VRML 2.0/Java - Crazy Eights 3D

Crazy Eights 3D v0.91

© 1996, 1997 Bret Dahlgren

Forget those static VRML 1.0 scenes and VRML 2.0 doors opening. Thanks to the Java-VRML 2.0 interface, intelligence can now be placed into the VRML 2.0 environment.

Requirements:

Because of the limited availability of EAI compatible VRML 2.0 browsers, this game will only work in Windows 95/NT with Netscape Navigator 3.0 and Silicon Graphics Cosmo Player 1.0. If this changes please inform me and I will update the requirements. Netscape Communicator 4.0 with Live3D has EAI capabilities but is still too unstable at this moment and crashes when it tries to load. **NEW** InterVista's Worldview is now EAI compliant. It works great! **NEW** Netscape Communicator now automatically comes with CosmoPlayer. If you have the latest version of 4.0, try it out.

Download instructions:

I have two setups for play. A full-screen version and a 640 x 350 version. If you run into bugs, please see below.

You will first see a table and a please wait sign. I'm not kidding; you WILL have to wait. I'm loading graphics for all the cards so feel free to get a cup of coffee.

Game Play:

When you see the sign saying "Deal cards," click on it to start the game. *Note* If you do not get a response try resizing and restoring the Netscape browser. Then click within the VRML browser. You and three other computer players' cards will be dealt from the card deck. The player on your left will start. After the player on your right plays it is your turn. To play a card click on it. If you need to pick up a card, click on the deck. If you play an eight the four suits will appear in front of the cards. Click on the suit of your choice. The rules for Crazy Eights are below if you need help.

The game is over when one of the players plays all of its cards. The "Deal cards" sign will reappear, and you can play again by clicking on it. This time the player opposite you will start. The first player is rotated clockwise for each new game.

Game View:

I have made your cards visible on both sides so you can play from any direction. I have added 6 viewpoints to view the table with which you can jump back and forth from by using the PageUp and PageDown keys. "GameView" is the most optimal view. Believe me, this is a very cool feature of using VRML for an interface. No work on my part, and this game does something very few others can.

Bugs:

The browser sometimes does not accept any input unless you resize the Netscape browser or maximize and restore and then click within the VRML browser. Please try that if you see this problem.

On occasion some of the cards do not get loaded. I can only suggest reloading the game.

Comments:

Speed will depend on your system. I developed on 3 three different machines; a pentium 60, a 120 and a 166. The 120 was adequate but the 60 was too slow. One of the nice features I like about VRML is that the performance will get better as the engines improve and I won't have to change a thing. Feel free to let me know how gameplay is on your machine. I won't take anything personal, 'cause it's not my fault:-)

Credits:

The cards were painstakingly drawn from scratch. Needless to say they weren't made by me. They were drawn by Oxymoron, thanks to him for making these fine cards available.

Plans:

Card Loading - Some improvements in the browser may allow me to speed up the loading of the cards. I will have to experiment.

Audio - Not too much. Just to try out the RSX technology.

Models - I want to add VRML 2.0 models to be animated when the other players play. The ones available on vrml.sgi.com look great, but I have no easy way to animate them that I know of. I NEED WINDOWS 95 TOOLS for VRML 2.0! Not ones that just export files, but full sensor and route capabilities too.

Better visual environment - Again, no tools and a fear of impeding game play. But I will experiment.

Multiplayer - Not hard to implement but I need a site I can place the server on. Please contact me if you have a site you want a cool game on.

Multiple platform support - This gets added as each platform can support Java in their VRML. If you think a browser has the capability that I haven't added, let me know and I'll give it a shot depending on how much work it will entail.

Even bigger ideas - This is just the beginning folks! This could be huge!

Send feedback to bret@dahlgren.com

Crazy Eights rules:

You can find complete rules here. My specific rules of play are as follows:

Each player is dealt eight cards. A card is turned over onto the play pile. An eight is not considered unique if it is turned over. The first player can play a card that matches either rank or suit. The exception is if the player discards an eight. Then the player can choose whatever suit they wish. If the player has no valid cards, they must draw cards until they can play. Play then continues to the player on the left. The game ends when one of the players no longer has any cards.

This file was last updated June 8, 1997

bret dahlgren / bret@dahlgren.com