CompuServe Thread

I am currently converting a Mac/PC Quicktime movie based product to CD32, so I hope my experience can be of some help… Unless you want to have practically no market, (almost no-one has an MPEG add on) you should convert the MPEG video to some other format. I use the HAM-6 mode which gives me reasonable color and results in 75% compression of my original data. With the double speed drive in the CD32 you should be able to obtain a reasonable compromise between frame rate and image size. (I was lucky – the Quicktime movies I had to convert only ran at 5 frames per second, allowing me to do the movie full screen). I used Adobe's Premiere on the PC to extract the Sound, and my own Windows App to extract the graphics from my movies and convert them into my own format (basically interleaving each frame with a frame's worth of audio, to allow the audio interrupts to provide the timing) As far as equipement is concerned, I use a 486/66 to handle my movie conversion (but only because the original Quicktime movies were on PC CD-ROM). I can then have the new movie data transferred onto an ISO 9660 CD-ROM which the CD32 can read. I use an A1200 to write and test the small interactive application, with just one of the movies stored on its hard drive for testing purposes. An A4000/040 is the perfect system – Commodore recomend one, I don't want to pay for it when an A1200 is almost as good (and more like the real CD32). My CD32 has a Commodore debug board plugged into it (you may have trouble getting this – Mine came from Commodore UK (who are still in business), but I am a licensed developer. Try them on +44 (0)628 770088.) It costs about 80 pounds. The board lets you attach a floppy drive and hard drive, serial port etc. With this, you can copy your application onto floppy, put your data CD into the CD32 and test your program as if it were all on the CD. (and make changes without making a new CD!) I don't know of any authoring systems in particular, but I think one or two have been mentioned in recent Amiga Mags – keep your eyes open. It is probably easier to write your own program from scratch – I find authoring programs both complex and limiting and not worth the trouble ( I also don't want my products to look like everyone elses) When you come to sell your product, you will need a license from Commodore, who take a cut of your profits (I think its about $5 a unit). Its probably easier to get a professional publisher to do this bit, as they will have the funds for marketing etc. Hope this helps Mal