Skinhat

Generic 3D mud Client Google Video

Skinhat software has developed a 3D client to a multiuser dungeon (or MUD). The idea is that people can modify their mud (eg Circle mud, diku mud, tiny mud) in a minimal way so that it can be used to bring their text based mud to life in 3D. The 3D client uses the common mud telnet protocol so there is no need change the mud to use a different protocol. An example of the minimal changes needed to allow a mud to use the 3D client is shown in the raw telnet text shown below:

{ww3}
Grand Stoa
Walkway to the a large stairway to the Propylea.
Above is a cold, slowly moving, lightly clouded sky. A gentle breeze stirs the
air.
There are footprints leaving in many directions.
There are five obvious exits:
south, southeast, east, northeast and southwest.
You see Amon the guide.
Amon yawns.
{oamon,ayawn}
Amon asks: Been going good?
{px426.316,y276.889}


The above telnet text is what you might expect in a multi user dungeon except there are curly brackets. The curly brackets are commands for the 3D client and these commands are parsed out when displayed to the user in the 3D client. In the screen shot below the 3D client has received the above telnet text:




In the raw telnet text {ww3} signifies that the weather has changed, specifically the wind has changed to strength 3 out of 10. The 3D client will then will change the volume of the sound of wind to 3 out of 10 strength and speed of the moving clouds will change to the speed at 3 out of 10.

The command {px426.316,y276.889} specifies the 3D position of the camera in the client. Every room in a mud can have a 3D position. When a user moves from room to room the 3D position changes in the client.

The command {oamon,ayawn} specifies that the object amon is performing the 'yawn' action. The 3D client will then play the sound of laughter.

There are lots more commands, though these wont be listed until a public version of the 3D client is ready.


Shattered World and Rhodes 3D - 3D Client Showcase
Two games have been developed that show case the 3D client. One is a traditional MMORPG with monsters, races, guilds and combat. Its called Shattered World and is based upon the mud Shattered World. The second game is a historically accurate MMORPG that recreates Lindos, Rhodes in the 16 th century. It is called Rhodes 3D. Both these MMORPG's use the open source mud SWLPC which has been modified to work with the 3D mud client.

A publicly available version of the 3D client will be available depending on the success of Shattered World and Rhodes 3D.