Experiments with Modern Web Browsers
By LABS — November 17, 2011 - 9:20 pmmcgarrybowen LABS launched its latest experiment, Galaxy Explorer™, an innovative multi-browser side-scrolling game designed to change how we think of browsers and how developers build them. This project pushes the boundaries of what we can achieve with JavaScript, by leveraging CSS3 and HTML5 technology.
HTML5 is the latest version of HTML, a language that is core to today’s web technology. Even though it is still in its development phase, it has already made big strides in improving how multimedia and graphical content is presented in web browsers, and is quickly becoming the standard for building websites and even ad units.
While not all browsers fully support HTML5 features yet, we saw an opportunity to use HTML5 and JavaScript, another language used in web pages, in a creative way to develop new behaviors, not seen before, in browser windows, such as transparent browser windows, with the hope of pushing the development community to think differently about what is possible.
The team experimented with the animation of, and communication between, multiple browser windows in order to develop the basic building blocks in an interactive experience. In the process we created “transparent” browser windows, exciting new animation systems for the developer community, as well as a uniquely illustrated fictional world.
The biggest innovation of this project came from a need to create fluid character animations without using HTML5 Canvas, a drawing tool. As a result, we developed an easy-to-use character rigging, skinning, and animating system that runs on CSS3 and rivals Flash-enabled animations.
Original sketch for the boss in Hykadelics level
The storyline is just as intriguing as the technology itself. MC Hamster, Fluffspheria’s miniature superhero, is on a quest to retrieve all the Jewels of Light that are stolen by the notorious evil pirate, SIR StealsALot, and his robotic army of Arrrgobots.
Original Illustration for SirStealsALot
This retro-meets-modern adventure is packed with: an intro sequence with a creatively technical twist, intense boss battles, a planet made entirely out of yummy desserts, and another planet that is nothing short of trippy.
Original Sketch for the Hykadelics world in Galaxy Explorer
Galaxy Explorer™ was unveiled at Google’s Creative Sandbox on October 27th, to a crowd of enthusiastic gamers and web professionals. Now, it’s your turn to play, so strap on your jet packs, and get ready to explore the galaxy with MC Hamster at:
(Galaxy Explorer™ is currently in its Beta version and is best experienced in Safari 5.0, with pop up blockers turned off)
For our favorite photos from the launch event at Google’s Creative Sandbox, please visit our Facebook page.
