Front page
| AlphaWorld places
| Citizens
| Glossary
| Help
| History
| Pictures
| Worldrunning
| Worlds
| Search
Front page
| AlphaWorld places
| Citizens
| Glossary
| Help
| History
| Pictures
| Worldrunning
| Worlds
| Search
This old FAQ was compiled by Subgenius / Robert "Zach" Garland and Athena / Dejah Thoris in 1997, but parts of it are still valid.
ActiveWorlds NewUser FAQ
FAQ-author: Zach "SubGenius" Garland
version 0.02
#editorial comments: Dejah Thoris
e-mail: athena@neosoft.com
#Many thanks to Zach for his work in putting together the original of
this document, and his permission to edit and re-post it. My comments
and additions are marked with a pound sign ("#") DT
This FAQ is not officially endorsed or sanctioned by Circle of Fire
Studios or any organization which is related to Active Worlds in any
official capacity. It is designed to be a supplement to, and not a
replacement for, other documentation on this subject already available.
For more information about such documentation, please see Subject Three
(3) below.
If ever there is confusion between an issue or comment here in this FAQ
and comments or statements made by Circle of Fire Studios, it is a given
that statements made by Circle of Fire Studios take precedence over this
FAQ. There will be no exceptions.
And if Cof says something in here is wrong, they are correct, and it will
be revised in future versions to reflect that.
------------------------------
Subject 1. Introduction
The purpose of this FAQ is to give answers frequently asked in the AW
discussion newsgroup, and questions which may arise in the future. It
is designed to assist newcomers to the newsgroup and newcomers of the
Active Worlds Browser program. It is also designed to be a forum where
veteran users of Active Worlds can share information with newcomers and
with one another.
#May include material which was posted to the two AW newsgroups. Such
material will be cheerfully removed if requested by the poster, and will
be deliniated with beginning and ending exclamation points ("!").
Other subject matter not yet covered in this document can be covered in
future versions of this FAQ. This FAQ is intended as an overview.
#Submissions of material to add to this FAQ are welcome and encouraged.
Circle of Fire is welcome at any time to incorporate anything they find
of use in this FAQ into their own documentation without financial or other
compensation, #with the exception of material enclosed within exclamation
points, which material remains the property of the writer(s).
Comments, criticism, and suggestions for improvement should be sent via
email to #athena@neosoft.com#. PLEASE DO NOT bug Circle of Fire Studios with
this. You got a problem with this FAQ, bother me. It won't be a bother. COF
is not directly affiliated with it and are not to be held liable for anything
in it.
Submissions quoted directly by individuals and included with this FAQ in
future versions will be credited for their words, unless submittors choose
otherwise. Such credit will include name and email address when possible.
It is the intent of this FAQ maintainer to credit any assistance given him for
this FAQ in a way that is suitable to all parties concerned, without jeopardizing
the format and readability of this document.
Hopefully this Introduction will get much shorter in later versions.
------------------------------
Subject 2. Table of Contents
Part 1
1. Introduction
2. Table of Contents
3. Reference Materials
4. General Info
Part 2
5. Newcomer questions
6. Worlds and Locations
7. Active Worlds History
8. Active Worlds Who's Who
Part 3
9. Vandalism
10. Active Worlds Netiquette
11. Active Worlds In-Depth
#12. Circle of Fire
13. AW Newsgroup Questions
------------------------------
Subject 3. Reference Materials
Q: Where do I go for more information?
A: This document will assume you have already done the following:
* Downloaded the Active Worlds Browser program, available
at http://www.activeworlds.com
* Read the Active Worlds Browser Helpfile
Q: How do I find this Active Worlds Helpfile thing?
A: The Active Worlds Helpfile is located in the Active Worlds Browser.
It is assumed that if you have the AW Browser, you already have
access to it. The Active Worlds Browser *is* the AWORLD.EXE program.
If you accepted all the defaults during Active Worlds installation,
the AWORLD.EXE program is in your computer's C:\Active_Worlds
directory.
#A Help tab should be visible in the smaller window on the left side of your
browser. You can also access Help from the drop down menu: #
once Active Worlds appears on the screen, look at the top and you
will see the options "File, Teleport, View, Options, Show, Citizen,
Avatar, Web," and "Help." Click on the "Help" option and then
Choose "Topics." At this time you may browse the table of contents
for specific assistance, or simply hit the "Enter" key on your
keyboard to get to the helpfiles main screen.
Q: Are there other sources on the web or elsewhere that can help?
A: At this time the following list is only a sampling of what is
available on the 'Net regarding Alpha World. This list will be
expanded upon in future versions of this FAQ.
It should not be assumed that any individuals who are accessible
below are aware of, or affiliated with, this document. They may
not know of its existence at this time. Please use sincere and
polite etiquette when communicating in the forums below, and you
should be successful in finding veteran builders willing to assist
you with your questions.
Circle of Fire Studios Active World Pages:
http://www.activeworlds.com
Active Worlds Discussion Newsgroup
news://news.activeworlds.com/discussion
Active Worlds Builders Newsgroup
news://news.activeworlds.com/worldbuilders
ActiveWorlds property files (may be examined for lists of usable objects in AW)
http://objects.activeworlds.com/aw/
New World Times
http://www.synergycorp.com/alphaworld/nwt
Alpha World Discussion Center (web-based msg board)
http://www.pe.net/~awtalk
#Grover's Tutorial page
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/s/j/sjf132/alphaworld/rw.html
#Henrik G's Texture tutorial
http://al.matek.sintef.no/henrik/tt
#Texture Mapping in VRML by Cindy Reed-Ballreich
http://www.ywd.com/cindy/texture.html
If anyone knows of other locations where veterans may be found who
could answer questions, or websites specific to Active Worlds,
please contact me at #the address at the top of this document# so I
can add them in here.
------------------------------
Subject 4. General Info
This section answers very broad questions about what AW and COF are.
Q: Where do I get Active Worlds?
A: Active Worlds is available for download from
http://www.activeworlds.com/download.html
It is strongly recommended you examine the website
http://www.activeworlds.com/
as a whole before downloading, but it is not required.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The AW Browser is a free program. There are no plans for the
browser to cost consumers anything any time in the near future. If
Circle of Fire Studios chooses to do that in the future it is their
prerogative and no doubt we will be given fair warning, but there is
no guarantee.
#The browser is free....however, as of October 1st, 1997, certain rights
in using any of the Active Worlds will be restricted to Registered
Citizens. Registration is $19.95 per year. It is still possible to take
advantage of the early registration special....two years for the price of
one if you register before October 1st, 1997. If you do not register,
the browser is still free; however, you will only be able to enter any
ActiveWorld as the default avatar (currently the Grey Alien), and any
building you do must be considered temporary, as it will be marked
Citizen #zero, and, as such, can be changed or deleted by any
registered citizen.#
In order to learn more about the cost of purchasing one's own
world, please refer to http://www.activeworlds.com/products.html for
the latest information. Any change will be reflected in future
versions of this FAQ.
Another page with price information is at
http://www.activeworlds.com/personal.html
This may change without notice.
Q: What requirements does my computer need?
A: Full and latest explanations for AW Browser requirements are at
http://www.activeworlds.com/download.html but in general, #you must
have a Pentium class processor running Windows 95 or NT, a
SLIP/PPP or direct Internet connection, a 14.4 or faster modem (28.8 is
strongly recommended). 16 meg memory, a monitor that can handle
at least 256 color, 16 bit color recommended, and 24 meg of free disk
space.# COF recommends the faster modems and more powerful monitors,
but this will at least get you up and running.
Q: Does the Active Worlds browser work on anything other than Windows 95 #and NT#?
A: Not at this time. If you have a MacIntosh, or an IBM compatible
running something besides Windows 95 #or NT#, you may wish to
contact COF at http://support.activeworlds.com/clemail.htm and explain
this to them. They will NOT be able to accomodate you, but if they get
an idea there are others out there interested in AW running on other
platforms, it may encourage them to spend more time on that
endeavour in the future, if it is at all possible or feasible.
Q: What's AW?
A: AW is an acronym for "Active Worlds" and is often used by veterans
as well as in this document. AW is also sometimes used in reference
to "Alpha World Prime" more commonly referred to just as "Alpha
World." When AW first went online, there was only one world. Since
then over a hundred have appeared, but AW is still the primary world
#for building and socializing. It is the largest of all of the worlds
currently operating.#
You can access AW any time by clicking on TELEPORT, TO, and looking
for the letters 'aw' alone on a line in the world field.
Q: Who's COF?
A: COF is the acronym for Circle of Fire Studios, the company that
presently owns Active Worlds and will for the foreseeable future.
They own and operate many worlds within Active Worlds, and sell
server software required for users to house their own worlds. They
do not at this time sell space on servers, just the software.
For more information regarding Circle of Fire Studios, please
consult http://www.activeworlds.com from your favorite web browser.
Q: Who was Worlds Inc?
A: Worlds Incorporated was the name of the company that owned Active
Worlds prior to its purchase from Worlds Inc by Circle of Fire
Studios. This occurred #in February, 1997. They continue to own
Worlds Chat, a non-user-buildable 3d chat environment.
Worlds can be reached at: http://www.worlds.net
A group of WorldsChat users named Mixed Nuts paid the fee to keep
the worlds.net domain name running when Worlds,Inc. apparently
allowed it to lapse.
! .... Worlds was purchased by a brand new company with no assets to
speak of called Worlds Acquisition Corp...! RF
Subject 5. Newcomer Questions
This section will explain in general various questions raised by newcomers
to AW in the past. This is NOT a substitute for the AW Browser Helpfile. In
fact, in many cases it will refer the newcomer to that document and others
when appropriate. This section will be expanded upon in future versions.
Q: Someone is saying rude things to me, or things I don't want to read.
What do I do?
A: If you can see that person in your viewscreen, right click on their
avatar and choose 'mute.' Their messages will not appear in your
chat screen, and the word 'mute' will blink over their head
whenever they try to say something in your vicinity.
You can also choose to move away from that area. AW is a big place.
If more people ignored rude individuals, they would tire of being
alone and eventually we will have less of them.
Q: I see offensive pictures or objects that I don't like? What can I
do?
A: At 1N 2E in Alpha World facing north there is are two signs. This is
by the way at Ground Zero. The sign says:
"WARNING: In Active Worlds you can experience
communication and content freely provided by
anyone in this 3D environment through seamless
connection to other points on the Internet.
"Circle of Fire, Inc. does not monitor, screen
or exercise any control over communications or
content."
In extreme cases COF has been known to remove some examples of
#offensive material#, but it is impossible for them to monitor and
censor all the properties available in Active Worlds, nor do they
have a desire to censor others in such a fashion. You are asked to
exercise caution when exploring unknown territory if you personally
find it objectionable. The Gate and most COF run worlds like
Metatropolis and Yellowstone do not have patently offensive material,
so you may limit your exposure to AW to those locations if you have
an issue with questionable material.
Alpha World is open to building by anyone on the Internet, so you may
find material you deem unsuitable in that world. Most places are not
objectionable, and you can learn of coordinates that are safe by
speaking with others in AW who share your views.
If an individual says things in your vicinity that you do not like,
right click on their avatar and choose 'mute.' This will make them
unable to speak to you while you are both in AW.
Q: How do I move?
Q: How do I build?
Q: What do those buttons do?
A: This is best explained in the Active Worlds Browser. Click on HELP,
TOPICS and then double click on "Moving with the Active World
Browser", "Building With Objects", and #"The Active Worlds Browser
Interface/Buttons/Buttons in the Main Window".
Q: How do I see what I look like?
A: On the right side of your keyboard there should be a numeric keypad.
Hit the NumLock key until the light above it is NOT lit, then
hit the number one. On most keyboards this number also has the word
'end' under it. This is what is known as 'third perspective' in the
AW browser program. On your viewscreen you should see your own
avatar from behind. At this time there is no way to easily see your
avatar from the front. If you hit the end key one or more times,
you will notice that the view screen zooms away and then towards
your avatar. There should also be keys directly to the left of your
numeric keypad which include only names or arrow keys. You will find
an 'end' key there that performs the same function.
For more information, consult the helpfile.
Q: How do I teleport?
A: At the top of the Browser you will see the option TELEPORT. It is
the second option from the left. Click on #"Teleport" then on "To" to
open the teleport screen. There is a drop-down menu from which you
can select the name of a world....it only shows worlds which are
currently operating. There is also a box into which you can type
co-ordinates for a specific location within that world.
For more information, consult the help file. Go to HELP, TOPICS,
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS, then "The Interface - An Overview."
#Some worlds are private. If you try to enter a private world, you
will receive an error message and be returned to your starting
location.#
Q: I want that webpage frame on the right there to go away. How do I
do that?
A: Click on the option SHOW at the top of the screen. Move the mouse
down to where it says "WEB" and click on it once. This should remove
the checkbox from that option, and remove MSIE's web frame from your
AW Browser. COF strongly suggests you keep that frame to see the
latest webpages they and others make available, but some users find
it annoying.
If that option is not checked under SHOW, AW will attempt to use
whatever your default browser is whenever create url appear or
activate url objects are clicked on in your viewscreen. If you want
to use Netscape, be sure the WEB option is not checked.
Q: How do I get it back?
A: Simply go up to SHOW and click once on WEB. MSIE's frame on the
right should reappear.
------------------------------
Subject 6. Worlds and Locations
This section will describe the primary Active Worlds and include coordinates
of locations within some of these worlds. This section will be expanded upon
in future versions of this document.
Q: What's Ground Zero?
Predominately, "Ground Zero" is the name of the location you 'fall
into' when you #enter AlphaWorld Prime# for the first time. With the
addition of other worlds, some people use the term 'ground zero' to
indicate the coordinates 0N 0W of whatever world they happen to be in
at the time, but this causes confusion.
Ground Zero was created by Protagonist, who is the programmer of the
Active World software. If you right click on any object in Ground
Zero you will notice that under his name in the object properties box
there's a number one. He made it, so he gets to go first.
This is the location where most users go first whenever they activate
the program #or leave The Gate#, so it is admittedly the busiest. It is a good
place to go to meet people, but it is not a place to hold a long conversation.
This is also not the place to go to find a particular person, because
the chances of running into them there are rather slim. Most users
arrive here, but do not remain for any long period of time. Those who
do either like the chat quality of this busy area, or are newcomers
still learning how to use the program.
Many new users activate the program, fall into Ground Zero, but have
not yet read a textfile like this or more importantly, the Helpfile,
so they attempt to ask people in Ground Zero questions to get
immediate results. This should not be discouraged but it should not
be encouraged either. It is an okay way to meet people, but this
sometimes gets mixed results. Not everyone in Ground Zero is there to
be helpful.
While here, please feel free to answer others questions if you can,
and describe to them how to access the helpfile if they appear to be
having a lot of trouble.
Q: What's The Gate?
A: The Gate is a small world designed predominantly to allow easy
access to all of Circle of Fire's personally owned worlds, and some
others. Most notable are the 'Language Worlds' for people who are
not as fluent or as comfortable with English as they are with their
native tongue.
Next to AW Ground Zero, it is one of the more popular hangouts for
AW Users. You can almost always find a half dozen or more users
here. There is only one avatar available from here, which is why
everyone looks alike.
The Gate is accessible by clicking on TELEPORT, TO, and looking for
the letters 'gate' alone on a line in the world field. There is also
a teleport kiosk directly to the northwest of Ground Zero which will
take you to The Gate.
Q: What's Metatropolis?
Q: What's Yellowstone?
A: Metatropolis and Yellowstone are some of the worlds owned and operated by Circle
of Fire Studios. Metatropolis is designed loosely off 'cyberpunk fiction' and
is designed to look like a city of the future. Yellowstone is based off the original
Yellowstone National Park located in North America. Both worlds are accessible
from The Gate.
Metatropolis is accessible by clicking on TELEPORT, TO and looking
for the letters 'cofmeta' alone on a line in the world field.
Yellowstone is accessible by clicking on TELEPORT, TO and looking
for the letters 'fire' alone on a line in the world field.
Q: Where else can I go?
A: The list of worlds from the TELEPORT TO menu will show just how
many different worlds you can explore. Not all of them are
publically accessible, but a few hours of teleporting from one to
the other can help you find one or more that are right for you.
As for places to go within these worlds, each World has its own
way of showing you. Keep an eye out for signs and landmarks that
will warp or teleport you to other places, either by clicking on
them or by walking into them.
aw 1447.9N 1448.9E 0.2a 140
The coordinates above will take you to a location which includes
many teleport kiosks. The ones to the southwest of this location
are to other teleport locations. You can spend hours or days
exploring each of these places and never see all there is to see
in Alpha World Prime and the other worlds.
Also listen to other people and ask them if they have favorite
places. Take note of any coordinates they give and decide for
yourself what is right for you.
Q: How do I know if there's actually people in a world before I
click there?
A: One of the many buttons available at the top of the AW Browser
screen is a green 'world' button. Clicking on this will bring up
an updated list of presently activated worlds and the number of
people in them at this time. You must have either MSIE or Netscape
or a comparable web browser available on your computer in order to
properly utilize this option.
Q: Where's the party?
A: This changes hourly. There is almost always something happening at
Ground Zero, but I hesitate to call it a party.
You will notice many other areas of Alpha World Prime are not
populated. Some may never get much traffic. The majority of users
have specific places they go. Either they are working on their own
project, or they and some friends select certain places to meet.
As you spend more time in Active Worlds, you will get to know people
and learn their habits. If you are polite and make friends with
someone who has obviously been around, ask them to show you their
favorite places. If they are not too busy, most will be happy to do
so.
Q: Why's that guy over there talking gibberish?
A: Active Worlds is a program accessible by practically anyone who has
access to the Internet from a Windows 95 platform. This means it is
an international entity, and people from everywhere on Earth can be
found here.
If someone is speaking a language other than your own and you wish
to talk to them, politely ask them if they speak English. If they do
not answer in English, that means they do not understand you. Simply
go find people who can speak your language.
Please be considerate of people from other nationalities. Insulting
them in your native tongue only makes you look foolish to others
around you. Odds are the one you're insulting will not understand
you, but others who speak English will, and they will find you
inhospitable in most cases to be near.
If you are having a conversation in English and someone nearby is
speaking a tongue foreign to you and you do not wish to see it,
you can right click on that person's avatar in the view screen and
hit 'mute.' Their messages will no longer appear in the chat window
and you can continue your conversation with the others around you
without interruption from that individual.
------------------------------
Subject 7. Active Worlds History
This section will deal with past events of Active Worlds which others may
mention in passing. This section will be more detailed in a future version
of this FAQ.
#Submissions of historical material and/or stories are welcome and encouraged.
------------------------------
Subject 8. Active Worlds Who's Who
This section will describe predominant and important members of the AW
community. This section will be more detailed in a future version of
this FAQ.
#Autobiographical sketches are welcome and encouraged. Introduce yourself
to the Newcomer populace. No limit on length is currently set, but will
be if abuses appear.
#Roasts are also welcome, if light in tone. The Editor retains the
right to make selections here....anyone who wants to take over the job
of Editor and have those rights, contact the email address at the top of
this FAQ. Roasts will be removed if the target objects.
Subject 9. Vandalism
This section will deal with the definitions for vandalism, what is being
done about it, and how to protect oneself from it. It will be further
detailed in a future version of this FAQ.
#This subject is under scrutiny within the AW newsgroups. No definitions
have been selected as yet. At the moment, the best way to protect
property you want to build on, is by "staking your claim"...start by
covering an area at least as large as you think you will need, with a
liberal margin all around, with either "walk" or "floor" objects, with
no gaps between them. Laying a floor object reserves the entire area
it covers in a column going up to infinity and down to infinity for your
exclusive use. Nothing else will protect your area. You can use walk12
for a grass covering which will blend in with the existing ground,
or you can sink your flooring beneath the ground if you do not want it
to be seen.
#CoF does not have the time or manpower to "police" the huge environment
of AlphaWorld. You build there for free and at your own risk. If you
fail to stake your claim and someone else places an object or objects
which you do not want within an area you feel that you "own" but did
not stake a claim to, you cannot expect CoF or anyone else to remove
the offending material.
#"Cover your land"
------------------------------
Subject 10. Active Worlds Netiquette
This section will explain general guidelines of how to behave in this
virtual social environment. It will not be designed to lay down laws,
but give helpful tips on how not to displease others. It will be further
detailed in a future version of this FAQ.
------------------------------
Subject 11. Active Worlds In-Depth
This section will endeavor to detail how to use Active Worlds to its
fullest capability, including some notes on how to add actions to objects,
how to configure it to increase bandwidth or see the view in an improved
fashion, and detail the use of the aworld.ini file. It will be further
detailed in a future version of this FAQ.
------------------------------
#Subject 12. Circle of Fire: the dramatis personae
This section will introduce certain members of Circle of Fire (as well as previous
members of Worlds, Inc. for historical purposes) to new users. This section will
be more detailed in a future version of this FAQ.
#Autobiographical sketches, and/or listings of proper CoF contacts for
users are possible items for inclusion into this section.
------------------------------
Subject 13. AW Newsgroup Questions
#There are currently two sets of AW Newsgroups in existance.
#There are two newsgroups being run at news.activeworlds.com:
#Worldbuilders is usually interpreted as the more technical group, with particular
emphasis on issues of importance to "world builders".
#Discussion is usually interpreted as the less formal group, and the topics here
can range from technical to social to flames. Expect to see anything here.
#Note: these AW newsgroups exist by virtue of CoF's initiative and their
financial support. CoF should therefore be considered the "owners" of these
newsgroups, and any decisions involving them should be assumed to fall within
the perogatives of Circle of Fire.
#There is another "Discussion" newsgroup at vrnews.synergycorp.com.
This newsgroup is owned and operated by Russell Freeland (DataMan)
without any financial assistance from CoF.
FINIS
2002-09-07