This version supports log in, move, view, and local chat within a single region. Avatars are drawn as blocks.
This test release is being made available to a few volunteers for initial testing. Please do not re-distribute. Use a low-value alt account when testing.
Please try various flavors of Microsoft Windows - 7, 8, 10, 11, and report back. Final Windows 7, or anything later should work. If you have Windows 11 with the new Windows Sandbox, please try sandbox mode. Enable GPU sharing for the sandbox.
Limitations
- You're in first person mode, with the camera at eye level, and can only walk. No teleports. It's rather immersive.
- Clicking on objects does nothing yet. You can't open most doors without help from another avatar.
- Objects move, but texture animatiion is not implemented yet.
- No editing or building yet.
- Open Simulator regions of non-standard sizes do not work yet.
Notes
- The downloaded installer does a "local install", for the user doing the install only.
- When logging in, select Home, Last, or Region to type in a region name. REGIONNAME/X/Y/Z works.
- You can save your password for later logins by checking "Remember". (The password is stored in the standard Window or Linux password storage system.)
- There are no user preferences yet other than the password, so you have to type in your user name every time.
- The screen normally shows no menus. Move the mouse cursor to the top or bottom of the screen to see menus.
- Chat locally by typing into the text box at the bottom of the screen.
- Received chat appears in the "Message" box, along with various error messages.
- Received IMs appear in the "Message" box too, but you can't send IMs yet.
- When logging in, select Home, Last, or Region to type in a region name. REGIONNAME/X/Y/Z works.
- Your password will be saved if you check the "Remember" box. It's stored in the platform's password storage system.
- On Windows, the cache is in the place defined by the Windows KNOWN FOLDER API. On Linux, it's in ~/.cache/sharpview. Feel free to delete it if it gets large.
- The cache is not cleared automatically. It just keeps growing, for now. The next release will limit the cache to 25GB.
Performance
- Minimum GPU required is roughly an NVidia 1060 with 6 GB. Too small a GPU and the program will either abort or become very slow.
- Normal performance is about 60 FPS with 200Mb/sec asset downloading. But not both at once. There's a lock conflict in the WGPU cross platform graphics library which is preventing full concurrent updates to the scene.
Reporting problems
- Email to info@animats.com
- If you get a crash, a dialog should pop up with debug info. Please take a screenshot of that. (Copying and pasting will not work.)
- In the menus, Help->About will provide version information.
- There is currently no automated error reporting. This version does not "phone home" at all.
- Please use a low-value alt account when testing this viewer. We will not be responsible for avatar or account damage. It shouldn't do anything harmful.
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