This week was an interesting one for the HTML5 space as it largely featured developments in HTML5 gaming. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.
Kicking things off, mobile game developer TreSensa closed a funding round, during which it brought in more than $2 million. What’s remarkable about this is that it managed this largely on the strength of its HTML5 game development. Indeed, the developer has made a point to create games that are playable on mobile devices and the Web, including an upcoming title based on HBO’s popular series “True Blood.”
Keeping with the gaming news trend, Microgaming, one of the world’s largest online casino software companies, has started adding more HTML5 and native Android (News – Alert) games to its mobile suite. Over 14 games have been added to the company’s native Android client, while a further two — “Mayan Princess” and “Tiger’s Eye” — have been developed with HTML5.
Meanwhile, the BBC decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the text-based adventure game “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” based on the radio broadcast and book of the same name, by re-releasing it on the Web. Made with HTML5, the revamp offers an experience very true to the original release and includes a virtual keyboard that makes it particularly friendly to mobile devices.
The BBC once again made HTML5 news this week by releasing an HTML5 revamp of its iPlayer, which acts as both a video-on-demand system and a way for viewers to catch up on shows. This revamp includes a brand new look and an adaptive design that adjusts to display size. Overall, the new iPlayer is much more mobile-friendly because of this.
Lastly, a Wisconsin-based company called Drifty received $1 million in seed funding from Arthur Ventures, which will be used to expand its current solutions and hire more developers. Drifty is the creator of HTML5 native app development framework Ionic, which allows developers to create native-feeling apps based on Web technologies, including HTML5, CSS (News – Alert) and JavaScript.
That’s all for this week, but there’s lots more HTML5 news to be found back on the HTML5 Report’s front page.