Palm Helping WebOS Game Development
There's been a lot of concern surrounding the WebOS and gaming development. Having an SDK based on html/js/css limits things and virtually rules out 3D gaming. However, Palm wants to remind us that some level of gaming is possible and that HTML5 is more powerful than you might think.
To that end, Palm has posted a "webOS™ and Game Development" article on their developer website detailing what kinds of games are possible on the WebOS; "puzzles, word games, card and board games, innovative social games, and the list goes on – even simple arcade games" according to Palm. Also posted, is an article describing Palm's implementation of the <canvas> tag, which allows for 2D dynamically generated graphics. It's not 3D fast-paced gaming, but it's a start.
Not only that, yesterday it was announced on the Palm Developer Network that Palm has opened up a "webOS Game Developer Café" forum section where game developers can share experiences, tips, and most importantly, give Palm feedback that they can use to improve the SDK. The new forums section is already starting to payoff. This thread reveals both a lightweight javascript animation library and information on CCS3 animations.
These things, combined with that recent Game Frameworks Engineer job listing make us think Palm's actually listening to users and wants gaming to be a competent part of the WebOS. I wonder what the gaming situation will be like a year from now. If the twenty five games already in our Homebrew App gallery are any indication, we'll be seeing better games in the App Catalog than you might have expected.
What’s New in Pre Homebrew Apps: There are over 100 of Them
You read that headline exactly right - there are now over 100 apps in our Homebrew forums and more on the way. There are three different Google Voice Apps (including one with SMS support, update: make that two), the above-pictured iTunes Remote app, calculators, games, an iCanHazCheezburger picture finder, an excellent podcast downloader/player.. there's a lot.
Once you get your SDK installed, you're ready to participate in the beta testing action. With any luck at all, Palm will be accepting many of these apps into their App Catalog. Until they're able to get their high falutin', city-slicker system up to speed, though we invite you to check out the down-home, wild west of homebrew apps for the Pre. Don't forget that there are now easier ways to install now - fileCoaster and webOS Quick Install.
If homebrew isn't your thing (it can be a bit much and yes, everything here is very much Beta), it's still worth looking around to get a taste of how easy it is to develop webOS apps and see the stuff the grass-roots developers are working on.
After the break, we present you with the current list compiled by chuccck, newer additions in bold. Before you get to browsing all the homebrew, though, do chuccck a quick solid and congratulate him on his bacon-based proposal (she said yes!). Also, take some time to thank all the great developers who are building these apps!
