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From: jerry@truevision.com (Jerry Thompson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Flight Simulator 4.0? (also realism)
Message-ID: <560@epicb.com>
Date: 4 Dec 90 15:01:38 GMT
References: <37096@nigel.ee.udel.edu> <5854@crash.cts.com>
Organization: Truevision Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Lines: 40

In article <5854@crash.cts.com> jcs@crash.cts.com (John Schultz) writes:
>  If subLOGIC feels it is worthwhile to port FS 4.0 to the Amiga, they
>should produce a pseudocode version that is system and language independent
>for developers to port. Then all they'd need are programmers that knew
>the machine to be ported to, not cryptologists...
...
>  Porting FS 4.0 to the Amiga would be a major undertaking (probably all
>in 80x86 assembly), and subLOGIC (or Microsoft) probably do not feel that
>their effort is worthwhile in terms of time and money. If enough users
>wrote letters, that may make a difference. Or if some really talented Amiga
>programmers convinced subLOGIC that they could do it profitably, that may
>also do it.
>

Years and years ago I saw Bruce Artwick speak to the Apple Users Group in 
Champaign.  He showed subLOGIC's proprietary cross developement system.  At
the time, they WERE writing pseudo-assembler-code versions which could be
compiled for either PC or Apple II (no such thing as a Mac or Amiga then.)
I also worked with someone from subLOGIC who said a helicopter(?) simulation
had been written by a group of programmers in association with subLOGIC and
released under a different company name.  I don't think subLOGIC was too
impressed with the Amiga.  Well, this was back in 1987, and I couldn't remember
all the details if you put a gun to my head.  Any takers?  (To provide any more
details, NOT to put a gun to my head!)  

I once sat next to Bruce in a Wendy's.  I proceeded to describe to my lunch 
companion the virtues of the Amiga and it's graphics, and to bitch about how 
some ports, like Flight Simulator, didn't take advantage of the machine.  He
seemed to be listening.  Flight Simulator is by far the most realistic, but I
personally prefer the flight programs designed more for entertainment.  

I know students at the U of I who could probably do a good port, but I don't
think subLOGIC would want to rely on students for development and maintenance
of software.


-- 
Jerry Thompson                 |     // checks  ___________   | "I'm into S&M,
"What I want to know is, have  | \\ //   and    |    |    |   |  Sarcasm and
 you ever seen Claude Rains?"  |  \X/ balances /_\   |   /_\  |  Mass Sarcasm."