'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' news: Google celebrates with new game

 Google

In line with the upcoming release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Google came up with a browser-based game to ease the agony of waiting.

Google worked with Disney's LucasFilm to come up with a new browser-based game called "Lightsaber Escape." The highly addictive game only needs a desktop and a smartphone to use as a lightsaber to play the game.

Players need to click the official "Google Lightsaber" game page on their desktop. Then the website will provide a personalized link to connect the smartphone to the game.

Once the link is open on the smartphone, the website will require the players to configure the smartphone by holding it in a vertical position. After the completion of the configuration process, the smartphone will start responding to the players' movements.

The gameplay of "Lightsaber Escape" is very simple. Players need to do an on-rails action by moving along a specified path and try to avoid the incoming laser blast fired by Stormtroopers while attempting to run away from an Empire Star Destroyer. Players also need to remove one wave of troops before moving to the next one.

To develop the web-based game, Google used a Chrome Experiment with the help of Industrial Light & Magic, the same visual effects studio that worked on the "Star Wars" movie. It used the WebGL for the 3D graphics, as well as the WebRTC and WebSocket to establish real-time communication between the smartphone and the desktop.

While the "Lightsaber Escape" is made as a Chrome Experiment, this game could work on other browsers as well.

The game is released days before J.J. Abrams's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" debuts on theaters on Dec. 18.

The film, which stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong'o, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Andy Serkis, and Domhnall Gleeson, is the seventh installment from the legendary sci-fi movie franchise.

News
Over £900,000 awarded to help UK churches stay open amid growing funding pressures
Over £900,000 awarded to help UK churches stay open amid growing funding pressures

Hundreds of churches across the UK are receiving vital financial support to remain open and safe, as rising repair costs and shrinking funding streams place historic buildings under increasing strain.

How to make the most of the quiet period between Christmas and New Year
How to make the most of the quiet period between Christmas and New Year

Make the most of these last days of the year to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with God.

US carries out strikes on Islamic State in Nigeria over violence against Christians
US carries out strikes on Islamic State in Nigeria over violence against Christians

The US military has conducted airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Nigeria over the violent "targeting" of Christians. 

Gay Archbishop of Wales says some people have left Church over her appointment
Gay Archbishop of Wales says some people have left Church over her appointment

The first openly gay Archbishop of Wales says her appointment has caused some people to leave the Church in Wales.