identified a major gap in current Web technology: the lack of device discovery, i.e. a means for an application to discover services and applications available on the home network.

As a consequence, work on device discovery for home networking has now started in the W3C Device API (DAP) WG . Most of the discussion is currently focussing on Web Intents, which has its own mailing list. Non-Web-Intents proposals for device discovery have been proposed by Opera/Cable Labs and the EU Webinos project.

Through a talk by François and demos at a booth, OMWeb will report on the W3C Web&TV impressive work initiated a year ago, with 3 workshops around the globe (Tokyo (Sept. 2010), Berlin (Feb. 2011), Hollywood (Sept. 2011)), the creation of a dedicated Interest Group and two task forces: the Home Network Task Force and the Media Pipeline Task Force. OMWeb will also demonstrate the power of HTML5 that will trigger new usages and services which will pave the road of the future TV…

This work is a joint effort between the W3C WebRTC working group, responsible for the API, and the IETF RTCWEB group, responsible for the protocols. The API described in this first public working draft is incomplete — description of the data channel is missing for instance — and subject to major changes based on the outcome of the (quite lively!) ongoing discussions in both groups.

The W3C WebRTC Working Group will hold its second face-to-face meeting next week during W3C TPAC in Santa Clara, USA. It expects to make progress on privacy and security issues, as well as on finding the right balance between a low-level approach (that would enable interested parties to tweak potentially complex system parameters) and a higher-level API (that Web developers could use without a priori technical knowledge about real-time communications).

The design of the API is based on WebRTC use cases and requirements. We’d like to encourage you to review this document and the first draft of the WebRTC API and to provide feedback to the group on the public-webrtc@w3.org mailing-list (with public archives).

The group will hold a W3C Games Community Group Summit in San Francisco, on 3 November 2011, from 10AM to 1PM, hosted by Zynga. This event, open to anyone, follows the New Game Conference, to be held on 1-2 November. It will be the occasion to refine the scope of the group, nominate a chair, agree on a general roadmap for the group and a list of expected deliverables, and kick-off discussions on additional technical topics, as done in Warsaw. Hope to see you there!

Two weeks ago, we had the occasion to join the games community during onGameStart, the first HTML5 Games conference. Speakers at the conference explored many facets of games development using Web technologies, things that work, things that don’t. To explore game developers needs further and gather inputs for HTML.next, we organized a workshop the day after the conference. The workshop report is now available.

Workshop participants included people from Bocoup, Google, Mozilla, RIM, Tecnalia, and Wooga, all passionate about games and Web technologies. During the workshop, more than 20 features that would enable the development of better games using regular Web technologies were reviewed, refined and classified, leading to the identification of 11 new features of particular interest for the games community, namely:

• Mouse lock
• Hardware feature detection
• Keyboard Capture
• Joystick API
• Higher-level semantics for CSS animations
• Improvements to Web Workers: « Pass by reference »
• Orientation lock
• Access to screen pixel density
• Surround sound support
• High performance timers
• Extensions to CSS

To push for the inclusion of these features within W3C working groups charters, track standardization progress in W3C, and discuss potential other features directly relevant to the development of games using Web technologies, a Games Community Group was proposed and created at the end of the workshop. This group is also to communicate how to build games on the Open Web Platform to the general public.

A community group is a discussion forum open to anyone, without fees, particularly well suited to serve as coordination point for a particular community within W3C. Are you interested in the progress of the Web platform for games development? Join the Games Community group!

Building on the success of this first workshop, we will run a W3C Games Community Group Summit on 3 November 2011, next to the New Game Conference in San Francisco. Stay tuned on the Open Media Web Blog for announcement!

Check the full workshop report for details. Also, if you want to learn more about building games with Web technologies, check and register for the online training course on Game development in HTML5.

In this course, students will learn:

• about the current state of JavaScript games
• what are the HTML5 elements useful in game development
• how to use HTML5 animation and CSS3 transitions
• about collision detection and basic physics
• how to implement multiplayer gameplay
• how to deploy your game in the appstores

A snapshot of the course content is available in the course description below.

Taught by Michal Budzynski, the course will last 4 weeks, from 31 October to 27 November 2011.

To ensure your place on the course, do enroll now! The full price of the course is €225 but we have a limited number of seats available at the early bird rate of €145, open until 22 October 2011. Enroll now and benefit from the early bird rate!

Who should attend?

Course is prepared for both – Web Developers interested in creating games and Game Developers who wants to create games for Web browsers.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of HTML, JavaScript & CSS.

How does this work?

The online course is delivered as a series of 4 modules, one per week. Each module presents information as one or more lectures and includes an assignment and some other activity. The material for the week is made available on each Monday morning (at the latest). You should aim to complete the week’s work by the following weekend although assignments will be accepted up until the end of the course.

You can participate in the course from any time zone. When you choose to work on the material and assignments is entirely up to you. It is anticipated that you will need to spend around 2-3 hours per week on the course (as an average).

Interaction between participants is strongly encouraged through the discussion forum. The discussion forum is open at all times and the teachers will usually respond in good time, especially during (European) office hours.

All course material is presented in English. Assignments must also be submitted in English. Participants may post messages to the discussion forum in any language.

How Do I get a Certificate of Completion?

The course includes 4 practical tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) that all need to be completed satisfactorily if you are to receive a certificate of completion.

What do I need?

All material is delivered via the Web and so is accessible on any browser. The course is hosted by a Moodle platform. Participants are allocated an account on the training system and this grants access to course materials and the a dedicated discussion forum. Register now!

About the trainer: Michal Budzynski

 Michal is a JavaScript developer from Poland with strong game development background, currently working for GG Network (owner of Gadu-Gadu, the biggest Polish instant messaging client). He has created one of the most popular Canvas HTML5 game tutorials – html5gametutorial.mibbu.eu. He recently organized onGameStart, the first HTML5 games event, in his home country Poland.
Michal is also creator of the first PhoneGap implementation for Samsung Bada system. As a Javascript trainer he has run technical workshops in many countries such as France, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy or Brazil. JavaScript is not just his job – it’s his lifestyle. Follow Michal @michalbe

Course description: “Game Development in HTML5”

During the workshop you will learn how to use Open Web Technologies such as JavaScript, CSS3 & HTML5 to create browser based multiplayer games. We will discuss and compare different methods of real-time animation, implementing game loop, structure of the code or communication between the players. Logic of our games will be based on an engine we will write – it will be able to animate sprites, detect collisions, add basic physics to our characters and much more. Finally, you will learn how to run your game as a desktop application outside the browser on MacOSX, Linux & Windows, or as a native application on your mobile device. And how to sell it in the appstores.

Each week ends with a practical assignement.

Week 1: Introduction to HTML5/JavaScript game development

We will remind basics of JavaScript & HTML5, learn how to manipulate Document Object Model and draw on canvas element. We will test different methods of implementing game loop and user controls. An history of JavaScript games will also be presented.
Week 1 assignment: “Create single object on a scene and control it using mouse or/and keyboard.”

Week 2: Let’s make it move!

We will discuss different methods of sprite animation using HTML5 and remind information about basics of physics from high school. We will also learn how to detect collisions between objects.
Week 2 assignment: “Create animated character that could jump on the platforms on the scene.”

Week 3: Connecting with other players

We will review methods for connecting players. Then, we will check if it is possible to connect two browsers without worrying about the server side scripts. We will also learn how to implement multiplayer gameplay in our games.
Week 3 assignment: “Add multiplayer support to your game.”

Week 4: Deploying your game

Last but not least – we will explore the power of JavaScript, CSS3 & HTML5 outside the desktop browser. We will add native features of your mobile phone like accelerometer or vibrations and publish your game in the app stores.
Week 4 assignement: “Create package with your game for mobile devices using described frameworks or publish it as a desktop application for different operating systems.”

Terms and conditions

The training course is offered subject to the following terms and conditions.

• W3C will deliver the course in line with the published description for the advertised fee.
• Payment must be made, in full, at the time of registration.
• Payment is processed using either a credit card or a PayPal account.
• Participants may withdraw from the course at any time after registration.
• Refunds will only be made if the participant withdraws within the first week of the online course.
• W3C intends to continue to make the course material available to registered participants for at least 2 months after the course has ended.
• All material, including that produced by participants, in assignments and correspondence is copyrighted property and cannot be copied, duplicated, posted on another Web site, or otherwise used without the original author’s consent. Conversations and posted messages are private and cannot be copied, duplicated, forwarded, or conveyed to anyone else without the original author’s permission.

Questions?

Please write to training@w3.org . Thx.

• about the current state of HTML5 audio and video
• how to integrate HTML5 media into their Web pages
• how to encode media to make it suitable for the Web
• how to build and customize their own media players
• how to integrate HTML5 media with other HTML5 elements
• how to use HTML5 media in games and other richer experiences
• about the integration with mobile platforms

A snapshot of the course content is available in the course description below.

Taught by Mark Boas, the course will last 5 weeks, from 17 October to 20 November 2011.

To ensure your place on the course, do enroll now! The full price of the course is €225 but we have a limited number of seats available at the early bird rate of €145, open until 12 October 2011. Enroll now and benefit from the early bird rate!

Who should attend?

People who want to learn about the potential of HTML5 Rich Media and who have an interest in using HTML5 audio and video APIs to create rich media Web solutions.

Prerequisites

Web developers and designers with a fair to good working knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

How does this work?

The online course is delivered as a series of 5 modules, one per week. Each module presents information as one or more lectures and includes an assignment and some other activity. The material for the week is made available on each Monday morning (at the latest). You should aim to complete the week’s work by the following weekend although assignments will be accepted up until the end of the course.

You can participate in the course from any time zone. When you choose to work on the material and assignments is entirely up to you. It is anticipated that you will need to spend around 2-3 hours per week on the course (as an average).

Interaction between participants is strongly encouraged through the discussion forum. The discussion forum is open at all times and the teachers will usually respond in good time, especially during (European) office hours.

All course material is presented in English. Assignments must also be submitted in English. Participants may post messages to the discussion forum in any language.

How Do I get a Certificate of Completion?

The course includes 5 practical tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) that all need to be completed satisfactorily if you are to receive a certificate of completion.

What do I need?

All material is delivered via the Web and so is accessible on any browser. The course is hosted by a Moodle platform. Participants are allocated an account on the training system and this grants access to course materials and the a dedicated discussion forum. Register now!

About the trainer: Mark Boas

Mark Boas is a Web developer with over 12 years experience of developing sites and applications for the Web. Active in the community he speaks at international and local events and blogs when time permits. Mark divides his day between research and development and is project co-ordinator of jPlayer, the successful JavaScript media library with a growing community of over 1500 developers. Mark creates projects demonstrating the potential of jPlayer and helps out on the community forum. In addition Mark is involved with the W3C audio group. Recently Mark has been experimenting with a new and interesting technology dubbed hyperaudio. More details of Mark’s work can be found at http://happyworm.com

Course description: “HTML5 Audio & Video”

Using HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, students will learn as they build increasingly comprehensive media players and solutions. By learning about the underlying technology, the aim is that the student will understand the full potential of the media, the tools and the tricks of the trade. Armed with this sound knowledge of HTML5 audio and video and its potential, students will be able to confidently create cross-browser HTML5 based audio/video solutions.

Each week ends with a practical assignment.

Week 1: Introduction to HTML5 Media

We look at the back-story of media on the Web and where we are and then launch into creating our very own media player using HTML5. We’ll start with the basics and take you the various capabilities of the <audio> and <video> tags and the API, while keeping a firm grasp of the pragmatic issues that a developer will need to tackle to create cross browser solutions.
Week 1 assignment: “Creating your first basic audio and video player”

Week 2: Tools of the trade

HTML5 media must be correctly encoded to ensure maximum compatibility throughout the various target platforms. We explore the various tools and services available to encode and host our media and then delve deeper into the extensive HTML5 media API to take our player to the next level.
Week 2 assignment: “Encode your own media”

Week 3: Media player controls

We take a look at the various controls and feedback that we need to create to provide a comprehensive media player and explore the mechanisms that lie behind them.
Week 3 assignment: “Add a functional progress bar to your audio and video players”

Week 4: Playlists

One of the most desired functions for audio and sometimes video players is the ability to have playlists. Playlists allow you to order a number of pieces of media for sequential playback.
Week 4 assignment: “Add a playlist to your audio player and add subtitles to your video player”

Week 5: Integrating Video with other HTML5 Elements

One of the great advantages of HTML5 media is that it can interact with other HTML elements, we can have a lot of fun with this.
Week 5 assignment: “Integrate canvas or WebGL with video, and create audio spot effects”

Terms and conditions

The training course is offered subject to the following terms and conditions.

• W3C will deliver the course in line with the published description for the advertised fee.
• Payment must be made, in full, at the time of registration.
• Payment is processed using either a credit card or a PayPal account.
• Participants may withdraw from the course at any time after registration.
• Refunds will only be made if the participant withdraws within the first week of the online course.
• W3C intends to continue to make the course material available to registered participants for at least 2 months after the course has ended.
• All material, including that produced by participants, in assignments and correspondence is copyrighted property and cannot be copied, duplicated, posted on another Web site, or otherwise used without the original author’s consent. Conversations and posted messages are private and cannot be copied, duplicated, forwarded, or conveyed to anyone else without the original author’s permission.

Questions?

Please write to training@w3.org . Thx.

The Open Media Web project team is proud to organize a:

Workshop on HTML.next for gaming
Saturday 24 September 2011 — 09:00 – 13:00

Warsaw, Poland
co-located with OnGameStart

The workshop will explore game developers needs and gather inputs for HTML.next, the next version of HTML, that would enable the development of fully immersive games using regular Web technologies. Main topics of discussion (see below for more detailed topics of interest) will be about:

• New standards for cooler games?
• New features for better performances?
• New ideas for HTML.next?

Come to discuss and share your ideas about the next cool things to happen. And expect HTML5 goodies!
Participation is free!

Background

HTML5 enables the development of richer and ever more interactive applications. As far as gaming is concerned, the situation evolved from a world of hacks and plug-ins to a situation where one can envision the production of a multi-player first-person-shooter game using canvas, Web Workers, Web Sockets, on-going standardization efforts on audio, real-time communications and various other Web and device APIs.

However rich this new Web platform may become, games require precise control over:

• devices used for interaction (keyboard, mouse, joystick, touch screens, gestures, cameras, etc.)
• rendering surfaces (ability to go fullscreen, to take screenshots, 3D APIs, audio synthesis, etc.)
• processing power (multi-threading, memory management, use of hardware acceleration, etc.)

Precise control is tough, either because the right API is missing, or because the specification does not address all needs, or simply because the API is not precise enough to prevent interoperability issues.

Goal and Scope

The goal of this workshop is to meet and engage in discussions with developers of the games community, and gather inputs for HTML.next, the next version of HTML, that would enable the development of fully immersive games using regular Web technologies.

Topics of interest include suggestions for new APIs, as well as scenarios and requirements to improve existing functionalities. For example:

• Going fullscreen
• Access and control of viewport settings (e.g. pixel density)
• Possible improvements to multi-threading execution
• Hit-testing API
• 3D or pseudo-3D rendering (WebGL, declarative 3D, depth control)
• Specific needs for animations, movements
• Performance measurement (number of frames per second?)
• Web application packaging for offline Web apps (HTML5 AppCache, W3C widgets)
• Caching resources, pre-loading (e.g. for sprites and sound)
• Taking screenshots
• Joystick and mouse control
• Multi-player games, peer-to-peer connections
• More efficient DOM tree operations.

The outcome of the discussions will be fed into existing W3C working groups where appropriate (HTML, Device APIs, Web Applications, Web Real-Time Communications, Audio, etc.), as well as into the list of ideas for HTML.next where appropriate. Depending on the level of interest at the workshop, the creation of a Games Community Group could be envisioned to pursue discussions.

Agenda

The workshop will be run as a barcamp to encourage live discussions among participants.

09:00 – 10:00 Francois Daoust: “W3C, HTML5, HTML.next”

• How W3C Web standards come to life
• HTML5 specs progress report
• What is HTML.next?
• How to ensure the next Open Web Platform is the right one for you

10:00 – 12:30 Barcamp Session

Actual content for this session should be provided by participants. What we’re typically looking at is to repeat the following pattern to multiple technical topics:

• One or more specific game scenarios that cannot be done today with regular Web technologies, or that cannot be done efficiently enough today.
• An analysis of what is missing
• What a possible solution could look like
• Areas that could affect the design of the solution and that would need to be investigated (security, privacy, accessibility, complexity, portability, integration with other APIs, etc.)
• Relevant group(s) in W3C for this work, if any

Please prepare accordingly. To help organize the event, please get in touch with Francois Daoust with topics you’d like to present or hear about in particular.

Topics on the agenda for this session so far:

• Accurate sound triggering – Darius Kazemi (Bocoup)
• Mouse lock for 3D games – Seth Ladd (Google), Darius Kazemi (Bocoup)
• An asset loading and smart caching solution - Darius Kazemi (Bocoup)
• Real-time communications for multi-player games – Francois Daoust (W3C)
• [...]

12:30 – 13:00 Wrap-up Session

• Summary of discussions
• Inputs identified
• Next steps?

Expression of Interest

Planning to attend the workshop? Great! Please let Francois Daoust know about it!

Thanks to a series of workshops on the convergence of Web and TV (a third workshop is to take place in Hollywood!) and the creation of the Web and TV Interest Group, W3C has been exploring challenges and potential solutions to ensure a successful convergence between Web and TV. The paper I submitted to NEM Summit this year, Adopting HTML5 for Television: Next Steps (PDF), presents key topics discussed in W3C (e.g. home networking scenarii, extensions to HTML5, etc.) and likely next steps from a standardization perspective.