The age of platform holders holding total control over what games can and cannot launch on their formats could well be coming to a close.
Or, in somewhat less tabloid fashion, the prospect of scores of developers skipping app stores to launch browser based versions of their titles that target multiple formats at once has drawn a step closer to reality.
Zynga's latest release in its Mafia Wars series, Atlantic City, is now available on smartphones, but rather than making its debut exclusively on a mobile marketplace GetJar the chosen app store - the studio has also chosen to leverage HTML5 and launch it on the web.
As a result, Mafia Wars Atlantic City is playable on any smartphone browsers that support HTML5, - iPhone, iPad, Android, webOS and BlackBerry all on board.
War on the web
Zynga's decision to target HTML 5 is an important benchmark for the social gaming genre.
Having spent 2010 branching out from its browser base to target mobile marketplaces, it now appears that social studios are leaning back towards their original stance and targeting several platforms all at once, as a result.
It's also a fairly weighty feather in HTML5's cap as the language looks to cement support.
However, while web based games enable developers to bypass any rules and regulations tied to specific marketplaces, Apple's continued block on Flash shows the platform holder will always retains a modicum of control.
[source: VentureBeat]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Related Articles
News
Jun 11th, 2024
Zynga’s Game of Thrones: Legends is open for pre-registrations with a July 25th release date
News
Jun 10th, 2024
Star Wars: Hunters ranked No. 1 for App Store game downloads in the US, UK and Canada on launch day
Feature
Jun 10th, 2024
Squad Busters’ supercharged launch, Pokémon’s record revenue, and Star Wars: Hunters finally hits the target
Top Stories
News
11 hours, 9 minutes ago
King and Flexion partner to bring Candy Crush Saga to App Gallery and more alternative app stores
News
12 hours, 4 minutes ago
Zynga’s Game of Thrones: Legends is open for pre-registrations with a July 25th release date
Feature
Jun 11th, 2024
Mobile Mavens: Are today's everlasting, live ops games holding back new innovation?
Feature
Jun 11th, 2024
The key takeaway from Apple's AI-laden WWDC keynote? It's time to buy a new iPhone
Events
Tribeca Games Festival 2024 | North America | Jun 5th |
Steam Next Fest: June 2024 Edition | Jun 10th | |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
GamesForum Hamburg 2024 | Europe | Jun 11th |
ESI London 2024 | Europe | Jun 13th |
Game Con Canada (GCC) 2024 | North America | Jun 14th |
Indie Dev Play 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Popular Stories
Interview
Jun 5th, 2024
A galaxy far, far away… Why Star Wars: Hunters took six years to hit the target
Interview
Jun 7th, 2024