HTML5 opens up a plethora of new avenues for application and game development on the web. Games can now be created and interacted with directly within HTML with no need for users to download extra plugins, or for developers to learn new languages. Important new features such as the Canvas tag enable drawing directly onto the web page, the Audio tag allows sounds to be triggered and played from within your HTML code, the web sockets API brings the facility for real-time communication, and the local storage API enables data such as high scores or game preferences to be kept on a user's computer to be retrieved next time they play your game. All of these features and many more are covered within The Essential Guide to HTML5.

This book begins at an introductory level, teaching the essentials of HTML5 and JavaScript through game development. Each chapter features a familiar game type as its core example, such as hangman, rock-paper-scissors, or dice games, and uses these simple constructs to build a solid skillset of the key HTML5 concepts and features. By working through these hands on examples, you will gain a deep, practical knowledge of HTML5 that will enable you to build your own, more advanced games and applications.

* Concepts are introduced and motivated with easy-to-grasp, appealing examples.
* Code is explained in detail after general explanations.
* Reader is guided into how to make the examples “their own”.

What you’ll learn
# Use HTML5 and JavaScript to create interactive web sites
# Program in JavaScript with the new HTML5 features
# Draw on canvas and place text on the canvas
# Create animated scenes using timing events
# Handle mouse events for interaction with the user/player
# Important concepts useful in any programming language/environment
# HTML tags, canvas, Math.random, setInterval, setTimerout, addEventListener, Date, localStorage and other features
Who this book is for

Anyone who wants to make interactive websites. This book is suited for:

* Total beginners
* Those who have done some HTML but are afraid to do any programming
* Those with some experience with HTML, JavaScript, or Flash ActionScript but who are unfamiliar with the new features in HTML5