At today’s Google I/O 2010 keynote, the company showed off a beta of its upcoming Chrome Store. Set to launch some time this year, the store brings a variety of apps — including games — to consumers through a web browser and the power of HTML5. Think of it as a centralized place to find, download, buy, review, and discuss web apps (or an App Store rip-off, whichever you prefer).
On the gaming front, Plants vs. Zombies was shown…because we all need to buy a third version of that game (and we will). More impressive was a version of LEGO: Star Wars. Think about it for a second…(done thinking?) — this is a full 3D game running on your web browser. Sure, we’re not talking about Final Fantasy XIII graphics or anything, but this could be a huge step in advancement of web games. With the Chrome Store’s potential reach, the capabilities of HTML5, and the growing anti-Facebook sentiment, casual games through the Chrome Store could be a hot.
Naturally, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Google’s Chrome Store. Think it has a chance to topple Facebook as the king of casual games?
@Ray
Since it uses HTML5, does this mean Google has found a way to piss Apple off over something Apple is a little to proud of? I mean, the iPhone and iPad both use HTML5 and this, to me, seems like a way for Google to cut into Apple's app store on Apple's own products. Obviously they can't do that if it only works on Chrome, but it could be a huge threat if it works with any browser.
Found this on Google:
"Does this only work in Google Chrome?
Because web apps listed in the Chrome Web Store are regular web applications, built with standard web tools, they can be used by anyone using a modern browser that supports these web technologies. Users accessing the Chrome Web Store through Google Chrome will have the ability to create convenient shortcuts for easily accessing their apps."
You could easily create the shortcut on an Iphone as well. It will be put on the screen like an app widget. Neat stuff though.
There are even installable apps you can get, but obviously Apple won't let you do that. Still, if other phone OSs let you, do you think Apple would finally cave in order to not look inferior to its competitors? My bet is no, look how long it took iPods to get a radio…
It's official… I believe Sandrock may have been molested by the Woz as a child.
(I would say Steve Jobs… But look at the Woz! He just seems more like the type)
@N8R
LOL no no no no no no… I just like to think everyone is out to cut into Apple's market share. Also, I like the idea of it not being limited to one browser/OS. This might be the first Google product I actually use.
@ Sandrock
Sorry if I offended you, that indeed was not my intention.
I use Chrome sporadically and of course Google's search engine. But if the are going after Apple's market share, then by default they are going after Microsoft's as well. That said… it's an uphill battle for sure.
I have a feeling they are gonna screw it up when MS starts focusing on them. At that point, they'll be in the same position Hitler was when he was fighting the Allies in England and decided to split his forces to fight Stalin at the same time. Fighting a war on 2 fronts is NEVER a good idea.
@N8R
Not offended.
It seems more like a compete walk around of competition. They are leaving it open to all platforms and not limiting it to one like the others. This makes it hard for Apple and Microsoft to compete as they are playing a different game than Google. It's like the Poland Cavalry attacking the German tanks, Google has an advantage the others won't allow themselves.
@ Sandrock
For now… just wait and watch where it goes.
Gaming on a PC is MS domain.
I agree with N8R that google will have its hands full once they are in full competition with MS.
I don't know what you guys are talking about. MS has been focused on Google for several years. It's directly competing with Bing, pucCenter, Live Mail, etc. Google Apps has already gained more traction in enterprise that MS is comfortable with, ergo MS's Office cloud initiatives, though that's a minor fight at this point.
@Ray
yes but Google isn't hurting their bread and butter. Google enterprise has at least another decade before they hope to penetrate regulated enterprise.
@N8R
Different market. Microsoft already lost that market to Java, Flash, and now HTML5. Microsoft has nothing more to lose by this as HTML5 can't even touch the gaming market they do still control.
@ Sandrock
Sorry dude, I'm not shortsighted. Years of playing chess forced me to look several moves ahead of the move that is currently in play.
Google found a way to play games like Lego Star Wars in a browser. If this model succeeds? It will be far less expensive for publishers to release games in this format (i.e a new spin on the digi distribution debate).
We are old school and prefer discs and what not the next generation (and there will be exponentially more of them according to statistics) will not be.
@ Ray
Ultimately, my point was they aren't just trying to compete with Apple. You have validated that. However, I believe that once Chrome OS has a few updates and versions behind it and is in full swing, this article lends other factors that will piss Billy Gates off even more.
I don't think Google will stand up once it gets fierce. I'm all for underdogs and new kids on the block (not the music group), but I have to be realistic too.
@N8R I'm not even sure why people think Microsoft is this big and bad company anymore. At some point this year Apple will most likely be the more valuable company in terms of market cap.
@N8R
HTML5 is leagues behind what services like Steam offer. As nice as it is, it can't compete with the core gaming audience Microsoft holds. It will be interesting to see if web games can catch up over time though. It seems like it could easily happen, but it could easily get lapsed by hardware advances. Not an answer I expect to find out within the next 5-10 years.
@Sandrock323 I think you're missing the point. As wonderful as Steam is, core gaming on a PC is mostly niche. Web games and social games have a broader appeal. Whether it's through Facebook, the App Store, or the Chrome Store (potentially), the reach is far greater than Steam.
@Ray
I agree. I'm just pointing out that this is not competing with those games and thus not Microsoft. Microsoft has no control over the social gaming market and has no services that this app store can compete with. The only catch is that it might help Chrome gain more market share from IE.
@ Sandrock
I'm not talking about right now. I'm talking about the future. This is a format that can treat a game like Lego Star Wars as if it were Farmville. If it can do that with that title, it could do it with Ghostbusters, The Conduit, New Super Mario Bros, and half of the games Steam has available for sure.
I'm not looking at what is, I'm looking at what it's setting up for. This is a system that you won't have to download anything, you just sign on and play.
It WILL compete with these games when you think of the current statistics of people who game on computers. Most of them are on games they don't have to download. Now, that technology is advancing.
Some folks look at a mosquito frozen in amber and see exactly that… a mosquito frozen in amber. Others see the same thing, and envision Jurassic Park.
@ Ray
I think the reason that is, is because Apple built their fortress as a hardware company and gained eventual momentum with their software. MS was the opposite. They built their empire as a software company and are still working to create solid hardware. MS was always in competition with Apple even while MS was (and in some cases still is) on top.
I don't think they're taking Google for as much of a threat as they eventually will. I see MS as a front runner because they are. A wise man once said "second place is still successful"… and that wise man was right. However, the claws start to come out between first, second, and third place.
If I were Billy Gates (or whoever is actually in charge of MS now), I would currently be focused on Apple, but keeping a close eye on Google. Steve Jobs is the kind of guy who was always looking toward the future. He's thinking of things nobody has dreamed of right now. Me (some musician/freelance graphic artist who has a hobby in tech related geek culture), can't compete with that. I have no clue what the future of Apple holds. They've always surprised the hell out of me. MS… does what the data says they should focus on. Both are obviously successful strategies.
@N8R
I don't know that Google itself will be the competitor. They seem to fail at direct to consumer relations. They didn't seem interested in providing support for the N1. We'll see though.
Apple is fine in its niche as long as Jobs is at the top.
@ Smartguy
Yeah, finding a replacement for Jobs will be tough.
@N8R
he's an anomaly amongst CEOs. So directly tied to share prices, and the ego lol.
@ All
Just to mix it up I think you should read this…
http://gizmodo.com/5541969/bill-gates-told-steve-…
@Big Blak
good article. I can't watch the vid, since i'm at work. Man this just reminded me how if i got an iPad i would have to connect it to my pc so i can get music on it. It irks me that i have to do this on a product that's supposed to innovate the way we surf the web, read our articles and listen/view our media. If there was only an app where i can sync my itunes library without having to connect it. Oh wait there is but Jobs rejected it and it's only available for jb phones/pads. I'll try to dl soon to see how it works.
http://www.gadgetvenue.com/iphone-itunes-wireless…
@ Tokz
Damn dude that is sweet!!! I wonder why it got rejected…
@ tokz
I use an app called "Simplify Media". It streams all 115GB of my music collection to my phone so I don't need to actually store it on the phone.
I think Jobs didn't want to let on to his tablet back then. He's trying to grab a casual market like Nintendo did with the Wii. Seems to be working. I think he is spit on with the fact that a definition of a PC isn't just some nerd's 3ft tower with twelve fans. (he =Jobs)
Gates has always struck me as a visionary though. I enjoy hearing them speak.
@n8r
I'll look into that. Is that a wifi only connection?
@n8r
hahaha. nevermind they're no longer offering it according the company's site.
http://www.simplifymedia.com/blog/
@ Smartguy;
Awww, man… I have a 3ft tower with twelve fans.
-M
@ Ice
I have a 12ft tower with three fans, oh!
Jk
-BB
@iceman and BB
Nerds!
@ tokz
Wow… that sucks!
I had no idea. That app totally kicks ass. Hopefully there will be another one like it soon. It's easily in my top 5 favorite apps.
@ SG
Well I'm a nerd with a chick magnet that has a…dude…on…it……
@n8r
Yeah, it looked great. I can download the app but i can't download the software for my pc or create an account. I guess that jb app will have to do once they create a Windows version of the software you need for the pc.
@ Smartguy
Hey, just because I have a bumper sticker on the side of my tower that reads "Beam me up, Scotty" with a United Federation of Planets logo on the upper, left-hand side does NOT mean I'm a nerd.
… also, I stenciled in a Shakespearian phrase in Klingon along the bottom.
But STILL! That doesn't mean I'm a nerd. It, uh… just means that I'm "pro-science fiction" with bad acne.
-M
Wow. I can't believe Miyamoto is doing this to Zelda. Talk about really going after the casual gamer.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20005302-17.htm…
@ Tokz
I don't know if he means the game play or controls will be easier. If it is the latter I'm all for it.
@Iceman
as long as your curson isn't a lightsaber and your cell doesn't make the tricorder noise, you should avoid the nerd label.
@Big Blak
I actually didn't have an issue with the game play of any Zelda games. i find that my sister, who's 15, does. She can barely finish the first NES L.O.Z. I find that a lot of kids now are having trouble with older games. My gf has a 11 year old cousin and we played Super Mario Bros 3 and he kept dying so much he got frustrated and quit. He loves to play GTA and Resistance though. Idk. The controls for T.P. were fine just not responsive enough maybe the addition of the motion control plus will fix that.
@ Tokz
Older games are harder no question about it. Nowadays its all about the graphics (to the masses) and not having to much of a hard time actually beating a game. If people hear the game is to hard they wont play it (again the masses) never mind buy it.
@BB and Tokz
I think he is trying to just make it fun to play like Fable 2. I'm fine with that really. I'd like to see him design a game that can use either motion or standard controls though.
I just bought FF1 on my Iphone. Work should be fun the rest of the day
@smartguy
I have fun playing Zelda then again i've been playing that franchise for 20+ years. oh crap i'm old. Have fun with FFI.
@Big Blak
Man, i guess the new generation will end up like that movie Idiocracy.