KiokuSocial: A Journey into Browser Game Development
KiokuSocial was born from a simple idea: creating new memories of fun, whether shared with loved ones or enjoyed solo. As I ventured into game development with more intention of releasing games instead of dabbling in the latest engines/tutorials, I set out to build free mini-games and experiences accessible right in your browser at kioku.social, playable anytime, anywhere.
The Technical Journey
This project exposed me to various game development approaches in the browser: pure React-based games, the LittleJS Engine, and PixiJS. Each technology offered unique advantages and challenges, helping me understand the landscape of browser-based game development.
The Development Process
I set strict constraints for each game: 4 hours for prototyping, gathering feedback from playtesters, then another 4 hours for polishing. The games needed to be free, database-less, and potentially multiplayer. One creative solution involved using encoded query strings to handle data for asynchronous gameplay, like in the Scissors, Paper, Rock game.
The Games Collection
- BaccaratSurvivor: A survival game testing your luck and strategy with a limited bankroll.
- Scissors, Paper, Rock: A strategic twist on the classic game, inspired by fighting game mechanics.
- TinyTempo: A musical playground for creating beats with adjustable BPM and sound effects.
- dots: A joystick-controlled Snake-like experience exploring alternative input methods.
- kaleido: A unique art experience generating random shapes, rotations, and colors.
- brix: A brickbreaker-like featuring special effects and audio, built with LittleJS.
- chain: A meditative art experience with procedurally generated elements.
- go: A simple and quick speed-clicking game perfect for group competition.
- conduct: An interactive musical experience with custom sprite animations and instrument control.
Lessons and Future Direction
This experimental journey revealed both the possibilities and limitations of browser-based game development. While the browser offers incredible accessibility, I encountered performance and audio limitations that proved challenging for me to overcome. These experiences have led me to explore more robust game engines like Godot for future projects, where I can focus more on creating polished, deeper gaming experiences. I'm sure polish isn't the only thing keeping these from being the games I want to play, but through browser interactions and comparing it to a console or desktop experience I can tell I just enjoy playing in the environments of the latter more.
The Value of Constraints
Working within strict time and technical constraints proved invaluable for rapid learning and iteration. It forced creativity in problem-solving, particularly in game mechanics and some of the technicals like implementing multiplayer features without a backend database. These limitations ultimately led to innovative solutions and a better understanding of what's possible in browser-based gaming and what I enjoy playing.