Microsoft has partnered with Ubisoft and have launched the first ever Assassin’s Creed title on the modern web with HTML5, 3D WebGL graphics, and JavaScript. The Assassin’s Creed Pirates web-based 3D game is available for free play in five languages worldwide.
But that’s not all, Microsoft also announced a related Developer Contest for web developers and game developers to show off their OpenGL skills. The grand prize is an Assassin’s Creed Collector’s Black Chest Edition and an Xbox One.
Assassin’s Creed Pirates
Before we go into details of the contest, let’s have a quick look at the 3D WebGL game first, which is developed using Babylon.JS open source framework.
Gone are the days when WebGL wasn’t supported on Internet Explorer. With Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft supports WebGL to create dynamic 2D and 3D graphics for games and interactive content.
Assassin’s Creed Pirates, based on popular iOS game, allows you to step into the shoes of Alonzo Batilla, a young captain, racing his ship through the Caribbean seas, evading mines and other hurdles, amidst searching for treasure. The gameplay offers great 3D graphics and an adaptable experience based on the device and input type.
Developer Contest
David Catuhe has created a program using Babylon.JS with which developers can easily build shaders. The Developer Contest invites developers to use this program to create a custom shader for the pirate ship from the Assassin’s Creed Pirates game.
The grand prize is an Assassin’s Creed Collector’s Black Chest Edition and an Xbox One and submissions are allowed until June 20, 2014.
The contest is open for anyone over 16 years of age and from one of the following countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, or Australia.
Read up David Catuhe’s article on how to create your own shader and then head over to the Assassin’s Creed Pirates Developer Contest page.