There is an abundance of text-based virtual worlds that let people meet and converse on the Internet. The utility of a virtual world is almost endless like an electronic mail or a phone call. However, unlike an electronic mail, you can send a message to someone and expect an immediate response. Unlike a phone call, you can converse with several people at a time and have a complete record of the conversation. Even though obvious limitations exist such as the need to type; the delay and pauses due to network traffic; and its heavily textualised content, virtual worlds continue to exist and grow in numbers.
If you have never been on a virtual world, McTWILIGHT can place you right in the centre of TwiLIGHT. TwiLIGHT is multi-purpose multi-dimensional world. It is open to anyone on the Internet. A person exists as a character and each character is identified with a unique name. If you choose to become a TwiLIGHTan, a resident, your character name will be reserved for you and protected by a private password. Characters populate a maze of areas that make up the TwiLIGHT virtual landscape. Characters can move about in this virtual world, talk to one another privately, publicly or even anonymously (read also: Anonymity). Each character is also given a private chamber that can be locked. If you have never been on a virtual world, the doors are open. Enter and experience...
Connecting to a World
All virtual worlds have a unique location (a combination of the INTERNET IP address and port number). If you wish to enter a world, you must provide its location. Search the World Wide Web under keywords 'muds' or 'talkers' to find the location of virtual worlds. The most recent address of TwiLIGHT and TwiLIGHT-based worlds is listed in the accompanying Read Me file.
Once you have this information available:
From the File menu, choose Open Connection.
Type in the Address and Port details into the appropriate boxes.
Click on the Connect button.
Upon a successful connection, the log will be filled with further entry instructions.
Follow these instructions and provide the information required in the Command Box (1).
Press [return] to submit your details such as your character name, etc.
Note: Only one connection is possible at a time.
Keeping an Address List
You can store a list of virtual world addresses that you frequent often. First, you must have the Open Connection dialogue box opened: From the File menu, choose Open Connection.
To open the address list:
Click on the Worlds... button.
To add a new location to the list:
Type the Address and Port in the blank boxes (1) below the list.
Click on Add, the icon with the + symbol.
To connect to a listed world:
Double click the location on the list.
About Commands
While on a virtual world, your character responds to your commands. For instance, before your character can say hello to another, you will have to issue the Say Hello command. Remember, nothing will happen unless you issue the command.
There are three basic categories of commands:
Communication. These let you to communicate with others.
Movement. These are used to move your character around. For example, the North command will move your character northwards.
Information. These provide you with information. For example, the Who command shows you a list of others currently on the world with you. The Look command shows you what you would see.
Read: Issuing a Command.
Issuing A Command
To issue a command, click in the Command box (1) and type the command. Once the command is complete, you can issue it by sending the command to your character.
To send a command:
You can press [return] (read also: Extended Command Box). OR
Click on the Send icon (2).
After sending the command, you will see the command and results appended to the log.
Read also: Scrolling the Log.
Scrolling the Log
All activities on the virtual world are portrayed in the log. The log keeps a continuos record of everything that happens from your characters point of view. The contents of the log are displayed in the region above the Command Box. As new activities are appended, the old will scroll out of view.
There are 2 simple ways of scrolling the log:
Click the Scroll Arrow icons (1). OR
Drag the Scroll Box (2).
Once you scroll back, the log becomes static. Static in the sense that the contents will not scroll out of view automatically when new appendices are made. To resume this automatic update, scroll forward to the most current line in the log by clicking the Scroll To Active Line icon (3).
Moving Around
The North, South, East, West, Up and Down commands lets you control the movement of your character.
Alternatively, you can use the directional arrows:
From the Options menu, select Show direction Arrows. Make sure there is a tick beside it.
Issue a Look command. The directional arrows should appear (1). They tell you the way your character can move in.
To move your character in a particular direction:
Click on the appropriate directional arrow.
Lastly, you can also use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move north, south, east and westward. When [shift] is held down, you can use the up and down keys to move upwards and downwards respectively.
Extended Command Box
The Command Box is designed to cater for short single line commands. When you press [return] in the Command box, the contents will be sent to your character.
The Extended Command box is designed for multiple line commands. In the Extended Command box, pressing [return] will create a new line in which to type further commands. Instead, you will have to press [shift]+[return] to send the contents. It appears in a separate window and can be dragged about.
To use the Extended Command box:
From the Options menu, choose Extended Command Box.
To use the regular Command box:
From the Options menu, choose Extended Command Box again to deselect it. OR
Close the Extended Command box window.
Command Menu
The Command menu becomes available when you are connected to TwiLIGHT or a TwiLIGHT-based virtual world. The Command menu lists most of the commands available. When you select a command from the Command menu, the command will be sent to your character automatically for you if it is a single word command. Otherwise, it will typed for you in the Command box. After that, you will have to replace the <angle brackets> (1) with the appropriate information. If you press the <tab> key, any remaining <angle brackets> will be selected. You can continue typing over the selection.
The Anonymity menu will similarly become available. It hosts a set of commands that enable anonymous dialogues (read also: Anonymity).
If you are unsure about a command, Issue the Help <command> command. For example, Help Say.
Read also: Creating a shortcut.
Creating a Shortcut
Once you are familiar with the commands, you can start to create shortcuts. A shortcut is simply a sequence of commands that will be sent when you select the shortcut. That will save you time and effort typing the command.
To create a shortcut:
From the Shortcuts menu, choose Edit Shortcut.
In the Name box, type an optional short name to identify the shortcut (1).
In the adjacent shortcut box, type the command (2) that you want McTWILIGHT to send for you.
Only 10 shortcuts are possible.
Read: Applying a shortcut.
Read also: Command menu.
Applying a Shortcut
You can apply a shortcut by selecting it from the Shortcuts menu.
Alternatively, you can press the Command + Number key combination.
Lastly, you can click on the shortcut from the Shortcut floating window (1). To display the floating window:
From the Options menu, choose Show Shortcuts.
Scribble Pad
The scribble pad is a single page that you can type anything into. The contents of the Scribble pad are stored. You can for example, copy and paste text between the Scribble pad (1) and the Command box.
To display the Scribble pad:
From the Options menu, choose Show Scribble pad.
Anonymity
Supporting anonymity is not merely allowing people to choose character names that are not similar to their names in real life. There are varying degrees of anonymity. It not merely concealing any link between people and their characters. TwiLIGHT supports those levels of anonymity with those techniques but it also lets non-anonymous persons hold ad-hoc anonymous dialogues. It is believed that this allows people to concentrate on the content of their thoughts rather than trying to conceal their identity. Some people may find it unnecessary to conceal worrying about their identity. However, they may desire their contributions to be anonymous. They may want others to listen to them with less bias. Whatever the reasons, TwiLIGHT presents a host of commands to that make ad-hoc anonymous dialogues possible. This is achieved by replacing the character name with a rotating number whenever a name is required. Examine the Anonymity menu for these commands.
Read also: Word block.
Word Block
Word blocking is another feature that helps to guard anonymity. Once words are defined in the Word Block, McTWILIGHT will automatically check the Command box before any commands are sent. It will block the command if a blocked word is found anywhere in the command. This is useful for example, to prevent yourself from accidentally mentioning a particular word such as your name.
To enable Word Block:
From the Options menu, choose Word Block.
Type in the Word Block window (1), the list of words (separate by spaces) to block in a command.
Word Block will clear this list each time you quit.
Read also: Anonymity.
Version History
2.1.0 r1
Added interfaces to support Conferencing features, especially Agenda creation and Issue management. Corrected problems to remove wierd control characters. Removed online help from the main application. Redesigned the shortcut definition dialogue box again. 5th October 1996.
2.0.9 r6
Updated Command and Anonymity menus for compatibility with the TwiLIGHT ONE server.
Interface changes to the Send button, Extended Command box, Navigation arrows and Shortcut definition dialogue box.
Pressing return in the main window will now send the contents of the command box instead of placing the insertion point at the end.
Added information on webpage of TwiLIGHT ONE. 19th September 1996
2.0.9 r5
Updated Command and Anonymity menus for compatibility with the TwiLIGHT world server. 12th August 1996
2.0.9 r4
Maiden release. 30 July 1996
More Information
Balloon Help is also available through the Balloon Help menu.
For information on McTWILIGHT, TwiLIGHT, anonymity, bugs, suggestions, or help; contact:
