Media Machines is a San Francisco-based company that makes 3D virtual worlds creation tools. It has a lot of serious experience with 3D web technologies with its founders taking influential roles with the evolution of 3D web content and graphics. Most notably, co-founder Tony Parisi is credited with inventing 3D graphics on the web. The company is re-focusing on virtual worlds creation tools given the recent successes with virtual worlds like Second Life, Habbo Hotel, Club Penguin and others.

Recently, the company even decided to raise a Series A round of funding to help ramp up its 3D world tool Flux Studio and other creation tools. The Flux Studio 2.1 tool lets developers create virtual worlds, objects and characters. It can also used to create content for Google Earth, Google Maps and Google Sketchup.

As for virtual world users, they have an end user product called Flux Player 2.1, which is a web browser plug-in for virtual world and 3D web content interaction and viewing. They also have a “Virtual Gallery” that lets developers post their recent work for community commenting and discussion.

Other 3D virtual world player tools include Pivoron Player.

BS Editor, SwirlX3D Editor, X3D-Edit are auxiliary offline VRML/X3D modelling tools made by competitors.