Download Chat Mapper - The Non-Linear Dialog Editor For Games

Project LUDUS
Deliverable for T5.1: Knowledge node
“Updated report on ICT tools for SG collected for the
Knowledge Node”
Recipient: BSC
Date of delivery: 30/08/2011
1
Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................3
Most popular proprietary ICT tools for Serious Games ..............................................................................4
001 Action / RPG Maker ....................................................................................................................................4
4D Rulers............................................................................................................................................................6
Abyssal Engine and Tools ..................................................................................................................................8
Autodesk 3ds Max .............................................................................................................................................10
Chat Mapper - The Non-Linear Dialog Editor For Games .............................................................................12
DarkWynter Games and Visualization .............................................................................................................14
Gamestudio.......................................................................................................................................................16
LearningBeans Worlds .....................................................................................................................................18
Multiverse .........................................................................................................................................................20
OPEN SEA ........................................................................................................................................................22
RealWorld.........................................................................................................................................................24
Unity .................................................................................................................................................................26
WorldForge ......................................................................................................................................................28
Other featured ICT tools (less frequently used) ..........................................................................................30
2
Introduction
In the context of enhancing and keeping updated the content of the LUDUS Knowledge Node (www.seriousgaming.info), this report summarizes the most known, applied and recent ICT tools in the field of serious
games. This second version of the report includes an enhanced list of proprietary solutions beyond those
already presented on the Knowledge Node, following the first version of the report.
The first part of the report presents the most popular solutions in the area of serious games development
making available their special features, requirements, cases and paradigms. The second part includes a table
that summarizes less frequently used tools, with limited case studies, that are used in cases of simpler
implementation and are addressed to less experienced developers.
3
Most popular proprietary ICT tools for Serious Games
Name
001 Action / RPG Maker
URL
http://www.engine001.com/
The graphical scripter within 001 Game Creator is a simple, yet powerful method
of creating events for your game without the difficulty of learning to write code. It
uses the simplicity of pointing and clicking to allow the user to easily implement
Overview
events in the form of a flowchart.
Platform /
Requirements
-
Latest version
v1.009.004
Minimum
1.0 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
256 megabytes (MB) of RAM
100 megabytes (MB) available hard disk space
DirectX 8.1 graphics device or higher
Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 (32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64))
Recommended
2.0 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
512 megabytes (MB) of RAM
150 megabytes (MB) available hard disk space
DirectX 8.1 graphics device or higher
Specifications
Examples / case
studies / clients
Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 (32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64))
The Traveler
Planetbound
4
Hybrid Factor - The Order
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://www.engine001.com/contact.htm
Screenshots
5
Name
4D Rulers
URL
http://www.4drulers.com/
Offers game dev tools such as the AMP2 Game Engine and the Normal Mapper
Overview
tool for 3D Studio Max.
Software Used
3DS Max, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Perforce, Starteam, Visual studio
6, Amp 1 & 2 game engines, Q3 Radiant, UnrealEd, Microsoft Word &
Excel, PDF Creator, Dungeon Ed (proprietary tool for dungeonrunners of
NC Soft), Oblivion’s Construction Set from Bethesda Softworks,
Platform /
Dreamweaver for php and html, Camtasia for video tutorials with spoken
Requirements
dialogue, sound forge 8, Instant messenger, ICQ.
Latest version
-
Specifications
Patriots: A Nation Under Fire
Examples / case
Secret Service 2 Security Breach
studies / clients
Gore: Ultimate Soldier
Other notes
-
Contact details
[email protected]
Screenshots
6
7
Name
Abyssal Engine and Tools
URL
http://www.abyssalengine.com/
The Abyssal Game Engine is a powerful professional game creation tool kit and
rendering system for creating quality 3D software. The technology is designed to
reduce development time while empowering developers with a strong suite of
tools needed to produce great visual effects and immersive online or offline
worlds.
The technology allows the developer to create everything from single player RPG
titles, Real Time Strategy Games, to Multiplayer and Massively multiplayer
Overview
products.
Platform /
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, 2008, 2010 or 2010 Express is required for
Requirements
compiling.
Latest version
The Abyssal Engine is capable of functioning properly on a wide range of
hardware configurations; from the latest of systems to older 3D card technology
ensuring that your software is usable by a broad range of consumers without
Specifications
compatibility issues getting in the way.
Examples / case
studies / clients
-
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://www.abyssalengine.com/contact.html
Screenshots
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9
Name
Autodesk 3ds Max
URL
http://usa.autodesk.com/3ds-max/
Autodesk® 3ds Max® and Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design software provide
powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing tools
that enable artists and designers to more quickly ramp up for production. The two
versions share core technology and features, but offer differentiated experiences
and specialized toolsets for game developers, visual effects artists, and graphic
designers on the one hand, and architects, designers, engineers, and visualization
Overview
specialists on the other.
Operating system: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Professional operating system,
Platform /
Microsoft® Windows Vista® Business operating system (SP2 or higher), or
Requirements
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional operating system (SP3 or higher)
Latest version
For general animation and rendering (typically fewer than 1,000 objects or
100,000 polygons):
Intel® Pentium® 4 1.4 GHz or equivalent AMD® processor with SSE2
technology*
2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
2 GB swap space (4 GB recommended)
3 GB free hard drive space
Direct3D® 10 technology, Direct3D 9, or OpenGL-capable graphics card† (256
MB or higher video card memory, 1 GB or higher recommended)
Three-button mouse with mouse driver software
DVD-ROM drive††
Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 8.0 internet browser or higher or Mozilla®
Specifications
Firefox® 3.0 internet browser or higher
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Internet connection for web downloads and Autodesk® Subscription-aware access
Examples / case
studies / clients
Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.: Dance Central
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1073074
Screenshots
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Name
Chat Mapper - The Non-Linear Dialog Editor For Games
URL
http://www.chat-mapper.com/
Chat Mapper is a new, easy to use tool for writing and testing nonlinear dialogue,
especially for video games and training. Built from the frustration of trying to use
Final Draft, Word, or even Excel to write complex branching dialogue, Chat
Mapper was built from the ground up with usability in mind.Chat Mapper is a
new, easy to use tool for writing and testing nonlinear dialogue, especially for
video games and training. Built from the frustration of trying to use Final Draft,
Word, or even Excel to write complex branching dialogue, Chat Mapper was built
Overview
from the ground up with usability in mind.
Platform /
Requirements
-
Latest version
Chat Mapper 1.2.1 Installer
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows XP SP2; Microsoft Windows Vista; Microsoft
Windows 7
Processor:
500 MHz Pentium (Minimum); 1 GHz Pentium (Recommended)
RAM:
512 MB (Minimum); 1024 MB (Recommended)
Display Resolution:
1024 x 768 or Greater
Windows Media Player:
Version 11 or Greater (for audio playback)
Specifications
Internet Connection:
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High speed internet required for automatic installation of .NET
framework (if needed)
Examples / case
studies / clients
-
Other notes
-
Contact details
-
Screenshots
13
Name
DarkWynter Games and Visualization
URL
http://darkwynter.com/
Flexible 3D utility, which enables artists and technical professionals to rapidly
prototype 3D technology using a simple override system. It exposes C#
technologies layers ranging from XNA/Forms Integration, to XML-Objects, to
Overview
Platform /
Requirements
GPU-Computational Processing
DirectX SDK, Visual
Studios 2005, or XNA are required
Latest version
PCI Express graphics card that supports Shader Model 3 (NVidia 6800 or ATI
R5xx), 1 gig RAM, 2.13 GHz CPU, DirectX 9, 1 gig free Hard Drive space,
Specifications
Works best on a wide screen monitor (1280 by 1024)
Examples / case
studies / clients
-
Other notes
-
Contact details
-
Screenshots
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15
Name
Gamestudio
URL
http://www.conitec.net/english/gstudio/
A toolkit for creating interactive virtual world applications - especially, but not
restricted to, computer games. The toolkit contains a map editor, an actor editor, a
state-of-the-art game engine, libraries of prefabricated objects, and three example
Overview
games
Gamestudio/A8 comes with a compatibility guarantee:
It runs on all fully functional PCs that are newer than 2002 and fulfil the
specifications below.
Minimum:
512 MB RAM, 3D video card (32 MB), sound card. Recommended: 1 GB
RAM, 128 MB video card, Shader 2.0 support.
Platform /
Windows ME / 2000 / XP / Vista / Windows7, 32 Bit & 64 Bit; DirectX 9.0c or
Requirements
above.
Latest version
Gamestudio/A8
Gamestudio/A8 comes with a compatibility guarantee: It runs on all fully
functional PCs that are newer than 2002 and fulfil the specifications below.
Minimum: 512 MB RAM, 3D video card (32 MB), sound card. Recommended: 1
GB RAM, 128 MB video card, Shader 2.0 support.
Windows ME / 2000 / XP / Vista / Windows7, 32 Bit & 64 Bit; DirectX 9.0c or
above.
Imported file formats: FBX, 3DS, X, OBJ, ASE, MAP, MDL, MD2, FX, BMP,
PCX, TGA, JPG, DDS, PNG, WAD, MID, WAV, OGG, MP3, MPG, AVI,
Specifications
Examples / case
WMV. More formats through 3rd party import filters.
-
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studies / clients
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://www.conitec.net/english/gstudio/about.php
Screenshots
17
Name
LearningBeans Worlds
URL
http://www.pixelearning.com/authoringtools-learningbeans_worlds.htm
LearningBeans® Worlds is a feature-rich 'Serious Games' platform for deploying
pre-existing information and embedded tasks in a graphically-rich and engaging
Overview
manner.
LearningBeans® Worlds is 100% web-based, accessed through any standard
Platform /
browser and requires only the Adobe Flash player. The file sizes have been
Requirements
optimised for DSL internet connections.
Latest version
-
Specifications
Off the Shelf Products of PIXELearning
Global Oil Company
'Big 4' Accountancy Firm
HP MEA-I
Large Retail Bank
Global telecoms, TV and Internet provider
Skillsmart Retail
Scottish Enterprise
Examples / case
studies / clients
The Black Country Knowledge Society
Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd
Client-specific processes and systems can be modelled within the environment,
learner performance captured and feedback posted to an LMS or other external
management system if required.
Other notes
Access to the World is controlled via a custom login system or via an existing
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LMS.
Contact details
http://www.pixelearning.com/contact.htm
Screenshots
19
Name
Multiverse
URL
http://www.multiverse.net
Multiverse has created a new technology solution, the Multiverse Platform, which
radically changes the economics of creating high-quality online games and virtual
worlds. With the Multiverse Platform, development teams are able to build and
launch their projects more quickly and for less money than ever before.
Multiverse solved the prohibitive challenges of game- and world-creation by
providing development teams with a comprehensive, pre-coded client-server
infrastructure and tools, a wide range of free content - including a complete game
for modification - and a built-in market of consumers. Consumers access games
and worlds built atop the company's platform through a downloadable, 3D client the Multiverse World Browser - or through its Flash client, which requires no
download and can be embedded into any website, social network, or casual game
Overview
site.
Platform /
Requirements
-
Latest version
Operating System: Windows XP or Vista
Processor: Pentium 4 with 1GHz (2GHz+ recommended)
RAM: 512 MB (1 GB+ recommended)
Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible with 128MB memory (256MB recommended)
Specifications
Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware
Examples / case
studies / clients
-
Other notes
-
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Contact details
-
Screenshots
21
Name
OPEN SEA
URL
The NURC NURC Open-Sea Platform is a distributed Real Time PC-based
platform that enables the NURC to rapidly build Maritime 3D simulations. The
Open Sea Platform puts the power to develop, visualize, train and practice
complex scenarios into the hands of the people who do the work, are the experts,
and have a in the outcome by drastically driving down the cost, time and skills
Overview
required
Platform /
Requirements
-
Latest version
-
Specifications
PC or Laptop Windows with Game -oriented Graphic Card
Virtual Rapid Prototyping Tool
Visualization Visualization of Concepts of Concepts
Preparation of Conops/Exercises/Sea Trials
Serious Games and Training Games and Training
Examples / case
Debriefing Tool (with recorded data)
studies / clients
Innovation Coaching Tool Coaching Too
Other notes
-
Contact details
-
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Screenshots
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Name
RealWorld
URL
http://www.totimm.com/realworld.php
RealWorld includes a full complement of tools, a library of assets, and a
multiplayer, multi-role simulation engine. It features next-generation graphics
comparable to today’s hit videogames, as well as a sophisticated terrain subsystem
that allows for extremely large mission areas in support of correlated, joint
exercises.
RealWorld is a toolkit for creating geo-specific ground, air, and maritime
rehearsal simulations within mission timelines. RealWorld provides the front line
law enforcement officer, war-fighter and first responder with game-changing
simulation for serious mission-critical training, rehearsal and operations. it
includes the following
sub-systems: RealWorld Builder, Object Creator,
Overview
Simulation Environments
Platform /
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Windows 2000, or
Requirements
Latest version
Windows NT® 4.0 (SP6 or later)
The following configurations are recommended for effective use:
Intel® Pentium® III or AMD Athlon™ processor, or better
256 MB RAM for single-user projects; 512 MB RAM for
multiuser projects
250 MB free disk space
VGA monitor and display adapter capable of 24-bit color
Two-button mouse (scroll wheel recommended)
Internet connection for license registration (recommended)
Specifications
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later
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Law Enforcement Training and Operational Support
Examples / case
studies / clients
Public Safety and First Responders
Rapid Mission Rehearsal and Training
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://www.totimm.com/contact.php
Screenshots
25
Name
Unity
URL
http://unity3d.com/unity/
A multi platform game development tool with customizable and easy to use
editor, graphical pipelines to DirectX and OpenGL, advanced physics engine, 3D
audio and video, and scripting through Javascript, C#, and Python. Can publish to
Overview
the Wii and iPhone
Platform /
Requirements
-
Latest version
3.4
System Requirements for Unity Authoring:
Windows: XP SP2 or later; Mac OS X: Intel CPU & "Leopard" 10.5 or
later. Note that Unity was not tested on server versions of Windows and
OS X.
Graphics card with 64 MB of VRAM and pixel shaders or 4 texture units.
Any card made in this millennium should work.
Using Occlusion Culling requires GPU with Occlusion Query support
(some Intel GPUs do not support that).
The rest only depends on the complexity of your projects!.
System Requirements for Unity iOS Authoring:
An Intel-based Mac
Mac OS X "Snow Leopard" 10.6 or later
The rest only depends on the complexity of your projects!
System Requirements for Unity Android Authoring
In addition to the general system requirements for Unity Authoring
Specifications
Windows XP SP2 or later; Mac OS 10.5.8 or later
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Android SDK and Java Development Kit (JDK)
System Requirements for Unity-Authored Content:
Windows 2000 or later; Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
Pretty much any 3D graphics card, depending on complexity.
Online games run on all browsers, including IE, Firefox, Safari, and
Chrome, among others.
Android authored content requires devices equipped with:
Android OS 2.0 or later
Device powered by an ARMv7 (Cortex family) CPU
GPU support for OpenGLES 2.0 is recommended
AngryBots
Examples / case
Substance Demo
studies / clients
Featured Profile
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://unity3d.com/company/contact
Screenshots
27
Name
WorldForge
URL
http://www.worldforge.org
The WorldForge project is about building tools to allow the construction of online
role-playing games.
It is the construction of a complete system with all the tools, technology, content
Overview
Platform /
and artwork required to build complex persistent online virtual worlds.
Programming Languages: C++, Python, Lua
Requirements
License: GNU General Public License (GPL)
Latest version
Ember-0.6.1 (2011-05-18 last updated)
Specifications
Web browser-based
Examples / case
studies / clients
-
Other notes
-
Contact details
http://worldforge.org/services
Screenshot
28
29
Other featured ICT tools (less frequently used)
Name
url
Short description
A multi-player world building utility; allows you
to create, host, and connect to text or graphical
games, even web apps. Excellent for RPGs. Nonprogrammers can create worlds in minutes, while
Build Your Own Net
Dream (BYOND)
DimensioneX
seasoned coders may take advantage of the
http://www.byond.com/
Online
Multiplayer Game Engine
powerful OO language behind the system.
Freeware for developing a multiplayer games and
http://www.dimensionex.net/
run them over any java-enabled web server
An independent role playing game engine that
features a powerful drag/drop map interface,
which makes creating professional looking game
Explorations RPG System
http://www.explore-rpg.com/
maps easy
A verlet-based physics engine for Flash, written
completely in Actionscript 3.0. in order to make
use
Fisix Engine
http://www.fisixengine.com/
of
Flash
Player
9’s
improved
CPU
capabilities
A multi-player world building utility; allows you
to create, host, and connect to text or graphical
games, even web apps. Excellent for RPGs. Nonprogrammers can create worlds in minutes, while
Build Your Own Net
Dream (BYOND)
seasoned coders may take advantage of the
http://www.byond.com/
powerful OO language behind the system.
Create 2D games with little or no programming
Game Editor
http://game-
knowledge. Documentation, downloads, screen
editor.com/Main_Page
shots and forums
30
Name
url
Short description
Allows the developer to create many types of
Game Maker
http://www.yoyogames.com/ga
computer games without the need to write a
memaker/windows
single line of code
Allows the developer to create sophisticated
games for the Mac and iPhone without any
programming or scripting. You can edit your
GameSalad
http://gamesalad.com/
Louder Than A Bomb! http://www.louderthanabomb.co
Software
m/
games during runtime
Provides low cost tools to easily and quickly
integrate artificial intelligence (AI)
A free utility for creating flexible 'maps' for 2D
Mappy
http://www.tilemap.co.uk/
and 3D tile based games
Revolutionary platform for fast creation, porting
& publishing of mobile games. Allows advanced
& non-skilled developers to build original quality
games from scratch, without programming,
Mo'Minis
http://www.mominis.com/
enjoying automated support for popular handsets
Provides comprehensive and scalable solutions
for managing game content throughout console
Mogware
http://www.mogware.com/
game development
MMO and online video game developers,
publishers and providers of the Monumental
Technology
Suite
MMO
middleware
development platform
PRIME is built on pure MMO technology and
optimised to provide the best performance across
all types of networks. It provides a complete
Monumental Games
http://www.monumentalgames.c
toolkit for the creation of browser-based light
om/
persistent state worlds (LPSW), significantly
31
Name
url
Short description
reducing the investment needed to build full 3D
polygon rendered MMO games from scratch
Develops and markets a broad range of 3d
rendering,
visualization,
3d
data
translation/conversion and toolkit software: the
NuGraf Rendering System, the PolyTrans 3D
Okino
Computer http://www.okino.com/default.h
Graphics, Inc.
tm
Data Translator/Converter, and the NuGraf
Developer's 3D Toolkit/Library
A leading manufacturer of electromagnetic 3D
measurement systems used for motion tracking
and 3D digitization. Offers a full range of
Polhemus
http://www.polhemus.com/
products
Quazal is a provider of multiplayer middleware
and services to the gaming industry. The
middleware solutions are being used on all the
major gaming platforms, and are applicable to all
Quazal
http://www.quazal.com/
genres
A versatile and high performance engine by
Visual3D.NET
Engine
Game
Realmware Inc. It is compatible with all .NET
http://www.visual3d.net/
languages and supports Iron Python Scripting
An environment to write multi-player strategy
game servers. Only turn based games are
covered. It has its own miniOO language. It is
Yagga portal
http://www.yagga.net/
ZGameEditor
http://www.zgameeditor.org/
free, written in Java and requires JDK 1.2
Discreet's game development and level editor
gmax
http://www.turbosquid.com/gma
based on the world's best selling 3D modeling,
x
animation and rendering platform, 3ds max
32
Name
url
Short description
A game making program that allows scripting
with Python. It features a fast OpenGL graphics
engine, 32 bit color, a map editor, support for a
large variety of audio and image formats. Sprites
ika
http://ika.sourceforge.net/
and maps can be of any size
Mostly used to develop third-person pre-rendered
Adventure Game Studio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad
adventure games, this engine is one of the most
venture_Game_Studio
popular for developing amateur adventure games
A freeware 3D game engine with complete tools
DX Studio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DX
for 3D video game development. Upgrading to
_Studio
paid licenses would unlock extra features.
Considered one of the most popular game
engines in the top market. The free edition, called
UDK (a binary release of the engine), allows you
Unreal Engine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unr
to use the engine for commercial purposes under
eal_Engine
specific terms
CryEngine 3 is a new generation engine
developed by Crytek to create the FPS game
CryEngine 3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry
Crysis 2.Now it released for free with a license
Engine_3
similar to udk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wo
World Builder
rld_Builder
A classic Mac OS game engine
An engine made by enterbrain to create RPGs
RGSS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RG
using RPG Maker XP. RGSS2 was used for RPG
SS
Maker VX
33