CompuServe Messages

I can't speak for Autodesk, but I'll give you a synopsis of my reaction. 1. Microsoft stated years ago that they plan to own all aspects of the authoring market for the home consumer "set top" interactive TV business which is going to emerge over the next 5-7 years. This includes all their current offerings, plus video editing, 2D animation, 3D animation, paint, titling, and image processing. 2. MS set up an advanced technology group (they call it the ATC) years ago with that mission… to only work on products that are going to be released in the 1996-> timeframe. This is the "set top" timeframe. They also started licensing HUGE amounts of "content" at this time. 3. MS hired Martin Hash in 1992 to develop the 3D animation part of the ATC's charter. But in 1993 MS let him go (sources say that this is because they saw no future with him). Do you think that their problems with Hash would make them forget about the 3D market? No way! Not Microsoft! 4. So, in mid-1993 MS starts looking around for another company to make a beach-head with in the 3D arena… Now, what other company also does spline-based character animation? (ie, character animation is the key here, since it's very accessible to a wide consumer audience who doesn't really care about architectural visualization or flying logos). The closest company to this spec is SI. (Forget the fact that they paid $120 million for a company that had only $20 in sales last year… Hey! It's Microsoft! That's petty cash for Chairman Bill!) To sum up, what you'll see is that over the next couple of years, there won't be much of a change in the way either MS or SI do business. In that time, they'll be working on products that fit into MS's "set top" strategy. And in early 1996, you'll wake up one morning to see the entire industry start changing… REAL FAST. There ya go, – G PS: We're changing right along with it… That's a personal guarantee from me.