VRML - Multi-user worlds

Author

Multi-user worlds

Mnemonic

2005-05-04, 7:25 pm

Anybody help!
I want to create multi-user VRML world, where each new user that connected
to this world must be visualised in some-kind of avatar...

This means that world must work with some storage of data, database or file.
This database is contained information about X,Y,Z coordinates, nick-name,
type of avatar...

Question...
Does anybody knows how in VRML 2.0 with using Java or somethig write that
stuff?
Does I need to write some kind of special Server program?

I shall be grateful for the examples of a code, links and any other
information ^__^

Russ

2005-05-05, 7:27 pm

Hi Mnemonic,

There are several options available for you.
Part I:
If you don't mind not having control over the server itself,
there is what is called the blaxxun developer's server, hosted
by http://www.blaxxun.com and requires VRML browser blaxxun or
Bitmanagement Contact. While this server is available for anyone's
use, there are method to put up a world for private access.
Besides having avatar movement and ability to use all of Contact's
extensions, it also has shared events capability (like game piece
movement)
and persistent storage (with special tags the server will update the
the world for new comers)
Assuming you have blaxxun Contact installed, some of the best places to

start are:

http://www4.tpg.com.au/users/gperrett/links.html

http://virtuality3d.co.uk/main.php?p=home
more specifically: http://virtuality3d.co.uk/p_worlds.html

http://www.vrmlworlds.com

Finally for tech info: http://www.blaxxun.com/en/developer/index.html

There are other blaxxun only mulituser servers as well:

A French site:
http://www.vr4all
I believe you can rent server space from them.

and ABnet:
http://www.vrmlworld.net
(not to be confused with vrmlworlds.com above)

I believe you can share a world on ABnet too.

Part II:
If you want control over the server, the only available
route is through EAI (External Authoring Interface)
and Java. Warning! This is dependent on old technology
(the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine or Netscape 4* series)
and patience!

There are several packages available:

1. blaxxun Contact and InternetExplorer only:

http://www.vrspace.org
(this seems to be off line at the moment)

V-Net+ a very robust upgrade of V-Net (see below)
Still available for download at:
http://www.deepmatrix.org/vnet2.0.39.tar.gz

Mindgate:
http://MindGate.SourceForge.net
( a development of V-Net+ )

2. The following work with a number of VRML browsers that have EAI
capablity (Contact, Cortona, Cosmoplayer, WorldView) and
both I.E. and Netscape 4* series html browsers:

The original V-Net still available here:
http://members.optushome.com.au/miriame1/files/

Interestingly, V-Net's very old SAI link for the
long dead "Liquid Reality" java based VRML browser
works with Xj3D!

Finally last but not least, what I am currently involved
with myself:

Deep Matrix:
There are a couple of Deep Matrix servers online to try out:
At the original Geometrek site:

http://www.geometrek.com/web3d/index.html

Lucid Space:

http://www.lucidspace.com

My own site:

http://www.sevenemeraldtablets.net

a new site aimed at gaming development:

http://www.cyworx.com/chat/index3d.php
with a developers forum: http://www.cyworx.com

Finally for download:

http://www.deepmatrix.org with a forum.
or the orginal Geometrek site.

Tech assistance with EAI issues can be
gotten from me at either the Deep Matrix org forum
or cyworx forum.

tc
Russ Kinter

Mnemonic wrote:
> Anybody help!
> I want to create multi-user VRML world, where each new user that
connected
> to this world must be visualised in some-kind of avatar...
>
> This means that world must work with some storage of data, database
or file.
> This database is contained information about X,Y,Z coordinates,
nick-name,
> type of avatar...
>
> Question...
> Does anybody knows how in VRML 2.0 with using Java or somethig write
that
> stuff?
> Does I need to write some kind of special Server program?
>
> I shall be grateful for the examples of a code, links and any other
> information ^__^