gaming

Google Chrome 10 comes bundled with HTML5 games

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 18:00
Chrome 10 bundled games
Google Chrome 10 has quietly made it into the Dev channel, and it may signify the beginning of Chrome-related bloatware, as the Google Operating System blog reports. Chrome 10 now comes with two bundled Web-based games 'preinstalled' -- as much as any Web app can be preinstalled. This apparently happens on all operating systems except Chrome OS (for now?).

The two games are Poppit and Entanglement, and if you're running the Dev channel, by now you should have noticed them in your New Tab page. They just showed up there, without any prior notice or you having to do anything. What's next Google, a McAfee trial version with Chrome 11? Although unlike pesky anti-virus trials, the two games can easily be uninstalled if you so wish.

But since they're there, perhaps you should give them a try. They are supposedly HTML5-heavy, so besides being worthy time-wasters, they might also serve as useful showcases of what can be accomplished with the next generation of Web technologies. Or not. Your call.

 

WebGL has arrived in Google Chrome Beta; get your gaming hardware ready!

Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:00
WebGL Quake

Okay, so we're not quite at the point where you're going to be playing the next Crysis sequel in your browser, but still -- the arrival of WebGL in Chrome's beta channel is kind of a big deal. Apart from being able to play around with cool demos like the ones offered up by Google in its official announcement, WebGL is another important step in bringing more desktop-like functionality to the Web.

In addition to cloud-y 3D support, hardware acceleration support is due to arrive at some point -- presumably before Chrome 9 gets pushed to the stable channel. Whether or not that will happen remains to be seen, but we'll know soon enough thanks to the six-week release cycle.

Check your Chrome wrench icon for the update notification, or hit About Google Chrome to force a check.

Anyone else up for some WebGL Quake action?

Games (including EA's) to be front and center in Chrome Web Store

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 16:00

 

Right now, the jury's out on Chrome Web Apps -- but there seems to be more than a little confusion about what they are and how they'll work. Sure, some of them will be little more than packaged versions of web apps you use right now like Gmail and Seesmic with support for some nifty Chrome features like notifications -- but others will make use of Native Client, Pepper, and O3D... And that includes full-on games, baby!

We're not just talking Plants vs. Zombies or Bejewelled here either (no offense intended). In the top right corner of 1Up's screenshot you can clearly see FIFA 10 -- and you've got to think that if EA is on board with one title, they'll be bringing more to the table as well.

1Up's post also shows Google demonstrating other in-browser games like the Quake demo their own devs released, Freeciv.net, Google Pac Man, and a Flash version of Lego Star Wars. The page for Plants vs. Zombies is also shown with a price of $3.99 -- not to bad for one of the most addictive little games I've played in a long time. There's also a 'try it free' button so you can count on being able to test drive at least some of the games and apps in the store prior to plunking down your cash.

I don't know about you, but the more details that surface the more excited I'm getting about the Chrome Web Store opening its doors. Now, when am I going to get my hands on a shiny piece of Chrome OS hardware....?