Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!apple.com!chewy
From: chewy@apple.com (Paul Snively)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Why don't more people write games for the Mac?
Message-ID: <8011@goofy.Apple.COM>
Date: 2 May 90 16:50:02 GMT
Sender: usenet@Apple.COM
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Lines: 71
References:<1990Apr24.152032.9516@smsc.sony.com> <1588@runxtsa.runx.oz.au> <7951@goofy.Apple.COM> <1615@runxtsa.runx.oz.au>

In article <1615@runxtsa.runx.oz.au> clubmac@runxtsa.runx.oz.au (Club Mac, 
Australia's Largest Mac Users Group) writes:
> In article <7951@goofy.Apple.COM> chewy@apple.com (Paul Snively) writes:
> >1) We (MacDTS specifically) have, as part of our sample code, code for 
dealing
> >   with offscreen bit/pixMaps that make it comparatively easy to do 
flicker
> >   free animation.
> 
>     Is it available to non-partners?

Yes.   Specifically, if you FTP to apple.com and browse around 
pub/dts/mac, it's in there somewhere with the rest of the sample code.

> >2) We have tools such as the Sound Manager and the MACE system for 
dealing
> >   with sound compression, decompression, and playback in a very 
consistent
> >   manner.
> 
>     Let's see some decent examples of using the Sound Manager - I've 
seen a lot
>     of people express difficulties with SM on comp.sys.mac.programmer.

Likewise, which is why we have SoundApp now as part of our sample code.  
Look in the same place as for the offscreen sample.

> >Well, we'll see if you still feel that way when we ship it.  In the 
> >meantime, you're more than welcome to do better.
> 
> WHEN IS IT GOING TO SHIP?

Optimistically, late summer.

> Are we going to see it before Boston Expo?

I don't know.

> Sure, little ol' me with sweet FA inside information is going to do 
better than
> the hordes of programmers working on System 7.0! From all the hype on 
System
> 7.0, it better be as good as Jan '84.

My point was precisely that what we're doing is difficult, given the 
overall goals of our System Software, and since one of our overriding 
goals is reliability, it's late.  On the other hand, it incorporates some 
technologies that we felt it important to tell our developers about early 
so that they wouldn't be completely swamped with new stuff when we 
suddenly sprung System 7.0 on them.  You can't have it both ways; you 
can't have important information up front, followed by an immediate 
release of the new stuff.  As for the "hordes of programmers working on 
System 7.0," hopefully everyone knows that the way to get something done 
quicker isn't to throw more manpower at it. :-)

As for "will it be January '84 again," the answer is basically yes--and, 
as in January of 1984, it will take some time before we see software that 
really takes advantage of the system.

__________________________________________________________________________
                                Paul Snively
                      Macintosh Developer Technical Support
                             Apple Computer, Inc.

1st Choice: Paul_Snively.DTS@gateway.qm.apple.com
2nd Choice: CHEWBACCA@applelink.apple.com
Last Choice: chewy@apple.com

Just because I work for Apple Computer, Inc. doesn't mean that I believe 
what they believe, or vice-versa.
__________________________________________________________________________