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From: a976@mindlink.UUCP (Ron Tarrant)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: 24-bit Sculpt Joke
Message-ID: <3244@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 20 Sep 90 02:42:16 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 47

> 252u3130@fergvax.unl.edu writes:
> 
> Msg-ID: <1990Sep20.000911.23240@hoss.unl.edu>
> Posted: 20 Sep 90 00:09:11 GMT
> 
> Org.  : Comp Sci and Engr, Univ. of Nebr.
> Person: Phil Dietz
> 
> 
> The reason I see that Byte by Byte quit, is that they produced some
> very technical software -- software that only seems to find its place
> in the professional video world.  Because of the SMALL software group,
> the price was increased to make any sort of profit.  As a result of this
> high price, most Amiga'ns don't want to buy it so they grab a copy
> somewhere and forget about Byte by Byte.  This is the uzi that killed
> them.
> 
> 
> Phil Dietz
> 
> 


I think we would have to do a confidenial survey to find out if this was
actually true. I believe that most people who stole copies of this program (any
most others) did it simply so they could put another 'feather in their cap'. I
don't believe stolen copies of most programs are used, just filed away in a box
to be pulled out during those times when a pirate wants to impress someone with
how much software they possess.
If I'm right then the potential market isn't affected because those who really
use SA4D really did buy it... most of them, anyway. I only know of one person
around here who uses it and didn't buy it out of several dozen legitimate
users. A little math tells me that if this phenomenon is the same elsewhere,
then the "lost market" is about 2-3 percent. To me this doesn't warrent pulling
support for legitimate users or turning one's back on the market in general. I
started with Sculpt 3D then Animate 3D and finally SA4D. That's a lot of money
to give someone who claimed in the Sculpt 3D manual that they would around in
the next century but then copped out and flew the coop as soon as they saw the
last of the big bucks from Amiga users.
Last count that I heard, BbB had 17,000 registered users of their
Sculpt/Animate products. If only half of them are SA4D owners, then they've
pulled in a substantial amount of money. The Amiga kept their doors open for
three years. As far as I'm concerned, BbB can drown in rat p___. If they ever
do claim to be coming back to the Amiga market I will do what I can in my own
small way to keep them from pulling a con on the Amiga market again.
-Ron Tarrant
a976@Mindlink.UUCP