Follow-Up Chrome Games: Google to Lock Your Mouse

Last month, I wrote about Google's aggressive strategy to fine tune Chrome as a gaming interface that will run future HTML5 as well as traditional C++-based games. The Chromium revision log is a treasure trove for those who want to follow Google's activities in this space, but my attention was specifically caught by a proposal to lock your mouse cursor.

Developer Vincent Scheib posted an early version of the "Mouse lock specification draft" this week, which essentially offers web app developers a possibility to lock or hide a mouse cursor in their applications - or position it in a preset, hidden location. The purpose is to remove the mouse cursor as a distracting element from the screen, but keep the mouse as a content controlling device in place - for example to navigate within a 3D environment. Scheib said that the draft is in the process of being adopted in the W3 Webevents Working Group.

The proposal should be seen in connection with an effort to enable a wider array of input devices via the Joystick API as well as Google's continued efforts to push HTML5 game development. Chrome is not just a browser interface anymore, but has moved to become an application interface that is shaping up to become a compelling game environment. It is worth watching what Google is cooking.

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Wolfgang Gruener is an experienced professional in digital strategy and content, specializing in web strategy, content architecture, user experience, and applying AI in content operations within the insurtech industry. His previous roles include Director, Digital Strategy and Content Experience at American Eagle, Managing Editor at TG Daily, and contributing to publications like Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware.

18 Comments Comment from the forums

working1I can't see any good in this game & neither could any one else. That's why they went into Administration.
What are you talking about?
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x Heavy

If that is true moricon, are we not then at war with a machine written by those who wish to control our actions with the mouse? It is easier to feed people something that tastes awful in form of a game.
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Goldengoose

working1I can't see any good in this game & neither could any one else. That's why they went into Administration.
I agree, my only problem is the way they compared the empire state building to how single mum's bring up their children wasn't ethical - perhaps they could change this in the next patch.
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dread_cthulhu

Convenient for the future Chrome Gamers among us!
Me!
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rantoc

They should force an escape key in that thats standard in the api, who wants add in the future that you can only bypass by typing in a brand for instance to unlock the mouse pointer!? When goggle does it i get suspicious as their main revenue is adds...
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rubix_1011

I'm thinking more people should read the article they are commenting on instead of reading the title and posting what they believe the article to be about...and it being incorrect.
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NuclearShadow

rubix_1011I'm thinking more people should read the article they are commenting on instead of reading the title and posting what they believe the article to be about...and it being incorrect.
I think not! I rather enjoy reading the foolish comments of know it all's who just read the title and try to comment on the articles as seen below.

working1I can't see any good in this game & neither could any one else. That's why they went into Administration.
I can't help but chuckle at this nonsensical comment or at the posters expense. We should also not thumb them down, we should thumb them up! Just like how we cheer on the idiot about to do something incredibly stupid that will no doubt end in failure and pain. We get a good laugh, they are too stupid to learn anything. Everybody wins!
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cookoy

Lock my mouse, steal my identity, auto update my apps and OS. Whatever. Those are the price you have to pay when your an internet junky.

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house70

To all the tinfoil hats out there: imagine playing a windowed game that requires the mouse as controller; every time you move the mouse outside the game's window border, you essentially lose control of your game. Then you will run back to Google crying why did they not include a mouse locking key combo to prevent that?
That's what this is about. Now go back to your conspiracy theories.
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house70

Also, just ignore the sensationalistic title and subtitle of this article, as Gruener is well knows to kinda hate on anything not fruit-related. If one looks ONLY at the title, one would think that Google is after remote-controlling your peripherals.
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