This document provides an overview of virtual world systems and technologies for developing virtual worlds. It discusses key features of virtual worlds like social interaction, large persistent environments. It then examines some successful 2D and 3D virtual worlds that break conventions. The document stresses that successful development requires balancing the design, content, and technology. It also advises working within time and budget constraints. Finally, it surveys various 2D and 3D virtual world technologies and considerations for choosing a technology.

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

2. 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

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

4. 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>

5. 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

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

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

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

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

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

11. 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

13. 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

15. 2D: Whyville Free Java/web based virtual community with strong educational content Extremely simplistic graphics, but highly successful Built by Numedeon www.whyville.net

17. 3D: RuneScape Free Java + web based fantasy RPG MMO Hugely popular despite low quality graphics Built by Jagex www.runescape.com

19. 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

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

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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

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

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

35. 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

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

37. 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?

38. 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!)

39. 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

40. 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”

41. 2D: SmartFoxServer Flash based development of persistent multiplayer games on Windows, Mac and Linux It is extremely affordable It is a complete solution .com

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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)

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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

51. 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)

52. 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++

53. 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

54. 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

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

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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. 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