Concept of a 3d chat- Input welcome!!!
by theraptorlightly · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 10/30/2001 (11:57 pm) · 11 replies
Instead of trying to create another shooter our team decided to make something else. "Dialogos" will be a complex but at the same time easy to use 3d chat. So far we have had long discussions and I'd like to give you an idea of what we decided should get into the first version. You will understand that this is only a very basic overview but I'll be happy to answer any question and you could visit our homepage/forums at www.dialogos-chat.com for screenshots and more.
Overview:
Users will be able to select their (human)avatar according to multiple choices regarding physical features or out of a number of cool fantasy characters. In order to chat they will automiatically log on to a number of master servers thus visiting the starting point for their adventures- a really cool spacestation.
From there they will be able to get to the private servers users will be able to set up as easy as with current FPS games. A number of totally different worlds (as we like to call our chatrooms) will be part of the initial version and there will be an editor and the chance for users to create their own worlds, characters, skins and animations etc.
That way a fanclub could recreate its favourite movie's atmosphere instead of having to meet in a boring IRC chatroom!
Apart from a large number of social interactions to stress your emotions (like crying, greetng, dancing etc)we are also planning to add a number of games, and vehicles to make your stay as entertaining as possible.
- mini games like billard,flipper, cardgames,dices (might be used for oldschool RPG though we might add a fighting system based upon characters stats later)etc
Now what we probably will not be able to include regarding our current state of manpower will be the therefore called "first addon (Die@Dialogos)" a complex fighting system, which will allow for Shooter action but magic and swordsfights all the same- together with the correct animations, spells , weapons etc.
I'd really like to hear your opinions on Dialogos- creative input is always welcome! And in case you should want to contribute you can leave your email here, contact us via our forums or write me an email (admin@dialogos-chat.com)
Regards Dominik
Project leader
www.dialogos-chat.com
Overview:
Users will be able to select their (human)avatar according to multiple choices regarding physical features or out of a number of cool fantasy characters. In order to chat they will automiatically log on to a number of master servers thus visiting the starting point for their adventures- a really cool spacestation.
From there they will be able to get to the private servers users will be able to set up as easy as with current FPS games. A number of totally different worlds (as we like to call our chatrooms) will be part of the initial version and there will be an editor and the chance for users to create their own worlds, characters, skins and animations etc.
That way a fanclub could recreate its favourite movie's atmosphere instead of having to meet in a boring IRC chatroom!
Apart from a large number of social interactions to stress your emotions (like crying, greetng, dancing etc)we are also planning to add a number of games, and vehicles to make your stay as entertaining as possible.
- mini games like billard,flipper, cardgames,dices (might be used for oldschool RPG though we might add a fighting system based upon characters stats later)etc
Now what we probably will not be able to include regarding our current state of manpower will be the therefore called "first addon (Die@Dialogos)" a complex fighting system, which will allow for Shooter action but magic and swordsfights all the same- together with the correct animations, spells , weapons etc.
I'd really like to hear your opinions on Dialogos- creative input is always welcome! And in case you should want to contribute you can leave your email here, contact us via our forums or write me an email (admin@dialogos-chat.com)
Regards Dominik
Project leader
www.dialogos-chat.com
#2
That doesn't necessarily mean that it will be a simple program- in fact we are planning to add more and more features.
The main idea is to have a chat software which will be easy enough to handle to interest chatters who don't like the complex background of MMORPG's. If you simply like to hang out with some "online" friends there are very few places to go. Broswer based chats look awful, IRC is really not state of the art anymore and besides none of those give you the possibility to build your own meeting place.
The vehicle, mini games, FPS and RPG addons which will be part of Dialogos are only meant as an alternative way to amuse yourselfs. After all people would not like such a nice 3d environment with nothing to do.
10/31/2001 (5:17 am)
of course it will be easier to get a first version running than it is the case with some of the other projects planned by Torque engine liscencees.That doesn't necessarily mean that it will be a simple program- in fact we are planning to add more and more features.
The main idea is to have a chat software which will be easy enough to handle to interest chatters who don't like the complex background of MMORPG's. If you simply like to hang out with some "online" friends there are very few places to go. Broswer based chats look awful, IRC is really not state of the art anymore and besides none of those give you the possibility to build your own meeting place.
The vehicle, mini games, FPS and RPG addons which will be part of Dialogos are only meant as an alternative way to amuse yourselfs. After all people would not like such a nice 3d environment with nothing to do.
#3
Is this gonna be permanent or only temporary?
10/31/2001 (5:19 am)
oh btw Phil- your homepage seems to be down. (like my one currently seems to be as well out of server problems)Is this gonna be permanent or only temporary?
#4
U.S. patent 6 219 045:
Description of Patent Technology
patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/searc...
and
www.worlds.com/news/PressReleases/prn054.html
some more related resources
www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,43490,00.html
pc.ign.com/news/34165.html
10/31/2001 (6:53 am)
Can't seems tobe able to access your web sit at this moment. anyway, just a thought. when you (or whoever doing 3D chat) start the project, double check, make sure your idea not step onto the world-chat patent.U.S. patent 6 219 045:
Description of Patent Technology
patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/searc...
and
www.worlds.com/news/PressReleases/prn054.html
some more related resources
www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,43490,00.html
pc.ign.com/news/34165.html
#5
of course this patent does not make it easier for us but there will be a way around it. Besides I do think they will not endure for long if they really intend to sue Sony and all the other big companies (as they said in some of their press annoucments). After all this patent would render many of the current games in production illegal.
Apart from this I found some interesting news on that topic in the forums at gamasutra.com.
Since I don't have the link anymore here comes one to a thread in the Dialogos-chat.com froums where I copied/pasted the original one.
http://www.dialogos-chat.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109
btw the homepage is finally up again and waiting for your visit ;)
10/31/2001 (7:29 am)
thx for the advice fred...of course this patent does not make it easier for us but there will be a way around it. Besides I do think they will not endure for long if they really intend to sue Sony and all the other big companies (as they said in some of their press annoucments). After all this patent would render many of the current games in production illegal.
Apart from this I found some interesting news on that topic in the forums at gamasutra.com.
Since I don't have the link anymore here comes one to a thread in the Dialogos-chat.com froums where I copied/pasted the original one.
http://www.dialogos-chat.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109
btw the homepage is finally up again and waiting for your visit ;)
#6
Even if it doesn't get really popular though it would be a cool program to try out a couple of times at least. Go for the glory!
Alc
10/31/2001 (9:31 am)
I think you've got a good idea but you're going to have to be careful with trying to keep people interested in coming back to chat. Getting together with some friends in a 3d environment would be cool but if it would be easier to chat with them on ICQ then people won't really want to change programs. Little games will be promotional bonus and the games themselves could be really cool but if your main focus is the chat then you'll have to make it very simple to chat with multiple people while somehow incorporating it into 3d environment.Even if it doesn't get really popular though it would be a cool program to try out a couple of times at least. Go for the glory!
Alc
#7
10/31/2001 (9:58 am)
Have you checked out the Vulcan Portal? It sounds similar to what you envision. I think it's great and use it often. www.vulcan-portal.co.uk/. I'd be interested to hear what people make of it.
#8
10/31/2001 (1:45 pm)
I thought the World Chat thing was being (hotly) contested?
#9
Although we will happily do all we can to provide gamers with a number of decent ways to spend their time the main focus will be on the social interaction part.
If people like to join and start chatting they will see that it really is simple. Once you know how to move it will not differ much from a normal chat- if you however look for better ways to express yourself you'll soon realize that Dialogos not only offers extensive animations to stress your points and feelings but also a number of "actions", vehicles and games....whether it might be dancing, driving, drinking or playing games...more or less everything you like doing in real life will also be possible in Dialogos (except for some stuff which really belong to your real life bedroom)
we know that there are a few similar projects in the making but we feel that Dialogos could prove to be the ultimate free 3d chat tool (yes it will be completely free)
only time will tell but we try to add features which seem highly desireable to us and have not been included in any 3d chat software yet.
10/31/2001 (4:32 pm)
of course we will have to make Dialogos very userfriendly indeed- the target group are chatters and many of those don't like complicated software.Although we will happily do all we can to provide gamers with a number of decent ways to spend their time the main focus will be on the social interaction part.
If people like to join and start chatting they will see that it really is simple. Once you know how to move it will not differ much from a normal chat- if you however look for better ways to express yourself you'll soon realize that Dialogos not only offers extensive animations to stress your points and feelings but also a number of "actions", vehicles and games....whether it might be dancing, driving, drinking or playing games...more or less everything you like doing in real life will also be possible in Dialogos (except for some stuff which really belong to your real life bedroom)
we know that there are a few similar projects in the making but we feel that Dialogos could prove to be the ultimate free 3d chat tool (yes it will be completely free)
only time will tell but we try to add features which seem highly desireable to us and have not been included in any 3d chat software yet.
#10
11/01/2001 (1:03 pm)
I have an thought that goes along with another forum that's been popping up latey. The forum about tools for online meetings. The 3d chat could be a good place to host team meetings. You could start your own room. Once everyone was there you would close and lock the door (representing the level of security and access to the room). There would be whatever you chose as furniture but a couple of important items that would be good include a table where you could lay out graphics, text, those kinds of things. Also, a computer or some kind of interactive terminal where you could play sounds, video or show off game-play code or something like that. I'm sure that you could come up with dozens of items that could be good to have inside rooms like this, each representing some tool for the team meeting. Just a thought.
#11
Using it for anything than entertainment hasn't come to my mind yet but offering people a nice way to hold meetings really is an intersting and creative way of using Dialogos'potential.
Thx m8
11/01/2001 (2:18 pm)
that really is an interesting idea you have there...it adds a new touch to our whole idea I have to admit.Using it for anything than entertainment hasn't come to my mind yet but offering people a nice way to hold meetings really is an intersting and creative way of using Dialogos'potential.
Thx m8
Torque 3D Owner Phil Carlisle
Had a plan for something similar myself a while back, but really got into something else.
Go for it, at least it wouldnt require too much work to get something going.
Phil.