Open Source, Underwater: realXtend Launches Impressive Oceanic Roleplaying World

Beneath The Waves is an underwater world built on version .4 of realXtend, the open source virtual world platform built on OpenSimulator, and good god, it's pretty damn impressive.  Check out the video and screenshots, being sure to note the dynamic shadows, the flexibility and smooth movements of the sea creatures, and the dewey richness of the colors.  According to the announcement, Beneath The Waves comes integrated with a narrative game in which human avatars can transform into fish and vice versa.  Funny, I just mentioned how Second Life's graphics capability were now competitive with Sony Home; this latest iteration of realXtend suggests that OpenSimulator may quickly outpace them both.

Here's the details on installing and trying it out.  Unsurprisingly, the instructions demand a fair amount of technical expertise.  So if you visit this OpenSim ocean, be sure to report back here!  Much thanks to Persig Phaeton for the tip!

Comments

[rightasrain]

interesting eye candy, but is this really usable? Kinda interesting that they are using older versions of both the SL viewer code and the opensim stuff. I get worried when the dev forks and then you lose the flow new code releases.

But the real interesting question around all over this--when is SL going to allow meshes???

[Dusan Writer]

RAR - the fork is actually being rejoined. Check out Adam Frisby's post on the topic:

http://tinyurl.com/5jpqqz

"For the last month and a half, we’ve been working with the realXtend team to convert their version of OpenSimulator, to something that closer resembles a suite of OpenSim plugins rather than a fork."

Good question on meshes. :)

[Kyle G]

I agree with rightasrain above, we (G2/ReactionGrid) stick with the latest OpenSim core for stability and compatibility and while we are dying for meshes on our grid we must maintain or improve our current level of uptime and reliability, never go backwards.

For that reason we will need to test this new design in grid mode extensively and hopefully if it works well and is cross platform we can begin deploying it.

I am blown away by the tech videos and the RealXtend teams work and hope the OpenSim core benefits with meshes very soon. Bravo RealXtend for pushing the envelope.