[dot] A Whole New World with The G System

[Dot Stories]

URL: http://dot.kde.org/1116546361/

From: Raphael Langerhorst <raphael-langerhorst at gmx.at>
Dept: divine-alchemy
Date: Friday20/May/2005, @01:46

A Whole New World with The G System
===================================

   The G System [http://www.g-system.at] is a free and open source
simulation framework and virtual reality, using Qt and KDE.  The recent
0.5 release
[http://www.g-system.at/news_detail.php?newsid=37&forum=4&thread=69]
adds multi-user capability, an important milestone in the history of
this project. Using the G System many users can now join in the same
virtual universe.

     The G System framework provides advanced network distributed
operations,  allowing for huge simulations.  The virtual reality created
with the G System, called G Universe, focuses on evolution.  This
creates a virtual, multi-user, evolving universe with both adventurous
and scientific aspects.

     This combination of interesting scientific research and a virtual
online reality is what makes the G System so exciting. Users are thrown
into a world that is enjoyable as well as interesting from the aspect of
life research, resulting in an evolving universe where the user is plays
an important part. Just as important, the current client is a Jabber IM
client!

     The evolution and life research aspect is an important one as it
tries to fill a gap in todays knowledge base. The process is not just
about implementing all the physics and maths equations, but about
forming a complete world, where the aspects of life itself are
implemented. This goal implies many philosophical considerations which
are at least as important as actually coding the application.

     It also opens the project to a group of people not usually
concerned with software development, those interested in philosophy.
People who study philosophy are invited to join the project, as well as
coders, documentation writers, artists and translators. Financial
contribution is also gratefully accepted since it allows us to spend
more time on this project and to pay server hosting bills.

     Apart from such contributions the most important contributors are
the users themselves. Please do not hesitate to give us constructive
feedback.


  I. THE FIRST UNIVERSE

     With the recent 0.5 release of the G System we have started our
first virtual universe. Now it needs to be filled with users. If you
want to give it a try, simply download the package and install the G
System.  This release features a graphical installer so everyone should
be able to manage. If you encounter any problems do not hesitate to ask
us on our mailing lists. If you encounter no problems you are still
welcome to join the mailing lists as well of course.

     To disspell a common mis-conception, currently you can only travel
around and talk to each other in this virtual universe, not much else
can happen yet. However, the framework is quite advanced and will allow
for additional functionality.

     As this 0.5 release is still a development release users are highly
advised to subscribe to the users mailing list to get notifications
about important changes, server downtimes and other information.

     Team Coordinator Raphael has also set up his own blog which
discusses design decisions and general development of the G System,
among other things. You are welcome to add feedback, discuss further
development and philosophical considerations through comments.
 Links
    * Homepage and Download
    * Documentation
    * Mailing Lists
    * G Universe server status
    * KDE-APPS entry
    * Raphael's blog