Update (July 1, 2004):

Because so many people have been wondering how to have both the Blaxxun Chat (via Contact 5.1) and the superior graphics and X3D support of Bitmanagment's Contact 6.x the following is offered. It's technically a hack (you have been warned), but it does  work. Install Blaxxun 5.1 first. This will install all the chat software. Next install Bitmanagement's newer Contact 6.x in a different directory.

If for some reason the install looks good, but you don't get 6.x support (ie, only 5.1 runs), use RegCtrls from Rodent Software. After installation, select File...Register File from the topmenu. Browse to the Bitmanagment folder (probably C:\Program Files\Bitmanagement Software\BS Contact VRML\) and select the JoyStickPlugIn.dll, blaxxunVRML.tlb, bsContactVRML.ocx, and blaxxuncc3d.tlb files. Reboot your box and all should be well.

Original story (June 7, 2004):

Like so many 3D enthusiasts, virtually the entire Pacoima Ranch Offices staff has kept upgrading their DirectX as Microsoft released newer versions. The current version is now 9b, yet most previous VRML plugins only could use through 7x, meaning a lot of graphic shorthand and shortcuts in texturing and multitexturing weren't available in Web3D (VRML and X3D).

The full power of DirectX 9 does require newer hardware, but most recent boxes should be able to handle it, and if not, there's a failsafe fallback to DirectX 7 for incompatible hardware and drivers. To try the beta of Contact 6.2, click here. It will time out towards the end of the month and should be replaced with a newer beta OR the full release.

The new 6.2 version also fixes the 16bit vs 32bit bug, so if you'd been popping into 16bit mode to keep VRML and X3D from crashing your system, you should now be able to avoid the hassle. Other bug fixes are in the pipeline for the final Contact 6.2 version.