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builderz // User Search
builderz // User Searchhelp aw make money (yes)Apr 7, 2002, 12:37pm
All that does is bring you to another Web site that is using the
LinkShare network/program. I don't believe that you can sign up for an affiliate program to promote AW using those graphics on the left side of the April newsletter. -Builderz [View Quote] *sig snipped* AFK - Hiding featureJun 4, 2002, 12:17am
Just block all incoming tgrams when you don't want to be disturbed and
then allow them once you are available again or want to chat. -Builderz [View Quote] Citizen status in contacts listJul 2, 2003, 12:34pm
So you want like an "away message" in AIM or something? Why not just
click on the AFK button so the "AFK" logo appears next to your name on the contact list, or just close the browser down if you aren't going to be using it for a while? Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] SoundsJul 2, 2003, 3:46pm
Good idea and it wouldn't take long to add (since they have the sound
code for other events). Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Object PathsJul 6, 2003, 1:40pm
While the feature you want isn't built-in to the browser, these links
may help: http://www.ricta.net/ethaw/multipath.html and http://oct31.de/aw/ls/index.html Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] appearing offlineJul 6, 2003, 1:54pm
See my comments below:
[View Quote] You can make it so that certain people can't see if you are online, can't send you tgrams, can't join you, etc. by right-clicking on their name in the contacts list, going to Privacy Options for <name> and then selecting the item you want to block. You can even mute them whenever they speak. Now, about other people not seeing/hearing you when you talk... I think there is a new feature in the 3.4 world server that can be enabled which allows everyone to see who is in the world without them having to type anything. And like you said, people with certain rights (as well as bots) will be able to see everyone in the world, too. I don't think there is any easy solution to those problems. However, I like your idea about adding a feature where instead of muting someone, they can't even see your text in the first place. As always, go bug the dev team. :) > This would be very helpful in many cases such > as stalkers, who I find very annoying >.< You can block your status, > t-grams, and mute the person, but a lot of times people can find ways around > that, such as getting others to contact you for them, or going to worlds > they know you visit. If this was harassment, you could get PK's involved, > but its really just an annoyance. So I think something like this would be a > good solution. Do you really have THAT many stalkers after you? Maybe you should consider getting another citizenship with a totally different name and use it for the sake of your privacy? Or going in as a tourist to some of the worlds you visit and talking with your friends over a IM program? If they really are that bad, maybe you could send an e-mail to AW or their ISP's abuse department about it. The only other thing I can suggest would be to run a software firewall, find out if any of your online stalkers have a static IP address, and then block them by IP. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net Plug-InsJul 18, 2003, 3:49am
A lot of good ideas were "lost" or ignored that were posted ages ago in
various newsgroups, not just wishlist. I think Eep kept a record of some of them on his site, but there are still many more that have vanished. As for being opposed to plug-ins: think of the people that download bots from unsafe sources (for example, M A T T's malicious bot). Now imagine if there was a plug-in or add-on that could be used in the browser or the world server that could send passwords out, allow anyone CT access, "piggyback" on other data, etc. There would need to be some type of limit to what it could do, or else some real nasty stuff will be going around. I'm not on the beta team and can't get into NewAW, but I heard rumors that there is a plug-in for the world server that AWI is using for it. I'd love to see plug-ins or an add-on feature, but security will need to be a priority if it is to be implemented correctly. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Remote Admin Tool Transfer LimitJul 19, 2003, 12:38pm
Call this a bug, hidden feature, or just a simple oversight, but I found
something interesting when using the world server's remote admin tool. If you login to it remotely and try to save a propdump of a very large world (say, over 100,000 objects in a world), it'll take a while to send all of that data to the user over the Net. So guess what happens? There is no limit in the admin tool to only transfer at a certain speed, so most of your upstream bandwidth is being used to send the propdump and there is hardly any "left over" for the users/bots in a world. Someone has tested this with a popular world and it ate up so much bandwidth that it kicked everyone from the world and showed it as offline in the worlds list until the propdump was done being sent! O_O One might even go so far as to classify this as a denial of service attack of sorts. A simple "transfer limit" feature in Kbps or something in the admin tool or as a setting in the .INI would be nice. You could limit it to like 1/2 or 1/3 of your total upstream bandwidth so this wouldn't happen. It would still send the propdump fine, just slower. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net Remote Admin Tool Transfer LimitJul 19, 2003, 1:15pm
I didn't say I was talking about 3D HOst inparticular -- it was another
host. I don't want to mention which host or which world it was (at least not right now), I'm just stating that it is a flaw in the admin tool. Take this as an example: Say you are hosting a very popular public building world with 100,000 objects in it on a 128Kbps upstream broadband connection. Someone on a T1 (1.544 Mbps) or a fast downstream broadband connection (768Kbps) downloads the propdump via the remote admin tool. Well, they will be able to use up your entire 128Kbps upstream to download the propdump until it has successfully been sent in full, kicking the users from the world and taking it off of the worlds list because there is no bandwidth left over for anything else. If the admin tool on the server side could be set to a limit, say 64Kbps upstream (50% of the host's total upstream bandwidth in this example), then things would be much better. Sure, the propdump would take a bit longer to download, but you'd just need to be patient or make propdumps less often. This "bug" won't work with dial-up users (in most cases) because their transfer speeds are so slow that it won't effect the host. It isn't really a problem with attribute or terrain data since most of that is very small, and it only effects worlds with lots of objects in them. So unless you have an extremely large world with lots of objects, have access to the remote admin tool, do a remote propdump, and your host doesn't have a very fast connection to the Net -- then it isn't a problem for you. :) Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Remote Admin Tool Transfer LimitJul 19, 2003, 1:22pm
See my reply to your other post. Also, the same effect can happen if you
are uploading a very large file to an FTP server, uploading/sharing files over a P2P network -- or just about anything that uses most or all of a host's upstream bandwidth. If a host's server is in a data center with a 2Mbps or higher connection and there is little upstream activity, then the problem wouldn't matter. However, there may be quite a few people who host their own world on their own dial-up or broadband connections and may allow remote admin access to others -- that's why I wanted to point this out. It may not effect very many people, but it is still an oversight, IMO. Of course, you can always turn off remote admin support as well. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Remote Admin Tool Transfer LimitJul 19, 2003, 3:17pm
True, you could use the broadcast feature or other means to warn users
in the world before doing it, but I still think it would be nice to somehow "cap" the transfer limit. Most FTP servers have the option of using transfer limits, so why can't the admin tool or world server have that option? Also, most game servers allow you to specify how much data can be sent per player. I know admin tool and world server are a bit different, but I don't think it would be very hard to add. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Remote Admin Tool Transfer LimitJul 20, 2003, 7:17pm
I just found a handy program called NetLimiter
(http://www.netlimiter.com) that can limit both upstream and downstream bandwidth on a per program basis for Windows. Used in conjunction with the admin tool on a Windows host, this should help resolve the problem I talked about in my original post. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net GIF patent expires, let there be image support!Nov 3, 2003, 6:15pm
The GIF patent did indeed expire and I think adding GIF and PNG support
would be a nice touch. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > I remember AW saying, years ago, about not supporting GIF because they would > have to pay royalities. But they did imply interest in using use once the > patent expires, which has happened several months ago. > > ...so? ;) shouldn't there be a seed button right in the browser?Nov 1, 2003, 12:57am
Good suggestion, CodeWarrior. :)
Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > seems like a bit of an oversight. Voice ChatNov 3, 2003, 6:10pm
I know this was suggested a few months ago and I'm aware that there are
programs that allow others to talk to each other while in AW, but I think a built-in voice chat feature would breathe new life into AW. The VR universe There has this and it works fairly well. If a user has voice enabled, there is a special icon above their avatar's head. Volume is also adjusted depending how far away you are from others. There not only has voice, but the ability to also stream music from a Shoutcast server. Just think of the possibilities here -- it would bring a new meaning to telecommuting. Businesses could hold virtual meetings or conference calls entirely within ActiveWorlds. Parties and events would be a lot more fun. Playing games in AW would be more enjoyable. It would add a more human touch to one's avatar. I assume there would be some "trouble makers" that would cause some havoc with this, but the mute feature could be expanded to mute not only text, but voice or audio from a user as well. And the ability to turn voice on or off entirely (just like other settings in the browser) would work just as well, IMO. If you hate the idea of voice chat, simply disable it and be on your way. There are already open source and patent-free audio codecs for speech/voice that the AW development team could implement (Speex at http://www.speex.org is just one example). I think it would add more "value" to the overall AW experience and liven things up a bit. At least think of the uses for other galaxy or universe owners. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net Voice ChatNov 3, 2003, 10:21pm
Roger Wilco is a decent third party program to use for voice chat,
Bowen. But what if I owned my own world, universe or galaxy and wanted to hold a live "virtual seminar" about a certain topic? I'd love to be able to use voice chat and speak to the people there (without having to inconvenience everyone by telling them to go download additional voice chat software such as Roger Wilco or TeamSpeak). It'd also be nice to hear the audience members ask me questions quicker than it would take to type them out. If I wanted to do such a thing currently, I'd either have to type everything out via text to the audience, setup some type of streaming audio outside of AW, or have a bot rotate large prerecorded WAV or MP3 files. It would be so much easier if AW had built-in voice chat. And I really don't see a reason why they shouldn't add it, since members of other VR communities will most likely be "expecting it" if they ever try AW and there are numerous free or cheap speech codecs out right now. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > > Roger Wilco. Voice ChatNov 4, 2003, 2:17pm
I agree that it'd be nice to use different font types, font sizes, and
font colors. But there would have to be a limit to it. You wouldn't want someone at GZ typing "Go visit my awes0m3 world d00d" in red, bold, size 72 text. Maybe limit it to certain areas (like the bot radius limit at AW GZ) or hard code it so you can't go over a certain font size. As for the IM features, most of the IM programs have a similar GUI -- a list of contacts and then a box for you to type and a box or window for the other person's text. To be honest, I don't have many gripes with the current telegram system that AW has in place. Sure, it could look a little better and be tweaked a bit, but I'm used to it I guess. But I see your point and I think it would be best to have a choice of using the current telegram system or a system more like traditional IM clients. And yes, it would be nice for AW to upgrade their text display system (I think they use the RichText dll). Having the option to enable or disable emoticons (e.g., smiley faces) wouldn't hurt, either. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > As far as I'm concerned, AW is still playing major catch up with the IM > networks... > > It's a lot easier to communicate via AIM, Yahoo, MSN, <insert other IM > network here>... because of their ability to use various fonts, font sizes, > font types (bold, underline, etc), graphics smilies, intagrated image/file > transferes, and voice chat. Everyone loves the features that these IM > programs offer. Personally, I'd love to have them in AW. To me, this is one > major *glaring* place where AW is lacking. > > AW is still stuck in the IRC age of the late 80s using simple text chat and > \commands for bots. Why don't we bring the *text* chat up to the current > deccade's technology and *then* worry about voice chat. > > -Jeremy Speech bot will be niceFeb 4, 2004, 2:05pm
You mean a bot that would read the text on the screen to you aloud
(text-to-speech)? I think that'd be pretty handy to have. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > It will be nice Bot could make chat turn to Telling chat for a voice chat relay bot featuresFeb 4, 2004, 2:03pm
Have you tried Tony M's ChatRelayBot at
http://www.homeunix.uni.cc/aw/relay/ ? Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > As a world owner I'd like to be able to use a feature such as that offered > by a chat relay bot but via the browser. I've had terrible luck trying to > use a chat relay bot. I'd like my little world to allow users to chat from > all over the place. Other world owners may wish to decrease the auditory > distance. A feature world owners can set that would set the chat distance > would be a delightful option. I'd just like to be able to set the chat > range manually. Some would set it so you cannot hear farther than a few > meters and others would set it so you can hear world wide, etc. chat relay bot featuresFeb 5, 2004, 3:46am
Well you never know, there could be two Tony M's with the same name and
the same software out there somewhere... ;) Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > It's exactly what she's talking about :P Dynamic movement speedsFeb 4, 2004, 2:01pm
Good ideas, Uber and Fett. Different avatar speeds would certainly make
it easier for those of us making games in AW. And a "weight" or gravity variable would also be good for avatars. I was able to change the gravity settings once in a world and was able to mimic the "jumping" or jet packs in Starsiege Tribes, but it took a bit of work to get it right, and everyone (whatever the size of their avatar) all had the same "weight" like Fett mentions, which made it a bit unrealistic. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > Also a gravity or weight settler variable for each avatar. So that if you > are a heavy avatar, you cant jump very high/far, but if you are a light one, > then you can go the full distance that the gravity in the world features > allows you to. > [View Quote] Dynamic movement speedsFeb 4, 2004, 6:51pm
I was able to import some terrain and nice looking hills using Andras'
DEM2RWX tool, made some hovering/floating bases, and lowered the world gravity to try and do a "ghetto Tribes" in AW a while back. But of course, AW doesn't have any inventory support (need a bot), weapons support (you can only click on others) and light, medium, and heavy avatars would all have the same physics when they jumped. Then I thought about making a Grand Theft Auto-type game (since it uses the RenderWare engine), but also came upon several pitfalls there, too. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Dynamic movement speedsFeb 5, 2004, 3:45am
Yes, I've been to the GarageGames site before and saw some demos of the
Torque engine. You don't get any of the copyrighted models, textures, maps, etc. from the Tribes game when you purchase the engine, though. But I think the engine itself is a great deal, money-wise. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] User Ranks...Feb 4, 2004, 1:57pm
Your ranking idea reminds me of the different ranks or titles people get
when they post to forums (for example, they start as "Newbie" and after X amt of posts they are now a "Regular" or something, and the title keeps changing the more posts they make). While I don't think a ranking idea is bad, you need to think about *what* criteria to rank to be fair. If you want to rank online time, that's one thing. But what about ranking the number of days you first became a cit? Or the amount of worlds you've been to? Or something else. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > EG: > > I have clicked "User Rank" on [Customs Aide]... > > It has displayed a smallish box, showing 3 icons, one on the left "Low" one > in the middle "Regular" and one on the Right "Extreme"... > Customs Aide, being on 24/7, is ranked "Extreme... > > It would also be kewl to display a "Most visited world" ... users may make > ALL their ranks non-viewable for privacy if they want.. Streaming audioFeb 4, 2004, 1:52pm
Streaming audio and built-in voice chat would be nice. There (another
virtual reality program) has voice chat capability and the the ability to play streaming SHOUTcast stations. Of course, there would need to be a way to tell voice chat users from non-voice chat users apart and an option to mute any music stations in the area (or an option to disable the feature entirely in the browser settings). Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] virus alert (cross-posted to all groups)Feb 20, 2004, 3:23pm
Are you sure it is really coming from AWI and not someone else's
computer? The other recent e-mail worms spoofed the "from" address of the e-mails they sent out. For example, let's say that I did not have the worm and all of my anti-virus signatures were up to date. However, one of my friends had *my* address in *their* address book and *they* get infected with the worm. Now, that worm looks through my friend's address book and sees that *my* address is there. So the worm decides to use it and sends out mail using *my* (not their) address as the sender. Even though my system is totally nice and secure, uneducated people will think *I'm* the one sending the worm, when in reality it is from another computer that is just forging the sender's address. Look at the e-mail you supposedly got from AW and post the headers here. We can then tell if it really did some from them or not. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] virus alert (cross-posted to all groups)Feb 20, 2004, 5:44pm
Just wanted to make sure we are all on the "same page." :)
Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] Fix VRT ClockMar 8, 2004, 2:47am
I have to agree with you on this one, The Lady. I have all of the
computers on my LAN sync to an atomic time server and I've noticed that the AW VRT clock can be different from as little as thirty seconds to as much as three minutes. I assume their clock is set to an atomic time server as well, but to which one and how often it syncs, I'm not sure. If you want to know the official time, check out http://www.time.gov Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > VRT Clock adjusts itself to a different time when I adjust my computer > clock. Never the same same, always off a few minutes. *snip* DirextX 9 support for Active WorldsMar 10, 2004, 1:48pm
Just out of curiosity... can you use unlimited light sources on software
mode? I know the graphics wouldn't look nearly as nice, but I imagine you could place as many light sources as your CPU could handle. Builderz http://www.3dhost.net [View Quote] > How hard would this be to impliment into the browser? It's the only way I > can see of removing the 8 light source limit that directX 8 has. Many > computers can handle a lot more lights than eight. > > Wish: Some Good AW PR!Mar 29, 2004, 5:20am
<rant>I wish AW had some good "PR" and was featured in some mainstream
computer magazines. I feel that if AW 4.x doesn't live up to its expectations that other VR programs will eat it up and spit it out. I feel that 4.x will be the "make or break" point of AW. There used to be so many more users in the past (up to 400 or more each day) and that has since about halved in number. I talked to a lot of cits a few months ago that have now left AW, I haven't seen any posts from the AW staff in quite a while in these groups, and TechTalk has long since been stopped. I keep hearing about There and Second Life and other "AW clones" or VR programs and I think to myself, "Why can't AW get some press like these others, it has been around a lot longer?" Does anyone else feel the same way, or is it just me?</rant> Builderz http://www.3dhost.net |