#Getting it to CD-ROM?
11 messages in this thread
I am going to create an interactive educational CD-ROM. I am going to use
Autodesk 3D Studio and Fractal Design Painter to get the graphic effects I
desire, now, all I need to know is… a LOT! First, How much space can an
average CD hold? What do I need to consider when creating this program as far
as colors are concerned, 16 or 16 million? What will I need to consider as far
as making it applicable to both the Mac and IBM? Once I have this thing
finished, is there anyone who can make it all happen? I mean, as far as making
it do what I want it to do (authoring), and getting it out on the market? What
is the average cost of having someone author it for me? Etc. Thanks for any
help you can offer.
-James Franssen
<<How much space can an average CD hold?>>
About 650M.
<<What do I need to consider when creating this program as far as colors are
concerned, 16 or 16 million?>>
It depends on whether you want the largest market or not. If you create images
with 256 colours you'll have the biggest market but an important issue with 256
colour displays is that you'll experience "palette shift" as you move from one
image to the next as the palette for the new image replaces the palette for the
previous image. It will appear as a quick random-looking colour change. There
are ways to get around this by using custom palettes. The problem with
supporting on 256 colour displays is that you loose much of the rich colours
you'll problably be producing using the packages you mentioned.
I'd say you'd best to support 16bit as a minimum. But now the size of the
images will be much larger. I suggest you store the image as JPEG with a
moderate compression, i.e. 90-95% compression then use a JPEG MCI driver to
access them from a multimedia package like Multimedia Toolbook.
There are possibly faster JPEG DLL available.
<<What will I need to consider as far as making it applicable to both the Mac
and IBM?>>
Macromind Director and using QuickTime for animations.
<<Once I have this thing finished, is there anyone who can make it all
happen?>>
Check out the Entrepreneurs forum and/or CD-ROM forum asking for
vendors/distributors.
<<What is the average cost of having someone author it for me?>>
If you've learnt 3DS and Fractal Painter, then possibly the hardest work is
over. I suggest you buy Multimedia Toolbook and then learn the OpenScript
programming, it is like HyperTalk, and do it yourself. You'll save yourself a
heap of money and learn a lot in the time.
It really isn't that hard with the right tools, though the final
marketing/distribution may be the most difficult. Bonne Chance.
DaviD "2 billion neuron refresh rate" GouID
>> It really isn't that hard with the right tools, though the final
marketing/distribution may be the most difficult. Bonne Chance. <<
Thanks a bundle, David! This is good info. By the way, do you have any idea
as to how I can go about marketing it? Thanks.
-James Franssen
<<By the way, do you have any idea as to how I can go about marketing it?
Thanks.>>
You should check out the Entrepreneurs or CD-ROM forums and ask for
distributors/vendors for your CD-ROM. I haven't tried this myself but there are
a lot of people here on CompuServe who could help you out, you've just got to
find the right forum.
You'd better have a complete business and marketing plan organised so you can
present it to anyone who might inquire. Also be prepared to get a small slice
of the pie i.e. 5-15% of the profits. Unfortunately this is how it works since
marketing and other costs are fairly high for CD-ROM distribution companies(or
at least that's what they have you believe).
Also regarding the price, it is an interesting phenomenon that you'll have to
charge a fairly high price for the CD-ROM or no-one will be prepared to
distribute it for you. Distributors won't put in the time to help develop a
product and market it if the profit margin is small, so the price usually has
to be high.
I remember having a discussion about selling programs and the conclusion is
that if you present a business plan that states it will be cheap to make and
the market price is low, no-one will be interested. But if you raise the price
significantly then you'll have a lot more people interested. This is simply the
economic reality.
You could think about making a premaster and then having a CD-ROM duplication
place make you about a hundred copies then distribute these to prospective
distributors. This may be more expensive but it will give you a chance to test
the waters and get some feedback.
You could also look at selling it here on CompuServe, where people could get a
"taste" for what the CD-ROM is(sample images) and then pay by credit card.
There is a service here on CompuServe that allows you to do that.
What about opening a World-Wide-Web site and showing off some of your images,
CD-ROM capabilities there? People could then order directly through your Web
site.
So in summary, if you want another company to help finance and distribute the
CD-ROM you'll be looking at a small cut of the profits but if you do it
yourself you'll have more work and need more capital but you'll be in complete
control and get 100% of the profits(or losses).
BTW Be careful of unscrupulous companies that agree to handle your product
after gaining the copyright to the CD-ROM and then "bury" it(don't sell it at
all), since they may be producing a competing product.
DaviD "I prefer mine with the crusts left on" GouID
Once again, David, you have helped tremendously!
>> What about opening a World-Wide-Web site and showing off some of your
images, CD-ROM capabilities there? People could then order directly through
your Web site. <<
One thing, how do I go about opening a World-Wide-Web site? I do have an
Internet address, but I am sure there must be much more to this. Thanks again
for your valuable input.
-James Franssen
<<One thing, how do I go about opening a World-Wide-Web site?>>
I've never tried myself but I'm sure you'd need to have an internet address(not
just an e-mail) address then set up the software and the Web pages. You should
be able to find someone in the Internet forum who could help you out.
DaviD "Spiderman, spiderman, does what ever a spider can…" GouID
James;
I am far from any expert, but I did attend a presentation by Silicon Graphics
recently. They are pushing their hardware to provide the services for a HOME
PAGE on the NET. If you "http://www.sgi.com", you will find information on
"Web Force". Check with them. Also, I believe Greg Pyros may be looking into
this also. The thing to be aware of is (according to SGI) is you need a
powerful server to handle the many thousands of "hits" per hour you receive.
I don't work for SGI, have no connection with them, and have expounded the sum
total of my knowledge about a Web Home page. I do have access to an SGI Indy
at work however, and I like it.
Dennis
Dennis,
FYI, we're offering SGI Web Servers and Authoring stations. Certainly a
painless way to lay out a page without having to know or edit HTML. BTW, an
Indy is capable of taking hundreds of thousands of "hits".
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Kevin;
You should forward that to the person that asked about it in this thread. I
just changed over to AMMEDIA, and lost all history.
Dennis
>> Dennis,
FYI, we're offering SGI Web Servers and Authoring stations. Certainly a
painless way to lay out a page without having to know or edit HTML. BTW, an
Indy is capable of taking hundreds of thousands of "hits". <<
Kevin Hi.
I was the original poster of this thread (no, not poster "child", although
some may argue with me on that). Could you provide me with further information
about Servers and Authoring stations? Thanks.
-James Franssen