PBBG: Persistent Browser Based Game.
A PBBG is a computer game that satisfies the following two criteria:
- It is browser-based. The game is played over the Internet using only a web browser.
- It is persistent. Progress in the game is achieved over multiple playing sessions.
PBBGs merge the depth and longevity of an application-based game with the accessibility and portability of a browser-based game. PBBG is sometimes spoken as pee-bee for brevity.
What is a PBBG?
The PBBG genre encompasses games of all traditional genres: role-playing, strategy, sports, simulation, and so forth.
PBBGs may be single-player, or massively multi-player games. However, since an Internet connection is required to play, multi-player game play is usually assumed and the terms "massively multi-player" omitted. PBBG versions of MMORGP's are referred to on this site as PBRPG's (Persistent Browser Role Playing Game) and PBBG versions of stategy games are referred to as PBSG's (Persistent Browser Strategy Game).
PBBGs may be text-based, or they may take advantage of browser plug-ins such as Flash or Java to create a more dynamic game play environment.
The PBBG definition is device-independent. In particular, a persistent game played within the web browser of a cell phone or other wireless device is still a PBBG. Such a game may be referred to as a mobile-enabled PBBG.
What isn't a PBBG?
A PBBG is not the same thing as a MMOG (massively multi-player online game), generally speaking. There is some overlap, but MMOGs include games that are run as an application on your computer. Application-based games do not have the portability that PBBGs do, because you can only play them on a computer that has the game installed. Think of PBBGs as a type of MMOG that are browser-based.
A PBBG is also not the same thing as a browser-based game, generally speaking. Browser-based games include arcade, puzzle, and card games which are over as soon as you move your browser to a different web page. These games lack the longevity of PBBGs, where progress is made over days, weeks, or months. PBBGs are a type of browser-based games - they are "Persistent Browser Based Games."
Definitions on this page were borrowed in part from PBBG.ORG
Are you a PBBG Developer? Visit PBBG Dev
