INETA in a Virtual World
Welcome all to the first INETA virtual world article! This week I would like to introduce myself, Kyle "G", aka G2 Manhattan/Proto in the worlds of ReactionGrid and SecondLife respectively. So, what is a virtual world and why does the INETA audience need to know about it? A virtual world has many common elements with a video game but unlike a video game the players determine the content of the space. In Second Life,
http://www.secondlife.com/ this has translated into a massive virtual world developed by the users in every conceivable theme. There are space exhibits on NASA rockets, historical places like archaeological digs on the Pyramids all the way to modern technology as is often shown on Microsoft Island in Second Life.
The world of ReactionGrid is more of a niche world based on the
OpenSimulator.org project that uses the same Second Life client. This project is built on the .NET Framework and coded in C# with open source licensing under BSD. This project is perfect for INETA followers as it allows them to use their C# and Visual Basic skills in 3D to create particle effects, interact with web applications and more. Finally,
VastPark.com is a P2P application that recently went open source as well, and is coded in C#, allowing developers to hack up and expand this world as well.
This article will attempt to follow any virtual worlds that have a strong MSDN presence, or are coded in such a way that our community can easily download and modify the world as they see fit. Stay tuned for more explanations, video, and even code samples on how you can get involved in these brave new media. INETA themselves now have a full simulator on
ReactionGrid.com and use the facilities of Microsoft Island's presence in Second Life to meet regularly with developers worldwide, so watch their site for news. Thanks for listening and see you in 3D!
more images
-- from the INETA NorAm November 2008 Newsletter