The other day I came across a great new multiplayer 3D shooter game. The site is Cmune and they claim to have the first browser-based multiplayer 3D shooter built to be social.
Cmune allows users to play a 3D paintball shooter game within any web browser. Additionally you can play the game in either Windows, Mac or even within Facebook. The game itself is very simple, a user needs to just download a small plugin and then they can create or join in on a game. Paradise paintball has very simple controls and is easy to use and graphics are ok but nothing out of this world.
When the site first opens you are able to choose which game you want to join or even able to create a game and play against your friends. Cmune is a great time waster!!
Over at GigaOM they have put together a great list of the top 10 money making MMO games of 2008.
1. World of Warcraft, launched 2004
Genre/Platform: Western MMORPG; client install with 3D graphics
Revenue sources: Monthly subscription, retails sales, prepaid cards (in Asia)
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $500 million-plus
2. Fantasy Westward Journey, launched 2004
Genre/Platform: Asian MMORPG, client install with 2.5D graphics
Revenue sources: Prepaid cards
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $150-$500 million
3. Maple Story, launched 2003
Genre/Platform: Asian MMORPG for kids, client install with 2D graphics
Revenue sources: Microtransactions, prepaid cards, international licensing
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $150-$500 million
4. Shanda (company, includes Legend of Mir and World of Legend series), launched 2003
Genre/Platform: Asian MMORPG, client install with 2.5 graphics
Revenue sources: Prepaid cards, virtual item sales, freemium subscriptions
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $150-$500 million
5. Lineage I and Lineage II , launched 1998 and 2003
Genre/Platform: Asian MMORPG, client install with 2.5 graphics (Lineage) and 3D graphics (Lineage II)
Revenue sources: Subscription, prepaid cards
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $150-$500 million
6. Runescape
Genre/Platform: Western MMORPG for kids, web-based with 2.5D graphics
Revenue sources: Premium subscription, prepaid cards, real-world advertising
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $50-$150 million
7. Club Penguin, launched 2006
Genre/Platform: Virtual world for kids, web-based 2.5D graphics
Revenue sources: Premium subscriptions, prepaid game cards
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $50-$150 million
8. Lord of the Ring Online
Genre/Platform: Western MMORPG, client install with 3D graphics
Revenue sources: Subscription, retail sales
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $50-$150 million
9. Warhammer Online
Genre/Platform: Western MMORPG, client install with 3D graphics
Revenue sources: Subscription, retail sales
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $50-$150 million
10. Age of Conan
Genre/Platform: Western MMORPG, client install with 3D graphics
Revenue sources: Subscription, retail sales
DFC estimated 2008 revenue: $50-$150 million
Blender.org is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. I dont really know too much about this sector, but the quality of images made using this software is simply amazing. Im a really big fan of open source software and companies trying to offer a great tool to users for free, and Blender is no exception.
I have attached a sample of what has been made using the Blender tool. If you are in graphic or animation design, it would be great to hear your views on this tool.
Picnik is an imaging tool that is currently way ahead of the pack. Picnik allow you to tweak your photos with some amazing editing tools. You can tweak your images with different effects, font, shapes and frames.
With Picnik there are no downloads required or installations. Picnik is astoundingly fast and it is all done right within your browser. The service currently works on either a MAC, Windows or Linux platforms.
Picnik is an imaging tool that can be used by anyone. It is so simple to use and even my mother could use it!
Today I came across a great desktop screensaver that I have been trying to find for ages. Since I do a lot of business in a variety of time zones it is great to know what time it is anywhere in the world at a simple glance, and EarthDesk provides this.
EarthDesk is much like Wallsaver but the wallpaper is set to an image of the earth which shows which countries are in daytime, nighttime and all in real-time. The program is currently free for both Mac OS X 10.4+ and Windows 2000, XP and Vista. The amazing interface also tracks information on 10,000 cities throughout the world and can display cloud cover and even cyclones
EarthDesk also gives you numerous options for configuring map images on your desktop. Maps can be centered on a city, so that the map remains stationary while the sun and moon move. Alternatively, the map center may be locked to the position of the sun or moon so that the shadow remains fixed, while the map moves.
EarthDesk is definitely one program to grab while it is free. Click here for the free download.
