From: cdurham@xspot.com (Chuck Durham) Subject: Re: PROD: VR Software packages Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 18:48:31 GMT Organization: a Digital Internet AlphaServer Site Marc-Andre Poulin wrote: > I am quite new to the VR world and i have some questions > about the VR software packages. I have looked at Sense8, > VREAM, REND386, Dive, etc. and i can't figure out which one > is best. Marc, I can comment on the actual usage of most of the above package. Now when you ask for best you leave things rather wide open. I have no idea what best is for you, but I'll take a stab at going over them. First lets talk about price, because it is a reality that can make something the best (or best in a price category) REND386 is the best (it's free), developed by Bernie Roehl & Dave Stampe. Both Bernie and Dave have moved on to develop similar next generation packages, also free. AVRIL is Bornies and it's intended to be more cross platform, using C code for portability. Dave has focused on the speed of calculation and I believe it's much less protable having vector routines designed in low level assembler (Hey I may be wrong, Bernie and Dave will correct me I am sure) (Just to add in a package you missed) 2Morrow Inc's WorldBuilder which last time I checked with Todd was still $89, it's very similar in graphic quality to REND386, but targeted for people who want to do less programming Dive Laboratories AMBER is the next best, coming in at $149, I actually picked it up early on when they had the intro for $99. It is a C++ objected oriented class library for Virtual Reality. (another one you can check out Virtus) Virtus has a few products out, the basic Virtus VR which is under a $100, and Walthrough Pro, which is I belive around $400. They have also release a VRML specific development tool, I'm not sure how much, but it's less than Pro I am pretty sure. Virtus also requires no low level programming. Then comes VREAM's VRCreator, or the original DOS based. VRCreator is shipping for around $450, or something like that. We joined the beta program so I have used the alpha release, the pre-release is going to ship April 30. VRCreator is another package oriented toward people who don't want to program. (here's another) SuperScape VRT4. I don't have pricing but I imagine it's more than VREAM and less than Sense8's stuff. Another end user focused VR tool with modeler etc. Sense8's on the more expensive level. The latested and greatest version of WorldToolKit is up in the 2K or so range. But they were shipping WorldToolkit for Windows for $795. These are C Virtual Reality libraries. Sense8 also has WorldUp which is like the Visual Basic of Virtual Reality tools, I do believe it uses the Visual Basic language for scripting behaviours and such. It's up there at 3K. (an yet another) Division has been competing succesfully on the level of Sense8, offering some high level Virtual Reality. They've complete turnkey system, which has won awards for best VR in a number of magazines over the last few years. They are not cheap either. (there are others but I gotta quit blabbing sometime, also I've left out the VRML packages, cept the ones that are used for General VR, etc) Now I can go into a greater depth on what you would likely be looking for and my recommendations If your looking to develop serious VR applications, can handle programming but like Rapid Application Development. Sense8's WorldUp package is amazing. I'd love to get this one myself, cept the steep price tag. I won't be messing with this until we get a job that requires it. With this I assume you're quite serious about VR and will invest the capital. I'm also assuming your not a the stage where a $50,000 Division System is realistic. If your into doing some lower level programming and need the power of C, pickup Sense8's WorldToolkit. If your in my situation and are developing general VR environments for local clients and doing VRML, etc I suggest VREAM's VRCreator or Dive Labs AMBER. I'll probably get more usage out of VRCreator for VRML development and how easy it is to develop with, with limited programming needed. AMBER is a great choice for VR development if you want to get deeper into the programming. With VRCreator you'll have the tools to create objects for you environmets, with AMBER you'll need a seperate modeling tool most likely. VRCreator works well on non-3D accel'ed PC's using Reality Lab. AMBER (the OpenGL version for NT I have, is asking for Acceleration), AMBER will be shipping with more PC specific 3D API's so you'll get acceptable results with no accel. Let's not forget Virtus which is in the class of VRCreator from a standpoint on non-programming world development, it's also priced right and the introductory packages may be a better choice if you're just exploring. All of these are Windows based packages Now if your just wanting to get you feet wet, and your still using DOS. REND386 is free, so no risk there and you can use it without programming, but world development is difficult as you basically develop by setting you objects points etc. You can find modelers out that will save in the REND386 format. For programming you'd find AVRIL a good choice, again no risk. Now if you get a bit more daring for $89 you can do a bit more like modeling and scene layout in a visual method, similar to VRCreator & Virtus with 2Morrow Inc's WorldBuilder (it is currently DOS based). Todd is working on a Windows based version and I'm sure the price will be right on that. Anyway I hope that is enought to help you out and if you want more info etc, I've no problem answering your questions, just drop me some E-mail. Later Chuck Durham Imaginative Entertainment cdurham@xspot.com http://www.imaginative.com http://www.xspot.com VResources - http://www.imaginative.com/VResources (WARNING!!! Meg-Construction) VRML Review - http://www.imaginative.com/VResources/VRML