[ACE] Web-Browser... is it possible?

[ct_bolt]

Is it possible to script a web-browser in VXAce?    If so... could someone break it down for me?

PS. I do know that basics of RGSS3 (for the most part).

 

[Zalerinian]

Well, it *might* be possible, but it'd be too difficult to even try. You'd have to get internet connection (which itself is hard to put into an RM game), and then download the webpage and all images to the player's computer, and then interpret the HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, or any other website scripting language. The effort is just not really worth it.

What would you need an in-game web browser for anyway?

 

[ct_bolt]

Well, it *might* be possible

I'm fairly certain it can be done.

it'd be too difficult to even try.

lol, that sounds like a challenge. I'm sure it won't be easy but I must still make an attempt.

You'd have to get internet connection (which itself is hard to put into an RM game), and then download the webpage and all images to the player's computer, and then interpret the HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, or any other website scripting language.

Hmm... Yes, yes I see... I did know most of that; Thanks for the info.

What would you need an in-game web browser for anyway?

I don't "need" I just want to attempt to script it... just for more RGSS3 knowledge.

I do have a few ideas though such as:

• "Communicating" with a web site (also coded by me) to enable something in the game if the page is accessed from the game (not any other browser).
• A "in-game" chat system that can chat with other "out-of-game" users (possibly another unlock-able event/character/item/etc.)

 

[Tsukihime]

I don't really see how practical it would be from a game dev's POV but sure I guess.


I'd probably just write a regular web browser for some operating system that I can then share with others.

 

[ct_bolt]

I don't really see how practical it would be from a game dev's POV but sure I guess.

Yeah it's really not very practical, I just want to try it for fun (and knowledge).

I'd probably just write a regular web browser for some operating system that I can then share with others.

Are you referring to another language (C/C++, Java, VB, C#, etc.) or RGSS3?

If you are talking about writing a web browser for an OS (ex. windows) in RGSS3 (probably using WinAPI calls or something) do you know anything that might help me with this?

 

[Tsukihime]

RGSS3 is not useful anywhere outside of RM.

 

[ct_bolt]

RGSS3 is not useful anywhere outside of RM.

lol    I know that much... RGSS3 (Ruby Game Scripting System 3, it's practically in the name) is just for RMVXAce (ruby is what I should be use outside of RM, my favorite is C++ though)

I believe something like what White Flute does with Win32API (Such as Net-EX) could be used to make a Web Browser in RMVX Ace. Am I completely wrong?

Would there be any way to use the Win32API (or anything else) to connect to internet & then download all the necessary data from a site (images, sounds, HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, etc.)?

Edit:

Ok, I've got Net-EX working & am able to download files... I believe I am on my way. BD

Thank you both for the replies.

 

[Tsukihime]

It provides the API's for making requests and handling responses but other than that you probably still need to find a way to handle HTML. And...that's just HTML...I don't even want to bother with everything else that forms the web.

 

[ct_bolt]

It provides the API's for making requests and handling responses

Ahh I see...

you probably still need to find a way to handle HTML. And...that's just HTML...

Yup that's the part I'm now working on.

I don't even want to bother with everything else that forms the web.

Yup, one step at a time. Gotta take this one real slow.

 

[??????]

sigh... whiteflutes site always makes my McAfee go nuts

i just use Webkit for basic control of data online

 

[SlaveOfThaMind]

1)Sounds like a cool idea. You could have all of your custom RTP loaded on the website/server, that way you could have the game call the needed resources from your site and plug them into the game without the need for a 500mb+ video game.

2) It would also keep players from ripping your data from the corresponding folders of the game and modding the files for their own use. (breaking copyrights on your game)

3) Seems like the cloud service that *backstabbing company name removed* offers on their next console.

4) Would be useful for the more "modern age" RPGs people are making. Maybe you would want to have a computer in one scene for instance, where you could access a "social network site" (obviously made specifically for the game) and mingle with other NPCs, and other players world wide in the game.

5) I could go on. But ill stop here.

All in all. I like the idea and I look forward to seeing an alpha release

Keep up the great work CT

 

[Tsukihime]

This isn't "Ace in a browser" this is "a browser in Ace"

 

[SlaveOfThaMind]

you misunderstand my post.

 

[Zalerinian]

The first point wouldn't work anyway, you'd need to download the files either every time the game is run and then delete them after, or you have to download and save the files to the computer.

 

[Tsukihime]

you misunderstand my post.

What did you mean then? I assumed you were talking about features that would be useful in ct_bolt's idea.

 

[Zeriab]

I suggest using an already existing web browser to open whatever website you want.

For communicating with a server and accessing web contents I suggest you consider the problem of creating and using a Web service rather than browsing the internet.

The communication is typically XML based which is rather bloaty, but there are tools that generates code for major parts of webservice. Maybe you can leverage some of those tools to make it easier, or maybe it'll just make matters worse.

On the client side I would create a DLL which manages the internet communication in one or more separate threads. In RGSS3 I would use Win32API to call methods in the DLL to retrieve the necessary information.

*hugs*

 

[SlaveOfThaMind]

What did you mean then? I assumed you were talking about features that would be useful in ct_bolt's idea.

To me, it seemed as though you thought I was talking about running the entire game/program through a browser, when I was only talking about calling files from a server, to the game on your harddrive. ( much like cloud for xbone )

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

1)Sounds like a cool idea. You could have all of your custom RTP loaded on the website/server, that way you could have the game call the needed resources from your site and plug them into the game without the need for a 500mb+ video game.

I don't really like the idea of having a single-player game to rely on the internet (like putting the files required on the net, then just make the game use it from there)... That will only be good for players who has constant net connection everywhere he goes...

also when I have internet connection, I'd rather play an MMO than a single player game...

anyway, I agree with Zeriab, just use the user's browser for opening a website if you need to open one... it's easier and there are scripts for that too...