Mozilla May be Aiming For a Firefox Games Platform

News
By Wolfgang Gruener
published

About three months ago, there was an article about Google's idea how to turn its Chrome browser into a gaming platform.

That strategy has not changed and it is clear that Google will be steamrolling its weight into this market to compete with Microsoft for cloud app market share. What has changed however, that Mozilla is now quite apparently also thinking about its chances in this segment and if gaming is a fitting app environment for Firefox.

Mozilla quietly launched the developer preview of its Apps project, which outlines some guidelines how developers can create apps to run in Firefox. It's Mozilla's version of web apps, but it's all done in the open and other browser makers (if they matter) could adopt the idea. What is noteworthy is the gaming and entertainment component that was outlined by Rob Hawkes in a Mozilla Hacks post. If you have been following this topic, there is not much news and you may very well be aware that there is a Full Screen API, the Mouse Lock API, the Gamepad API, Websockets and WebRT than can be leveraged for online gameplay within the browser window. Hawkes, however, also states that BrowserID can be used to identify players. Even more importantly, it is the first time that Mozilla publishes, for the first time, ideas how the browser, in this case Firefox, could become a game platform.

Of course, feature such as the gamepad API are not yet available in Firefox (Chrome already supports this API) and Firefox lacks a certain standout feature to attract gamers and create the kind of buzz Chrome currently owns. We should notice, however, that Mozilla has gaming in its sights and given Firefox' HTML5 capabilities, it is a smart and necessary move. Of course, the strategy will only work if those features that are supporting online gaming will be available rather sooner than later.

Wolfgang Gruener
14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Netherscourge
    After seeing how annoying the BF3 Battlelog is, I can honestly say I don't want a web browser having anything to do with my gaming - either directly as a platform or as a launcher.

    Games are better as individual programs, not Web Browser apps.

    Just my 2 cents.
    Reply
  • rawful
    That depends on the type of games, and the way it is written. This sounds more like the games will actually run within the browser, like a flash game.
    Reply
  • sissysue
    Any serious game or gamer will not touch this app store type games that this would deliver.
    Reply
  • Onus
    This has the stench of "cloud" about it...
    Reply
  • firefox is already a bloated insecure memory hogging mess. wtf would they want to make it even worse. It seems they have forgotten the legacy that saw netscape navigator dwindle into obscurity and are slowly retreading the same path to oblivion.
    Reply
  • amk-aka-Phantom
    ZingamWow, seriously, a gamer.. a "Serious" game... You sound like a "serious" gamer? As if being a "Serious" gamer is something like a being a knight, a man of honor? Wow, you are joking!Maybe be you could stick a label or even put a tattoo on your forehead: "Proud to be a gamer..." (...or "loser" if you prefer)Nerds are funny!!!
    Actually, it is :D Serious gamers have their own code of honor.

    Oh yeah, almost forgot: GTFO troll.
    Reply
  • billybobser
    Has i7 + gtx580,

    plays games in browser.

    Seriously though, with no installed data how are these games going to be any good?

    Perhaps, they can get deals to play huge games in the browser (think, sonic / mario/ pokeman/ streets of rage II)

    That would be fun, add revenues to the old titles that are no longer commonly available through legal means.

    I think a browser should be capable of handling ps1/n64 games without a typical browser port. Kidding themselves if they think they can 'stream' something like BF3 or Skyrim to any enjoyable level.
    Reply
  • valu3hunt3r
    I use Firefox to browse the net, not to play games (with exception to web based games on a webpage loaded in Firefox).
    Adding a Games Platform to Firefox will only give the browser extra bloat that it doesn't need.

    I wouldn't mind if installation of it (like an add-on or alternatively alongside the base of the program) were voluntary and you can choose not to install it.
    Reply
  • eddieroolz
    Please don't. Chrome is already guilty of turning the internet back into the days of IE6 with Chrome-specific games and apps; Firefox is going to make it worse.
    Reply
  • sissysue
    ZingamWow, seriously, a gamer.. a "Serious" game... You sound like a "serious" gamer? As if being a "Serious" gamer is something like a being a knight, a man of honor? Wow, you are joking!Maybe be you could stick a label or even put a tattoo on your forehead: "Proud to be a gamer..." (...or "loser" if you prefer)Nerds are funny!!!No, Xbox boy, a serious gamer does not was his or her time on stupid phone games or the vast majority of console games too. The serious gamers still prefer the PC and I would say games like SkyRim and the excellent mod community would be one of them. Now go back into your moms basement little boy.
    Reply