Multiverse Network
Encyclopedia
The Multiverse Network, Inc. is an American
startup company
creating a network and platform for Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and 3D virtual world
s. Multiverse's stated aim is to lower the barrier of entry for development teams by providing a low-cost software platform for online game and virtual world development.
In 2009, the company extended its development platform to support Flash and built a series of real-time multiplayer games to demo the technology. As part of the worldwide marketing effort behind James Cameron's AVATAR film, Multiverse built two Flash-based games, one with McDonald's and another with Coca-Cola Zero. Both games allow players to explore Pandora, where much of the film takes place.
). It includes the client software Multiverse World Browser (for Microsoft Windows
only at this point), a server suite, development tools, sample assets, documentation, and a developer community. The goal is to provide consumers/users with a single client program that lets them visit all of the virtual worlds built on the Multiverse Platform. From the consumer point of view, this enables a de facto network of virtual worlds.
Like RealmForge
, the Multiverse World Browser is written in C#, and based on the Axiom Engine. The Multiverse server suite is written in Java
and uses a publish/subscribe
messaging system to provide reliability and scalability. The server also provides a plug-in API. The Windows-based tools use the COLLADA
data interchange format, to enable artists to import 3D assets from popular tools such as Maya
, 3D Studio Max, and now Google SketchUp
.
James Cameron
joined the company's board of advisors, and Red Herring magazine selected it as one of the "Red Herring 100" privately held companies that play a leading role in innovating the technology business.
In December, 2006, Multiverse announced that it had optioned the rights to develop an MMOG based on Firefly
, the science fiction television series http://www.multiverse.net/press/pr20061207.jsp?cid=6&scid=9. Since then the Firefly
MMO has been delayed but a Buffy and Titanic
MMO have both been announced http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/technology/news/e3i0532517b5fc5d6af005a0ac8006987cf.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
startup company
Startup company
A startup company or startup is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets...
creating a network and platform for Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and 3D virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
s. Multiverse's stated aim is to lower the barrier of entry for development teams by providing a low-cost software platform for online game and virtual world development.
In 2009, the company extended its development platform to support Flash and built a series of real-time multiplayer games to demo the technology. As part of the worldwide marketing effort behind James Cameron's AVATAR film, Multiverse built two Flash-based games, one with McDonald's and another with Coca-Cola Zero. Both games allow players to explore Pandora, where much of the film takes place.
Technology
Multiverse provides technology known as MMOG middleware (Multiverse uses the term platformPlatform (computing)
A computing platform includes some sort of hardware architecture and a software framework , where the combination allows software, particularly application software, to run...
). It includes the client software Multiverse World Browser (for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
only at this point), a server suite, development tools, sample assets, documentation, and a developer community. The goal is to provide consumers/users with a single client program that lets them visit all of the virtual worlds built on the Multiverse Platform. From the consumer point of view, this enables a de facto network of virtual worlds.
Like RealmForge
RealmForge
RealmForge is a free and open-source game engine for the Microsoft .NET Framework, predecessor to Visual3D Game Engine, the cross-platform game engine and visual development toolset for .NET 2.0 and Microsoft XNA.-Overview:...
, the Multiverse World Browser is written in C#, and based on the Axiom Engine. The Multiverse server suite is written in Java
Java (Sun)
Java refers to several computer software products and specifications from Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, that together provide a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform environment...
and uses a publish/subscribe
Publish/subscribe
Publish–subscribe is a messaging pattern where senders of messages, called publishers, do not program the messages to be sent directly to specific receivers, called subscribers. Published messages are characterized into classes, without knowledge of what, if any, subscribers there may be...
messaging system to provide reliability and scalability. The server also provides a plug-in API. The Windows-based tools use the COLLADA
COLLADA
COLLADA is a COLLAborative Design Activity for establishing an interchange file format for interactive 3D applications. COLLADA is managed by the nonprofit technology consortium, the Khronos Group....
data interchange format, to enable artists to import 3D assets from popular tools such as Maya
Maya (software)
Autodesk Maya , commonly shortened to Maya, is 3D computer graphics software that runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive 3D applications, including video...
, 3D Studio Max, and now Google SketchUp
SketchUp
SketchUp is a 3D modeling program marketed by Google and designed for architectural, civil, and mechanical engineers as well as filmmakers, game developers,...
.
Business model
Multiverse provides its technology platform cost-free for development and deployment. Income comes through revenue-sharing; Multiverse takes a share of any payments made by consumers/users to the world developer. If a developer provides a world for free (or free for a period of time), Multiverse does not charge anything. When a developer starts charging consumers/users, Multiverse takes a share (10 percent), and also handles the financial transaction processing. Development teams host their own servers and retain 100 percent of their world's IP.James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
joined the company's board of advisors, and Red Herring magazine selected it as one of the "Red Herring 100" privately held companies that play a leading role in innovating the technology business.
In December, 2006, Multiverse announced that it had optioned the rights to develop an MMOG based on Firefly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
, the science fiction television series http://www.multiverse.net/press/pr20061207.jsp?cid=6&scid=9. Since then the Firefly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
MMO has been delayed but a Buffy and Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
MMO have both been announced http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/technology/news/e3i0532517b5fc5d6af005a0ac8006987cf.
External links
- Wikipedia: Virtual World
- The Multiverse Network, Inc.
- Firefly MMO News - News about Multiverse's Firefly MMO