Distributed collaborative environment definition system and method

A system having a processor for generating a reusable virtual environment item to be integrated into a visual computer simulation wherein the reusable virtual environment item is generated using object data gathered from a plurality of developers, the system comprising:

• a centralized knowledge management module for storing a plurality of objects wherein each object is of a pre-defined object class wherein the object class defines a structure for the object, an exporter for the object, a build setting for the object and a behavior for the object;
• a plurality of distributed workspaces communicatively connected to the knowledge management module wherein each workspace gathers object class information from the knowledge management module, gathers object data from a developer such that the object data conforms to the object class, and provides the gathered object data to the knowledge management module;
• a content repository operable to store graphical information relating to the objects stored in the knowledge management module;
• a content production tool which builds the reusable virtual environment item by gathering a plurality of objects from the knowledge management module wherein for each gathered object, the content production tool uses the object's exporter to export the object data from the knowledge management module;
• gathers graphical information related to the object from the content repository;
• and
• generates the reusable virtual environment item using the build setting for the object wherein the reusable virtual environment item conforms to the behavior for the object.