The Palace
Introduction
“The Palace is a software program used to access graphical chat room servers, called palaces, in which users may interact with one another using graphical avatars overlaid on a graphical backdrop. The software concept was originally created by Jim Bumgardner, an employee of Time Warner Interactive, in 1994, and was first opened to the public in November 1995.” (Wikipedia, retrieved 17:10, 16 September 2010 (CEST))
Main features:
- A server is organised in rooms which are connected through doors. Each room is represented by a large Bitmap
- Users are represented by partially transparent 2D avatars, by default smilies
- Chat appears as chat bubbles above the avatars like in comic books
A palace server can be configured to include various extensions. There exist (free) versions that could (and still can) be run on consumer PCs and this may be the reason why Palace servers are still popular 10 years after the death of the company.
Software
Clients
Palaceplanet.net provides downloads for the "classical" clients and also has links to the more popular clients which are listed below.
- OpenPalace (Flash). See also the OpenPalace Wiki
- PalaceChat (Windows client)
- Phalanx
- The Palace Legacy Project
- Linpal (Linux, inactive since 2004)
Servers
- Palace Server Software (Win/Linux/Unix/Mac). If we understood right, this hosts the original servers. Not tested, no idea how safe this software is.
- Linux Palace Downloads A Linux Palace server is secure and can support 2550 users.
- The Palace Legacy Project also provides a copy of the same Unix server (but it has a different file name).
Extra client and server tools
- Palaceplugins.com Plugins for the linux palace server.
Similar technology
- The manor (Mad Wolf Software)
Links
- About the Palace
- The Palace (computer program) (Wikipedia)
- A Little Palace History. By Jim Bumgardner (main inventor of palace). In particular, a 2002 Interview with Jim Bumgardner is absolutely worth reading.
- Support groups and sites
- Palace Server and Client Support group (Yahoo group)
- ThePalace.com Old official website bought by Palace fans. Includes a Palace directory and links.
- Palace Planet. The community portal. Includes forums and downloads (or links to downloads)