Virtual Worlds

In 1999 Communities.com decided to create a whole new software infrastructure behind a 2D avatar interface for a new set of virtual worlds. To demonstrate the technology and to recruit users of ThePalace software, CC undertook a 3 month crash project to design a build a whole set of interlocking worlds to incorporate entertainment as well as chat functions. After Parker Moore left I ended up Art Directing the project to completion. As Art Director you often end up coordinating your artists and doing fine tuning work. As the Art was complete on time but the programming was way behind, we had a lag between the official Passport Launch date and any forseen commissioned projects, so I sold the idea of doing a Halloween special for the expected influx of users. The gate to the Halloween worlds I created, drawing the haunted house and putting it together in photoshop, then adding sounds and animation via html. Here is a re-creation of the actual screen, complete with animation and mouseover links (the links would have gone to other halloween regions at the time, but not now.) I liked the final image so much I have revisited it as a painting and have that as one of my limited edition prints.

One of the room images I created for the Passport Worlds was this, the Sudio World Comdey Club. The idea here was that people would gather as avatars and could only go on stage by clicking the "Perform now" button, so no on else could park their avatar up there. The room/location motif was designed to be subtle enough that numerous avatars could gather in the are represented by the tables, as the audience. Room and all objects built in 3d Studio Max 4, with textures built in Photoshop.