Browser game

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It has been suggested that Persistent browser-based game be merged into
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Play.Freeciv.org screenshot
Freeciv is an HTML5 browser game
A browser game is a computer game that is played over the Internet using a web b
rowser.[1] Browser games can be run using standard web technologies[2] or browse
r plug-ins. The creation of such games usually involves use of standard web tech
nologies as a frontend and other technologies to provide a backend. Browser game
s include all video game genres and can be single-player or multiplayer. Browser
games are also portable and can be played on multiple different devices, web br
owsers, and operating systems. [3]
Browser games come in many genres and themes that appeal to both regular and cas
ual players.
Contents
1 Characteristics
2 Technologies
2.1 Web standards
2.2 Plug-in
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links
Characteristics
Browser games are often free-to-play and do not require any client software to b
e installed apart from a web browser or browser plug-in. In some cases a game ma
y be free, but charge for extra in-game features. Multiplayer browser games have
an additional focus on social interaction, either between several players or on
a massive scale. Due to the accessibility of browser games, they are often play
ed in more frequent, shorter sessions compared to traditional computer games.[4]
Since browser games run isolated from hardware in a web browser, they can run on
many different operating systems without having to be ported to each platform.[
5]
Technologies
Browser games can take advantage of different technologies in order to function.
Web standards
Standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript can be used to
make browser games, but these have had limited success because of issues with br
owser compatibility and quality. These technologies, collectively termed dynamic
HTML, allow for games that can be run in all standards-compliant browsers.[6] I
n addition, dedicated graphics technologies such as SVG and canvas allow for the
fast rendering of vector and raster graphics respectively.[2] In addition, WebG
L allows for hardware-accelerated 3D support in the browser.[7][8]
Comparison of web technologies[notes 1]
Chrome Firefox
Internet
Explorer
Opera Safari
SVG
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Canvas Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
WebGL Yes
Yes[9] Yes [10]
Yes
Yes
Plug-in

Browser plug-ins can be used to provide game technologies after

by the user.
Comparison of browser plug-ins Windows
Mac OS X
notes 2]
Installed base[notes 3]
Flash Yes
Yes
Yes
Proprietary[11]
96%[12]
Java
Yes
Yes
Yes
Open source (free)[13][14]
Shockwave
Yes
Yes
No
Proprietary[15]
Silverlight
Yes
Yes
Partial (Moonlight - LGPL)
62%[12]
Unity Yes
Yes
No
Proprietary[18]
1%[19]
See also

being installed
Linux

License[

78%[12]
52%[16]
Proprietary[17]

Video games portal

List of browser games
List of multiplayer browser games
List of browser-based game websites
Notes
Availability refers to the latest stable version only.
Refers to the reference implementation. There may be alternative implementations
under different licenses.
Stated as a percentage of web browsers.
References
D Schultheiss: Long-term motivations to play MMOGs: A longitudinal study on moti
vations, experience and behavior, page 344. DiGRA, 2007.
"Graphics
W3C". W3.org. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
"The PBBG Project". Pbbg.org. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
C Klimmt: Exploring the Enjoyment of Playing Browser Games, page 231. CyberPsych
ology & Behavior, 2009.
E Adams: Fundamentals of Game Design, page 80. New Riders, 2009.
Stephen DownesAugust 17, 1999 11:01 p.m. "Fun and Games With DHTML ~ Stephen's W
eb ~ by Stephen Downes". Downes.ca. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
Anthony, Sebastian (2009-12-11). "3D browser apps and games creep ever closer wi
th the WebGL draft standard". Downloadsquad.com. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
"Google Web Toolkit Blog: Look ma, no plugin!". Googlewebtoolkit.blogspot.com. 2
010-04-01. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
"Mozilla Firefox 4 Release Notes". Mozilla.com. 2011-03-22. Retrieved 2013-06-29
.
"WebGL (Preliminary)". MSDN. Microsoft. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
"Flash EULA" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-03-10.
"Web Browser Plugin Market Share / Global Usage". Statowl.com. Retrieved 2010-04
-08.
"Moving to OpenJDK as the official Java SE 7 Reference Implementation (Henrik on
Java)". oracle.com.
"Java Platform, Standard Edition 7 Reference Implementations Project Kenai". jav
a.net.
"Shockwave EULA" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-03-10.
"Shockwave Player Adoption Statistics". Adobe. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
"Terms Of Use". Retrieved 2011-03-10.
"END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT". Retrieved 2011-03-10.
"Thoughts On Browser Plugin Penetration". Unity Technologies. Retrieved 2011
-03-10.

External links
Browser Based Games at DMOZ
[hide]
v t e
Multiplayer video games
Player(s)
Cooperative gameplay Multiplayer online game Massively multiplayer online ga
me
MMORPG MUD
Genres
Action Arcade Role-playing Simulation Strategy
History
History of online games History of massively multiplayer online games List o
f massively multiplayer online strategy video games
Concepts
Virtual economy
Virtual tax Social interaction in MMORPGs Virtual world
Persistent world Non-player character
See also
Online game
Browser game Persistent browser-based game Online gaming in China Social
networking service
Categories:
Browser gamesVideo game genresVideo game terminologyMultiplayer and single-p
layer video games