Hello, open gaming fans! In this week's edition, we take a look at the pros and cons of HTML5 in mobile game development, how to build your own game console, and more!

Open source and Linux games: April 5 - 11, 2015

HTML5 game dev

Companies are increasingly adopting HTML5, an open technology standard. Just recently, YouTube replaced Flash for HTML5. So, what are the pros and cons of HTML5, in game development? Big Viking Games has worked on HTML5 games for a few years now, and CEO Albert Lai shares some insight in an article at SocialTimes.

"HTML5 is powerful because it allows us to build native-like gameplay experiences that can be played directly from the mobile browser."

Other benefits are the fact that HTML5 allows development of games for alternative platforms and to share "on a messenger app and start playing together immediately in the mobile browser without having to download a game off the app store."

dark-heroes.png

Dark Heroes, based on HTML5, by Big Viking Games

BioWare open sources networking tech Orbit

BioWare, a division of Electronic Arts, has made Orbit open source. Orbit is a modern framework for Java Virtual Machine languages, that makes it easier to build and maintain distributed and scalable online services. This platform is used in games such as Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age Keep. Although still in early development, BioWare hopes to improve the technology by working with other developers. Orbit is available on GitHub under a BSD license.

How to build a game console

If you don't want to wait any longer for the new Steam Machine to be released, why not build your own? Karl Hodge, author at techradar, tells us how!

In his article, Hodge describes what parts you need, like an average PC and game controler. No monitor is needed, as it will connect to your TV via HDMI. He has prices and build tips for three designs, with budgets ranging from $336 USD and up, to $1111 $USD. I think piecing together the Lego Millennium Falcon sounds more difficult than building a Steam Machine.

Squad FPS coming to Linux

A new first-person military shooter that is team-based and online is coming to Linux. It's called Squad FPS and is planned to release early 2016. More at linuxgamenews.com.

"Built from scratch with Unreal Engine 4, Squad serves up to 50 players in teams against each other in an intense modern day arms combat scenario, with both conventional and unconventional forces."

Stars Beyond Reach coming to Linux

After months of teaser blog posts and screenshots, Arcen Games has released a trailer for Stars Beyond Reach. It is planned to release June 5.