Web Worlds

#1 There was a browser trick to get TT working in IE. If you search for browser and Think Tanks, you should come up with several discussions about it.

#2 Alright, thanks, but technically an active x plugin should do the trick?

#3 Something like Runescape? :)

I have been looking into Java web stuff the last few hours. The OpenGL and game support is definitely maturing. I think removing the whole download/install/run process is important for the casual market. This leaves you with applets. Which have their own special brand of misery.

There the Webstart application stuff, though Windows doesn't have a JRE installed by default... requiring the user to download a 16 meg Java installer kind of defeats the purpose. This isn't an issue on OSX.

I also think that data size is very important when talking about web stuff. It's one thing to download an installer and have the mindset that you are going to be waiting some time for the download to finish. Web stuff is more about immediate gratification... which is why I think streaming data in chunks is probably best.

-Josh Ritter
Prairie Games, Inc

#4 Yes, I was thinking something along the lines of runescape, just without the actual game aspect of it... Just a world for the users of a website to interact, and get all the information they would out of a normal website in an enhanced way. It'd allow users to explain certain features about the product they're looking at to each other, just plain chat, and give the company a bit of time to pitch what they've got.

#5 Alright, for anyone interested in this idea, I have started to work on it. I've figured out my plan and started work on the engine. I've decided to go with a cartoony isometric 2d look, although I am looking for someone to produce the artwork. If anyone is interested please send me an e-mail at wezoin@rogers.com . For the moment I plan on having a variety of body parts that you use to design your own character, so having different heads, mid sections, and legs to choose from, this should allow the user to customize themself without me having to put too much effort into the character creation, but if anyone knows how to remap graphics in Java and wouldn't mind sharing that'd be great, but I dont see this as a necessary feature.

#6 Http://www.outwar.com

Thats is a website my company runs. We currently have about 70,000 active players. Check it out and post your player/server here and Ill give the you the GG special

#7 Is what you are looking for, something akin to vrml? i know that there is supposed to be some tech to replace vrml receintly, but i havent stayed up to date on what it might be.

#8 @Peter: Sorry, what exactly is it you want me to do? I know what outwar is, but what is the GG special?

@Jason: Don't know what vrml, searched google but couldn't find anything particularly on vrml... What exactly is it?

Edit to add: I'm assuming its some web based 3d product, as alot of those are being advertised when I search it...

#9 Uh, i did a google search for vrml, and it came right up.

Virtual Reality Modeling Language. people use it to create 3d websites, etc.

http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/VRML/

#10 Actually, this seems to be a more uptodate link: http://www.web3d.org/x3d/x3d_vs_vrml.html

I guess X3D is the tech that replaced VRML, as per that link

#11 I'm suprised nobody mentioned this :
www.igloader.com
Hmm but it seems there is no info there but this is what it's about.
www.devmaster.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4942
The games here demonstrate it in action:
www.cloverleafgames.com/

I've been trying it out for awhile and it runs T2D in FireFox just fine. No ActiveX or Java to worry about either.. I think it's a bit like what Popcap has. It's not free but it is reasonably priced. You can sign up for a free demo if you want to test drive it.

Edit: I guess he's here on GG too...
www.garagegames.com/mg/forums/result.thread.php?qt=38279

#12 @Jason: Yeah I saw the X3D one, but figured it probably wasn't it, but anyway, I'm planning on going with 2D.

@Joe: That actually looks like a really good solution, but I believe since I have a bit of experience in Java, rather than C++. Although I've ran into a good bit of flickering in my graphics window, so I may transfer over if it takes too long to figure out a solution.

#13 Hi there,

You can get the low down on igLoader in our forums http://igloader.com/forum, you can also read about our recent deal with miniclip.com

If you download the Developer Edition you also get the Pro-Edition documentation (some of it) so you can see what needs to be done to get the game online.

Drop in an ask away.

Tim.
Director - Indiepath Ltd.