Multiverse
From FAS Virtual Worlds Almanac
| Use and Demographics | |
|---|---|
| Type | Engine |
| Registered users | 11,000 |
| Features |
|---|
| Graphical and Content Features | |
|---|---|
| Physics-based | Yes |
| Complex 3-D, such as a realistic human body | Yes |
| Scripting for objects | Yes |
| Duplication of content for multiple users | Yes |
| Communication | |
|---|---|
| Text Chat | Yes |
| Management and Privacy |
|---|
Multiverse is a server platform that enables the creation of multiple distinct virtual worlds, all accessible from the same client.
Contents |
Publisher's Description
In July 2004, a team of Netscape veterans founded The Multiverse Network, Inc., a company aiming to become the world’s leading network of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and 3-D virtual worlds. Multiverse has pioneered a new technology platform designed to change the economics of virtual world development by providing independent game developers with the resources they need to enter and compete in the online game market.
Multiverse's unique technology platform will change the economics of virtual world development by empowering independent game developers to create high-quality, Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and non-game virtual worlds for less money and in less time than ever before. Multiverse solves the prohibitive challenges of game creation by providing developers with a comprehensive, pre-coded client-server infrastructure and tools, a wide range of free content--including a complete game for modification--and a built-in market of consumers. The Multiverse Network will give video game players a single program--the Multiverse Client--that lets them play all of the MMOGs and visit all of the non-game virtual worlds built on the Multiverse platform.
Adoption
Numerous education institutions are developing virtual worlds on the Multiverse platform. See http://www.multiverse.net/games/built.jsp?cid=2&scid=1
Features
The Multiverse Client supports "next-gen" rendering features, such as normal and specular maps. It is specifically designed to support large dynamic scenes that are common in virtual worlds. Key current features include:
- Paging scene manager, which enables large detailed terrain while minimizing graphics load
- Full shader APIs to implement a wide variety of visual effects
- Dynamic skybox
- Realistic tree rendering through integration of SpeedTree RT
- Support for multiple real-time lights such as ambient, directional and point light sources
- Particle effects
- Shadows
- Full support for Windows Vista.
- Client animation system that avoids animation artifacts due to network latency.
- Scriptable character creation framework that supports providing user choices for avatars, names, appearance, and other custom attributes.
- Hardware cursor support handled by the graphics card rather than the application, giving the user immediate feedback on mouse movements, independent of frame rate.
