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Architecture
The z* system provides simple access to rendering infrastructure, input system,
sound, and object replication over the internet. Currently, a simulation
(written in java) is run on each client, and on one server. The simulation
runs a 'Gamelet', essentially the 3D game equivalent of an applet. The
simulation engine also connects to a client application, which does all of
the work of displaying the simulation state, and taking input. This approach
allows z* to host games written in java on any platform that can run console
based java apps and has networking. A separate part of the game client
(which is most likely native code, platform dependent) connects to the
simulation and provides the rendering, sound and input infrastructure needed.
Given this approach, z* allows a game author to produce a game, and essentially
treat it as a web space. People connect up, load the game content and then
play. Java provides proven security for untrusted code, so those using z*
will feel free to experiment with game content, knowing that it can't do
anything harmful.
z* is intended to provide a common simulation system for 3D content just as
HTML and HTTP provide a common method for browsing information.
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