CompuServe Thread

#world map

8 messages in this thread
#151269From: Mike White SunDog Pro.Feb 6, 1995 10:24 AM
Hi John. So far the only really detailed Earth maps I've seen are form Viewpoint, as you guessed. In the third edition of their catalog. If I find any news regarding you qestion, I'll post it
#151287From: John N. JordanFeb 6, 1995 11:55 AM
Yeah, it seems Viewpoint is the only one. (and they're not cheap) Mabe someone knows of an earth .dem from USGS on the Internet that can be imported into VistaPro, and exported as a grayscale.. it'd be pretty low rez, but something.. Thanks, John
#151582From: John WrightFeb 7, 1995 9:48 PM
There seems to be the feeling that Viewpoint's earth data is too expensive. Most of the data we sell has been brokered (we pay 50% royalty) from Earth Imaging and Tom Van Sants Geosphere. It is GREAT data. We sell it for around $1200. Is this too much. Do you want GREAT data to be cheap? Are you just playing with the data or do you have a client. We do deals for PROOF of CONCEPTS and demos. Tell us what you want….Low res, high res, low price, free, etc. We have built Viewpoint from users needs. We are now 75 employees, 6 years old, 1/3 owned by Motorola and need LOTS of feedback. Thanks
#151782From: Feb 8, 1995 5:45 PM
Hi John! I must say to everyone out there that JohnW has a point about the Viewpoint earth images they resell. We purchased a 24 bit image last year for a project, have used it a few times since, and it has easily paid for itself already in saved time and the fact that it worked right out of the box (right off the disk?) It mapped perfectly, and we could zoom in as we needed. It's pretty hard to find this quality images. I know, we looked! Did I hear someone say "you get what you pay for" again? :^) >> [We are] 1/3 owned by Motorola… Congrats on the Motorola deal going through! Greg Pyros
#151807From: John N. JordanFeb 8, 1995 7:00 PM
I know that Viewpoint has the best stuff around, and I know if you have great clients, you can afford great data. But unfortunately most of my work isn't with great clients, and I cannot afford to spend most of the entire budget purchasing a $1200 map of the earth that I'll use once, mabe twice. I know my market stinks, and the clients I am forced to work with are not used to paying for what 3D is really worth, but what am I to do? Quit my job? Mabe so. But for the time being, I'm making a living. I've been in the market for about 9 months now, and am glad to get paid on a regular basis.. Certainly I'm not a high end customer, but know I'd use more Viewpoint data if I could afford it. I recall a CD-ROM out by someone that included a mesh and map of the earth, among with other stuff for only around $300. It's hard to compete with that in my arena. I'm sure your data is worth what you charge, but it leaves alot of us in the lower end of 3D with little room to make money. If I knew it would work, I would suggest a one time type usage fee- but I know it won't. Mabe you all could put together some common objects used into a low rez bundle. I don't need an EXACT outline of the edge of every single continent, just something that gets the idea across. JNJ
#152091From: John K. JordanFeb 9, 1995 11:36 PM
>>dirt cheap earth for po' folks… Did you look at the BIGWLD.GIF in lib8 of GO GRAPHDEV? Do so. Combined with the EARTHC.??? from this forum you can have a very usable globe with cool clouds by mapping onto spheres. If for some reason you really want an earth _mesh_, you could make your own by starting with the BIGWLD and painting a displacement map with any paint program, then use the Yost Displace. JKJ
#152296From: John N. JordanFeb 10, 1995 4:13 PM
I'll check them out. Thanks JKJ
#151713From: Mike White SunDog Pro.Feb 8, 1995 12:19 PM
Your welcome John. I'll keep my eye's open for a good Earth map. Mike