MellaniuM: The Virtual New World Order

I have presented through SKYPE over a hundred live videostreaming demonstrations of the MellaniuM VRW's (Virtual Real Worlds) . The MellaniuM concept avoids all the pitfalls of the 3D web based creations presently available to be experienced on the Internet. The UNREAL engine and the data required to produce the realistic environments are administered off the hard drive of your computer. An Internet connection is necessary only to show the positional and directional information of the several avatars (up to 32 ) participating in the self-server hosted environment. There is,therefore, no rezzing effect or lag as seen in Second Life as the "prims" are downloaded and assembled continuously as you walk or fly around the Sims. Huge hard drive capacity is commonplace on all computers now and at 20 cents a gigabyte it is not unusual to have a terabyte of hard disk space. The permanent storage of required data is hardly a barrier to the implementation of these 3D environments. The video card demands of these virtual worlds are also non-existant since a standard 3D card with 256 M ram will suffice to produce lag-free experiences.
It is fascinating to consider the reactions illicited by this concept of producing interactive MMO style realistic environments in an online server platform(UNREAL 2). To be honest during the presentations we were almost expecting a barrage of criticism directed at our MellaniuM flagship aimed at sinking it without a trace. Well at least some indication as to where was the fatal flaw in our virtual construct.

FROM THE VIRTUAL NEW WORLD

The reactions to the SKYPE demonstrations would certainly be worthy of study by a team of psychology graduates from an eminent faculty of higher learning. Initially we encountered a entirely justifiable lack of interest since our contacts either had little or no experience with participating in an MMORPG style online game. As our circle of contact grew and we intersected with the NING "SERIOUS GAMES" and "VIRTUAL WORLDS CONNECT" networks it was obvious that we had hit the motherlode. These networks consist of a comprehensive list of who's who in the world of 3D virtual environment platform developers, marketing gurus,vendors,bloggers,machinima savants and WEB 2.0 pundits of every technical stripe and complexion.

So far as I can discern one can group the 3D community in three vague classifications when one presents the MellaniuM concept over SKYPE. One group offers a singular lack of any agenda and they approach the presentation with no prejudice or malice aforethought. In nearly every case they express an unalloyed joy at the potential prospect of a virtually realistic world to explore and with which to interact and help to create. This group comprises a healthy mix of educators,bloggers and machinima creators who both have a simple objective view that the future is bright and are open to any and all considerations in the 3D world.

A second group appear to be tainted whether justifiably or not with the notion that the MellaniuM concept is simply another fringe player which can only confuse more the chaotic status of the 3D community and germinating WEB3D. There are always some glimmers of encouragement as the most insightful and more intelligent observers do vouch for the possibility of "horses for courses" and that one single platform will not be able to encompass the needs of all the 3D potentialities in the fields of education,engineering and social interaction.There seems to be a semi-conscious, gnawing fear that because Second Life is the only "game" in town we had better all shore up the edifice and trump any good news as loud and as often as possible. I can understand this quiet desperation of SL Island/SIM developers and the marketing gurus who have committed so much of their time and finances. In essence this group finds no serious flaw in the potential to use high polygon models and rich textures to create realistic environments but have only modest praise since there is no existing MellaniuM based world in which to build a viable business (can't fault 'em for that).

THEY MUST RELENT SOMEWHAT WHEN THEY SEE THE DETAIL AND EFFECT OF LIGHT SOURCING OF THE MELLANIUM TECHNOLOGY

A final small group approach the MellaniuM demonstration with a stubborn determination to undermine any notion of the capability of any non internet/browswer based client arrangement.They must relent somewhat when they see the detail and effect of light sourcing of the MellaniuM technology but they have committed themselves and are irretrievably entrenched in believing that some form of interoperability within clients running off a browser will be the final outcome for the all-encompassing 3D WEB.

Please call me on SKYPE at joe133952 for your own personal view of the Virtual New World.