The Furious Angels
FA Discussion => VR Gaming => Topic started by: Tbone on March 03, 2014, 06:12:14 pm
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Download Firebox (http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~mccrae/projects/firebox/)
Tutorial (http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~mccrae/projects/firebox/notes.html)
With the Construct on hold indefinitely (Revalis has moved on and I don't know anyone else to pick up the project), I've recently started looking at a new program that would allow us to build our own "world" just using our website space and some coding. I've spent a few days with it and threw this together:
Version 1
http://youtu.be/uMmVJ0J-Jvc (http://youtu.be/uMmVJ0J-Jvc)
Version 2: The Construct (3/7)
http://youtu.be/vpxMzlekmyo (http://youtu.be/vpxMzlekmyo)
As you can see, any website can be browsed in Firebox, a VR browser program. Some sites work well. Others don't. The real benefit is that the guy is creating his own code so that you can create your own rooms. If you follow the walk, the first room contains an image, text, sounds, and 3D models. You may notice the models are not textured. That's because currently the only format supported is an obj file with single image file as the texture, and these are hard to find. The second room (Gallery) is auto-generated from IMGUR, something the author of the program implemented. The third site is just a construction room where I'm hoping to eventually put some Matrix stuff in.
As you can see, I could use some help. Specifically in the 3D modeling. I would love to have some textured models of our angel emblem to start with and then expand from there. I hope that eventually video playback will be implemented as well.
The idea is to create an interactive space for people to explore stuff about the guild in virtual reality. This could become part of our application process (you'll notice AP makes an appearance already) or it could just showcase information about the guild. I'm looking for help on the project with anyone who thinks they have the skills!
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Did Revalis leave the guild or just drop the project?
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I think he started working on a different project.
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I'm here and the project still exists in its skeletal form.
I've just lost all motivation to work on the thing. Since picking up Unity Pro, my company has moved me off of websites and into App development full time. So I do this 8 hours a day, now.. and to go home and work on a similar project (as opposed to spending time with wife and kids) for only T-Bone to ever care was starting to weigh on me a bit. :/
I just don't think anyone really cares to have a re-creation of the Construct. The heyday of the Matrix is passed, most sentiment is to move on from that. No one has time/talent to help where it's needed; and those who do volunteer to help tend to vanish from existence after a few days..
Soooo... yeah.. backburner. Until there is a more specific design / need for it, I don't really see myself wasting time on it. My original idea for it was to use it for meetings and things, but FA has grown apart since SWTOR..
I think until the Guild cohesion is fixed, there is little point in the Construct.
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Idk if this means anything but I have friends that go to school to learn 3-D game development. I also have a sister-in-law who is a creator on IMVU and has created some really good products.
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Any help is appreciated! Revalis, I was hoping the Construct project would be a catalyst for cohesion. Since people are playing different games, it's good to have a central project to focus on that brings people together.
Anyway, this guy is updating his project like crazy and it's quickly becoming a way to create a really cool environment using normal HTML assets! I could easily see us recreating the SWTOR challenge, for instance, in virtual reality. I'm continuing to make updates and experiment as I can. Any asset would be helpful. 3D models, transparent images, sounds, music - it's all helpful!
I'm not sure if a Rift is required for the program to run, but you can download the most recent version here (http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/~mccrae/projects/firebox/). Our site is one of the bookmarks that comes with the program! To make sure you see everything as it is meant to be seen, you'll want to keep checking his site often for updates!
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Ok, I spent more time on this today. With all the updates Firebox has been making, I was able to make something pretty cool. Please check this out. I think it has the same vibe as our websites that we've made:
http://youtu.be/vpxMzlekmyo (http://youtu.be/vpxMzlekmyo)
Again, anyone with 3D model experience, Photoshop experience, or even HTML experience could help out with this! If I can create something like this in just a few days by myself, I can only imagine what we could accomplish as a group!
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...well, I think this is cool anyway. Guess I'll see if I can get non-FAers to help me, though I'd rather it be a community project.
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I want to get involved I haven't talked to my Sister in law yet. I will try to ask her tonight. I only know HTML but she does the 3-D modeling.
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Thanks YuriVi!
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I really like the idea, but I have zero skills pertinent to the creation of something like this.
I think Revalis is right in that those who have the talent don't have the time to devote, and those who have the time don't have the talent. Hell, some of us don't have either!
I remember when we created the SWTOR recruitment challenge we had a good number of talented contributors, but even then most of the real work was done by just a few people. So unless somebody is ready to REALLY dedicate themselves to some hard ass work, I just don't see something like the Construct happening. Poor Revalis can't do it on his own, especially with the relatively lacking cheerleader section here. Yeah, I'm sure there are people out there elsewhere that would love a Matrix-style VR Construct, but if all we (the supposed die-hard fans of the Matrix and VR, who should be foaming at the mouth for this) can muster is a "yeah, I guess that'd be cool," how can we expect anyone to put in that much work for it?
As for FA having drifted apart since SWTOR, I certainly can't speak for anybody but myself but I suspect most are watching and waiting. We are gamers, are we not? As gamers, during our spare time we play whichever games strike our fancy with whomever happens to be playing that same game at the time. Until we have a big all-encompassing game we can throw our full support behind, the biggest collection of Angels will likely be games like Rust that attract 6-10 of us at a time.
If you want to see how many of us are really still around, why not have another few Friday FA Drunk Gaming Nights? I seem to remember those attracting a good number of us, some of whom I haven't seen on the forums or in any games in a long time! Hell, it'd probably also be a great opportunity to talk to those outside the usual half dozen or so that regularly pop into TS about all this Oculus development stuff. Sure, it's all over the forums, but it's my experience that speaking directly to a person is so much different than throwing text at them. Who knows what'll come of it?
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The program I'm using to make this uses HTML/Php for the most part, so I feel like there may be a few more people versed in that. People who know Photoshop can also help a lot. Even if you have no experience, you can google 3D models for free that may be useful or sounds. We may could create something that uses voice work. Even ideas for rooms (construct, jump program, FA dojo - what would YOU want to see). There are lots of ways to get involved!
Also, yes, there's an ebb and flow, and while we're in between games and DEVICES at this point, it's sort of a hurry up and wait. Projects like this are a good way to get more people involved and interested!
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VRChat (a different program than Firebox) now allows custom avatars. Revalis, I know we had working FA avatars for the Construct. Is there a way to import it into VRChat? Here are the instructions:
http://news.jespionage.com/2014/03/vrchat-now-with-custom-avatars.html (http://news.jespionage.com/2014/03/vrchat-now-with-custom-avatars.html)
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Our VR website was briefly featured in this review of the Firebox program!
Firebox VR Software Review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GRlLw8OmlI#ws)
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Wow incredible, it seems the VR industry has come to far, it seems improbable that VR has any chance to die like it did years ago.
Either way the road is being paved for the future with this and it really is cool to have people like you working in these things.
Without people doing things like these, being the first to take "leaps of faith" and work on these projects, The rift or rather more the entire world of our rapidly expanding virtual world would not be possible.
Truly I never thought VR would come in my lifetime but indeed it came silently and quickly and truth be told most people still don't know about this.
Either way I want to encourage you guys to keep at this for not only yourselfs but for the world of the future
Thanks! Keep at it ;)
~ Virtual
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Thanks for the words of encouragement, Virtual!
A quick update - Firebox now allows video! I set up a room for watching our movie, "All Good Things" on a HUGE virtual screen. It. Is. AWESOME! I tried importing a cinema asset today (currently the screen is floating in a black room). I'm just running into some texture problems. They'll also hopefully get YouTube streaming working soon. Currently you have to host the video file somewhere.
My brother and I got a few custom avatars working for VRChat, including Neo, Altair from AC, some Alien from Halo, and a floating zombie head! I would still like for us to build our own FA uniform avatar!
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Lol, some alien from Halo. Can't wait to check out that movie in the Rift!
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Cool stuff!
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Hey guys, a bit off topic but what would you recommend me to start learning for coding on the Oculus Rift?
Like what?
Java?
C+?
Thanks
~Virtual
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Check out Unity if you're interested in developing something for the Rift, but know that there is not a specific coding language that is required for it. All sorts of game engines from Doom to Minecraft have been adapted to work with the device, though these are predominantly FPS titles. Shit, I'd be interested in seeing what a strategy game would look like in this environment.
As I understand, Firebox (the program Tbone is working with) does not require much in the area of code knowledge. Download it and start tinkering!
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Firebox uses basic HTML combined with its own easy-to-learn code. Once you figure out enough of the code to get the assets into the room, Firebox has its own editing tools within the program to spawn and move assets around and save them. If you're looking to create a virtual space, that's what I'd recommend.
If you're looking to build a whole game or experience with a lot of interaction, then you can look at Unity or, more recently, Unreal 4. Unity's Rift functionality only works with the Pro version, which is quite expensive. Unreal 4 is apparently much more manageable.
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Thanks both of you.
I already know HTML and am quite skilled at it.
I will give out Unity a try, but is that a language?(Like python)
(And by beginner I mean no coding experience besides HTML)
~Virtual
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Unity is typically C# which is Microsoft's version of Java. But you can also use JavaScript which is a looser syntax and not as object oriented. A good analogy might be comparing C is to JavaScript what C++ is to C#.
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Thanks Lith.
I have decided to give it a try and learn python as well which seems to be a good beginner language.
~ Virtual
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Firebox (now renamed JanusVR) has been updated with multiplayer! I tested it out sans the Rift and it's pretty cool! Things are progressing nicely with the software. With multiplayer, you could use it to host your own virtual meeting rooms and hangouts. Very Metaverse-y!