It's about Time: RuneScape Dumps Java For HTML5
RuneScape, a popular massive online game of swords and sorcery has finally decided to drop Java and is now a Web app.
Jagex Games Studio has released the first RuneScape 3 beta. It embraces HTML5 and related Web Standards that provide programmers a more modern option to write software that runs on different operating systems.
It's about time, I say. Java was a possibility a few years ago, and continues to be a popular choice in the world of computing. It's still an option to enhance the capabilities of a browser, however. If the Java security flaws weren't enough to convince you , the trend away browser plug-ins will.
With more than 200 million RuneScape accounts and a large number of players online at the same time, RuneScape is a big reason for a lot of people not to uninstall Java.
My household doesn't play RuneScape. But there are other reasons Java isn't in my life.
One is Minecraft, my son's favorite electronic pastime. It is based on Java. Another is MIT's Scratch, a programming environment he also plays with.
There are a few reasons to hope in this area as well. Versions of Minecraft for Android and iOS are available. This suggests that developers can think beyond Java. Scratch 2.0 is currently in beta testing and is using Adobe Systems Flash Player instead Java. Flash is also on its way out however it's a few years behind Java and far more widely used, which means that browsers will actively support it for longer.
The most offenders Java item I've ever encountered is an expense-reporting program that doesn't operate unless you have a version of Java that was in use before Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems. It's also susceptible to numerous known attacks. It's a good thing smart browser makers have stopped letting Java applets run until the user gives permission.
Transferring off Java is a challenge.
According to the FAQ, MIT considered other options but decided to go with Flash because it offers "the most effective combination of features, performance, and the current penetration of browsers." Flash allows us to make Scratch available to the largest number of people without the need to install anything.
However, RuneScape developers placed their bets on Web standards. This comes with some risk, but it offers some significant rewards.
It appears that the latest version of RuneScape makes use of WebGL, an interface for 3D graphics in browsers that can tap into graphics chips' hardware acceleration abilities. (Jagex did not respond to a request for comment. WebGL is only available in Chrome and Firefox at present it is currently only available in Jagex requires users to use Chrome. Although there are indications that Microsoft will eventually integrate WebGL into Internet Explorer 11, anyone who relies on WebGL currently is concerned about compatibility with the browser.
The Web is maturing, however, and programmers are now able to access various computing devices , other than PCs. Apple has removed Flash and Java from iOS. Microsoft has done the same for Windows RT, and imposed restrictions on plug-ins for Windows 8. Flash and Java are not compatible with Android.
Utilizing Web technology, you can bypass these plug-in restrictions.
RuneScape's case represents a literal opening to new possibilities.
Developers were eager to talk about new graphics possibilities for Web programming, such as more color and "extra draw distance" which allows players to look further away from their characters' local environment.
Jagex hasn't changed the back-end servers that players connect to, which means the Java and Web-app versions of the RuneScape software can run in tandem. Only those who have slow computers should stick to the Java version, though, Jagex said.
In a video that explains the concept, a developer said that HTML5 specs are slightly more than Java. This means that if you have an older machine, Java may give you a better performance. "But anyone with higher- or mid-spec machines will experience more performance from HTML5."
Another advantage is that RuneScape could be accessible on mobile devices. Jagex isn't making any promises, though.
Another developer explained that "if it works on other devices , such as tablets and mobiles it's a pleasant coincidence." "We're not actively stopping it from working on these devices, but it's not our intention."
The release of Sun's version of Java brought some innovation to the browser world and cross-platform programming. However, it didn't really catch on as a way to run programs on PCs, whether in browsers or as standalone software. Jagex is smart to move over Java's lack of use and high risk.