Blaxxun
Encyclopedia
blaxxun interactive originally named "Black Sun Interactive" was one of the first companies to develop a 3D community platform designed for the Internet using VRML
and highly scalable multi-user server environments.
blaxxun developed various 3D browsers and multi-user server platforms. Customers included BMW ("3D Car Configurator"), Deutsche Bank ("Virtual Shareholder Meeting"), IBM (3D Notebook Demo), Canal+ ("Virtual Paris"), Siemens, Intel, and many other major brands.
In 1996, blaxxun acquired Cybertown, a US-based community and evolved it into a 3D community that attracted more than 1 million registered users by 2000. blaxxun also established joint ventures with Germany's leading publisher Cornelsen (3D community Learnetix) and the soccer community SoccerCity (in collaboration with Kicker magazine).
In 2000, blaxxun was scheduled for an IPO at Germany's Neuer Markt. The IPO was delayed and finally failed in August 2000, when the Internet boom turned into the Dot-Com bubble and its final burst. blaxxun's IPO consortium banks had a public disagreement about the cancellation, as the IPO was oversubscribed by factor 2,5 on the institutional side. In 2001, blaxxun became shortly profitable and succeeded in raising more funding, but then was also hit by collapsing Internet revenues.
In early 2002, blaxxun went out of business. Some assets were taken over by successor companies.
blaxxun technologies continued to market the core server technologies. Bitmanagement Software continued to develop the 3D client. Cybertown was given back to the founders and was later sold.
VRML
VRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...
and highly scalable multi-user server environments.
Company History
blaxxun was founded in August 1995 with its sales/marketing offices in San Francisco,CA and management/development in Munich, Germany. blaxxun was funded by the US venture capital company CMGI, in the same portfolio as leading Internet companies like GeoCities and Lycos. Later blaxxun investors included tbg and General Electric.blaxxun developed various 3D browsers and multi-user server platforms. Customers included BMW ("3D Car Configurator"), Deutsche Bank ("Virtual Shareholder Meeting"), IBM (3D Notebook Demo), Canal+ ("Virtual Paris"), Siemens, Intel, and many other major brands.
In 1996, blaxxun acquired Cybertown, a US-based community and evolved it into a 3D community that attracted more than 1 million registered users by 2000. blaxxun also established joint ventures with Germany's leading publisher Cornelsen (3D community Learnetix) and the soccer community SoccerCity (in collaboration with Kicker magazine).
In 2000, blaxxun was scheduled for an IPO at Germany's Neuer Markt. The IPO was delayed and finally failed in August 2000, when the Internet boom turned into the Dot-Com bubble and its final burst. blaxxun's IPO consortium banks had a public disagreement about the cancellation, as the IPO was oversubscribed by factor 2,5 on the institutional side. In 2001, blaxxun became shortly profitable and succeeded in raising more funding, but then was also hit by collapsing Internet revenues.
In early 2002, blaxxun went out of business. Some assets were taken over by successor companies.
blaxxun technologies continued to market the core server technologies. Bitmanagement Software continued to develop the 3D client. Cybertown was given back to the founders and was later sold.
See also
- CyberTownCyberTownCyberTown is a free , family friendly, online community that has declined to a virtual ghost town over the last few years. There are places available either through a 2D or 3D chat environment...
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- Second LifeSecond LifeSecond Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
- Simulated realitySimulated realitySimulated reality is the proposition that reality could be simulated—perhaps by computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living inside a simulation....
- Active WorldsActive WorldsActive Worlds is a 3D virtual reality platform. The Active Worlds client runs on Windows. Users assign themselves a name, log into the Active Worlds universe, and explore 3D virtual worlds and environments that other users have built. Users can chat with one another or build structures and areas...
- Flux (software)Flux (software)Flux is a software suite released by Media Machines which consists of Flux Player and Flux Studio.Flux Player is a VRML/X3D viewer that works both as plugin in Internet Explorer, and as standalone program in Windows. Flux Studio is a VRML/X3D editor that works in Windows...
- VRMLVRMLVRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...
- X3DX3DX3D is the ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics, the successor to the Virtual Reality Modeling Language . X3D features extensions to VRML X3D is the ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics, the successor to the Virtual Reality...