Multiverse - Under the Hood

Under the Hood

Corey Bridges & Rafhael Cedeno

Game Developers Conference 2008

The Multiverse Network, Inc -- Confidential

What Sets Us Apart

• Complete MMOG technology solution

– Server, client, tools, starter assets and sample worlds

– Open standards-based technology

• The Multiverse Network

– Painless consumer access via Multiverse "World Browser"

– All games and worlds launch in the network

• Use the platform for FREE....no up-front costs

– Develop and deploy for free

– 10% revenue share with us

– Our success depends on your success


Virtual Times Square


Business Collaboration Spaces Mirror Worlds Social Games

Sci-Fi Shooters Fantasy MMORPGs Educational Worlds

Virtual Worlds: Many Different Applications


• The Multiverse Network – Connects all Multiverse Client "World Browsers" to gameworlds running on Multiverse

servers – Handles consumer registration, authentication, and login – Coming: age verification and billing

• Multiverse World Browser – 3D rendering engine based on OGRE/Axiom – Runs on Windows (XP, Vista) using DirectX – Written in C#; scriptable in Python

• Multiverse Servers – Scalable, distributed plug-in architecture – Run servers on your own system – Written in Java; scriptable in Python – Write server plug-ins in Java – Standard JDBC database backend – MARS: open-source library of plug-ins for mobs, combat, inventory, etc.

• Multiverse Tools – World Editor, Terrain Generator, and Model Viewer

– Conversion tools for 3ds, Maya, Blender, etc.

The Multiverse Platform


The Multiverse Network


The Multiverse World Architecture


• Next-gen 3D graphics rendering engine with complete fallbacks

• Shaders can be written in Cg or HLSL with compositor framework

• Python scripting API (animations, lights, camera, etc)

• Powerful material and particle script capabilities

• Skeletal animation, morphs, and animation blending

• Robust networking infrastructure (TCP and UDP available)

• International Language support

• FMOD for leading audio solution

• Web browser integration

• Movies and Flash (YouTube)

Next Release

• Free VOIP: 3D positional & channels

The Multiverse World Browser


UI is often underestimated

• XML-based UI widget set

• Python-based event handling

• Character creation and selection framework

• Python scripting API provides access to virtually all aspects of the Client

• Pre-coded customizable UI components / examples

– minimap

– chat window

– help window

– Backpack

• HTML and Flash UI support

Client UI Customization


• Scalable, flexible, and extensible

• Java based, runs on Linux, Windows XP/Vista, Mac

• Modular plug-in architecture for customization and extensibility

– Infrastructure plug-ins: Provide basic services

– MARS plug-ins: provide world-specific gameplay functions

• Python as extension language

• Runs on any Database supporting JDBC (eg: MySQL)

• 2000 concurrent users per server (depends on world)

• Easily runs on hosted solutions such as Amazon’s EC2

• Plug-ins communicate via publish/subscribe messaging system

Next Release

• Instancing (dynamic, distributed, and shared)

Multiverse Servers


• Message Server / Registry

– Enables communication among servers

– Works with distributed servers

• Login Manager

– Handles user login and character creation

• Proxy Server

– Handles communication with the client

• World Manager

– Controls geography and perception

• Object Manager

– Manages persistent data (inventory and mob info)

• World Reader

– Reads a world file created by Multiverse World Editor

Multiverse Server Infrastructure Plug-Ins


• What's MARS? "Multiverse Agnostic Rules System"

• Combat plug-in: controls combat

• Mob plug-in: controls mobs and quests

• Inventory and trading plug-in

• Physics plug-in

MARS Server Plug-Ins


• Art pipeline conversion tools

– Convert from popular modeling tools (3ds Max, Maya, SketchUp, Blender, etc.)

– COLLADA intermediate format

– Plugins available for 3D development tools

• Import tool brings in Collada files into Multiverse format

• Model Viewer displays 3D models and animations

• Terrain Generator creates world terrain

• World Editor places static models in world, sets world properties

Multiverse Tools: Overview


• View models converted to Multiverse format Bones

• Sockets

• Animations

• Submeshes

• Lighting conditions:

– Ambient, diffuse, specular light color

– Light Direction

Multiverse Tools: Model Viewer


• Creates a world topography

• Fractal topography based on a seed heightmap

• Heightmap terrain from L3DT, PnP TerrainCreator, other tools

Multiverse Tools: Terrain Generator


• Set World properties

– Skybox, ocean attributes, fog, ambient & directional light, etc.

• Place and manage:

– Static objects such as buildings, walls / fences, props, etc.

– Bodies of water, fog regions

– Point sounds, ambient sound regions

– Spawn generator points / regions

– Forests, trees, vegetation

– Roads and other features such as point lights, particle effects, terrain decals

Multiverse Tools: World Editor


One app for:

• Assets Management,

• Model Viewing,

• Level Editing

Tools: Coming Up


Toolbox can

preview entire

world

Tools: Coming Up


• Multiverse provides a complete MMOG technology platform

– Scalable, high-performance Java server suite

– State-of-the art graphical client

– Tools suite

– Comprehensive documentation

• No up-front cost

• Vibrant, growing community: over 18,000 developer teams

Conclusion

What world will you build?What world will you build?

Multiverse - Under the Hood

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