Download Cosmo Player now!

[Updated December 2005]
Note: Cosmo Player is no longer supported or maintained by CA, and doesn't support the latest features of VRML. Some newer worlds won't work with Cosmo Worlds. Never fear, you can get a newer browser instead, or enter the 21st century with VRML's successor, X3D.
However, if you want to view an older VRML world that was made for Cosmo Player, you can still get it below.

Cosmo Player 2.1 for Windows

Cosmo Player 2.1.5 for SGI Irix

Cosmo Player 2.1b for the Mac (Classic only)

As of October 2004, the Computer Associates download site for Cosmo Player is unavailable, so I've redirected the Windows and Mac links to the National Institute of Standards and Technology mirror site. SGI still hosts the IRIX version. The IRIX version of the Cosmo Worlds VRML authoring tool is freely available from SGI as well, but CA no longer makes the Windows version available. A modern equivalent is VizX3D for Windows, or the Free White_Dune for Unix/Linux/MacOSX and Windows.

Mac users note: Cosmo Player is not available for Mac OS X.
For a browser that works on Mac OS X under IE, Firefox and Safari, see sidebar. Cosmo for Mac only works in Netscape 4, not in any other browser (including Internet Explorer and Netscape 6). After installing, Mac users should increase Netscape's memory allocation to between 40 and 60MB - virtual memory if necessary.
For more information on Web3D, VRML and Virtual Worlds on the Mac, visit MacWeb3D.org.

Problems installing Cosmo Player?
If you're a Mac user, I can help you - email me at macvrml2005@karmanaut.com, or visit MacWeb3D.org.
Windows users, please try this archive of the official Cosmo Player support site.
IRIX users can find assistance at SGI's Cosmo Player page.

For more information about VRML in general, visit Rev. Bob Crispen's VRMLWorks or The VRML Archives, maintained by the Web3D Consortium. To check if your VRML browser is installed and working, use Robert Lipman's VRML Browser Detector at NIST.

Links not working?
If any of the links on this page don't work, please let me know by email: cosmo2005@karmanaut.com.

Newer VRML browsers and other platforms

There are currently a few major cross-platform VRML browsers available:

1. Cortona from ParallelGraphics is a modern, commercial browser with advanced features including native support for Nurbs, GeoVRML, reflection mapping and more. It's available for Windows and Mac (both OS X and Classic). And it works on Firefox, my favourite web browser.
2. LookAt from the Open VRML Advancement League is a Free Software project. It's already very good, and if it's missing a feature you want, write it yourself ;) It's available for Linux, Mac and Win32.
3. FreeWRL is another Free and Open Source browser, this time for just Linux and Mac OS X, targeted at immersive virtual reality.

More VRML browsers

If you have specific needs, there are lots of other VRML browsers out there.

A popular browser for multi-user worlds is Blaxxun's Contact, available for Windows only.

Linux users can find a list at Gerall Kahla's VRML4Linux page.

Mac users should head for MacWeb3D.org, which is edited by the triumvirate of Michael Louka, Steve Gynup and myself.

Bob Crispen's VRML FAQ also has a long list for just about all platforms (new URL).

Also, I edit the VRML Plugins category at the Open Directory Project - you should find an up-to-date list there.

Beyond VRML

VRML has been superseded by X3D - a new, extensible Web3D format with an XML encoding. X3D is an ISO standard, just like VRML, and is largely back-compatible with VRML. There are two main X3D browsers at the moment:

• Xj3D is a project of the Web3D Consortium focused on creating a toolkit for VRML97 and X3D content written completely in Java. The Xj3D install includes an X3D browser for demonstration purposes.
• Mediamachines Flux is developed by Tony Parisi, one of the inventors of VRML.