Landscape of Virtual World Systems What's available and how do you work with it? Games for Health, 2008 Tim Holt [email_address]

Games for Health, 2008

Tim Holt

[email_address]

Goals Go over what Virtual Worlds are about Look at a few “rule breaker” Virtual Worlds Discuss development planning based on design, content and technology Look at how developer limitations and development should intermesh Examine noteworthy and accessible 2D and 3D Virtual World technologies

Go over what Virtual Worlds are about

Look at a few “rule breaker” Virtual Worlds

Discuss development planning based on design, content and technology

Look at how developer limitations and development should intermesh

Examine noteworthy and accessible 2D and 3D Virtual World technologies

Part 1: Examining Virtual Worlds Social, big, and persistent

Social, big, and persistent

Why you should not make a Virtual World Because they are “hot” Because “everyone” is doing it To be like <Insert Name of Virtual World>

Because they are “hot”

Because “everyone” is doing it

To be like <Insert Name of Virtual World>

Why you should make a Virtual World To create a space for social interaction To let players act and react to each other and their environment in a big world To create a persistent environment where people can visit and return

To create a space for social interaction

To let players act and react to each other and their environment in a big world

To create a persistent environment where people can visit and return

Social interaction means... Lots of people Who can talk, interact and do things together And can find each other again

Lots of people

Who can talk, interact and do things together

And can find each other again

Big world means... Players have many options Often a far horizon or shore not yet explored A place you can come back to

Players have many options

Often a far horizon or shore not yet explored

A place you can come back to

Persistence means... You can go away And come back The world is as you left it – but changed because others have come and gone

You can go away

And come back

The world is as you left it – but changed because others have come and gone

Summary of key Virtual World features Social interaction Big world Persistent environment

Social interaction

Big world

Persistent environment

Part 2: Virtual Worlds from Outside the Box Lightweight, rule breaking, and successful

Lightweight, rule breaking, and successful

2D: Habbo Hotel Free, Shockwave/web based virtual community “ Fun, social non-violent concepts that inspire creativity” Built by Sulake in Helsinki, Finland www.habbo.com

Free, Shockwave/web based virtual community

“ Fun, social non-violent concepts that inspire creativity”

Built by Sulake in Helsinki, Finland

www.habbo.com

2D: Club Penguin Free Flash/web based virtual community Social networking, custom homes, mini-games Built by New Horizon Interactive in BC, Canada www.clubpenguin.com

Free Flash/web based virtual community

Social networking, custom homes, mini-games

Built by New Horizon Interactive in BC, Canada

www.clubpenguin.com

2D: Whyville Free Java/web based virtual community with strong educational content Extremely simplistic graphics, but highly successful Built by Numedeon www.whyville.net

Free Java/web based virtual community with strong educational content

Extremely simplistic graphics, but highly successful

Built by Numedeon

www.whyville.net

3D: RuneScape Free Java + web based fantasy RPG MMO Hugely popular despite low quality graphics Built by Jagex www.runescape.com

Free Java + web based fantasy RPG MMO

Hugely popular despite low quality graphics

Built by Jagex

www.runescape.com

3D: A Tale in the Desert A combat-free MMO set in ancient Egypt Small but dedicated player base Built by eGenesis www.atitd.com

A combat-free MMO set in ancient Egypt

Small but dedicated player base

Built by eGenesis

www.atitd.com

What do these Virtual Worlds have in common? They are small and light They break the “rules” They are successful

They are small and light

They break the “rules”

They are successful

Part 3: Design, Content and Technology Intertwined elements of successful development and planning

Intertwined elements of successful development and planning

Three factors guide development and planning The design that describes the game The content that makes up the game The technology that implements the game

The design that describes the game

The content that makes up the game

The technology that implements the game

Design is... The description of your game How it plays and looks to the user How it functions and behaves including on the server

The description of your game

How it plays and looks to the user

How it functions and behaves including on the server

Content is... The story or setting behind your game that frames the events The game art and other assets The things people can do in your world

The story or setting behind your game that frames the events

The game art and other assets

The things people can do in your world

Technology is... The stuff that puts your game on a player's screen The stuff that keeps track of the game state The implementation of the “game logic” that makes your world go

The stuff that puts your game on a player's screen

The stuff that keeps track of the game state

The implementation of the “game logic” that makes your world go

Balancing Design, Content and Technology Design rules and dictates both content and technology Technology and content are closely tied to each other Technology and content can push back and influence design

Design rules and dictates both content and technology

Technology and content are closely tied to each other

Technology and content can push back and influence design

Part 4: Working Within Your Capabilities Skill, time and budget considerations

Skill, time and budget considerations

All the great ideas in the world doesn't mean squat if... You don't have the skill set to make it happen You don't have the time to make it happen You don't have the money to make it happen

You don't have the skill set to make it happen

You don't have the time to make it happen

You don't have the money to make it happen

Therefore... You need to be sure your content is doable You need to be sure your technology is both in your budget and in your grasp You need to craft your design based on these considerations

You need to be sure your content is doable

You need to be sure your technology is both in your budget and in your grasp

You need to craft your design based on these considerations

Scrimping on design... Don't scrimp on design! Design is where you have full control Build on what you know of content and technology limitations

Don't scrimp on design!

Design is where you have full control

Build on what you know of content and technology limitations

Scrimping on content... Good content does not make a good game, good design does Design simple or abstracted content Allow users to create or combine content to create new things

Good content does not make a good game, good design does

Design simple or abstracted content

Allow users to create or combine content to create new things

Scrimping on technology... Roll your own Seek and ye shall find! Follow the trail of indie game developers

Roll your own

Seek and ye shall find!

Follow the trail of indie game developers

Part 5: Virtual World Technology Specifics 2D or 3D, it's about completeness and accessibility

2D or 3D, it's about completeness and accessibility

What Virtual World technology must do Give the player an interface where they can interact with the world and other players Track and manage player and world states Implement “game logic” to make the game come alive

Give the player an interface where they can interact with the world and other players

Track and manage player and world states

Implement “game logic” to make the game come alive

Questions when choosing Virtual World technology Is it complete? Is it affordable? Is it accessible?

Is it complete?

Is it affordable?

Is it accessible?

Completeness Can it handle multiple players? Can it track the state and persistence of the world and its contents? Does it provide support for common MMO game features?

Can it handle multiple players?

Can it track the state and persistence of the world and its contents?

Does it provide support for common MMO game features?

Affordability The best technology costs a lot of money There are solutions that hover in the “a couple of thousand dollars” price range There are some noteworthy free technologies (w00t!)

The best technology costs a lot of money

There are solutions that hover in the “a couple of thousand dollars” price range

There are some noteworthy free technologies (w00t!)

Accessibility Access is changing or adding content to your game The more mature the technology, the more tools it will have to make this easier Without good tools, expect to be writing code and crafting database design

Access is changing or adding content to your game

The more mature the technology, the more tools it will have to make this easier

Without good tools, expect to be writing code and crafting database design

Technology for 2D Virtual Worlds Typical implementations are web based using Java, Flash or Shockwave Needs server technology to coordinate and track game activities Needs scripting to define “game logic”

Typical implementations are web based using Java, Flash or Shockwave

Needs server technology to coordinate and track game activities

Needs scripting to define “game logic”

2D: SmartFoxServer Flash based development of persistent multiplayer games on Windows, Mac and Linux It is extremely affordable It is a complete solution .com

Flash based development of persistent multiplayer games on Windows, Mac and Linux

It is extremely affordable

It is a complete solution

.com

2D: SmartFoxServer (continued) Design is at times constrained by technology Content can be created using basic “paint” and other art editing tools Technology is accessible by tools plus Java, Javascript, Python and other languages

Design is at times constrained by technology

Content can be created using basic “paint” and other art editing tools

Technology is accessible by tools plus Java, Javascript, Python and other languages

2D: Whirled A new system developed by Three Rings Design, the makers of Puzzle Pirates and Bang! Howdy Designed for easy access to creating virtual worlds www.whirled.com

A new system developed by Three Rings Design, the makers of Puzzle Pirates and Bang! Howdy

Designed for easy access to creating virtual worlds

www.whirled.com

2D: Metaplace A new system developed by Areae, a company run by Raph Koster Aims to be an “anything, anywhere” virtual world platform Not yet released www.metaplace.com

A new system developed by Areae, a company run by Raph Koster

Aims to be an “anything, anywhere” virtual world platform

Not yet released

www.metaplace.com

3D: Active Worlds 3d virtual world development (both shared and private) Varying costs depending on hosting Used by the River City Project and others www.activeworlds.com

3d virtual world development (both shared and private)

Varying costs depending on hosting

Used by the River City Project and others

www.activeworlds.com

3D: Second Life 3d virtual world development in a large shared world Varying costs depending on how much real estate you use Used by many universities, organizations, corporations (and strange people) www.secondlife.com

3d virtual world development in a large shared world

Varying costs depending on how much real estate you use

Used by many universities, organizations, corporations (and strange people)

www.secondlife.com

3D: Multiverse A relatively new game development system, recently out of beta System is free, and you pay them a percentage of what you charge Multiverse aims to be a complete solution, but still a bit rough (and getting better)

A relatively new game development system, recently out of beta

System is free, and you pay them a percentage of what you charge

Multiverse aims to be a complete solution, but still a bit rough (and getting better)

3D: Multiverse (continued) The platform does not enforce any particular design restrictions Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya Company is very open to serious games and other “non traditional” development www.multiverse.net

The platform does not enforce any particular design restrictions

Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya

Company is very open to serious games and other “non traditional” development

www.multiverse.net

3D: Unity3D A refined and robust solution ready for commercial use Very low price Unique in that the client (games) run in a web browser via plugin

A refined and robust solution ready for commercial use

Very low price

Unique in that the client (games) run in a web browser via plugin

3D: Unity3D (continued) The platform does not enforce any particular design restrictions Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya Macintosh-only development tool www.unity3d.com

The platform does not enforce any particular design restrictions

Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya

Macintosh-only development tool

www.unity3d.com

3D: Garage Games Torque Game Engine Advanced The Torque Game Engine Advanced is a favourite with indie developers, offering a full game engine with source Pricing varies but is based on per-developer seat, and can vary from $300 to $1500 Requires additional libraries to add MMO functionality, such as “My Dream RPG” (www.mydreamrpg.com)

The Torque Game Engine Advanced is a favourite with indie developers, offering a full game engine with source

Pricing varies but is based on per-developer seat, and can vary from $300 to $1500

Requires additional libraries to add MMO functionality, such as “My Dream RPG” (www.mydreamrpg.com)

3D: Garage Games Torque (continued) Design should not be influenced by any aspects of this engine Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya Technology is accessible by tools, scripting and C++

Design should not be influenced by any aspects of this engine

Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya

Technology is accessible by tools, scripting and C++

3D: Monumental Games A refined and robust solution ready for commercial use It is not free to use, however the vendor does recognize the fiscal realities of Serious Games projects This seems to be a complete solution with a full set of tools for development and deployment

A refined and robust solution ready for commercial use

It is not free to use, however the vendor does recognize the fiscal realities of Serious Games projects

This seems to be a complete solution with a full set of tools for development and deployment

3D: Monumental Games (continued) The platform does not enforce any particular design restrictions Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya Technology is accessible by sophisticated tools and scripting

The platform does not enforce any particular design restrictions

Content is created by typical 2d and 3d art/asset creation tools such as Photoshop and Maya

Technology is accessible by sophisticated tools and scripting

Other 3D technologies Delta3D - www.delta3d.org Panda3d - www.panda3d.org Baja Engine - www.bajaengine.com

Delta3D - www.delta3d.org

Panda3d - www.panda3d.org

Baja Engine - www.bajaengine.com

Part 6: Putting it All Together Dare to innovate (or be crappy even)

Dare to innovate (or be crappy even)

How to proceed Think outside the (WoW/SL) box Know your limits as they apply to budget and expertise Innovate with what you've got

Think outside the (WoW/SL) box

Know your limits as they apply to budget and expertise

Innovate with what you've got

Explore technology and games Go play the free games mentioned plus MMOs with free trials Many of the technologies mentioned have free versions – download them and try them out Look at what games people are making now, but with caution

Go play the free games mentioned plus MMOs with free trials

Many of the technologies mentioned have free versions – download them and try them out

Look at what games people are making now, but with caution

Above all, create something! Get an idea, make a design Pick a technology that's affordable and appropriate Create a game, no matter how simple

Get an idea, make a design

Pick a technology that's affordable and appropriate

Create a game, no matter how simple

More information You can find this talk online at perludus.com/timh , or email me at tim.m.holt@gmail.com At perludus.com/timh there are also links to further information on game design, engines and other good reading

You can find this talk online at perludus.com/timh , or email me at tim.m.holt@gmail.com

At perludus.com/timh there are also links to further information on game design, engines and other good reading