Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 11:51:50 -4
Reply-To: Chet Simpson
Sender: COCO – Tandy Color Computer List
Comments: Authenticated sender is
From: Chet Simpson
Organization: Americast
Subject: A Final note?
First, I would like to thank the many people here who have
voiced their opinion in support for the CoCo developers
still around, as well as the people who have made many
many comments about the high quality and excellent work
that Nick, Roger, myself and others have done:
Carl Boll, Jay Yepuri, Mark Martlett, Steve Secord….I’m
at a loss for the names of others.
I remember when I wrote the original Digger back in the late
eighties. It was an extreme feeling when it was 100% complete
and bug free. I remember spending entire weekends with only
a few hours of sleep working and pounding and waiting for 5
minutes while my assembler chomped away at the source code.
I actually spent 50% of the development time working on the
guard movement, just to make it a better game.
Unfortunatly, when it really comes down to it, this hasn’t
really happened in several years with the exception of Digger
and Pac-Man. How many people do you actually know that would
sit in front of the CoCo for a few months and really make an
effort to create something from scratch? Not many. How many
new software products have there been in the last 5 years?
People want software for the CoCo, but most of them just don’t
want to pay for it, or believe that we charge too much money
for out stuff. Then complain when we express our feelings
about the lack of support from the users. In order for
the fests to happen the vendors have to support it. In order
for the vendors to support the fests, the users have to support
the vendors. When Ron posted his message about the distressing
amount of people he received confimation from. For me, making
a trip across the US is not feasible, however I have already
made my pledge to support his fest with $75 and 2 copies of
Digger II as door prizes. I have also considered purchasing
a booth at the Chicago fest, even though I won’t be there.
I will most likely do this at the end of the month. I’ve
written articles for 68micros, I’ve written free software,
sponsored users for CoCO Preservation Society and now am
showing support for the fest. It’s a wonder why I feel
ill when people complain about a $30 game and make assumptions
that it’s all I want is money.
I am now in the process of revamping my ad and will be
sending it into 68micros and GCCC. I know that it sounds
cynical and I know that it might sound too harsh, but if
by July of this year, if the sales of Digger II don’t go
up, I will stop developing large projects on the CoCo
and stick primarily to those simple little routines and
test apps that are fun to do. In the event that I do stop
developing on the CoCo, I will still continue to support
the groups, vendors and users as much as I can until
there is nobody left.
What I and the other developers are asking for is not
totally unreasonable. A little compensation to go along
with our hard work and the satisfaction that people are
enjoying the stuff that we write.
…Chet…
Sometimes you just have to wonder how much is enough.
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 21:48:57 -0600
Reply-To: Ed Langenback
Sender: COCO – Tandy Color Computer List
From: Ed Langenback
Organization: Living Waters Ministries
Subject: Re: A Final note?
> What I and the other developers are asking for is not
> totally unreasonable. A little compensation to go along
> with our hard work and the satisfaction that people are
> enjoying the stuff that we write.
>
> …Chet…
>
> Sometimes you just have to wonder how much is enough.
I just have to take a second to add my $0.02 here.
I dont buy a lot of software, because there isnt a whole lot
of $$ floating around to do it with. but, I have to say that
I think that the people out there who are continuing to develop
software for the CoCo have >NEVER< asked too much $$ for their
efforts.
considering the time and brain sweat that goes into producing
a good program, OR a good piece of hardware like the IDE card
or a no-halt floppy controller.
I think that these folks deserve nothing quite so
much as a heartfelt thanks for thier efforts. without them,
The CoCo would have gone the way of computers that had Hexidecimal
keypads for input and a few hex digits for output… a long time
ago.
–
*————————————————————-*
|Edward Langenback apostle1 [at] centuryinter [dot] net|
|Christ is NOT Jesus’s Last Name!!! |
|Home Page: http://members.tripod.com/~apostle1/index.html |
\=============================================================/
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 23:37:48 LCL
Reply-To: Roger Merchberger
Sender: COCO – Tandy Color Computer List
From: Roger Merchberger
Subject: Re: A Final note?
;- Clearing the snow from my glasses, I saw Chet Simpson typed:
snip
>I am now in the process of revamping my ad and will be
>sending it into 68micros and GCCC. I know that it sounds
>cynical and I know that it might sound too harsh, but if
>by July of this year, if the sales of Digger II don’t go
>up, I will stop developing large projects on the CoCo
>and stick primarily to those simple little routines and
>test apps that are fun to do. In the event that I do stop
>developing on the CoCo, I will still continue to support
>the groups, vendors and users as much as I can until
>there is nobody left.
Chet & Nick:
Personally, I haven’t had time for games. After 80 hours per week whilst
being paid for 40, family, family, and family, all I have for games
installed is Freecell & the USAToday crossword gizzyframmer on my PC. —
And I don’t play those but 1-2 times every quarter uh, that’s 3 months for
y’all non-corporate-like types. ;- . That’s also about as often as I
spark up my CoCo to play Rogue — *my* favourite game of all time. I
spark up my CoCo for other stuff, but for games, that’s about it.
However, that’s gonna change soon… I Quit!!!!!!!!!!!! ;- I have no more
boss. I’ll be doing freelance computer work out of my basement!!! My last
day is this Friday, but I’m not going to work this week. :- My mother
passed away yesterday, so I’m super-busy with all that, and the only reason
I’m doing e-mail right now is therapy. yesterday’s therapy was beer, wine,
schnapps & cholesterol.
Anywho, back on track:
I was never really keen on Pac-man, but I’d be willing to buy a copy even
for pac-man, it sounds *magical* after some money starts rolling in from
my business & I get the deductible stuff bought things like flatbad
scanner, digital camera, & it’s ilk Part of that deductible stuff, tho,
will be a big order to Farna to bring up my CoCo’s to better handle
business apps & the like.
Gimme a coupla months & I’ll prolly buy it.
Digger is another story: That sounds really cool, and I definately plan on
buying that as soon as I can but we’re looking at the same timeframe.
Count on it!
Oh, and about the price: Personally, y’all are charging what I consider to
be: “the high end of fair.” If the software is half as cool as everyone
says, it is definately worth it and I’ll have no problem forking out my
fundage. However, if the price was much higher than that, I would think
twice… I wouldn’t spend much more than what you’re asking on something I
don’t have a boatload of time to play.
So, to the whiners who think it’s too expensive, I say:
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP ;-
To Chet, Nick & all you wonderful supporters out there, I say:
Whoooohoooo! Yipppeeeeee!
and you’ll be seeing some of my money in the near future.
>What I and the other developers are asking for is not
>totally unreasonable. A little compensation to go along
>with our hard work and the satisfaction that people are
>enjoying the stuff that we write.
Here Here!! I would say it’s “totally reasonable” for the product offered.
This is my NSHO.
Hey, wanna possibly generate a few extra sales? Sign up to another
mailing list I’m on, which deals with classic computers. The definition
set up by the list, but only for the list, is anything 10+ years old. For
sale posts are o.k., provided they’re not overdone like sending 52 msgs
every day, etc.. More info can be had to sign up to the list can be had here:
Uh, well, it seems the website is down. Lemme see if I can find the
subscription info…
Uh, well, can’t seem to find the subscription address, either. How’s this:
List Owner: bcw [at] u [dot] washington [dot] edu
List Posting address: classiccmp [at] u [dot] washington [dot] edu
I think the sub address is majordomo [at] u [dot] washington [dot] edu, but don’t count on
it. Best bet would be to mail Bill Whitson list owner and ask him. If
that doesn’t work, mail the list begging forgiveness and asking for info to
sub.
Hope this helps,
Roger “Merch” Merchberger
–
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don’t succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not*
zmerch [at] northernway [dot] net | be your first career choice.
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 03:10:23 -0600
Reply-To: Carl Boll – System Operator
Sender: COCO – Tandy Color Computer List
From: Carl Boll – System Operator
Subject: Re: A Final note?
In-Reply-To: <199802112036 [dot] OAA25978 [at] mail [dot] xnet [dot] com> from “Chet Simpson” at Feb
11, 98 11:51:50 am
#> …Chet…
#>
#>
#> Sometimes you just have to wonder how much is enough.
#>
Well said
Carl
–
************************************************************
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* root [at] chicoco [dot] chi [dot] il [dot] us *
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