#CD-vs-CD
31 messages in this thread
3D0 is an impressive machine. I finally got to see one, and play with it
for a couple of hours. (Thanks Mark!)
General impressions:
1. The graphics are all Lo-Res just like all the reviews report, but
it doesn't matter, because the overall level of detail is so high,
and everything moves so fast that you just don't notice it. The
still pictures you see in the magazines look pretty lame, but when
this thing is up and running, its impressive as hell! The pixel
interpolation thing that is touted in all the reviews actually
seems to work in the still shots, but it must be software
controllable, because I don't see it in anything in motion.
2. This box is nearly capable of FMV without the FMV module
installed. I watched about 10 minutes of "Batman The Animated
Series" playing from the Demo CD, and I couldn't tell that I
wasn't watching it on TV. I saw the occasional artifact, but the
overall quality was better than what I see on my TV set. The need
for the FMV module shows on anything that comes from a camera, but
the quality is still the best I have seen without dedicated FMV
hardware.
3. CD quality sound is a real plus. The "ST-TNG" demo uses it, and it
was the only one to do so besides "CPU Bach" It makes a NOTICEABLE
difference in the gameplay. (My perception, others may not pay as
much attention) All the others used 8-Bit sound with noticeable
distortion due to the low sampling rate. Maybe these guys grew up
on cheesey Soundblaster sound and don't know any better, but this
stuff really grates on my nerves. EVERY Amiga game I can remember
playing sounded better than these! LISTEN UP AMIGA DEVELOPERS –
USE 16 BIT SOUND!!! (The difference is that noticeable, even on a
1084S)
4. The standard lame demo software that comes on the demo CD's is in
many cases better than the best Amiga games I've seen in the same
category. This is not due to the quality of gameplay, or the
whether or not the game in question has any of the qualities to
get it rated 90% or better in any rating system. This is entirely
due to the capabilities of the platform! The demos I've seen of
actual games blow away their Amiga counterparts. Some of the best
Amiga games could be mind blowing if ported so as to take
advantage of the capabilities of this platform!
5. 3D0 has all the major game developers lined up with many major
game releases set for the near future. Ask Mark Manes if you want
a good list of current and expected titles. CD32 has to rely
primarily on the Amiga developer community who can't possibly
match the $$$ and manpower of the developers lined up for 3D0.
6. 3D0 has TWO expansion ports – one for the FMV module, and the
other for who knows what. We may see the 3D0 people producing a
peripheral to turn the 3D0 into a home computer or into a TV
Set-Top Box. Who knows?
Time for the disclaimer;^) I am one of the loyal Amiga fanatics who
has used both of the other major platforms. I freely admit I haven't seen
any CD32 software beyond the Pinball game. (I WANT!!! I'm HOOKED!!!) I
hope that the Amiga developers have something good up their sleeves
because I would like to see the Amiga prosper. I have seen both versions
of the CD-I, and while it will make a good movie box, I don't think it is
a serious contender in the CD game machine wars. I have yet to see a
Jaguar, so I reserve judgment on it 'til I see one.
I know that the CD32 is capable of great things, and while all the
above review of the 3D0 makes me sound like a rabid 3D0 fan, I want to
wait and see what the Amiga developer community can produce before I
decide which one to buy. Dominick Fontana, since you own a Jaguar, could
you please post a review for the rest of us? And, could one of the
European CD32 users post a review of the CD32 for us? I'll be playing more
with the 3D0 (If Mark lets me) so I will be posting a more in depth review
in the future.
I see my personal biases showing in my dismissal of the CD-I, so
someone please post a review of this platform as well. I am going to see
if I can enlist the aid of my local dealer to test all four systems under
identical conditions to get a less biased and more informative review for
the AmigaFora. Please feel free to make recommendations about anything
from good methods of review to good titles to review.
Stuart
Stuart,
You know that I have become more interested and even excited about the
multiplayers (I like this name better than 'game machines') in the last
couple of months. It was I who has pushed our lagging Amiga retail store
into this new venue as I think 'set-top' technology is going to boom this
year or next. I think the reason is simple–people are finally ready for
it, and the technology is finally here to deliver it.
As I look at the CD32, CD-i and now 3DO in our store I become a bit
perplexed as to which box is really the best. I look at CD-i as the
'fahter' of the concept. The titles I have for CD-i, especially the
reference titles are excellent. Title availability on the whole is good
and Phillips has done a lot to edcuate the marketplace. I think the age
of the CD-i player is showing though. It's 16 bit engine really can't
keep up with 3DO at all. It's lack of memory keeps it from doing the
things that it could do even with it's limited CPU power. Yet, I can't
count it out as the marketplace may learn to embrace this product
regardless of the technical merits of the competition.
Now enter Commodore with CD32. I _like_ CD32. What I can't decide is
whether I like it because it is a 'stealth' Amiga or because it lights
some form of enthuisasm within me. I would dearly love for Commodore to
have a hit again in the United States–using our tried and true Amiga
technology. Right now, with the only CD title I have I can't make a
judgement about this machine. Of the three machines though, this machine
could be the stealth product of '94 and '95, _IF_ the product gets
distribution and if Commodore could somehow get the price down another
$100. Remember it was not technical superiority of the Commodore 64 that
won the early 8 bit wars–it was the price. Atari did have a better box.
3DO, this really is the killer product we have all been reading about. I
couldn't believe it–in fact, I talked to a variety of people about 3DO
before we ordered our first batch. The machine fired up with the Sampler
CD and I saw impressive _FAST_ graphics that while not _high resolution_
in the pixel sense they were impressive. Impressive in a way that I can't
truly describe. The object oriented graphics approach of the hardware
become quickly evident when you play with some of the 'Diversions'
included on the Sample CD. One 'diversion' in particular was a car racing
game. I am not talking about Crash 'n Burn either. The demo I am
talking about is called Road Racing and you can change your angle of view
and the 3D graphics moved nicely and correctly. It was not me on a
bitmap, but rather me on a 3D race track. It is hard to explain, it must
be witnessed.
Next I loaded Crash 'n Burn. This game disk is included with the system.
This game while a typical shoot 'em up will dizzy you with it's speed and
ability to emerse you in yet another 3D world.
The new pricing of 3DO at $499 is going to hurt Phillips and Commodore.
Like I said before pricing and title availability is the key.
I can see entire new markets being created around these multi-players.
Including a change in the music CDs that allows both video and audio
(something better than CD+G) to co-exist on the same disk. You take the
disk to your car and it just plays the audio, you plug the disk into your
multi-player and you have both video and music. I do see CD based movies
as the way movies will be distributed in the future. I read the earlier
debate here a couple of months ago and decided that I would not comment in
that thread until I have seen a CD-based movie. Folks, CD based movies is
impressive–think of it as the laser disk for the masses. It is fast,
convient and storage is finally reasonable. I have giant boxes of Video
Tapes–I am tired of them. 🙂 I don't think VCRs are dead, rather they
will be religated to the tasks of copying things from television instead
of playing rented movies. If you haven't seen the CD based movie yet,
you need too. It is more than you think.
I also believe that magazines on disk (read CD ROM) will work. The
problem with floppy based magazines is they can't get enough information
on them, there was no real advantage to them. Now you could easily sell a
$9 disk that includes video commercials as well as articles that are
read.. multimedia presentations… game demos… product catalogs, etc.
The advertising would pay for this as soon as the advertisers see the
merits of the technology. This will be the defining _high tech_
publishing medium of the '90s. I am sure of it.
So while some will look at the new 'game machine wars' as 'game machines'
that should really be ignored I will look at it with keen interest. It is
the 'next level'–and one that has taken a long time to come.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Mark,
I'll stick with "Game Platforms" for now, because every "Serious" article
and review treats them as such and ignores the obvious potential for these
machines to do more. In fact, after trying to recall any mention of these
CD boxes as more than "Game Machines" all I can recall is SCALA and
INFOCHANNEL and similar software, and the kiosk or "interactive
information dispenser" that has no ties to the Information SuperHighway
that you and I see ahead. So, "Game Platforms" they are, until I see
evidence that they will be tied into the "Net"
I see that we both agree that the Set-Top market will be very important in
the future. Currently, you seem to know more about this than I do, but I
intend to try to get info that I can post here to detail what is planned
in the future of interactive TV etc.
As far as the platform-vs-platform perplexity that we all currently have
with respect to which is the better box, I hope we can all reserve
judgment for the time being. From my own experience with 3 of the 4 major
players, I can say that they are all "good" as game platforms. I want to
explore each in depth and report on their strengths and weaknesses. I
admit I am partial to the idea of the CD32 coming out on top, BUT even if
it is the "best" platform, it might not dominate the market, and that is
another factor that must be taken into account. (Remember Beta vs VHS)
At this point, I'm not going to go into any detailed head to head
comparison of titles. I still have to get agreement from my local dealer
to do this comparison of hardware and software.
The future of CD based machines –
The CD movies are here. They're much less cumbersome than VHS, and
will not wear out. The quality is also higher than VHS. I think that in
the forseeable future that they will have the same relationship to VHS
that current CD audio disks have with the audio cassette – each serving a
different but complementary function.
CD magazines – I dunno Mark… If we stick to text for publishing even
on CD, it won't be cost effective to fill a CD with text. Case in point:
US News and World Report online here on CI$ averages about 200K per week.
A CD-Rom holds about 3000 times this much information.First off – Who can
read all this in one week? Second – In order to fill this, we will have to
accept drivel of the worst sort, just to take up space. However, if we
move to video, the amount of information becomes quite reasonable, and the
production values can become quite high. This presupposes that everything
is distributed on CD. If Joe Sixpack is tied into the Information
SuperHighway, why would he need a CD anyway? He's getting all he could
possibly want on 700+ interactive channels. The best of the disk based
magazines today (not the ones with 200 pages of text and two coverdisk
games) have minimal circulation. The best method of delivery that I can
see is with the interactive TV show/Infomercial (perhaps home produced) A
disk just adds unnecessary complication. Yes, we will have them for a
while, but I think that they will go the way of the Dodo.
Assuming I can get support to do a head to head comparison of the major
game machine platforms, I will post my ideas on how to conduct this, and
solicit suggestions.
Thanks for the reply Mark,
Stuart
Stuart,
You do have permission to do this comparison. 🙂
I don't like the term 'game platform' as it does shortchange and even
cheapen the technology. I see much more than that.
Can your Nintendo play movies?
Can your Nintendo use reference materials? (It probably can–but would
it?)
I consider the entire discussion of the "Information Superhighway" more
political gobbledygoop than reality. Oh, there is a network out there but
it is going to be another five years before we see the kind of public
access that Gore loves to talk about. Sure, you can get on the internet
now–but is that the best we can do for the 'information superhighway'?
If the Information Superhighway is some sort of interactive cable setup
there has got to be a lot of work done that I don't think is beyond the
test stages. In my work with Cable companies their biggeest concern is
cost recovery and the ultimate profit that they can get. The "set top" is
a major stumbling block since very little standardization has been done.
While I do see the 3DO, CD32 and even CD-i as a possible 'set top' device,
I rather think that it will be the next generation of machines that truly
will become the devices that the media really loves to talk about.
CD Magazine would not be a tradional 'print' magazine. It would in fact
have very little print at all. Rather it would be a video / graphic /
sound experience. Text would be incorporated perhaps for search purposes,
etc. In order for this to be a reality one of the boxes (3DO, CD32 or
CD-i) must have MPEG and in be in several million homes here in the United
States. I think it a really exciting concept if executed correctly.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Uh..
I used a bad example here… Nintendo's don't have CD-ROMs.
Using your virtual information superhighway galactic editor replace the
word Nintendo with Sega. 🙂
Sigh..
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
I'm confident the only reason Clinton & Gore are excited about the information
superhypeway is that they've got a secret plan to tax the h*ll out of it. 🙂
I think that the market will be driven by what the kids can convince
their parents to buy for them. Kids see these as game machines, and
that's what they will get excited about. You'll never hear a kid say
anything about a VCR or an Encyclopedia being cool. The additional
capabilities these machines have and the reference and edutainment
titles are more a balm for the parents so they can pat themselves on
the back for getting something that is "Good for little Johnny" You
and I see many additional uses, but they won't be the initial market
– thats kids who want games.
How about "CD Platforms" as an acceptable name?
You're right of course – the "Information Superhighway" is still
vaporware. I was just thinking to myself and my fingers were just
typing along (Mavis Beacon has been very good to me, I can nearly
keep up with my train of thought these days) Any of these machines
will make good set top boxes, provided someone will risk taking the
plunge. They are all probably capable of living up to the hype about
interactive TV.
The CD Magazine would work best for something like "Wired" which is
attempting to implement multimedia in a print format. (Mainstream
Cyberpunk is the impression I get every time I read it, so I tend to
call it the Oxymoron Magazine 😉 Other likely candidates are the
gaming publications, the magazines about multimedia,travel magazines,
and all these low budget low circulation instructional videos like
"Bassfishin' Basics" or "Golf for the Klutz" I personally hope to see
a leader like "US News" (each issue already on line here) take the
plunge and offer a CD version of the magazine. The format is nearly
ideal – short bytes about a lot of topics, and several larger
sections with higher info content. Something like "US News" would me
much more difficult to switch to a CD format, since their whole
operation is geared toward the written word. I'll put my money on
"Wired."
This whole multimedia concept just leaves me cold. Yes it is a useful
tool, but it isn't the paradigm shift that people are crowing about.
To me it is just a logical extension of TV married to computers. The
entertainment value is high, but the information content is low and I
find myself getting bored. Granted, we have barely begun the
"Multimedia Revolution" but I tend to compare it to TV, a fairly
mature medium, and TV has little appeal beyond B5 these days. (Its
looking to be one of the more Machiavellian shows ever on the tube
even if every actor playing a human has all the acting ability of a
two-by-four. The aliens are much more entertaining)
Mark,
One thing to keep in mind when evaluating the 3DO is that the current
crop of titles are "first time" development efforts — the developers are
just learning how to make the hardware "sing", as it's a new platform.
That implies that there is "more and better" to come in the future.
Contrast this with the relatively "old"/mature CD32 technology (i.e.,
people have learned from years of experience of how to push the hardware
of the Amiga technology). CD-I falls somewhere in the middle of this
range, but the current titles are not generally first-timers, which means
that they already benefit from prior experiences.
Technologically speaking, 3DO is the most promising of the three, IMHO.
Of course, we in this forum know that there's no real correlation between
the better technology and the successful product.
– BobR
Bob,
You touched on the exact reason why I think CD-i is important. I think
Phillips has gone a long way to 'educate' the user marketplace. I was on
the radio today discussing these new systems and you wouldn't believe the
number of people who called the radio program wanting to know about CD-i
compatibility. People, and I don't think just computer people, are
becoming quite interested in this whole 'multiplayer' or 'set-top'
concept.
I am impressed with what 3DO does now. I am surprised that so many people
who have seen it at trade shows were not impressed by it. It blew me away
with the first generation of titles.
Are you working on anything for it Bob that you can 'talk about'? (grin)
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
No, we're not currently working on anything for 3DO. Unfortunately,
we're not in the financial position to be able to risk being on the
leading-edge, as our resources are too limited to be able to balance that
risk with safer pursuits. It would be more of a matter of "betting the
farm", and I didn't/don't think that the success of the platform is that
much of a sure thing.
– BobR
>> I am impressed with what 3DO does now. I am surprised that so many
>> people who have seen it at trade shows were not impressed by it. It blew
>> me away with the first generation of titles.
Having not ever seen a 3do (or CD-I for that matter) I can't comment
on the relative merits of the machine. Perhaps you have low
standards? 🙂
Seriously though, it may be the same reason that HDTV isn't that
impressive to most people. With HDTV, the first thing that technical
writers for the magazines/newspapers do is rush up to the screen,
stand 15cm away, and say "Wow, look how small those pixels are!!!
This is fantastic!!". What they are forgeting is that current TV
resolution is perfectly acceptable to most people (You can't see the
pixels in a normal TV screen unless you get closer than is healty
(X-Rays)). I think you may have observed a similar phenomena in re:
3do. You may look at it and say "Wow, look at that! Realtime goudard
shaded reticulated v-splines with leather flanges!", whereas the
public looks at it and says "So what?".
Just my two peneth. Sam Yates Montrose, Victoria, Australia.
Sydney 2000
>What they are forgeting is that current TV resolution is perfectly
>acceptable to most people
Maybe, but most people are impressed with a laserdisc picture right
away, and it isn't THAT much better than broadcast. HDTV is a LOT
better. Most things in life are good enough as long as you never see
anything better. <G>
>> Maybe, but most people are impressed with a laserdisc picture right
>> away, and it isn't THAT much better than broadcast
I would guess that's because they are comparing it to VHS video rather
than off air broadcast. Laserdisc isn't very popular over here (Most
discs are in NTSC format, we use PAL. Interesting footnote: A PAL
laserdisc is noticably better then an NTSC laserdisc of the same
movie (Colour definition & resolution))
>> HDTV is a LOT better.
True. But it is also 10 times more expensive, ($30,000 for a TV?
Sure! I'll have seven.), and incompatible with current sets (unless
they use the HD-NTSC and HD-PAL format, which is much cheaper,
compatible, and not quite as good).
>> Most things in life are good enough as long as you never see anything
>> better. <G>
I remember when the workbench demos were impressive. *sigh* 🙂
Sam Yates Montrose, Victoria, Australia. Sydney 2000
Bob and Mark,
Sorry to cut in on this thread, but I thought I'll give you my opinion as
a user or a potential (or not) buyer of these products.
I do not think using a CDTV/CD-32/CD-I/3DO/Jaguar/.. (lets call this a
CD BOX), to browse Grolier Enc., or get my cooking recipes, browse
through georaphical maps, or paint using a paint program, would be
very useful to me. I prefer doing these tasks when I'm on my desktop
computer (an Amiga of course), so I can cut and paste information
with the rest of my applications.
So, when I am presented with a CD BOX, I will compare it to any CD-ROM
that can be bought. So why buy a CD BOX instead of a CD-ROM?.
Games: Indeed!. I think (well I'm sure) I have more games at my house
than our local Amiga dealer. I would buy a CD BOX to play games, but
definitely not for $400 and up. Even though my CDTV cost me $1000, but I
purchase it because I'm an Amiga fan (a little bit too much at that time).
If you're going to play games on a box that is that expensive, why not buy
a computer and then play similar things on it?.
Kiosks: Yes, but once again it cannot be too expensive.
In conclusion, I don't think people will buy these CD BOXES unless their
CHEAP game (ONLY) machines. I will buy a CD-32 when my 4000 can talk to
it, and only when it can :-).
One last thing, cable TV: Well, its the buzz word these days, and
every one wants to be in it. At my work we had 3 different companies
that came in with different boxes and wanted it to be the cable TV
thing!. Small time companies along with big names with hardware and
operating systems are trying to have their box to be the controller
of the information highway. CD-32 can do it, and others will, but
for sure there will be more than ONE on that TV. And I will
definitely NOT use it to read my email!. My Amiga is designed to to
that.
Hami,
There are more things to these CD ROM boxes as you call them, or as I call
them–multiplayers.
I don't think for example you are likely to want to sit and watch a movie
on your Amiga. I don't think for example that you would want to sit at
your computer desk and lean back and relax to some nice music coming from
your CD ROM from your Amiga. You might.. but that is not everyone. 😉
While I do agree that reading Groiler's is not what most people will do
with their multiplayers; I do think they are likely to play some of the
_fabulous_ games or interactive titles (not necessarily games) that may
well never appear on any other platform than the CD Boxes. Voyer for CD-i
might be a good example.
Different strokes for different folks. I think that there is a large
market out their for these madchines. While I love my A4000 to death, I
now freely admit there is a lot about the 3DO I like and I want.
If you haven't seen an 3DO, CD-i or CD32 I strongly urge that you do so.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Mark,
My name is Hani not Hami :-). I guess you have a good point about
the movies (watching movies on multiplayers), but the only thing left
is to convince everyone to get rid of their VCRs, or buy the
multiplayer as an additional (superior) VCR. That will take a lot of
money and even more money if the box (or whom ever is marketing it)
is not focused on one specific thing. For example a game machine
ONLY or a VCR machine ONLY.
I think there is a lot of potential in specialized multimedia
presentations (like kiosks) or games/movies on airplanes, but a $700 3DO
is too expensive for the general public.
I have seen and played with CD-I and the 3DO but not a CD32 yet :-).
Thanks,
Hani
US Videotel (NVN)
EMail: HYakan@nvn.com
Sorry Hani about the type-o.. at least your name isn't DiLullo. I
murdered his name in these very forums–defending him no less. 🙂
I don't see the multiplayers causing people to rid themselves of the VCR.
In any more than we saw the death of the cassette recorders on the advent
of the audio CD. Poeple will still want to tape special events, movies
and such with their VCR just as people will continue to use the cassette
recorders.
A lot of people now are spending time and money building in house home
theatres. These theatres consist of a decent Dolby Prologic or THX
system, a 8 foot screen, satellite system, and of course the VCR. I don't
see it as a streach that a multiplayer would not fit in somewhere with the
average guy who wants home theatre and also wants games, interactivity,
audio CDs and of course movies.
Since the MPEG module is not out for 3DO yet I don't know what this
addition to the 3DO would cost.. but a 3DO is now $499.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Hi Mark,
One note: the FMV card for CD-I adds a meg of "fast RAM", which will allow the
cpu to run 2-3 times faster than before… a benefit in future titles, FMV or
normal.
best – kev
Really?
Where is that in the documentation? That is really wonderful news. I do
like the CD-i player. It is good to see you here by the way.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Mark…
If you get a chance to view the two new CD-I titles coming from
Philips and the Smithsonian do so they are outstanding. They are
about the history of the Blues (music). The second one is going into
production this week – I saw a demo of it last week. Really
outstanding from a Blues lover's point of view and from a multimedia
point of view.
Can you get me any specific info on how to find these titles? My
first heros were bluesmen.
Steve…
I'll try. I should be able to but I just called our Folklore dept and got only
an answering machine. I'll try again.
I only got to see a portion of the most recent one and it was very
impressive. The purpose of the presentation was to compare
Laserdisc, CD-I, MAC, MS-Dos, and 3DO multimedia applications for
museum purposes. Very enlightening but not enough time to really
evaluate the different platforms.
I do have a CD-I machine here in the office and the lasting impression
I walked away with was that I wanted to get ahold of the two Blues
CD's even if I could only view/hear them here at the office (no CD-I
machine at home but this demo was enough to make me start thinking
about getting one.
As I saw 'museum' stated in your posting, I just wanted to point out the
London Transport Museum application that used a few A4000s and a few more
CD32s networked. The result is astonishing! If you want further
information, mail me. The project manager of this application is reachable
by Email…
Fred.
Frederic Botton from Paris, France
fbotton@cix.compulink.co.uk
The titles are improving on all of the systems.
I do look forward to getting some CD32 stuff in.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Mark,
A few weeks ago I purchsed a CD32 and was very happy with it, the only
problem was that the games were ports. I thought let me try the player out
with a family with young kids, so I lent it to some friends of mine. The
next time I saw them they didn't seemed to impressed with it, they
mentioned that the kids had all kinds of game machines. Another day went
by and I get a phone call and my buddy says to me, "This player is
amazing, it PLAYES music, games, movies and the picture is so clear." Also
I found out the first time they tried the CD32 it was hooked up to a ratty
old 19in tv, but when they moved it over to the big projection set with
the stereo they found that the CD32 really was something else..
Actually I think he would have been impressed with the 3DO player as
well, but what got thier attention was that the CD32 did SO MANY THINGS
and did them well and it wasn't just another game machine.
By the way they won't give the CD32 back to me and I'll have go and buy
a new one for myself<g>.
Eddie.Ski
I think that is what is exciting people–finally a machine that really
does do something different.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Stuart,
I think CD-I will still have the advantage of the broadest base, especially
when portables/handhelds are made available to the general public (Philips,
Sony, Kyocera and Goldstar all make CD-i portables now for industrial use).
One company in Japan now sells a CD-i based satellite navigation system for
automobiles. It can also play interactive titles, of course.
I believe Chrysler is considering making auto CD-i players an option. Some
airlines are thinking about installing them at each passenger seat.
With over 300,000 players and 3 million discs sold to end users (most in the
past six months), I think CD-i will continue to grow in a much quieter but more
long-lasting way than other, more news-making, systems.
best – kev
Kevin,
I got the European edition of CD-i world.. is there a US distributor for
this CD?
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Thanks for the info on the portable CD-I and its variants. The car
version is especially important. If CD-I comes with their car before
they have a home system, which CD Platform do you suppose they will
buy for home use?
I'm not sure that corporate use of these machines will have any great
effect on the home user. There is no way to pirate the corporate
titles except by outright theft of the disk, and I can think of no
other reason to buy the same model as at work.
CD-I has been around longer than the competing platforms, and has a
distinct advantage in name recognition. The infomercials help, people
actually do watch those things! I think we'll see more from the other
manufacturers as well.
I haven't seen any CD-I displays at the local record and video stores
lately, they seem to have disappeared.
Stuart
Seen 'em both, like 'em both, think CD32 is a more sensible alternative
market-wise and doesn't give much away in practical application. Its
non-MPEG video capabilities are quite good, too. The developers understand
the system and can (if they choose) max out the hardware to good effect in
a hurry, too.
I've seen them both too, and I like 3D0 a lot. I've only seen the pinball
game on CD32, so I don't have a fair basis for comparison. We'll see what
happens. Personally, I think that CD32 is capable of holding its own, but
the marketplace is fickle.