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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 8 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 10 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 11 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: 12 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 14 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. - 16 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 18 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 - 20 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 - 22 Screenshots 23 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 24 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 26 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