Tag Archives: JavaScript

3D on the Web is Dead, Long Live 3D on the Web

3D and game editors, virtual heritage, visualisation, , , , , ,

Apart from the everywhere solution that is UNITY, and the not so well known solution that is Flash in 3D, 3D models on the web appears dead. At least VRML is. Single-player, lack of browser standardisation, no killer app. Actually it is more of a zombie, still there, but not in wide usage because what can you do with it?

Well that has changed, the below are not VRML but its grandchildren, html5 and webgl and JavaScript. I was a little apprehensive about replacements for VRML, it needs to be quicker, pref no plugin required, but that is no deal-breaker now, multiplayer, quicker, with some rendering and scripting features of commercial game engines, for architectural visualisation etc.

Enter two contenders:

1 Playcanvas
demo http://apps.playcanvas.com/playcanvas/scifi/latest
features http://playcanvas.com/#features

  • 3D HTML5 Game Engine. Create games that run plugin-free in any modern browser. Hardware-accelerated using WebGL.
  • Cloud-based tools. Running right in your browser, nothing to download and install. Get started in seconds.
  • Designed for teams. Real-time collaboration. Work with your team-mates see their changes as they happen.
  • Game Developer Community. Join the PlayCanvas community and get help making your game.
  • Publish and Share. Publish your game to PlayCanvas, share it with the world.

2 BananaBread
“BananaBread is a 3D first person shooter that runs on the web. It takes the Cube 2: Sauerbraten engine, which is written in C++ and OpenGL, and compiles it using Emscripten into JavaScript and WebGL so that it can run in modern browsers using standards-based web APIs and without the need for plugins.”

https://developer.cdn.mozilla.net/media/uploads/demos/a/z/azakai/3baf4ad7e600cbda06ec46efec5ec3b8/bananabread_1373485124_demo_package/list.html
You can download the source//assets
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/demos/detail/bananabread

Thanks to netmagazine for the heads up:
URL: http://www.netmagazine.com/features/top-10-html5-games-2012

Kinect for the Web Through Javascript – KinectHacks.net

design, game, , , ,

I cannot keep up and won’t try to keep up with these kinect hacks, after this one. Nice though to hear Microsoft say (via pcmag) they are happy for the ‘modding’ community to use the usb connection as long as they don’t interfere with the kinect software itself. Interesting though, that you don’t need a PC or an XBox, a Mac will do.

http://kinecthacks.net/kinect-skeleton-test/
I think this is very cool but I am easily impressed these days.

http://kinecthacks.net/kinect-for-the-web-through-javascript/

Fluid Interfaces Group have developed an open-source Chrome extension that makes it possible for Javascript to talk to the Kinect. It’s called DepthJS. This means that web sites can provide custom interfaces to everyone with a Kinect and the DepthJS extension installed without requiring them to install any new software. Check out the video:

WebGL

design, game,

Is this a wow!?…Still digesting this..

http://www.abakia.de/blog/2010/02/10/webgl-my-first-impressions/

3d computer graphics in web applications seem to be still a topic thats is heavily associated with technologies like flash, shockwave or other plugin based platforms. This may become history soon. At least if the development of WebGL browsers will proceed as it currently does. If you already use a WebGL enabled browser and had a look at one of the several examples as they appear constantly on http://learningwebgl.com/, then you will figure out quickly what I’m talking about.