Posted by Miskatonicon 2010/1/30 23:20:00 (554 reads)
OK, here’s my thing. I like creating in 3D. I got attracted to it through visiting virtual reality platforms back in the late ‘90’s. One of the platforms I was drawn to was VRML. You could create your models in quite a few 3D modeling programs and save out to that format. It just plain worked without a lot of fuss and muss. You easily learn the mark-up language (VRML) and enhance your models. The viewers were free and it turned out to be fairly simple to get your work online and share it with others.
There is something that appeals to myself and other creators I know about not only creating scenes, but being able to walk around in them and experience the creations in a real-time/real-world atmosphere.
That was a decade ago and I still create worlds and objects. VRML lost its popularity and other platforms came along. Second Life, Kaneva, Prototerra, and others. Although they have improved on the original virtual concept, they are proprietary and only use in-world tools and their own formats for creating your own objects and worlds. While this is not a bad thing, I and others I know find it limiting.
This brings us to 3DVIA Scenes.
I wrote previously about this site and its great way of being able to share models in quite a few different formats.
Now they have a new program called ‘Scenes’. This program provides a virtual space where you have an avatar, a chat interface, and a place to set up a virtual scene with models you create. It is just as format friendly (3ds, obj, Sketchup, VRML, etc) as their other program and surprisingly simple to use. You get a choice of pre-made spaces like a grassy area or a winter scene with snow and background. Once you have chosen the scene base you can import your models, or choose from thousands of other objects and models shared by other members. You first import the model, then you can position it, re-size and rotate it to look best in your scene. Other people can visit your scene and you can chat with them. You can collaborate on design by allowing others to add/subtract form your scene or move things around. Or, once your scene is set up the way you want it, you can lock down your objects so they can’t be moved or removed.
It is still in beta, so expect a few glitches. But all in all I have not found any. It does take some power to run though.
Here the requirements listed on their site:
• Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows Vista (SP1) • Windows Internet Explorer version 6 or 7, or Mozilla Firefox version 3.0 • 1GB or more of hard disk space • A 2.8 GHz processor • 2 GB of system memory • 256 MB video card (512 MB recommended) that supports OpenGL 2.0 and shader model 2.0 (with OpenGL 3D hardware acceleration enabled) • A 1024×768 screen, 32-bit true color minimum, 1280×1024 or higher recommended • A 2-button mouse for easier navigation • A high-speed or broadband Internet connection • Nvidia or ATI graphic card recommended
My personal experience has been that on my weaker test machine: AMD 3700+ 2.4GHz Nvidia FX5200 128MB Card 1 gig of ram TI connection Windows XP Pro SP2
I experience lag when I go into my scene. On my stronger machine…
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.6Ghz 3.5 Gig of Ram Nvidia 8800GT 640MB Video Fiber Optic connection Windows XP Pro SP3
… it works fine. No lag and it is smooth. Somewhere in the middle of that range should be good for most people. Bear in mind that in ‘Scenes’, as in a lot of virtual platforms coming out. The specs are aimed at the future of computing. As new machines come out and new operating systems and games appear, the power requirements go up. Now that hardware is cheaper, more power is cheaper too. I am still running XP. Your requirements will be different if you are running Vista or Windows 7. Also a dedicated video card is a good idea. Remember, if the card is part of the motherboard (integrated) it will use your ram to run. This is becoming less of a problem than it used to be though.
A few things to note. It is in closed beta so you have to ask for an invite code. You have to be a member of the site course, but the membership is free and worth it. It is a great community of creators and can be very nurturing to those just starting out in 3D modeling. With the combination of available models, the ‘Shape’ program, which is also free and ‘Scenes’, your creativity can really take off and flourish.
Since I covered an older Virtual Platform last go around, I thought I would write about a new one. Over the last few years there have been quite a few virtual places popping up. Second Life, Kaneva, IMVU, Exit Reality, Vivaty, Prototerra, etc., to name some. All of them are somewhat unique in their own way. Second Life is huge and immersive. IMVU and Vivaty are basically spaces that can be teleported to and from. Exit Reality and Prototerra (and its newer cousin, 3DJay), are more in between. All, also, have a lot of things in common when it comes to user experience. Such as clubs, dancing, socializing, etc. One could become jaded with it all and decide that it is a whole lot of ‘the same’ no matter where you go (Not true, by the way). This brings us to the newest one I have run across, Onverse.
At first glance it looks like the same old, same old. You have avatars, places, an apartment, items and goods to buy, and so on. Study it a little closer and it gets more interesting.
You join at the site. Like Kaneva and IMVU it is kind of a cross between virtual reality and Facebook/Myspace, a direction most of the newer places are going. You then download the software and install (nothing new here either). It is a 178mb download for Windows and 200 for Mac, so be patient. It is a Beta program, but is surprisingly stable, at least on my PC. There are no system requirements as of yet, so tread cautiously. I am running it on a Quad Core PC with 4Gig of ram and a 640 meg video card, so I see no lag or problems. I have not been able to test it on my weaker machine as of yet.
Once launched, it announces that it is on the Torque engine proudly in the splash. It then presents you with a log-in. Once logged in you are given a choice of starting worlds (2, so far).
It has its own browser, like Second Life and the others. There are buttons on the bottom for various functions. You choose one of the worlds, either the Learning Center or Volcano Island, and are then presented a choice of places within that world to go to. Choose one, it loads, and there you are.
Now, to a jaded old virtual world traveler like myself, it all looks familiar. Avatars running around, dance clubs, ho-hum. The problem is, if you make that quick decision you will probably dismiss it off and leave (I did, but went back). A closer look and some checking around and it begins to stand out on its own.
For a start; it is a big scavenger hunt. Except you are hunting for player points, these being the in-world currency.
You have tools in your possession that will help you in your hunt. Such as a shovel to dig out PP’s (Player Points), a butterfly net to catch PP’s flying around, and a hammer to smash things that have PP’s hidden inside. The more PP’s you get, the more virtual goods you can buy.
Next, like the other platforms out there, you get around by running/walking (switched by the ‘Shift’ key), or by calling up a map and ‘Teleporting’ somewhere else. But there is another way to get around that is pretty unique; the Avatar Cannon. You walk up to one of these beauties and right click it, choose ‘Ride’, and it literally fires you through the air to a different region of the world. I like this idea. It has a sense of fun to it.
You get a free apartment to ‘live’ in and they are almost apologetic about how small it is. Of course, as you collect/earn PP’s you will be able to purchase a larger place and even a house. You can also purchase furniture, clothing, and items like costumes and such.
All in all it is a pleasant experience. The avatars are stylized like in IMVU or the now deceased Lively, and they look good. The places are nicely done and the interactivity is good. There is a sense of vastness to the areas missing in places like IMVU. The action is good and as I said, at least on my PC, it isn’t laggy. As more people sign on this may change if their servers aren’t up to the load.
Give it a whirl. It is free and easy to use. It has a sense of fun to it and has enough going on with it so you are not dependant on others to have a good time. As I said before, it is in Beta so it will have a few problems, although I didn’t immediately run into any.
Now you too can impress your propeller headed friends or just plain scare yourself. Tread carefully here. This list of commands in Windows can be very helpful at times. These are GUI applications that can be opened from the run line. These applications are not located in the C:\windows\system32\ directory; the keys for these applications are located in the registry under: HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\app paths
CONF.EXE - NetMeeting DIALER.EXE - Phone Dialer HELPCTR.EXE - Help and Support HYPERTRM.EXE - HyperTerminal ICWCONN1.EXE - Internet Connection Wizard IEXPLORE.EXE - Internet Explorer INETWIZ.EXE - Setup Your Internet Connection INSTALL.EXE - User's Folder MIGWIZ.EXE - File and Settings Transfer Wizard MSCONFIG.EXE - System Configuration Utility MSIMN.EXE - Outlook Express MSINFO32.EXE - System Information MSMSGS.EXE - Windows Messenger MSN6.EXE - MSN Explorer PBRUSH.EXE - Paint WAB.EXE - Windows Address Book WABMIG.EXE - Address Book Import Tool WINNT32.EXE - User's Folder
These .EXE files reside in (c:\windows\system32\) or (c:\windows\)directory.
ACCWIZ.EXE - Accessibility Wizard CHARMAP.EXE - Character Map CLEANMGR.EXE - Disk Space Cleanup Manager CLICONFG.EXE - SQL Client Configuration Utility CLSPACK.EXE - Class Package Export Tool CMSTP.EXE - Connection Manager Profile Installer CONTROL.EXE - Control Panel DCOMCNFG.EXE - Component Services DDESHARE.EXE - DDE Share DRWATSON.EXE - Doctor Watson v1.00b DRWTSN32.EXE - Doctor Watson Settings DXDIAG.EXE - DirectX Diagnostics EUDCEDIT.EXE - Private Character Editor EVENTVWR.EXE - Event Viewer EXPLORER.EXE - Windows Explorer FXSCLNT.EXE - Fax Console FXSCOVER.EXE - Fax Cover Page Editor FXSEND.EXE - MS Fax Send Note Utility LOGOFF.EXE - System Logoff MAGNIFY.EXE - Microsoft Magnifier MMC.EXE - Microsoft Management Console MOBSYNC.EXE - Microsoft Synchronization Manager MPLAY32.EXE - Windows Media Player version 5.1 MSTSC.EXE - Remote Desktop Connection NARRATOR.EXE - Microsoft Narrator NETSETUP.EXE - Network Setup Wizard NSLOOKUP.EXE - NSLookup Application NTSD.EXE - Symbolic Debugger for Windows 2000 >DBCAD32.EXE - ODBC Data Source Administrator OSUNINST.EXE - Windows Uninstall Utility PACKAGER.EXE - Object Packager PERFMON.EXE - Performance Monitor PROGMAN.EXE - Program Manager RASPHONE.EXE - Remote Access Phonebook REGEDIT.EXE - Registry Editor REGEDT32.EXE - Registry Editor RESET.EXE - Resets Session RSTRUI.EXE - System Restore RTCSHARE.EXE - RTC Application Sharing SFC.EXE - System File Checker SHRPUBW.EXE - Create Shared Folder SHUTDOWN.EXE - System Shutdown SIGVERIF.EXE - File Signature Verification SNDREC32.EXE - Sound Recorder SNDVOL32.EXE - Sound Volume SYNCAPP.EXE - Create A Briefcase SYSEDIT.EXE - System Configuration Editor SYSKEY.EXE - SAM Lock Tool TASKMGR.EXE - Task Manager TELNET.EXE - MS Telnet Client TSSHUTDN.EXE - System Shutdown TOURSTART.EXE - Windows Tour Launcher UTILMAN.EXE - System Utility Manager USERINIT.EXE - My Documents VERIFIER.EXE - Driver Verifier Manager WIAACMGR.EXE - Scanner and Camera Wizard WINCHAT.EXE - Windows for Workgroups Chat WINHELP.EXE - Windows Help Engine WINHLP32.EXE - Help WINVER.EXE - Windows Version Information WSCRIPT.EXE - Windows Script Host Settings WUPDMGR.EXE - Windows Update
The following are Control Panel applets that can be run from the run line. They are located in the c:\windows\system32 directory, and have the file type >extension ".CPL".
ACCESS.CPL - Accessibility Options APPWIZ.CPL - Add or Remove Programs DESK.CPL - Display Properties HDWWIZ.CPL - Add Hardware Wizard INETCPL.CPL - Internet Explorer Properties INTL.CPL - Regional and Language Options JOY.CPL - Game Controllers MAIN.CPL - Mouse Properties MMSYS.CPL - Sounds and Audio Device Properties NCPA.CPL - Network Connections NUSRMGR.CPL - User Accounts ODBCCP32.CPL - ODBC Data Source Administrator POWERCFG.CPL - Power Options Properties SYSDM.CPL - System Properties TELEPHON.CPL - Phone and Modem Options TIMEDATE.CPL - Date and Time Properties The following are Microsoft Management Console Snap-ins that can be opened From the run line. These applications have the file type extension ".MSC".
CERTMGR.MSC - Certificates CIADV.MSC - Indexing Service COMPMGMT.MSC - Computer Management DEVMGMT.MSC - Device Manager DFRG.MSC - Disk Defragmenter DISKMGMT.MSC - Disk Management EVENTVWR.MSC - Event Viewer FSMGMT.MSC - Shared Folders LUSRMGR.MSC - Local Users and Groups NTMSMGR.MSC - Removable Storage NTMSOPRQ.MSC - Removable Storage Operator Requests PERFMON.MSC - Performance Monitor SERVICES.MSC - Services WMIMGMT.MSC - Windows Management Infrastructure
