Re: Need info on Second Sight card

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article ldickey@aztec.asu.edu (L. J. DICKEY) writes...
>
>I was wondering if someone could tell me about the Second Sight
>card for the IIgs.  I know it can drive a VGA monitor, but what
>else is it capable of doing?

        At present, not very much. If you install a Second Sight
board into your Apple IIgs, it will attempt to shadow some of the
more commonly used graphic-modes onto a connected VGA/SVGA class
monitor (or AppleColor RGB). It is rather limited for this purpose,
and as someone pointed out, cannot act as a complete replacement for
the AppleColor RGB connected to the built-in GS video port.

        In terms of native Super-Hi-Res it does _not_ support multi-
palette mode (256 or 3200 color), Fillmode and some games that use
special technics to write to screen. Furthermore, it cannot achieve a
decent frame-rate, so many games with quick animation will be mucked up.
If you own an accelerator board, you may even be disappointed as displays
in GS/OS (scrolling, moving windows, clicking on menus) aren't shadowed
smoothly or as fast as before.

>Is there a version for the //e?

        Sequential Systems sells a 512K/8-bit color version with
Apple IIe users in mind, however more of the same problems apply.
Not all graphic modes are supported (Double-Hi-Res for example) or
done accurately. PC-ANSI text replaces the Apple text character
set, although some consider this a bonus.

        As to what else can you do with it, here is a list of
programs that are currently available and support the board in
some way (Note all for the Apple IIgs only):

- SecondView & SV Pro
- DiscQuest & DQ Encyclopedia
- ViewDL
- GView
- jpeGS
- FlicSS
- Renderin'GS
- Omega (text-only, not based on Origin game)

All those listed above are graphic viewers, or in the case of DQ/DQE,
add a simple extension that accesses one when it comes time to look at
images within the program. Most of these use the plain 640 mode screen
your used to, then jump to a colorful SVGA display (something to LOOK
at, not use productively). "Renderin'GS" is a 3-D world texture mapping 
demo, although only does about 1 frame every 30 seconds. "Omega" is a
game, but just makes use of the color PC-ANSI text. I may have missed
a program or two (if so, someone please add to the above list) but
basically that answers your question: Look at high resolution, colorful
pictures (GIF/JPEG/TIFF/BMP/PCX/DL/FLI...)

The only programs being updated, that I know of, would be Seven Hills
Spectrum (true color ANSI support) and SuperConvert (yet another graphic
viewer). Also a QuickDraw II patch, which would be the most useful of
all, but it takes time to complete. 

>#######
>| o o |      Hey...how'd I get in here?
>(  ^  )      Loren Dickey
> \ o /       ldickey@aztec.asu.edu

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca