Video: HTML5 Game Optimization Guide

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PlayCanvas is an open-source game engine used by game developers worldwide. Optimization is crucial for HTML5 games, focusing on load times and frame rate. Texture and mesh optimization can significantly reduce download sizes. GLTF and GLB formats offer smaller file sizes and faster parsing times. Compressing game resources and using efficient file formats can improve load times. Framerate optimization and resolution scaling are important for better performance. Managing draw calls and using batching techniques can optimize performance. Browser DevTools, such as Chrome and Firefox, are useful for debugging and profiling. Detecting device performance and optimizing based on specific devices can improve game performance. Apple is making progress with WebGPU implementation. HTML5 games can be shipped to the App Store using Cordova.

This talk has been presented at JS GameDev Summit 2022, check out the latest edition of this JavaScript Conference.

FAQ

PlayCanvas powers Snap Games on Snapchat, which has had over 200 million players. It is also used by game developers worldwide to create various types of games, including casual games, .io games, and FPS games.

PlayCanvas is an open-source game engine written in JavaScript and based on WebGL. It includes a browser-based, real-time collaborative visual editor built in the cloud.

Chrome DevTools provides advanced tools for optimizing load times, including the Networking and Performance tabs. These tools help identify large resources and redundant data that can be optimized.

A common mistake is rendering games at full device resolution without considering the device's GPU capabilities. Using overly complex shaders and not optimizing draw calls can also negatively impact performance.

You can use user agent sniffing and properties like window width and device pixel ratio to infer device capabilities. For Android, Chrome reports the GPU family, allowing for more precise optimizations based on hardware.

Testing on different devices ensures that the game performs well across a range of hardware, from high-end to budget devices. This helps in identifying and fixing performance issues early in the development cycle.

Performance optimization is crucial for HTML5 games to ensure fast load times and smooth frame rates. Long load times can cause users to leave, and poor frame rates can affect the gameplay experience.

Texture data can be optimized using hardware texture compression formats like DXT, PVR, and ETC. Additionally, the Basis texture format can be used to compress textures further and reduce GPU memory usage.

Techniques to improve frame rates include using hierarchical profiling, adjusting rendering resolution based on device GPU, limiting graphical complexity, and reducing the number of draw calls through texture atlasing and batching.

GLTF is designed to be the JPEG of 3D, providing a standard format for 3D models. It reduces file size, improves parse times, and lowers peak memory usage compared to JSON, making it ideal for HTML5 games.

Will Eastcott
Will Eastcott
33 min
08 Apr, 2022

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