History of video games/Web

Origin of Standards
The first version of the programming language JavaScript is developed in just 10 days, eventually becoming the de facto locally run scripting language on the web.

While not a true web standard, the first form of Flash is developed in 1996, enabling web animations through use of a plug in. The high demand for such content quickly turns Flash into a de facto standard of sorts, though not an open one.

CSS level 1 is recommended by W3C on December 17, 1996.

Rise of Web 2.0
The emergence of Web 2.0 and user generated content lead to the proliferation of game modding and machinima among gamers.

Browser Monoculture under IE6
The end of the first browser war between Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator ends with Netscape failing and web technologies stagnating hard for five years, and being stifled long afterwards. After being in development since 1998, the first version of Firefox (Then the Phoenix Web Browser of the Mozilla Application Suite version 1.0) released in 2002, built from the open sourced remains of Netscape. At the time Internet Explorer had over a 90% market share.

The stagnation of web browsers lead to developers take advantage of browser plugins like Flash and Java to make their games, neither of which were ideal. Flash had poor 3D and networking support, and had serious performance issues.

Peak Flash
During the 2000's Flash games enter their peak, with many becoming widely popular. In 2005 Adobe purchases Macromedia, the company that owns Flash Player, for 3.4 billion dollars.

When the iPhone launches, Steve Jobs refuses to allow Flash on Apple's mobile platforms, instead preferring more efficient and open technologies to handle tasks Flash is used for.

Web Standards Evolve
In 2014 HTML5 is finalized.

Web Assembly entered widespread adoption in 2017, enabling faster web applications, including games running on web browsers.

In 2016 Mozilla and the Google Chrome team collaboratively launched a WebVR API proposal to enable virtual reality support on the web. WebVR was superseded by WebXR in 2018 to include augmented reality and mixed reality support for web browsers.

Engines of Development
The engine Twine began commonly being used to bring interactive fiction to the web.

Browser Monoculture under Chrome & Blink
By the late 2010's many sites began requiring the use of Google Chrome, leading to fears that browser technology may once again turn stagent

End of Flash
Adobe has planned to end support for Flash Player on December 31st, 2020. Also in 2020, the Internet Archive launches an in browser flash emulator to preserve old flash content.

Other Developments
Notably on February 12th, 2021 Microsoft briefly promoted an unauthorized emulator for Mario Kart 64 on their Edge browser, before pulling the announcement.

Notable Web Based Games

 * Runescape
 * Urban Dead
 * Fallen London
 * Agar.io
 * Blaseball

Sony Station
An online game platform.

Monopoly City Streets
A 2009 browser game featuring an early attempt to integrate geographical features from the real world into gameplay.

Don't Look Back
A 2009 flash 2D shooter which is noted for integrating it's mechanics with the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, increasing the difficulty of the game considerably by ending the game should the player look back during the second half.

LEGO.com Flash games
A notable and ever-changing collection of LEGO-themed Flash games, some of which have now been collected in an online archive.

Neopets
Though its general relevance declined, a small number of dedicated gamers kept playing two decades after its heyday.

Mario Net Quest
A 1997 Shockwave Flash game made in collaboration between Nintendo, IBM, and C3 Entertainment.