Macromedia, Inc. Tuesday announced the availability of the Shockwave Multiuser Server 2, a tool for delivering online multimedia communities and
connected entertainment.
Made for installation on corporate intranets, the server is designed to enable Web users to collaborate and communicate in real time through Shockwave content created with Macromedia’s
Director 7 Shockwave Internet Studio. The Shockwave Multiuser Server 2 ais an update to the multiuser server that ships with the
Director 7 Shockwave Internet Studio and is available as a free upgrade to
registered users.
Director and Shockwave Multiuser Server features include real-time
messaging, chat rooms, white board discussions, auctions and multiplayer
games. Macromedia’s Shockwave Multiuser Server, included with the studio,
makes it easy for developers to get started.
Launching the application on an intranet enables development of 50-user applications right out of the
box.
“The Shockwave Multiuser Server provides a robust multiuser Web environment
on both Windows and Macintosh platforms,” said Kevin Lynch, senior vice
president and general manager for Macromedia. “Because the server is
connected through the Shockwave Player, which more than 108 million Web users
can immediately view, these users can become interactive community members,
which ultimately benefits a site’s popularity, advertisers and revenues.”
Shockwave Multiuser Server 2 includes new features that enable Shockwave
applications to share data more efficiently with new server runtime
attributes, as well as new server commands that provide easier scripting when
creating multiuser Shockwave applications. New database objects allow storage
of persistent data more efficiently, which can contain member profiles for
personalisation, high scores and other game states, or collaborative
creations. In addition, no new version of Macromedia Director or the
Shockwave Player is required to create or experience this enhanced multiuser
functionality, the firm said.
Macromedia and HearMe said they will provide a free hosting service to enable
developers to immediately test their multiuser applications. HearMe’s POP.X
Shockwave Server targets large deployments of multiuser Shockwave content.
The POP.X server handles all the system management details so Web site
developers can focus on building the experience, instead of the underlying
delivery system.
