Collaborative Multimedia Game Environments

We have implemented a multi-user distributed and collaborative environment, SHASTRA, on the multimedia desktop. This application conferencing substrate facilitates user level coopcration and supports many modes of asynchronous and synchronous multiple-user interaction. In this paper we describe how the SHASTRA infrastructure can be used to implement realistic virtual environments for collaborative interaction for entertainment and instruction. We present examples of collaborative multimedia games we have built in the SHASTRA environment.