Re: Second Sight SVGA Board Info (text only)

[ltchean@iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean)]

Ian Schmidt (irsman@drift.winternet.com) wrote:

: I seriously doubt there'll be any great support for this board, especially
: something as large-scale as a game, and if there is you'd better believe
: they'd want GS sound.  I really think that a board like this is an incredibly
: bad idea at this point in the GS life cycle, for a couple of good reasons:

I don't really think there will be any GREAT support too. But some supports
will be good enough. It is better than nothing.

When I refering to games that uses Second Sight WITHOUT sound, I am refering
to 8 bit game programmers writing games for the 8 bit Second Sight users, 
which will benefit us GS users too. (I believe NOT all Apple II programmers
are GS programmers, there must be some bright mind in the 8 bit world too)
If you are a GS game programmer, of course you would support sound.

: 1) All the really good game programmers left years ago (Steve Chiang, 
: Jason Andersen, John Brooks, Ryan Ridges, John Lund, the SpaceFox guys, etc)

All is the word too strong. I do believe I know one really good game
programmer called David Ong. 

: 2) We're finally getting some decent software that exploits the GS's built
: in capabilities (the FLI and GL viewers, Prism, ImageQuant, MOD players, etc).
: Is it such a good idea to fragment the remaining opportunities for programmers?

It is not to fragment the GS community. It is to give those who is damn sick
of GS resolution and looking elsewhere a chance back to the GS community. If
not because of Second Sight, I might be using a PC with OS/2 now. 

: 3) GNO/ME's been around several years and still has glaring holes in it's
: capabilities despite a minor horde of talent (James Brookes, Robert Hill,
: Soenke Behrens, Phillip Vandry, Jason Perez, Derek Taubert, and a lot more)
: working on it.  Now imagine the support for a board which entails a minimum
: investment (assuming you dont have a PC or are unwilling to swap cables
: all day) in the $400 range (for a cheapo 14" no-brand or CTX that'll blow out
: in 2 weeks anyway), when GNO/ME is only $89.

Of course, the support of the card is optional. If you don't have the card,
you can live with the 80x24 text mode in GNO forever. This IS your choice.
If GNO offers me something better when I get the Second Sight, I would go for
it. I would like to get extra resolution, and that's my choice.

: Now, I know the Pollyanna Patrol (consisting mainly of LTC and of course
: Jawaid himself, who must rationalize this board lest GNO users become angry
: about the lack of 2.0.5 or 2.1 this is causing) is gonna flame me good, but
: I don't really see any factual refutation for the above 3 points.

I am not flaming you. You might not want this card, and you have your reason
stated. I will get this card, and I have my own reasons. To be, this card is
the best news for GS community ever. This is the dream come through. And I
can't wait to get this card and do some programming on it. And believe me,
it is not just me and Jawaid alone.

: Ian Schmidt - irsman@drift.winternet.com - SELECT() ON PTYS! - INSOC:
: "If you've got to belong to something, belong to us and we'll make you PC"

--
           Lim Thye Chean: Lim is my surname. My name is Thye Chean.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Research Engineer:Institute of Systems Science. GALAXIA Authoring System author
  Address: Kent Ridge PO Box 1130, Singapore 9111   Email: ltchean@iss.nus.sg