[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Poll about Mockingboard h/w clone

Rubywand wrote:

<snip>


     Wouldn't be hard, either. The circuit is dirt-simple with no special
IC's required. Plus, docs and piles of support software are available from
public archives.

     Two big 'make or break' decision points are probably: Include Speech?
and Selling price.

     Having speech would be kind of nice; but, as far as I know, speech was
not a significant component of any popular game. It might be of interest to a
few users. Big problem is that Including Speech could nearly double
manufacturing costs; and, selling price is very important.


Is there a current source for the SSI-263 speech synthesizer?  I thought
it was made of unobtainium.

Earlier versions used the SC-01, but it is long gone.


     Right now, just about every newly developed piece of Apple II hardware
is priced high with correspondingly low sales numbers. That's too bad. Miniscule volume passes up on cashing in on the positive feedback effects 
which come with getting a product to mobs of users.


Well, "mobs" is relative.  I'd guess that selling over a hundred is
huge market penetration in the current environment.


     That's especially true for something like Mockingboard. Sell a hundred--
everyone yawns and goes about their business. Sell a couple thousand and
you've got a market for new games and other software that uses a Mockingboard
.... which means the Mockingboard maker is going to sell even more units.


Are there even a couple of thousand Apple II enthusiasts on the planet?

And if there are, are they "in touch"?  Are they willing to spend $50?


     What would be kind of cool is for A2Central to have one or two good
Mockingboard games and utilities ready to sell.

     Something many people overlook is that there really is money to be made
selling to 'vintage' computer owners. With so many boring products flooding
the PC and game machine markets, that's more true than ever.


What example are you thinking of?  There are C=64's in joysticks, but
they are for nostalgic gamers--and apparently they aren't as nostalgic
as the creators hoped, since they were "bombed" out of toy stores for
$10, less than half their intended selling price...

-michael

8-voice music synthesizer using NadaNet 2.0 networking!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

"The wastebasket is our most important design
tool--and it is seriously underused."