Forums » Help » Would it be possible to use Meteor.js alongside ImpactJS?

Hello, very new to HTML5 coding here. I currently have a very simple test app going where I am using Meteor and KineticJS to allow multiple users to access a site and move their character around in real time. I would like to make this more game-like with collisions and such, so rather than write everything myself, I'd like to use a game engine. Has anyone tried fiddling with Meteor and ImpactJS to see how they might be able to work together?

Thank you!

Hey, I'm currently rewriting my existing Yeoman/ImpactJS app to run on Meteor.

To answer your question: yes, it is possible but it takes a little work.

Impact is designed to be used as a standalone package in a web browser, so it doesn't play nicely with meteor if you try to load it on the server (which it sounds like you might be doing?). You can get it running client-side pretty easily by just dumping the whole thing in the `public` directory, then it gets served as static assets and everything works.

If you want it to work on the server side you have to selectively load the parts that are useful, e.g. exclude animation, image, font, etc. You also have to hack around Impact's module system which will try and remote load the scripts for each module you list as a dependency.

You could also write a local Package for it by placing the impact directory under `packages` and adding a `package.js` config file (see the Meteor docs for more info on packages). You can then configure it to be only server- or client-side, and have it compiled and minified by meteor as part of the build process, but again you have to deal with the module system.

Unfortunately, if you do mess around with the module system or chop Impact up into decoupled pieces you're at risk of having a really hard time if Mr. Szablewski ever updates Impact, since your setup will be heavily incompatible with almost any changes.