Second Life

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Second Life

• Presented by John Machovec
• March 13, 2007
• COSC 471 Computer Graphics
• Course taught by Professor Jeff Schmitt

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Abstract

• The aim of this presentation is to educate the
  audience on the functions and capabilities of the
  Second Life program.
• We will begin with an explanation of the purpose
  of Second Life, as well as what the user is
  capable of doing with the program.
• The presentation will then examine several APIs
  and other technologies meant to enhance the users
  experience.
• The conclusion of this presentation should result
  in the audiences increased awareness in what
  Second Life can offer to the computer graphics
  community and whether they would be interested in
  further studying the topic.

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Outline

• Introduction to Second Life
• Linden Labs
• Features of the Game
• Making Objects
• Editing Objects
• Scripting Objects
• Copying Objects
• LindeX
• Virtual Land
• Open Source Viewer
• SLurl
• SLurl Format
• Available APIs
• Identifying Stakeholders
• SL Technology
• System Requirements
• Conclusion

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Introduction to Second Life

• What is Second Life?
• Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMO)
• What characteristics can describe an MMO?
• 3-D environment located on multiple servers.
• Inhabited by thousands of players (Residents).
• Avatar representation of each user within the
  game.
• Players can interact with one another and
  participate in events within the game together.
• What attracts people to MMO gaming?
• Online community.
• Expanding world provides players with continuous
  entertainment.

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Avatar Appearance
Default Male Avatar
Default Female Avatar
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Linden Labs

• Created and developed Second Life.
• Originally named LindenWorld.
• Beta Testing version released in 2002.
• Second Life was first released to the public in
  2003.
• Company was founded in 1999 by Philip Rosedale in
  San Francisco.
• The game has now grown to be occupied by over 4
  million users (referred to as residents).
• Second Life is completely free to download and
  play.
• Additional costs may apply for certain services
  or intellectual properties in-game.

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Making Objects

• Residents have the ability to create (rez)
  objects within the game.
• New objects can be created from the edit window.
• Existing objects can be selected from the
  residents inventory.
• Items in the inventory are organized into
  folders.
• Library (Linden created items)
• My Inventory (User-created items)
• Permissions must be set to allow residents to
  create objects on an area of land.
• Objects are made up of different types of
  primitive polygonal shapes (prims).

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Prim Types
Box Type
Prism Type
Cylinder Type
Sphere Type
Torus Type
Tube Type
Ring Type
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Editing Objects

• There are various ways to edit an existing
  object.
• Moving the object to a different position.
• Resizing the object.
• Rotating the object.
• Multiple prims can also be linked together and
  edited as one object.
• Objects can be attached to the residents avatar.
• Appearance of the objects may be edited.
• Texture of the object.
• Color of the object.
• Transparency Shading.
• Shiny Bumpy surfaces.

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Scripting Objects

• Uses the built-in Linden Scripting Language
  (LSL).
• C/Java style language.
• Event-driven language.
• Scripts can be used allowing builders to define
  the behavior displayed from an object.
• Allows objects to interact with other objects.
• LSL Wiki hosted by Linden Labs provides a quality
  resource for LSL scripting documentation.
• Link under the Second Life Client Help Menu.
• LSL was written by Cory Linden.
• Original version (LSL1) was based on BASIC.
• Current version (LSL2) is C/Java based (released
  in 2002).
• Many other SL employees have added to LSL since.

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Copying Objects

• Objects can be copied and edited by other
  residents depending on the set permissions.
• Allow anyone to adjust object position.
• Allow anyone to copy the object.
• Specify a group of avatars with copy rights.
• Objects can be purchased using in-game currency.
• Represented using Linden Dollars (L).
• L may be transferred via LindeX for US currency.
• Some residents own successful businesses
• in-game through the sales of such objects.

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LindeX

• Linden Exchange service provided by Linden Labs
  which transfers L for US currency.
• Accessible through website or SL Client.
• Residents may buy or sell L through LindeX.
• Fee charged for every transaction
• 0.30 when buying L.
• 3.5 when selling L.
• More cost efficient to purchase more L in one
  transaction.
• 1.00 Dollar 186 L
• 20.00 Dollars 5240 L
• Savings of 8.43 if total L is purchased all at
  once.
• Charges may be applied for various other
  transactions.
• Importing Textures (10 L 0.34).
• Premium Account (9.95 a month).
• Purchasing Land (5.00 for first 512 sqm).

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Virtual Land

• Maintains the option of No Build disabling
  other residents from building objects.
• Land itself may be edited.
• Flattened or Elevated.
• Smoothed or Roughened.
• Parcels of land are owned and can be sold by
  residents.
• Structure of Land
• All land is located within a sim (65,536 sqm).
• Multiple sims link together on a single server.
• SL servers use the Debian Linux OS.
• Contain 2 Dual-Core CPUs supporting 4 sims.
• SL is made of a grid of servers.
• Agni (Main Grid).
• Aditi (Beta Testing Grid).
• Uma (Testing Grid for Open Source Client).

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Open Source Viewer

• Anyone can copy, modify, and distribute their
  modified version of the SL Client source code.
• Enhances communication between online community
  and game developers.
• Allows the online community the ability to have
  greater insight when suggesting improvements for
  the game.
• Possible for modified viewers to ignore certain
  set permissions of other residents.
• May be able to copy textures of objects.
• Can not copy object scripts.
• Can not build on another residents land.
• SL Viewer is available under the GNU General
  Public License.

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SLurl

• Used to teleport an avatar to the designated
  position within Second Life.
• Clicking on a SLurl opens up a webpage with a map
  image of the selected location.
• Clicking on the map image starts the SL Client
  and teleports the residents avatar to that
  location.
• If Second Life is not installed, clicking the
  SLurl provides the user the opportunity to
  register if desired.
• Fast convenient method of traveling across large
  areas of land.
• Used by various residents to advertise the sale
  of objects or services.

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SLurl Format

• Format
• http//slurl.com/secondlife/ltregiongt/ltx-coordinat
  egt/
• lty-coordinategt/ltz-coordinategt/
• Example SLurl http//slurl.com/secondlife/Ahern/
  50/50/50
• The ltz-coordinategt is optional.
• String queries can be added at the end of the
  SLurl
• Change map window size ?x400y300
• Change window title ?titleYour20title
• Change window message ?imghttp//slurl.com/youri
  mage.gif
• Change web content ?iframehttp//slurl.com/ifram
  e_example.phpx250y200titleCustom20Title
• First element preceded with a ? and all other
  preceded with a .

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Available APIs

• Webmap API
• Allows the user to embed SL maps into a webpage.
• Maps can zoom in or out and maneuver to different
  coordinates within the world.
• Registration API
• Allows SL account creation via a privately owned
  website.
• Transmits information from the website to Linden
  Labs.
• Exchange Risk API
• Determines the fraud risk associated in
  transactions between L and real currency.

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Identifying the Stakeholders

• Linden Labs
• Earn revenue through the continued success of SL.
• Gain valuable feedback from players through open
  sourcing the viewer code.
• Residents
• Enjoy the interactive online community.
• Ability to experience the game for little or no
  expenditure.
• Resident (Developers)
• Ability to learn and enhance knowledge of
  computer graphics.
• Tools used to build objects.
• Examination of the source code.
• Opportunity to participate in the virtual
  economy.

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SL Technology

• Written using C and C Languages.
• C Libraries.
• C coding.
• Uses an OpenGL Graphics rendering engine.
• Works well with C Function calls.
• Uses multiple jpeg decoder libraries.
• Kakadu (KDU)
• OpenJPEG
• SL currently uses a Havok 1.8.3 physics engine.
• Allows for the movement and animation of objects.
• Detects and handles the collision of multiple
  objects.
• FMOD engine and libraries used to decode mp3
  audio files.

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System Requirements

• Minimum PC Requirements
• Cable or DSL Connection
• Windows XP or 2000 OS
• 800 MHz Pentium or Athlon Processor
• 256 MB Memory
• Graphics Card
• nVidia GeForce 2
• nVidia GeForce 4mx
• ATI Radeon 8500
• ATI Radeon 9250

• Minimum Mac Requirements
• Cable or DSL Connection
• Mac OS X 10.3.9
• 1 GHz G4 Processor
• 512 MB Memory
• Graphics Card
• nVidia GeForce 2
• nVidia GeForce 4mx
• ATI Radeon 8500
• ATI Radeon 9250

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Conclusion

• Second Life allows flexibility and creativity
  never before seen in MMO gaming.
• Excellent tool for the computer graphics
  community.
• Open sourcing allows even greater educational
  experience.
• Pioneering new concepts.
• LindeX.
• Slurl and Webmaps.
• Recommended for further study
• MMO gaming.
• Building 3-D objects.
• Virtual Economies.

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Questions?