Follow-Up Chrome Games: Google to Lock Your Mouse

It's not just about a joystick. It's about your mouse as well.

Last month, I wrote about Google's aggressive strategy to fine tune Chrome as a gaming interface that will run future HTML5 as well as traditional C++-based games. The Chromium revision log is a treasure trove for those who want to follow Google's activities in this space, but my attention was specifically caught by a proposal to lock your mouse cursor.

Developer Vincent Scheib posted an early version of the "Mouse lock specification draft" this week, which essentially offers web app developers a possibility to lock or hide a mouse cursor in their applications - or position it in a preset, hidden location. The purpose is to remove the mouse cursor as a distracting element from the screen, but keep the mouse as a content controlling device in place - for example to navigate within a 3D environment. Scheib said that the draft is in the process of being adopted in the W3 Webevents Working Group.

The proposal should be seen in connection with an effort to enable a wider array of input devices via the Joystick API as well as Google's continued efforts to push HTML5 game development. Chrome is not just a browser interface anymore, but has moved to become an application interface that is shaping up to become a compelling game environment. It is worth watching what Google is cooking.