The Power of HTML 5: Keeping the Classics Alive

Technology. Technology, and the constant advancement of the internet. To me, they are an exceptional tour de force in the world of gaming. For others, they are everything that is wrong in gaming today. But let us digress, and just take a step back and look at the wonderful games they can provide us. Read on to learn the power of HTML 5!

To keep it simple, HTML is the coding language that websites are built on, and HTML5 is the fifth revision of that coding language. With this new revision, comes the ability to create and code games directly in this HTML language. The Flash games of the late 90’s and early 2000’s can now be done directly in your browser without that pesky plug-in having to be installed and present. Basically, any game can now be hosted in a browser, to a certain degree.

With this continuing development of HTML, has also come a number of early gaming classics being ported over so that anyone is able to play them directly in their browser. The most recent of these, which I just found  out about about this week, is the recreation of the original Command and Conquer Game, which the developer hopes to continue to refine. If you’re looking for something even a little older, you can even find a playable version of Dune II here. Or maybe you’re more of an Atari kind of person, and are looking for remakes of Centipede and Pong.

(I should note that you need an HTML5 compliant browser, if you want to play these games.)

Sure the games are not perfect (there’s some lag here and there in Command and Conquer), but it makes a remarkable case for what game delivery can be. You don’t need a dedicated console, TV, or controller. All of your old classics, if ported to HTML 5, could be available to you wherever you go. Your smartphone, laptop, tablet, etc. could be capable of hosting these games, and would let you enjoy them anywhere, and at any time.

Of course, as I write this, I am sure there are a number of you who see this as sacrilege. Retro games are MEANT to be played on a console in front of your TV, you say. Retro games are MEANT to be enjoyed with controller in hand.

So what do you think? Do you think that seeing an old Contra or Mega Man game being released as a web-page would a great way to attract more people to these retro games? Or do you think it’s the closest thing to retro-gaming blasphemy?

Lemme know what you think.

P.S. I think it’s great