41 replies to this topic

[JonathanPzone]

On Topic

Hey guys, Jon here. I've been noticing some people are having trouble getting their HTML5 games on the net, so I've decided to make a brief tutorial on how to as, just two days ago, I was in the same shoes as you.

When I went searching for free webhosts, one thing popped out to me, a lot of them were owned by the same company with the same restrictions, so I spent two days trying to find a new host that was a good option for uploading a html game, and just last night I found one, freewebhostingarea.

So let the tutorial begin!

1) Make your website with http://www.freewebhostingarea.com/
If you already have a domain registered go ahead and use the domain (Keep in mind that some free sites have a hard time accessing content through your own domain so you'll have to use the public url they provide you, as pointed out by Icuurd) , but if you don't (like me) use the first bar, fill in what you want your website address to look like. You will then be taken to a page where you set up your account and complete a captcha.

And BAM! You have a webpage. Take note of the FTP information it gives you, as we'll need that later in the next step:

2) Download the FTP client at http://filezilla-project.org/
You will only need the client to interface with your new website. After you have installed FileZilla, run it and you will notice your files on the left and a blank page on the right, that's where all the directories and files of your website will be located.

So log in at the top with the information you got on the site registration page at the port 21 (the default FTP port) and you the right pane will be filled with all of the files created with the website.

3) Putting your game on the website
This is as simple as dragging the html5game folder, scripts folder, and index.html file (that is created when you compile your project) onto your site, but first it will be best if you create a new directory in your site dedicated for your game and then putting all of the files in there. This is just a matter of right-clicking and opting to create a new directory.

And that's about all there is.
Your link to that game (if you did not rename the index.html file) will be the directory you created after the website.

Example: I created the website jonp.freevar.com and listed my html projects under their own folder at /HTML5/*



So if I wanted to link to the SmartGrid index.html all I would have to do is give the link jonp.freevar.com/HTML5/SmartGrid (It IS case sensitive)

I'm not the most experienced when it comes to stuff like this, but I hope I've helped some of you.

Edited by True Valhalla, 15 May 2012 - 03:20 AM.

[Rossay]

You, sir, are amazing. Many thanks for creating this tutorial -- for internet noobs (like myself) who are trying to make the switch from GM8.1 -> GM-HTML5 will find this truly invaluable.

EDIT: Your free host doesn't seem to allow me to set up a free website. Keeps saying I don't have permission :/

Edited by Rossay, 24 September 2011 - 07:50 PM.

[JonathanPzone]

Are you trying to make a domain that you don't own?

If you don't own a domain, use the subdomain register rather than the domain.

[Rossay]

No, I realise that, I'm trying to register a subdomain.

[JonathanPzone]

That is weird. I just made a second website without a problem. Can you explain the process and maybe I can try to wrap my mind around it.

[Rossay]

Okay, I'll try and explain.

- I opened the link as you told me to.
- I typed the domain name I wanted into the "free sub domain hosting" box.
- I then picked a server from the drop down list and clicked proceed.

and the following error message appears:


Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /cgi-bin/create_account.cgi on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

[icuurd12b42]

Note that some free sites have trouble when the content is accessed via your own domain, forcing you to use the public url they provide you.

[slam drago]

I am surprised none of you guys knew how to do that. I thought that this was common knowledge... Oh well. Another misconception broken.

[JonathanPzone]

No problem, Nocturne, and I'll note that in the OP, icuurd.

If anyone else has the same problem as Rossay has, PM me and I'll create the website for you with a generic password and give you the information so you can change it to how you see fit in the the account panel.

Edit:
Slam Drago, I'm not seeing the point in your response...
I'm sure a lot of people here know well how to use FTP clients to interface to their websites, that hardly constitutes for "none". The main reason I made this topic was that there are a lot of free webhosting sites, and to find one that works well with importing GMHTML5 projects isn't as easy.

Sure this may not help you, but I know I have at least helped someone here.

Edited by JonathanPzone, 24 September 2011 - 09:13 PM.

[Nocturne]

I am surprised none of you guys knew how to do that. I thought that this was common knowledge... Oh well. Another misconception broken.

It's not the knowledge that is lacking, but rather a free web host that permits you to do it. I spent the better part of the day yesterday testing just about all of them (Webs, Weebly, Wix, DevHub, WebStart, DoodleKit, Moonfruit etc etc etc...) and none of them permits this, so for JonathanPzone to share his find I think is great.

[Terrified Virus]

OMG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CharlieMcShane]

YoYoGames were correct, GameMaker: HTML5 is more for professional-based developers who wish to take their game making career further.

This tutorial is rather helpful actually, so that should be helpful for others. But people should know this sort of thing before publishing their games like this.

[oobanoob]

Someone's used Weebly - http://alextrittgame...esome-pong.html

Would love to know how.

[FlatLander]

...
The main reason I made this topic was that there are a lot of free webhosting sites, and to find one that works well with importing GMHTML5 projects isn't as easy.
...

Thank you. Something I now don't have spend time doing.

[JonathanPzone]

Someone's used Weebly - http://alextrittgame...esome-pong.html

Would love to know how.

I've messed around with it and have come up with this as probably one of the better solutions:

So first, with notepad, open the index.html file that GMHTML makes when you compile and take note of the width and height of the canvas it creates.

So for AstroJanitor it made:

<!-- Create the canvas element the game draws to -->
<canvas id="canvas" width="640" height="480" >
      <p>Your browser doesn't support HTML5 canvas.</p>
</canvas>

So the width will be 640 and height will be 480.
But there is also an 8px margin on each side, and we need that to give focus to the game by clicking it when we put it in the iframe.

So by adding the 8px margin to each side we get 656x496 for the final iframe size.

Now go into weebly and place a custom HTML module where you want it to be and put this code in it:

<DIV ALIGN=CENTER>
<iframe src="http://jonp.freevar.com/HTML5/Astro" width="656" height="496" 
frameborder="0" scrolling="no" name="GameFrame" >
Oh No. Your browser can't support iframes</iframe>
</DIV>

And just change the src, width, and height attributes so it will work for you.


Remember that to give focus to the iframe you have to click the gray border.

[Questionare]

I can't get filezilla to work- its not connecting to the server address I got: ueuo.com: is that even a server address??? Anyways it just keeps trying to connect to it over and over again. and it gave me a random number for the port: 14147? is that ok?

Could I just use the web based ftp client that they free web hosting area provides? i tried to, but nothing much came of it. > http://doinbenthings...com/Flymangame/

im pretty confused, id love some advice

Edited by Questionare, 26 September 2011 - 12:00 AM.

[cotycrg]

I'm honestly surprised at how many ill-experienced people just went out and spent $80/$99 on a programming tool. I mean, why would you? I mean I guess its good that you guys are posting tutorials and stuff for them. But I mean, wow.

[Questionare]

http://bearfrog.weebly.com/ THIS IS EXCELLENT

Edited by Questionare, 26 September 2011 - 02:20 AM.

[JonathanPzone]

I'm honestly surprised at how many ill-experienced people just went out and spent $80/$99 on a programming tool. I mean, why would you? I mean I guess its good that you guys are posting tutorials and stuff for them. But I mean, wow.

Well, to be honest, even if they had little/no experience, but still the drive, it would be stupid not to take the 60% off deal. To me, 80$ isn't too much to splurge every once in awhile. I think it's nice to see people excited to make games again and if those people don't know what they're doing, then to each his own I guess. That's just more people that I can help.

http://bearfrog.weebly.com/ THIS IS EXCELLENT

Nice to see you got it to work!

Edited by JonathanPzone, 26 September 2011 - 03:47 AM.

[rmedtx]

I hope my question is not too dumb... How do you compile your game for web use? Is is not an executable file. Is it?