Author Topic: My browser based game building platform  (Read 16639 times)

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Offline JL235

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My browser based game building platform
« on: October 02, 2011, 10:17:00 pm »
This is something I've been building for about a year now, and it's really starting to come together. It's called Play My Code, and it allows you to create, and write games directly within the browser, with all of the tools and hosting provided for free.

The main focus for the site was to streamline the process of building a browser game. Today if you want to make a game using HTML5 and JavaScript, then first you have to find tools to use to write it, documentation to get you going, and write lots of boilerplate to setup the page. Next you need to find a way to get it online, and available for others to play. Finally it's very easy to write code which only works in one browser, requiring lots of testing. The site aims to streamline all of that, making the whole process of building a game in the browser as simple as possible. We also work around, or fix, many cross platform bugs, with the aim that our games will run in any HTML5 compliant browser (which is a lot more work then you think).

We have our own IDE, where you can write games and upload assets (so far images and sounds). We also use our own language, Quby, which is heavily influenced by Ruby. When it runs this is compiled to JavaScript, and again uses the HTML5 canvas for graphics. We have a 'sandbox' that you play in without signing up here, so you can get a look at the IDE, but you can also sign up to create and save projects online.

There are a bunch of games written so far, including a breakout clone, a rhythm action game, and lots more. You can also view the code and edit any of the published games (read only), allowing you to learn from examples, again without having to sign up.

But we still have a long way to go for making this more mature, so I'd be open to any feedback people can give!
Build games in the browser at PlayMyCode.com, @playmycode

Offline LincolnB

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2011, 10:20:12 pm »
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O

My eyes just popped out of my head, like this:  O.O

You, sir, are a genius. Seriously, this is very cool. Ah, the possibilities...

* buttsfredkin wonders if he's going to have to pay any money for this...or is it all payed for by ads?
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 10:21:32 pm by buttsfredkin »
Completed Projects:
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   >> An Exercise In Futility   >> GeoCore

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Not much yet, hopefully this section will grow soon with time (and more contests)



Offline JL235

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2011, 10:48:56 pm »
O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O

My eyes just popped out of my head, like this:  O.O

You, sir, are a genius. Seriously, this is very cool. Ah, the possibilities...

* buttsfredkin wonders if he's going to have to pay any money for this...or is it all payed for by ads?
Thanks for the praise!

We haven't actually decided on a way to monetize it yet, as we are still finishing the core platform. But we do want to keep it as free and open as possible, to help encourage developers to use it and build games.
Build games in the browser at PlayMyCode.com, @playmycode

Offline Deep Toaster

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2011, 11:02:52 pm »
That is awesome. Where'd you get that awesome in-browser code editor? For a long time I've wanted to make a complete online IDE for Z80 assembly, and one of the things at the top of the to-do list was a code-highlighting editor in JavaScript.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 11:03:07 pm by Deep Thought »




Offline JL235

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2011, 11:24:06 pm »
That is awesome. Where'd you get that awesome in-browser code editor? For a long time I've wanted to make a complete online IDE for Z80 assembly, and one of the things at the top of the to-do list was a code-highlighting editor in JavaScript.
In my opinion, the best browser editor available is Ace, and we use a customized version of that.

We originally used Code Mirror, which is another very complete editor, and it's used on Google Code (but it's not by Google). However we switched because we had issues with it getting very slow after a couple of thousand lines (which I've found on other sites that use Code Mirror), and the Ace editor is really damn easy to work with; I had most of the editor moved over in just an afternoon.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 11:32:11 pm by JL235 »
Build games in the browser at PlayMyCode.com, @playmycode

Offline Deep Toaster

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2011, 11:26:09 pm »
We originally used Code Mirror, which is another very complete editor, and it's used on Google Code (but it's not by Google). However we switched because we had issues with it getting very slow after a couple of thousand lines (which I've found on other sites that use Code Mirror), and the Ace editor is really damn easy to work with; I had most of the editor moved over in just an afternoon.
I noticed that issue with large files in Code Mirror too. Thanks for the tip!

EDIT: Those games are fun O.O
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 11:46:02 pm by Deep Thought »




Offline JL235

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2011, 12:03:44 am »
I noticed that issue with large files in Code Mirror too. Thanks for the tip!
Np. There is also a list of editors on Wikipedia. Bespin/Project Skywriter is mentioned, but I'd skip it, as it's been merged into Ace.
Build games in the browser at PlayMyCode.com, @playmycode

Offline Hayleia

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2011, 01:11:25 am »
Hahahaha haahaahahaha !!! :crazy:
* Hayleia took too much awesomeness in the eyes and is becoming crazy
No, seriously, great work :thumbsup:

We haven't actually decided on a way to monetize it yet, as we are still finishing the core platform. But we do want to keep it as free and open as possible, to help encourage developers to use it and build games.
If you put ads, please, put them everywhere but don't put pop-ups. It is so annoying. And avoid questionnable ones so we can use your tool even when our parents are behind us ;)
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Offline willrandship

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2011, 03:51:34 am »
Nice! I hope it doesn't get blocked in my School x.x I actually have a way to make HTML5 games on the go! :w00t:
« Last Edit: October 03, 2011, 03:51:44 am by willrandship »

Offline Levak

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #9 on: October 03, 2011, 05:48:08 am »
Even if the concept was cool I wasn't as excited as before I played the game (you all lost) and imagine all the possibilities. Really ... congrats !
I do not get mad at people, I just want them to learn the way I learnt.
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Offline Broseph Radson

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2011, 09:23:58 am »
Wow thats cool :O

Offline LincolnB

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2011, 09:50:40 am »
O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O
 O.O O.O O.O O.O O.O

My eyes just popped out of my head, like this:  O.O

You, sir, are a genius. Seriously, this is very cool. Ah, the possibilities...

* buttsfredkin wonders if he's going to have to pay any money for this...or is it all payed for by ads?
Thanks for the praise!

We haven't actually decided on a way to monetize it yet, as we are still finishing the core platform. But we do want to keep it as free and open as possible, to help encourage developers to use it and build games.

Great! I agree with Hayleia, no questionable ads or pop ups plz. :)
Completed Projects:
   >> Spacky Emprise   >> Spacky 2 - Beta   >> Fantastic Sam
   >> An Exercise In Futility   >> GeoCore

My Current Projects:

Projects in Development:
In Medias Res - Contest Entry

Talk to me if you need help with Axe coding.


Spoiler For Bragging Rights:
Not much yet, hopefully this section will grow soon with time (and more contests)



Offline JL235

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2011, 10:42:34 am »
If we ever added ads, they definitely won't be popups. I don't like them either (and I don't believe anyone does).

Thanks for all the positive feedback!
Build games in the browser at PlayMyCode.com, @playmycode

Offline willrandship

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2011, 12:57:28 am »
I would recommend making money, perhaps, through in-game advertising. However, I think it would be best to let the user decide if they want it in there, and give them some of the money (maybe 10%-30%) that you gain in profits. Then, there's a motivation to make better games, they could specify areas to have ads in (think like gemcraft 0 did, after each level, not like those annoying random time-based popups) that wouldn't be counterintuitive or very annoying.

Offline JL235

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Re: My browser based game building platform
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2011, 10:54:06 am »
A profit share would be a great idea for helping developers get involved with using PMC, and it's something we are already considering.
Build games in the browser at PlayMyCode.com, @playmycode