FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (and, Answers!)
- What comes with the PlaySDK license?
- What hardware do I need to run the PlaySDK?
- I use a Mac. What are my options?
- What software do I need to create games?
- What skills do I need to create applications with the PlaySDK
- Can I use the PlaySDK if I don't know how to write code?
- I can code just fine. Where can I find good content assets?
- How do I integrate art assets (images, sounds and 3D models) into my application?
- Can I distribute applications I create using the PlaySDK?
- How can I package my application into an executable (.exe) file for distribution?
Having problems getting up and running? Check out the Troubleshooting page and also Practical Considerations for Webcams.
What comes with the PlaySDK license?
The PlaySDK has five main components:
- PMVE -- the PlayMotion Vision Engine, a high performance computer vision library
- Calibrate Utility -- used to configure your specific environment and engine services
- Sample Applications & Source Code -- alter and modify as you please
- PlaySDK User Manual & Designers Handbook -- how to code and design with the PlaySDK
- PlaySDK Technical Reference -- detailed technical API documentation
The PMVE runtime is the foundation of all PlayMotion applications and interactive experiences you will create. It is a compiled high-performance codebase which interprets camera signals and sends both raw segmentation data and high level computer vision abstractions (blobs, hands, heads, edges, etc) to your application in real time.
The Calibrate Utility is your all in one swiss army knife used to both visualize and configure real-time parameters of all available vision services, and to view and analyze the results of your adjustments and their effect on overall system performance.
The Sample Applications & Source Code section details complete applications with included source code that you can use as a foundation for your work. It is often easier to start by manipulating someone else's code than to build an application completely from scratch. Your PlaySDK license gives you complete rights to alter and modify these sample experiences as you wish.
The PlaySDK User Manual, and the accompanying Experience Designers Handbook walk you through the process of designing an experience step by step, from the physical environment through the considerations that should be put into your design, code, and overall architecture.
Finally, the PlaySDK Technical Reference gives full details regarding the PMVE API, including all method calls, services, and XML structures.
What hardware do I need to run the PlaySDK?
The basic hardware as of version 1.0 is a fast Windows PC with a webcam. More specifics can be found by viewing our complete System Requirements, which outlines PlayMotion's optimized and certified delivery platform for delivering real-world, high performance applications.
I use a Mac. What are my options?
The fastest way to get the PlayMotion Vision SDK running on your Mac is to... (drumroll please) install Windows on your Mac (i.e. dual boot). There are two solutions:
- Apple BootCamp - Apple's sanctioned product for running Windows native on Mac
- Parallels - a software Windows emulator for MacOS
A MacOS port of the PMVE is in the works, due late 2010. If you have chops in OpenCV, multi-threaded programming, C++ and ports, give us a call.
What software do I need to create games?
Beyond Python, PlayMotion, and the Panda3D Game Engine, there are several tools which you may find very helpful in the creation of your games. It is useful to note that great games involve a unified synthesis of interface, code, design and content. We list several free and open source content authoring tools below; there are many excellent commercial packages available as well:
Additionally, you may wish to perform computations or effects that are outside the purview of Panda3D. For instance, we highly recommend installing and configuring the latest version of FMOD, a leading game audio engine, which is far superior to OpenAL.
Whichever creation tools you use, content will need to be exported and formatted to match the specifications of your chosen game / graphics engine. Please view our Content Format Specifications for details. General process flow is also discussed in Pipeline Tips.
What skills do I need to create applications with the PlaySDK?
The PlaySDK has been architected to meet the needs of both experienced programmers and scripters alike. All the included Sample Applications are written in Python, a high-level scripting language without all the memory management issues inherent to C++ development. Our current graphic library of choice is Panda3D, though you are free to directly call OpenGL, DirectX, or any other graphic library of your choice.
Designers unfamiliar with scripting should learn Python and get with the program. :) Alternatively, designers may choose to visit the forums and pair up with coders interested in helping bring your designs to life. Conversely, programmers who are design illiterate or haven't spent time honing the other half of the brain should check out PlayMotion 101: A Design Primer. Least we forget that it take two halves to make a whole.
Can I use the PlaySDK if I don't know how to write code in Python?
No. The PlaySDK requires an ability to either modify existing Python code, or to write your own Python code from scratch. That said, Python is a fairly easy language as these things go, and there is an excellent base of tutorials available on the web. If you've ever coded in any language, Python will be easy to pick up. If you've never coded before, Python is a great place to start. And the Panda3D libraries make many videogame development, 3d rendering, and audio functions highly accessible to the novice while maintaining the power and flexibility necessary for high-performance games.
- In all cases, we recommend that you download and install PyPE, a text editor optimized for Python development. From there...
- Completely new to programming? Start Here.
- Have coding experience, but you're new to Python? Jump to Python Tutorials
- Have decent coding skills, new to Panda3D? Learn Panda3D
The best place to get started with any language is to download some source code, open it up in your editor, take a look at it, run the program, see how it performs, make small modifications to a part of the code you think you understand, save the changes, run the newly modified program, see that the changes made the effect you were looking for, step, repeat. Keep iterating until you have a program that does what you want!
If you are a designer with no coding experience whatsoever, check out our mini-primer: Programming for Designers.
I can code just fine. Where can I find good content assets?
There are a number of websites online which offer massive libraries of 3D content, in various levels of quality, formats, and price. A most excellent place to start is the Alice Library, a visual dictionary of textured models already ported to the Panda EGG format, including all basic geometric primitives:
- Alice: Panda3D Free Model Library
You might also wish to check out: - TurboSquid, and
- HighEnd3D
Note that the models available from these sites are like clip-art; they are not optimized for the applications you are developing, and may need significant modification to suit your specific needs. For superior results, find an artist to pair up with who can craft the specific content that you need.
How do I integrate art assets (images, sounds and 3D models) into my application?
Integrating art into your applications is generally as simple as authoring the content, exporting it to the appropriate file format, and referencing the data object (and relative path) from within your Python code.
Read about specific Content Format Specifications here. >>
Can I distribute applications I create using the PlaySDK?
Applications created with the PlaySDK are free to distribute for non-commercial use. If you intend to use PlaySDK based software in commercial applications (i.e. situations where monies are transferred between parties, or applications used within or on behalf of a for-profit corporation), you need to upgrade to PlaySDKpro prior to commercialization. Contact PlayMotion sales for licensing information.
How can I package my application into an executable file?
Start here: Building a self-extracting executable using PackPanda.
We wish you power and passion on your journey,
-The PlayMotion Team