Virtual Reality Homebrewer's Handbook

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Text File | 1996-03-19 | 17KB | 390 lines

2MORROW'S WORLD BUILDER - DEMO = June 23, 1995 Welcome to 2Morrow's Flagship World Builder! An interactive, Virtual Reality World Building Environment. As this is a DEMO release, your comments and suggestions will be appreciated. ***** Features ***** - Uses conventional, expanded, and disk-buffering for objects and worlds up to 4 megabytes. - Customizable Gradient Horizon displays for realistic worlds. - High Resolution. Video runs at 320x400x256. - Interactive VR World Creation. - A 3D Object CAD program for creating your own polygons and 3D objects. - Direct connection to the 2MORROW VIRTUAL RUNTIME SYSTEM. OVERVIEW What this program does, in a nutshell, is allow you to create VR worlds. Using polygon-based objects (*.PLG) you can place, size, rotate, paint, surface, and arrange your objects interactively. You can also setup sky/ground colors, add a gradient horizon, set zoom factors, coordinates, and a whole host of other features. While you're building your world, you are free to move about, viewing all your objects as they will appear. Once you're satisfied, the program will create a .WLD file for you, suitable for use with the 2MORROW VIRTUAL RUNTIME SYSTEM, as well as with REND386 and VR386 programming libraries. Also, as part of the complete package, you'll get a 3D Object Modelling CAD program that lets you create your own PLG's and Objects. ** NOTE: Some advanced features (such as scalable horizons) will not funtion with REND386 or VR386, however, the worlds are fully compatible. THE 2MORROW VIRTUAL RUNTIME SYSTEM IS A ROYALTY-FREE RENDERING PACKAGE. USING THE PROGRAM Using 2MORROW'S World Builder is a breeze. Familiar, pulldown menus and mouse controls let you customize your worlds. Everything is menu-driven - while you're creating your worlds you simply point-and-click on the options you want to perform. If you've ever used REND386 or VR386, most of the commands will be familiar to you already. We've added many new features, all of which are easy to understand and use. ** NOTE: This is an Unregistered DEMO release. As such certain features are disabled. Primarily, your saved worlds will contain a maximum of five objects. You also will not have the 2Morrow Object Modeler which is a powerful CAD to create your objects with. Registered users will have no restrictions. FEATURES Since 90% of users aren't going to read through a boring feature-list, we won't include one! Most of the features are self explainatory. Just load the program up and start playing around with it..... TUTORIAL This should get you started...Load the program (2MWB.EXE) pull down the File Menu, select Load .WLD, and click on a world you wish to load - Now, using your mouse, point to an object anc left click the mouse a white outine is displayed. Now pull down the Object Menu again, select "Rotate..." and use the icons to rotate. This will rotate your object in x,y,z coordinate space. When finished, select Done to return to the world. Next, pull down the Display Menu. Select Horizon. You'll see the horizon pallete. Let's add a gradient horizon...You simply point to the starting color, let's use 73, and then click on "Gradient." Once back in your world, your new horizon will be displayed. Pull down the display menu, click on SKY COLOR and select a dark shade of the horizon. You can change the size of the steps using the "Horizon Step" option. You can change the ground colors using the GROUND COLOR options. You now can add objects and paint them or whatever you would like to do. When you are finished pull down the [FILE] and check your [CHANGE WORKING DIR] to make sure your in the right dir. Then click on [SAVE .WLD] to save the world you just created. Thats it! ***** Important Tips ***** When loading an object, you will be asked for x/y/z scale. You can simply hit <ENTER> to use default values of [1,1,1]. You can also get up to the menu by hitting 'F','O','P','D','V', and 'U', depending on the first letter of the menu bar option. 'ESC' will get you out of the menu bars. New features are being developed as you read this. We will be continuing development on the world builder and hope to add some fantastic features. ***** Movement Keys in The World Builder and Runtime ****** Move Forward <UP ARROW> Move Backward <DOWN ARROW> Move Left (sidestep) <LT ARROW> + left<SHIFT> Move Right (sidestep) <RT ARROW> + left<SHIFT> Move Up <UP ARROW> + left<SHIFT> Move Down <DN ARROW> + left<SHIFT> Look Left <LT ARROW> Look Right <RT ARROW> Look Up <UP ARROW> + right<SHIFT> Look Down <DN ARROW> + right<SHIFT> Roll Left <CTRL> + <PGUP> Roll Right <CTRL> + <PGDN> Zoom In <+> Zoom Out <-> The Joystick is easy to use just start moving it around and using the buttons to get a general feel for it. 2MORROW, INCORPORATED "Catch a glimpse of Tomorrow, Today." ----------------------------------- ***** Support ***** 2Morrow is a small company. We are providing a full featured Virtual World Building system at price far below any others. We will try to help out as much as possible if you are having trouble. Any questions or comments, as well as product registration, can be directed to: Todd Porter CIS: 102024,3256 Internet: porter@gate.net Snail Mail: Todd Porter 7595 Baymeadows Cir W Suite #1616 Jacksonville, FL 32256 and we will try to help out as much as possible. We have a WWW page at http://www.gate.net/~porter in case you have the capabilities on the Internet. Both Todd and Joe are in the CYBERFORUM on Compuserve and can be reached there. Todd is the Section Leader of the VR Code Workgroup there. The full package will include: 2morrow World Builder 2morrow Object Builder 2morrow Virtual Runtime System (Royalty Free!!) Price: $89.00 (complete package) See the ORDER.TXT file for ordering info. ***** BUGS ***** There seems to be problems with the [DELETE .WLD] option. When deleting a world you may notice video driver problems. It seems not to be hanging the system so you can just exit the World Builder and start it over. Also it has been noticed when deleting several objects at one time. This is a more problematic area due to the chance of data loss. You should be able to continue to save the world, then exit and start over so data loss has not been a problem in this area either. To be safe, it is recommended that you save the world before making any major object deletions. ****** RUNTIME ****** Read the read.me file in the runtime subdir for information on the runtime module and how to use it. ------------------------- 2Morrow Press Release --------------------------- 2Morrow Product Information Building Realities Using 2Morrow's Tools By Todd Porter & Joseph Chicago Virtual Reality..... Everyone's heard of it. Now there's a PC based set of tools that combine the robust features and rendering power of expensive, commercial products with an incredibly low price. This is the future - this is 2Morrow WHAT ARE 2MORROW'S TOOLS? 2Morrow's PC Virtual Reality tools are a set of three products; an interactive, graphical (GUI) World Builder, a 3D Object Modeling CAD program, and a Runtime Module WHAT DO THEY DO? We'll get into that on the next page, but in a nutshell, 2Morrow's Tools let you design, create, manipulate, and 'enter' 3D Virtual Reality Worlds on your own PC. Everything from basic "Walkthru's" to full-blown software programs can be designed using the 2Morrow Tools. OH, SO I SO HAVE TO BE A PROGRAMMER? Not at all! Using the World Builder, Object Modeler, and Runtime Module, you can create sophisticated worlds, complete with animation and full mobility without ever writing a line of code. If you have the experience and you wish to create your own programs using the tools, you can do that as well with the Function Library (optional). The choice is yours, depending on your particular needs. WHAT IF I *CAN* PROGRAM A PC? (optional) Then you'll be limited only by your imagination and talent. 2Morrow's Function Library is a complete C-callable set of routines that let you render and manipulate 3D objects, move freely throughout 3D worlds, add exciting graphics and animation, integrate joystick, mouse, gloves, and stereoscopic viewers, and a whole bunch more. HOW MUCH HORSEPOWER DOES MY PC NEED? 2Morrow's Tools run on any 386 or higher machine with standard VGA graphics. There's no need to purchase expensive new hardware. However, if the machine has it, the Tools will take full advantage of faster CPU's, extended/expanded memory, hi-res graphics, accelerator boards, 3D controllers, stereoscopic viewers, power gloves, and a wide array of existing hardware products. NICE, BUT HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS? That's the beauty of it - on a feature basis, we think it compares favorably - on a price basis it's hundreds and even thousands less than anything that can touch it. And yes, 2Morrow's Tools do have features that are not found anywhere else, at any price. OKAY, OKAY, WHAT DO THESE TOOLS DO? Okay.....Let's discuss the most fundamental aspect of a Virtual World - Objects. An object can be anything from a flat wall to a human figure. Pretty much anything that 'shows up' in your world is an object. Although the Tools come with about 60 precreated 3D objects, everyone's bound to want some special ones. Perhaps a mockup of a building, a certain car, a character, a tree, whatever. Well, the package includes the 2Morrow 3D CAD program that you use to 'draw' your objects. This product is as robust as they come. You can import/export PLG files, design simple or complex objects, tween, surface, rotate, scale, paint, and manipulate polygons, and just about anything else you'd want to do. The Tools also support the .PLG file format so you can use any of the hundreds of precreated objects floating around modem space. Alright, objects were step one. Next, you arrange your objects in a "World" using the 2Morrow World Builder. This product is a mouse- driven, interactive graphic world design tool that lets you place, move, paint, scale, rotate, arrange, load, delete, and save objects and world files. You can also do things like add a gradient-shaded horizon to your world, select sky and ground colors, zoom factors, and lighting values...even link in a text script file that will animate your objects while you're inside your world! This easy-to- use tool includes pull-down menus, a toolbar, icons, mouse and joystick support, and hooks to utility programs you can use. Good. With those two tools you've created your very own world, now what? The 2Morrow Runtime Module. This EXE program allows you to 'enter' the worlds you create in a real-time atmosphere. You're free to move around, grab objects, move things, change lighting, or just walk around and see the sights. You can also create an automated effect that leads you through the world without you ever having to move around yourself (a flyby.) There, a complete Virtual World without any programming! This Module has many options and features that can be discovered in the 2Morrow Demo Program. We'll tell you how to get a free copy at the end of this article. The fourth step, if desired, is a complete C-callable function library (optional) that let's programmers use all of the features available in the Runtime Module in any way they wish. For writing games, simulations, training aids...Anything. HOW ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC FEATURES? Sure. How about these..... * runs on any 386 or higher vga system * takes full advantage of extended/expanded memory * includes 3D Modeler, World Builder, and Runtime Module * NO ROYALTIES * many 3D objects included * commercial-quality rendering speeds * generates 3D virtual worlds without any programming * freely move through your worlds in a real-time atmosphere * link scripts for full animations within your worlds * interact with mouse/joystick/keyboard/glove and 3D devices * multiple camera angles * adjustable lighting, zoom factors, and shading * create your own sky, ground, and horizon effects * view your worlds in stereoscopic 3D * design and create your worlds with interactive, graphics tools * save up to thousands of dollars off comparable products SO HOW MUCH *DO* THE 2MORROW TOOLS COST? The complete development environment, including 3D Modeler/CAD program, graphics World Builder, and Runtime Module is $89.00 US! NO WAY! A FAST, RENDERING PACKAGE FOR UNDER 100 BUCKS? That's right. This package was developed by a couple of down to earth guys that want to put it in the hands of people who can use and benefit from it, not people with huge wallets. WHAT CAN THIS PACKAGE BE USED FOR? Just about anything. Architectural walkthrus, games, simulations, training programs, design tools, you name it. There's no need to purchase anything else, everything from drawing objects to moving through worlds is included in the Tools. You could do a mockup of your home or office, rearrange furniture, paint walls, and then freely walk around and check out your changes in real-time, from any angle! Using a device like the Mattel Power Glove, you can create surgical training aids and simulations. You come up with the idea, 2Morrow's Tools let you bring it to life. COMPARING 2MORROW'S TOOLS WITH COMMERCIAL PACKAGES Several VR packages are available today. And, quite frankly, both commercial and non-commercial products are very good. 2Morrow's Tools bring the power of commercial products and the price of non-commercial products together for an unbeatable value. Let's take a closer look... VREAM is a great package that includes a world builder and runtime module. It has textures and acceptable speed, animations, and integrates with several 3D devices. It does not offer a programming function library and costs about $500. RENDERWARE is a high-power package that offers textures, speed, and runs under the popular windows format. It is strictly for programmers, offering no runtime module, no world builder, and costs about $10,000. VIRTUAL REALITY STUDIO is a low-cost, nicely featured package. It has no textures, no programming function library, and isn't as fast as some of the more expensive products. 2MORROW'S TOOLS offer speed, a 3D CAD program, World Builder, and Runtime Module. Integrates with several 3D devices, has scripting and animations, multiple screen resolutions, and costs under $100. Well, this concludes our discussion of the 2Morrow Tools. We've tried to include as much information as possible in this space. If you'd like to see the Tools in action, you can download a demo program from CompuServe. Go CyberForum. Library 2, "Building Realities" under the filename "2MDEMO.EXE" The authors of the program can be reached on CompuServe mail as well. Or just grab it from the ftp site: gate.net/pub/users/porter/2mdemo.exe We would also like to extend a special THANKS to Mark Stanley, Compuserve ID# 72632,524, for some excellent BETA testing!! If you would like to contact us for more information, or would like a demo mailed to you, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with a 3.5 floppy disk to: 2Morrow Incorporated Attn: Todd Porter 7595 Baymeadows Cir. W. Suite #1616 Jacksonville, FL 32256 Or contact us on Compuserve in the CYBERFORUM or at: Todd Porter: C$erve: 102024,3256 Internet: porter@gate.net voice: 904.636.0952 Good Luck With Your Own Virtual Worlds! (C) 1994 2MORROW, INCORPORTATED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE. NO EXPRESS OR LIMITED WARRANTY IS GIVEN FOR USE OF THIS PRODUCT. 2MORROW, INCORPORATED SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY HARDWARE MALFUNCTIONS. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.