Javascript Gamedev with Phonegap
The incomplete guide!
Presented at PLUG on May 20th, 2014
by Tod Hansmann
Problem Solver, Builder of Awesome
email: Tod -aaatt- TodandLorna.com
Google Stuff: todpunk
IRC Community: #todandlorna@irc.esper.net
Wait, what's Phonegap?
- "It is called, Cordova Twins (they look the same!)"
- All your platforms are belong to us
- The wrapper and the toolchain
- PhoneGap Build is another thing as well
- No, we're not going to get too into that
- Requirements below!
Phonegap dependencies
- Node.js (for npm and other tools)
- Are you building your own?
- Platform SDKs!
- Probably some devices?
- A Mac (hissssssss)
- A lot of javascript libs for whatever
- Use build
- Really, it's just easiest
- It is actually really cheap (free?)
- Less cables!
I can make games!
Just make an index.html
Then get a game running inside it!
There is no step 3? (Hahahahaha)
All caveats of webdev apply (because
that's what it is)
More caveats (nothing is cross-platform)
Game caveats! ->
Making games sucks
- Demographics
- Audience (yes, that's different)
- UI in platform
- Screens hate you. Moreso now.
- Users hate you. Moreso now.
- Your kids LOVE you.
So don't do it for the money?
Web vs Mobile
Hardware access, yay!
Input? Oh yeah, there is none.
Emulate it? (you fool!)
Power. That's also gone.
You're still using Javascript!
Just keep a separate codebase, and
organize your code to make life easier.
Enough talk, let's code!
We start with an virgin index.html that we must
fertilize with our seeds of genius.
All our code is rooted with the index.html
So let's try it!
If you just want to download it
Code available at:
https://github.com/todpunk/tnl-tunneler/
I will also likely have an apk from
PhoneGap Build somewhere at any given time
I'll even be finishing it! (%legal_fine_print_here%)
