Custom GameDev OS™

Geelix GameDev OS™ is a Web-based system for computer game education and development. Educational courses and programs are provided on learning how to make computer games, 3D models, textures, shaders, music, sound, media, etc. The tool is a collaborative Web site for education and developing computer games, where games, 3D models, and related game media are easily shared between users. Popular tools are used, such as Autodesk Maya, 3D Studio Max, Poser, Softimage, Cinema 4D, etc. Popular technologies are also used, such as DirectX, PhysX, SceniX, OptiX, CompleX, OpenGL, Microsoft Visual C++, etc. Geelix GameDev OS can be used for the entire game project from idea to finished game.

There are many Web OSes (or Web browser-based OSes) available, such as for example You OS and Eye OS. The Web OSes offer a personal “Webtop” (from the word “desktop”) with storage space and Web applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet editor, presentations, file explorer, instant messenger, calendar, Web mail, contacts, quickview, etc. The main benefits of using Web OSes (compared to local operating systems) are easier sharing and collaboration between users, and easier access when travelling. Our GameDev OS is a Web OS with Web applications for game development and art. The user will have a personal Webtop for learning game development and participating in game development projects. The user will have courses to choose from for learning specific topics in game development and art, tests for verification on the topics, and small project assignments for verification of acquired skills. We also provide a public share of source code for games, demos, tools, and techniques, such as DirectX, scene graphs, etc. We also provide a public share for art, 3D models, textures, shaders, sounds, music, etc. Students can upload to the public share for review. The goal of the GameDev OS is not to use our multimedia presentation tools and formats for all parts of the Web interface of the system. We use HTML for most of the interface, and only use our tools and formats where necessary to augment the interface. The “operating system desktop” behaviour and look of the system is easy to implement with HTML and JavaScript, and makes it accessible with any Web browser without installing anything. Our Web browser plug-in will mainly be used to view 3D models and effects. 3D models are provided in the original format of the authoring tool, and in a modified format for DirectX and OpenGL use. The Web browser plug-in will be used to view models and effects, and will also allow the user to experiment with modifying the models and effects. The High-Level Shader Language (HLSL), for example, is both necessary to learn in order to author DirectX-based games and a significant barrier to learn how to program. The Web browser plug-in will allow students to see how the shaders work, experiment with existing shaders, make new shaders, apply them to existing 3D models, environments, examples, and share them with other users. For larger game development projects, we will provide a personal Windows or Linux environment, with remote access, using a remote playing tool. For larger projects, multiple tools are necessary, such as source code version control, Web hosting, database support, bug/task/feature request tracking, file release, documentation management, integrated development environment, DirectX, shaders, etc. Although it may be possible to provide these tools in a Web OS, it will require additional development work. It is currently more practical to focus the Web OS on learning, sharing, and collaborating for developing small games and demonstrations, while larger game development projects use a more traditional approach. A combination of a traditional approach and the GameDev OS can also be beneficial with respect to external access.

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Selected Research Papers
Ole-Ivar Holthe. "A Multimedia Presentation Framework for Web 3.0 Computer Game Experiences." IEEE MultiMedia, October-December 2010, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 70-79.