DimensioneX (open source)

[Tami]

[url=\"http://www.dimensionex.net/en/\"]DimensioneX[/url]

Have you ever thought about writing a video game? Perhaps an adventure, where it necessary to solve riddles and find the right path in order to win.

From the idea to the complete making of a game, though, there is a long way to go. In an increasingly competitive market we cannot compete with the big ones such as Ultima Online and Lucas Arts.

If we don't want to race against such big firms and our aim is just to have fun with friends and gain some popularity between the net community, then we have just a problem to solve: a game is normally produced using a programming language such as C++, or Visual Basic. This, for someone of us, is a hurdle too high to step over.
The idea, the challenge

If you focus on your personal game idea and use the stuff you can easily collect on the net, then you are able to write a good adventure game. This is the challenge that DimensioneX is launching to the potential adventure designers around the world, should they want to leave their trace on the net without having to spend a lifetime programming.

DimensioneX is what people would call a Multiplayer Game Engine. It lets you develop a game without having to re-inventing the wheel. Here's what DimensioneX does for you:

* Display of the game scene, play sounds.
* Positioning and behaviour of the players in the game
* Communication via network between the players
* Management of saved games

The users will play your games simply via their browser.

This game engine is actually a Java Servlet. It is not for a specific platform (i.e. PC or Mac) it will run on any Java-enabled web server (such as: Tomcat, also freeware).

This means the following:

* Any computer capable of running Java can be used to run DimensioneX and its games. All you need is just to install Tomcat or any other equivalent webserver.
* Once a game is developed, it can be immediately published online: many ISPs today offer servlet hosting. Plus, we offer free hosting to any game projects being developed on DimensioneX
* You can exchange games for DimensioneX with other users as you would do with game CDs or cartridges. Or - unlike most of the game makers around - you can choose to leave people play your game online without giving them any access to the game sources.

Features of DimensioneX games

If you use the DimensioneX kit, your game - right from its simplest version - will feature:

* Online Multiplayer capability: Unlimited users can play simultaneously connecting via the network.
* Compatibility with any browser: Users don't have to download anything to play!
* Multimedia: graphics, icons, messages are used to make the game realistic.
* Audio support: Sound and music can be used in the games to add dynamism.
* Save game feature. Players can save, exit and come back to continue their game.
* Customisable avatars, graphic buttons, skins and events.
* Support for game map (with player tracking!)
* Supports any image format, support for panoramic and 360° images (QuickTime VR)
* Support for Day/Night cycles.
* Can include banners. Useful if you wish to earn from them (we don't)

Features of DimensioneX game server

* Runs anywhere even on cheap hardware: A normal Pentium with a 56K modem is sufficient to act as a game development server. Runs also on Linux and the Macintosh.
* Free hosting: We host your project if you cannot afford one.
* True interactivity: A scripting language similar to Basic lets you bind code to game objects for high interactivity.
* On-screen debugging. Scripting errors are directly shown in your browser.
* Multi-area worlds (clustering). Make you game project grow by adding independent modules and share and reuse code by means of the Include directive.
* Free documentation and support. Step-by-step Installation guide, a growing knowledge base and WIKI, Developer's Reference and forum based support service. Powerpoint slides also available for game programming course teachers!
* Develop games in any national language. Built-in support for: English, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian and Ukrainian, Traditional Chinese, Polish, Dutch. Any language in the world can be supported with minimal effort.
* Word filter for preventing the use of bad words in chat
* Optionally working with any mySQL relational database for data storage.
* Java Sources available: DimensioneX is Open Source - distributed under the GNU General Public License.
* It's completely free: Fantastic, isn't it?

The DimensioneX project vision

There are thousands of potential great game designers in the world.

Mostly, they get scared by the huge investment of time and resources needed for the creation of even a fair-sized multiplayer adventure game.

This means these people would lose their opportunity to create their unique games which could soon turn into either a satisfying hobby or a rewarding, useful professional (or half-professional) experience.
The DimensioneX project mission

To turn potential and part-time game designers worldwide into real (and satisfied!) game designers, building the most lively and active community of multiplayer enthusiasts.

To achieve this, DimensioneX project will develop and launch within the Internet a multiplayer game engine:

* which is easy and quick to use for beginner programmers
* which is robust and flexible
* which can run on every computer
* which can be used to produce interesting games in any language or locale, open to a wide range of multimedia contents
* which is (and will always be) free for all

The DimensioneX project is self-supported and is not market oriented, even though it is expected to have a positive impact on the game industry.