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BYOND (Build Your Own Net Dream) is a suite of programs for creating and playing online games. Started in 1997 by a company named Dantom (which consisted of two people - Dan and Tom), it was initially called DUNG (Dantom's Universal Network Game). After a few years they rechristened it BYOND, reasoning that it's hard to sell something named DUNG.
BYOND is a powerful tool for creating online games with little time or budget, because it provides a pre-built network structure, a GUI, and sophisticted high-level programming tools. Although geared to RPG style gameplay, it is highly extensible and has been proven to work well with card games, board games, and even computer utilities that aren't games at all. Graphical (tile-based), rogue-like, browser-based CGI games, and pure text-based games are all possible. Registration on the website is free, and it provides access to a user forum, a unique "Key" commonly used for identification of gamers, and other services. The BYOND community is large and willing to help new users.
The BYOND suite of software that allows you to play, create, and publish BYOND games is free. A paid BYOND Membership includes benefits such as the BYOND Pager (an Instant_Messenger tied to the BYOND Key system), file storage space, subscription to the partner e-zine BYONDscape, a personal blog, and the ability to influence the rank of their favorite games in the network-wide BYOND Top-Ranked Games list.
Playing games
Most games currently available are only playable with the Dream Seeker client software which is part of the download on the BYOND download page, though some can be played via an internet browser, or a Telnet client.
Running the BYOND software, you will be asked if you wish to create a key. This key is usable for all BYOND games and the BYOND forums, and provides security from impersonators. Those who do not wish to create a key are welcome to use the universal "Guest" key, but that key is often banned from games because of the difficulty presented by moderation of guest users. Luckily, creating a key is free of charge and does not generate any spam or advertisments.
BYOND.com hosts a "Live! Hub" which lists BYOND games currently being hosted. The hub provides links to files that can be used to download and host games, as well as links to games that are already online.
BYOND's software
Four main programs comprise the BYOND suite:- Dream Seeker is the BYOND client software used for playing games. It is also possible to host games on the internet using this program.
- Dream Maker is BYOND's native IDE for the "Dream Maker" language, and is used to create and Compile games. It includes an editor with syntax highlighting, debugging tools, an indexed and searchable reference, a tile-based map editor, and an artwork manager. The tight integration between these applications speed up development time and allow developers to work without switching between applications and windows often.
- Dream Daemon is for hosting games. It is an ideal tool for use on servers that host BYOND games, since it is compatable with Windows, Linux, UNIX, and BSD operating systems.
- The Pager is a standalone program that allows users to see what games their friends are playing in real time. Paid Members can also send messages to other BYOND users.
Creating games
The DM language
BYOND games are created using the unique "DM" programming language. DM has roots in C, but is also syntactically similar to Python in its use of white space. DM programs are compiled to bytecode.Further detailed information about the DM language can be found in the DM reference.
DMCGI
While BYOND is used primarily for games that run using it's Dream Seeker client, a webserver with BYOND installed can also make use of its integrated CGI capabilities. DMCGI can be used for a variety of things from browser based games (such as Extreme Hangman) to dynamic web content. An example of a web application developed using DMCGI can be seen at BYOND's wiki site. http://bwicki.byond.com/ByondBwicki.dmbDMCGI is especially powerful because it can easily interact with live BYOND worlds. The ease with which developers can export data such as frags, server uptime, and game statistics is one of the most attractive aspects of DMCGI. DMCGI can also make use of the BYOND Key system with its built-in authentication system. The developer is given the choice between classic methods of authentication or BYOND's own secure method, cutting yet more time out of development. All that users have to do is provide their BYOND key and password to Dantom's secure server and they are securely logged in.
Getting started
Originally sold as a separate book as the "Blue Book", the DM Guide to programming in BYOND is now also available online and is a good learning tool to the language and its abilities: DM GuideBYOND user Zilal has made several tutorials that explain the basics of DM very well. Her first tutorial can be found at zilal.byond.com. Other tutorials can be found at BYONDscape's tutorials listing.
You can also ask for help on the developer forums.
External links
"BYOND"