Once you have successfully downloaded and started up the software,
your screen should look like this. If you are not able to get to
this point, then some problem has occurred. Perhaps the download
failed, or maybe you don't have the required high-resolution screen
drivers or enough memory. Email the developers for assistance.



The Menu Bar allows you to chose various actions and options.
These include initiating a connection to the Virtual Chat Server,
selecting your Viewport resolution, and setting your Avatar.

The Logged-On Users section will show the names of all users who
are connected to the Virtual World. Names in GREEN are in the same
locale as you and can therefore hear you chatting and can chat with
you. Names in BLACK are farther away and you cannot chat with
them (except through a Private Dialog).

The Virtual World Viewport is your window into the Virtual World.
Other users will appear in this window represented by their Avatars,
and you may use this view to guide yourself around the World.
You can adjust the size of this Viewport using the View Menu Button,
but due to bugs in some video drivers we recommend you make this
adjustment prior to connecting to the Virtual Chat Servers. Use the
largest resolution which fits well on your computer's monitor. If you
are using a minimum configuration system (less than 600mHz), you may
be able to attain better performance using a smaller resoultion.

The Scrolling Text Window will contain the chat messages
entered by you and other users. Each message will be prefixed with the
name of the person making the comment. This section will also contain
status messages from the system, particularly during logon and logoff.

The Chat Text Entry Window is where you type in your own messages for
the other users. When you hit the ENTER key, your message will be sent
to all users in the locale (names in GREEN) and displayed in their
Scrolling Text Windows with your name appended to the front. The system
operators do not, in general, censor the chat activities. However, please
use good judgement. Also note that certain content and discussions, such
as harrassment, extreme vulgarity, or illegal activity can be grounds
for the removal of your login.

In order to proceed further, your computer must be connected to the
Internet, with the ability to connect to non-standard ports on outside
servers. Some secure networks, both business and home, may run through
a proxy or firewall that will prevent this communication. There is no
work-around in this case. Other systems may be running firewall software
which can be configured to allow the communication. If you get a pop-up
from your firewall software when you try to connect using Virtual Reality
Chat, just give it permission. No data, other than your chat messages
and other VRC-related information will be sent out, and no software will
be installed on your machine.

Use the File Menu Button 'Connect' option to attempt a connection:



If all is well, you will get a prompt for your login information:



You are free to make up any reasonable user-name you like. It must
be at least three characters, and leading and trailing spaces will be
ignored. If this is the first time you are logging in, click the Create
As New Account button (and be sure to spell your user-name with the
exact upper and lower case characters you want displayed). On subsequent
logons, upper/lower case will be ignored when you connect. If your new
user-name is unique in the system, or if your existing user-name has
the right password specified, you will be connected. Note the
status messages from the Server in your Scrolling Text Window:



At this point, you may wish to select an Avatar Visualization. Use the
Avatars Menu Button. Note that these selections are not available until
you have successfully connected to the Server, and may change from time
to time.



You are now all set to chat or explore. To chat, simply type your
comments into the Chat Text Entry Window:



Your comments will not be transmitted until you hit the ENTER key, so
you have a chance to edit spellings or other errors using the BACKSPACE
key. Then your comment will be displayed on the Scrolling Text Window
of all connected users whose names appear in GREEN. You can use the
scroll bars on your Scrolling Text Window to review comments that were
made some time ago.

If you would prefer to speak privately with someone, rather than having
your comments go to all the users in the room, you can use a Private
Dialog. Simply click on the user's name in the Logged-On Users list,
and a Dialog to that user will open:



Only two persons can be in a Private Dialog, but you can open multiple
Private Dialogs if you like.

Moving about in the Virtual World is easy, just use your LEFT ARROW and
and RIGHT ARROW keys to spin in either direction, your Up ARROW key to
move forward, and your DOWN ARROW key to move backward. The PAGE UP key
will tilt your view up and the PAGE DOWN key will tilt your view down.

If you would prefer to use your mouse to navigate, try dragging it
inside the Viewport. Versions of the software 00.04.006B and later
support this feature.

When you come to a door or transporter in the Virtual World, you will
see a pop-up asking you to wait while additional data is loaded by the
program:



The time this will take depends on the size of the World you have just
stepped into, the speed and memory of your computer, and the speed of
your Internet connection. It could be 5-30 seconds, but usually takes
less than 15 seconds. Once a World is loaded, is stays loaded and won't
have to be loaded again.

There are many interesting places to visit in the Virtual World, and
new locales are being added all the time. If you would like to see what
your Avatar Visualization looks like, be sure to visit the Entertainment
Lobby where there is a mirror:



Note that above the head of each Avatar is a nametag identifying the
user it represents. If the Avatar has 'eyes', then they will point
in the direction the user is looking. Sorry, nametags do not reflect
in the mirror!

In the Nebula Lounge, there are live web cameras to view, and a
raised gallery so Avatars can look down on the dance floor:



Throughout most of the Virtual World, including the Central Base
Transporter Room below, transporters are represented by a green
disk on the floor. If you step on a transporter, you will be taken
to another totally different world!