Open Standards for Real-Time 3D Communication

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X3D Community Blog

October 28, 2007

Comments

What’s to say?

They “play on the stage” directed by an entirely different scriptthan the web3d.org , its board, and its membership. Thats both good and bad, which is up to each reader.

This post could have been made 12 months ago. Whoops, I did make it then.;) The distortion field isn’t in the making;) its already swallowed and is ready to parden moi french, take a.....

ANYHOW

As the web3d.orgs search’s for a stage.....ill continue my metaphor and make part of this response a musical for Len,

(clears throat) “another day older, and what have you done...”;)

(BTW Len, i did attempt to inject youre blog url into a metaversed virtual worlds list online thread;)

How to respond ?  Change the theatre..
How? --- Change the Play…
How? ---- Recast and rewrite.....

Between those “characters” and web3d “characters” there’s hopefully a responsable tact for the growth of 3drt immersive networked media. One thats inclusive of MANY points of view by MANY professionals of MANY differnt backrgounds and experiences. This was the hope i had over a decade ago as it became clear to me what this media would become. But here you are and here they are.

Those “infatuated characters” of the current vocal “virtual worlds/year of the avatar” meme are easily examined by there backgrounds and agendas and seem to thrive allowing “ to each his own...” for the greater story, oops greed oops good.;)

Seems to have worked....no surprise.

As to the “web3d.org characters”..... I was clear 12 months ago what i thought about the direction and missed opportunities the .org took.

Sometimes it IS the MESSAGE not the MEDIA…
Find Relevence. Find other ways. Find others.

I believe it’s clear that this latest bubble will burst. Its a clone of web3d 1996 and web3d 2001.The virtual worlds desire is really just a media play created by a few hundred of these “characters” as it was during 1996 and 2001.

The Web3d.org is convinced it’s “spec“‘d a “Romeo and X3et” , the world is watching “West Side Story” in the Drive Ins....

Others “characters” can speak up as requested…
the Greek chorus has left the room..

cube(inada- SL character)

By cube inada on 2007-10-28

Thanks Cube.  I’m not exactly sure what the consortium could have done differently and personally, I’ve fought the good fight for a long time.  It isn’t goodness on my part.  It’s manners.  I note that some who have been kicking the standards and the consortium in the teeth suddenly realize they may have to fight for the spotlight.  Perhaps being an SL-author IS a sharecropper gig except the landowner is keeping your watermelons too.

Big surprise?

On the other hand, that is not a change of environment; it is a change of opinion.  Nothing for nothing gets nothing.  When the SGMLers were plowed under in the quest to launch the Web, it was considered The Right Thing to Do.  Anyone who signed up to that signed up to this too.

As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. 

The web is what it is.  Once the Big Money decides to own a market, they just take it.  Nothing was built or designed into the system or the culture to stop that.  Everything is designed to encourage it.  Welcome to Keiretsu 2.0.  Them that has gets; them that has not, gets got.

On the other hand, nothing is set in stone here.  These are digital assets that disappear when the electron hose disengages. No real competing standards have been created and the interop forums are more likely to dissolve into infighting for turf than they are to all sing kumbayah and create The 3D Web.  A lot of money will be spent and what you are watching are interests lining up to take a few double handfuls.  That’s all good.  Worlds will be built, artists will be paid, experience will be gained, and some progress in thinking about how to create a seamless 3D web or if that is really worth doing will occur.

You have to pick your battles, they say.  That means you have a good idea of what is worth winning.

We know without much doubt that authors and content are the two keys to having virtual worlds that work.  To have them last, we need good standards, not necessarily for interop but for lifecycle.  To have those, an organization owns them and hosts the intellectual property.  When the bubble goes pop, whoever is left standing gets sued.  Those VC loans get repaid somehow.

The best deal for the authors is to be a member of a professional association that works with or is the same organization that hosts the standards and the IP.  Pick one.  The Web3DC is the one that has the longest and best track record for keeping both the vendors and the authors on the same track.  It was The Deal in the beginning and for the most part, it still is.  It is a deal I like because I can clearly see where I can benefit and what I have to trade.  No kumbayah, no spin, no mystery: just a fee and a participation agreement.  Fair dinkum, mate.

If a truckload of speeding money plows into a crowd, some get hurt, some get killed, some get on and some get out of the way.  Choose.

By len on 2007-10-30

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