Browser games

[perihelion]

Who else plays them?

I played Evony for a time, but it was CRAP. ThreeKingdoms Online is like Evony, but much, much better. It actually saves your progress, so you don't have to keep starting over, and there's a lot less lag as well.

[cdanon]

I wasn't too impressed by Evony myself and I normally like long drawn out building tedium.

[kollkolen]

Power Play Manager
The target of the Power Play Manager project is to create a collection of on line sport manager games. The first sport – ice-hockey – is already available for playing in the full version. The launch of the beta version of the second sport – soccer – is planned for the end of 2009.

[ElPresidente]

Most browser based games that aren't addictive little flash titles are rubbish.

However keep an eye for games that make use of the Unity game engine.

This is an engine that plug directly into your browser and can be used to render surprisingly detailed 3D worlds.

Perhaps the best known unity game is Velociraptor Offroad Safari (raptorsafari.com). A fun little action game where you race around a paleolithic era landscape in your 4x4 running raptors down, trying them to the back of your truck and getting them back to a goal point. It sounds a bit dull but it is a riot to play with lots of aerial acrobatics and extreme driving required to get your raptor haul.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2142/2229665911_002b20e9ca.jpg

The problem is people feel browser games have to be simplistic and limited by their interface. This is not so. I've not played it myself but will be joining very shortly. I only recommend it as it is a pretty hot topic at the moment and an almost offensive number of my game journo compatriots are playing it. The game is Neptune's Pride (np.ironhelmet.com) and it a grand multiplayer strategy game set in space which is designed for people with day jobs. You can play just by logging in a couple of times day, issuing a few orders and getting back to the real world.

http://www.blogcdn.com/news.bigdownload.com/media/2010/01/nepturesjan11.jpg

If you want an all out action multiplayer experience there are few games in the world like Quake III and now you can play it from your browser. Quake-Live (http://www.quakelive.com) is a browser based version of popular deathmatch shooter Quake III: Arena. This is not some compromised vision of the game. This IS Quake III and if you are playing it in a maximised window no one would ever know you were playing it through your browser. Even if you already own Quake III this free to play Browser version comes with a number of improvements over the original in relation to social gaming with a wonderful game browser, social networking options, ladders, leagues and clan support.

http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/quakelive_15.jpg

Don't support rubbish browser games like Evony. Support games that are fun, clever and make browser based gaming something more than a way to play games when you are at your work computer.

[noobkiller138]

thing thing 4 all the way. best 2D shooter EVER. :rofl:

[ElPresidente]

Actually, speaking of shooters another great browser game is Captain Forever (http://www.captainforever.com/captainforever.php)

http://www.gameclassification.com/files/games/Captain-Forever.png

It was designed by an Australian game developer who enjoyed instant fame for what is quite possibly the greatest resignation letter ever (http://www.farbs.org/Message.html) when he left 2K Australia (half of the team behind Bioshock the other half being 2K Boston). Do take a look at that link... his rejection letter is in the form of a playable Mario Bros level.

Anyway Captain Forever is a top down 360 degree shooter. The clever twist is that as you blow up your foes they break into small cubes, engines and thrusters which you can then drag on to your ship with the mouse. Physics has some play in this and the way you design your ship will effect everything from turn rate, weapons power, hull strength and more. It is an ingenious game that is incredibly easy to pick up and play. Get on it! :)

[itsnotozzyitsozzy]

I used to play free realms or w/e it was called but I like playing games not connected to the internet in any way.