Evolver (currently in alpha) is an interesting service. It allows you to build a 3D avatar either from scratch and components or from a photograph of yourself, and export that avatar as an image, a functional 3D model in a couple of different formats (presently Maya [MA] or Kaydara 3D Data Exchange Format [FDX]), or a ready-made avatar for a number of 3D virtual environments.

They've got more planned it seems, like the ability to potentially embed a little animated 3D avatar in places where you might today be using a 2D image. Think Gravatars only in 3D.

Continue reading Evolve your 3D avatar

Evolve your 3D avatar originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The RealXtend team has released the latest version of their extended, viewer and opensim-based system code. This brings realXtend up to version 0.3.

The viewer sports new basic avatars (three), attachments direct to the avatar (rather than to a bone-based attachment point), prim sizes increased to 128 metres in any dimension, fixed assorted crash bugs and more.

The server code handles the support for these features, along with a bunch of bug-fixes, Skype support, inverse kinematics and variable avatar walk-speeds.

Continue reading RealXtend 0.3 released

RealXtend 0.3 released originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sourceforge - billed as the largest open source website in the world -- is now host to the source code project for the RealXTend viewer (rexviewer) for Second Life. RealXtend claims to have replaced all of the license encumbered portions of the viewer with GPL-friendly alternatives, though they are still having some issues decoupling FMOD from their VoIP solution.

The project website remains at rexviewer.org, while the project page and source code (available via subversion) is now on Sourceforge. Rexviewer is only in alpha at present, but has a number of distinctly interesting technological features, and more planned.

RealXtend viewer now on Sourceforge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Barely a fortnight after their initial version 0.1 software, Finnish developer RealXtend (in conjunction with OpenSim, Admino Technologies and LudoCraft - I think we might have to just start calling it the 'RealXtend Project' in future to save on typing) has released the next version of their software. An avatar portability system that allows your avatar to be transferred to any compatible world where you have an account is definitely a handy feature now that additional Second Life style grids are starting to spring up all over.

"We have been testing and fixing bugs as much as possible and we have a few new major features. One of the new features is the Avatar system, under RealXtend your avatar has been completely redesigned to support transfer between virtual worlds. Earlier avatar systems used by other virtual worlds have been tied to one world or grid only and could not travel with the user," said RealXtend project manager Jani Pirkola.

RealXtend's viewer is licensed under the GNU GPLv2 (sans quicktime components), and all the server-side code as a part of OpenSim is under the BSD license, which is a very broadly permissive open source license.

RealXtend releases updated software originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cinemassively: realXtend demo video originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Metaverse Journal's Lowell Cremorne landed an interview with Steve Sima (aka Sakai Openlife), the founder of Australian-based Open Life grid - which, we note, is still apparently not quite working for new registrations - certainly, we've had no luck here - you can register, but not actually log in with it.

Open Life currently operates on Open Simulator 0.5. Sima's plans involve full offline content creation (in fact, you can get a downloadable simulator from the website - though we don't believe the means exist to readily send that data anywhere as yet), and he is hotly anticipating the new viewer from RealXTend.

An interview with Open Life's Steve Sima originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Adam Zaius Quiplash announces the opening of Open Life, an alternative Second Life grid developed in conjunction with Finnish developer RealXtend (apparently the companies Admino and Ludocraft are in there somewhere too, but we're still a little hazy on the big picture [Did I mention we're a bit hazy? Pardon the dust]) - who have developed a custom viewer with additional features (like real 3D meshes instead of prims, python scripting, textures-via-HTTP, multiple attachment points per body part, and more) that are unsupported in Second Life currently.

The new grid is going live in the next few hours, apparently, and it seems that everyone's invited. Open Life appears to be renting out simulators for $75US/month. We don't have a lot more information available to us right now, but it all looks very exciting , though reportedly there are stability issues that make the new grid only for the adventurous.

[Update: Okay, this is a bit of a muddle, and we've put together a correction based on better information, check below the fold]

Continue reading New non-Linden grid opening [updated]

New non-Linden grid opening [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.