AFAIK, almost all of the insane chat was Frewer's own. I think they had a plan when they started, but it outgrew them and turned into something altogether more fantastic.
"If anything was amiga, as the 'techtv' article mentions, I'm guessing this was."
I don't think Tim ever worked with Amiga, I'm pretty sure he was working with Matisse and Paintbox (as well as hand drawn techniques) at the time. But, yes, all the rotating "3D" effects are hand drawn and hand/computer effected and animated AFAIK. I can get the full story tomorrow.
if you're seriously interested, I actually work with one of the main animation guys (Tim Burgess is the name) he still works as a 2D animator and I can give you a link if you'd really like to know how it was done. Hint - it wasn't done with computers...
that difference seems awfully large - especially for a top market like Germany. Are you SURE that you're comparing tax-free with tax-free? The tax issue seems to be where most of the problems arise, as different states have different rules regarding advertised prices. In the UK you are allowed to advertise things at their tax free price so long as you clearly state the price after tax as well. Sounds like Germany may be different.
speed is the key, really. I live in central London, and am surrounded by cinemas (two have DLPs). The only way I've yet found to ensure an even MODERATELY competent projection experience is to see your chosen film on a preview or opening night. Showing the film scratches and fades it - and that's not gonna change. I've now seen 2 films on the DLP, Final Fantasy and Monsters Inc. Both were pretty impressive, but I found the main flaw with the DLP system was the shitty shadow detail and muted colour. In terms of sharpness it was easily a match for the typical out-of-focus, faded print that we're fed. In terms of stability and interference, the DLP is leagues ahead. having said all that, nothing has come close to the special screening of 2001 in a NEW 70mm 6 track print that I saw at the Curzon Mayfair last year. It was mind expandingly clear - looked like it was shot the day before. And I work in TV post production, so I'm not uncritical.
have you ever considered that it's your movie going habits that need to change? if you consistently watch movies intended for kids, you will always be surrounded by kids
You can't prove that. While it would certainly be CHEAPER to buy the eMachines, cost effectiveness is dependant on the use you get out of the machines, their longevity and support costs.
"Apple charge 2-3 times US prices outside the States"
That is a flat-out lie. Apple actually charge something like a 5-10% on top outside the US. An example is the iPod $399 (before tax) in the USA, £349 (279 before tax) in the UK. According to www.ft.com, that makes the before tax UK price equivalent to $406. There's a surcharge there for sure, but it's not a large one. I don't work for Apple but your post is plain misinformation and FUD.
Apple have made "education only" products for years. Remember the eMate 300 or the "All-in-one" G3? I don't know about the USA, but in the UK it was quite possible for legitimate students to get educational models - a massive saving over regular retail.
I tyotally disagree, the Sega Mega Drive was an excellent system and a massive success - crap like the Mega CD failed, then the Saturn - but Sega uled with the Mega Drive - Super Famicom was later and never had Micro Machines!
you seem to be forgetting that Sony look after their customers. Playstation was a real revolution in the console market owing to the high quality of te hardware and the diversity of the software, bringing the price of both the consoles AND the games over it's life breeds brand loyalty and then carrying compatibility over to their next generation console seals the deal. For the PSX owner, the PS2 is EASILY the best buy.
Sony laptops DO, INDEED suck - I use an Apple iBook, personally. But I have to say that Sony's support and service (in the UK at least) is fucking awesome - my boss killed his machine (I would say the machine died, but he has the hardware touch of death) Sony picked it up on a Friday afternoon at 1600h, and had it back on his desk on Monday at 1130h. In that short weekend it had actually gone to Belgium and back. That's a warranty worth having. I hope my iBook doesn't die anytime soon coz, although Apple have always treated me right in the past, I can't believe that they'd match Sony's magic weekend.
oh, amen about mtropolis. Killing that wonderful tool ranks alongside the death of the Newton in my book. Quark should be killed for that. The only thing sadder was the the suicide of Metatools - why would any company like that kick out the guy with all the ideas and sell all the great products to idiots like Corel? God knows.
I'm not taking anything away from the US, but it's really just that the US economy wasn't ruined by WWII that put it in the position it has today. Without WWII, who knows what the relative strength of the US, Britain, France, Germany and Japan would be today. I think we can be fairly sure that the US would be extremely strong, but would it be head and shoulders above the rest as it is now? I really don't think so.
the US didn't GROW into a superpower, it's just that the British Empire collapsed, Germany was crushed, France fell apart and Japan was bombed into the stone age. With all the competition gone (and many of their best minds harvested) the US won by default.
when you finally grow up, you may discover that 99% of the computers ever made have been constructed for some other purpose than playing a deathly boring first person killing game.
"but Sony charges you a total of $130 for features the Xbox already has"? How much do you have to spend to get good games on your X-Box then? I've got 'em both - I play on the PS2. Nuff said.
Slashdot Mirror
AFAIK, almost all of the insane chat was Frewer's own. I think they had a plan when they started, but it outgrew them and turned into something altogether more fantastic.
"If anything was amiga, as the 'techtv' article mentions, I'm guessing this was."
I don't think Tim ever worked with Amiga, I'm pretty sure he was working with Matisse and Paintbox (as well as hand drawn techniques) at the time. But, yes, all the rotating "3D" effects are hand drawn and hand/computer effected and animated AFAIK. I can get the full story tomorrow.
if you're seriously interested, I actually work with one of the main animation guys (Tim Burgess is the name) he still works as a 2D animator and I can give you a link if you'd really like to know how it was done. Hint - it wasn't done with computers...
that difference seems awfully large - especially for a top market like Germany. Are you SURE that you're comparing tax-free with tax-free? The tax issue seems to be where most of the problems arise, as different states have different rules regarding advertised prices. In the UK you are allowed to advertise things at their tax free price so long as you clearly state the price after tax as well. Sounds like Germany may be different.
speed is the key, really. I live in central London, and am surrounded by cinemas (two have DLPs). The only way I've yet found to ensure an even MODERATELY competent projection experience is to see your chosen film on a preview or opening night. Showing the film scratches and fades it - and that's not gonna change. I've now seen 2 films on the DLP, Final Fantasy and Monsters Inc. Both were pretty impressive, but I found the main flaw with the DLP system was the shitty shadow detail and muted colour. In terms of sharpness it was easily a match for the typical out-of-focus, faded print that we're fed. In terms of stability and interference, the DLP is leagues ahead. having said all that, nothing has come close to the special screening of 2001 in a NEW 70mm 6 track print that I saw at the Curzon Mayfair last year. It was mind expandingly clear - looked like it was shot the day before. And I work in TV post production, so I'm not uncritical.
have you ever considered that it's your movie going habits that need to change? if you consistently watch movies intended for kids, you will always be surrounded by kids
Centris and Quadra were such cool names, eMac doesn't really have the sex-factor by comparison.
how much of that is tax? I think that the US prices are always sales tax free.
You can't prove that. While it would certainly be CHEAPER to buy the eMachines, cost effectiveness is dependant on the use you get out of the machines, their longevity and support costs.
"Apple charge 2-3 times US prices outside the States"
That is a flat-out lie. Apple actually charge something like a 5-10% on top outside the US. An example is the iPod $399 (before tax) in the USA, £349 (279 before tax) in the UK. According to www.ft.com, that makes the before tax UK price equivalent to $406. There's a surcharge there for sure, but it's not a large one. I don't work for Apple but your post is plain misinformation and FUD.
Apple have made "education only" products for years. Remember the eMate 300 or the "All-in-one" G3? I don't know about the USA, but in the UK it was quite possible for legitimate students to get educational models - a massive saving over regular retail.
OH FUCK ME, NO!
I tyotally disagree, the Sega Mega Drive was an excellent system and a massive success - crap like the Mega CD failed, then the Saturn - but Sega uled with the Mega Drive - Super Famicom was later and never had Micro Machines!
you seem to be forgetting that Sony look after their customers. Playstation was a real revolution in the console market owing to the high quality of te hardware and the diversity of the software, bringing the price of both the consoles AND the games over it's life breeds brand loyalty and then carrying compatibility over to their next generation console seals the deal. For the PSX owner, the PS2 is EASILY the best buy.
If you knew more about spelling, YOU wouldn't be making such a fool of YOURself.
that way lies madness
... that I sold my Colour Classic on eBay for just 125 Pounds last year...
Sony laptops DO, INDEED suck - I use an Apple iBook, personally. But I have to say that Sony's support and service (in the UK at least) is fucking awesome - my boss killed his machine (I would say the machine died, but he has the hardware touch of death) Sony picked it up on a Friday afternoon at 1600h, and had it back on his desk on Monday at 1130h. In that short weekend it had actually gone to Belgium and back. That's a warranty worth having. I hope my iBook doesn't die anytime soon coz, although Apple have always treated me right in the past, I can't believe that they'd match Sony's magic weekend.
is it a coincidence that Richard Paley is one of the aliases that Warren Beatty uses in The Parallax View? I smell something fishy.
oh, amen about mtropolis. Killing that wonderful tool ranks alongside the death of the Newton in my book. Quark should be killed for that. The only thing sadder was the the suicide of Metatools - why would any company like that kick out the guy with all the ideas and sell all the great products to idiots like Corel? God knows.
I'm not taking anything away from the US, but it's really just that the US economy wasn't ruined by WWII that put it in the position it has today. Without WWII, who knows what the relative strength of the US, Britain, France, Germany and Japan would be today. I think we can be fairly sure that the US would be extremely strong, but would it be head and shoulders above the rest as it is now? I really don't think so.
the US didn't GROW into a superpower, it's just that the British Empire collapsed, Germany was crushed, France fell apart and Japan was bombed into the stone age. With all the competition gone (and many of their best minds harvested) the US won by default.
when you finally grow up, you may discover that 99% of the computers ever made have been constructed for some other purpose than playing a deathly boring first person killing game.
hmmm, I paid £20 for Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec. How much is Project Batman Racing again?
"but Sony charges you a total of $130 for features the Xbox already has"? How much do you have to spend to get good games on your X-Box then? I've got 'em both - I play on the PS2. Nuff said.