TRANSCRIPT OF FORMAL CONFERENCE ON STUNT ISLAND, FSFORUM CONFERENCE ROOM 10, MARCH 31, 1993. GUESTS: DAVE ARNSPIGER, RON FORTIER, LEONARD D'AMBROSIO AND HELEN WILLEN FROM DISNEY SOFTWARE. HOST: JIM ROSS, DESIGN SYSOP, FSFORUM. TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BY RICK LEE, ASSOCIATE SYSOP, FSFORUM. EDITED BY JFR. ____________________ ...The following is a little chit-chat before the formal conference actually began. . . Jim Ross/Host: Ah Dave glad to see U back on. Rick Lee is also | keeping a transcript will | be back here very shortly. | Ah, Rick back on. CIM, rick? | But yegods we lost Disney again! Hehe. Relax, folks. Rick L./Assoc SysOp: OK... I'm up and running with the CIM transcript now. Jim Ross/Host: Great show, Rick. Now awaiting Disney's return. | We're going to have Dave | Arnspiger, Ron Fortier (Producer), Adrian Stephens, and a cast | of 1000's. Roland Jung: Hangin' round now, had some tech. difficulties earlier Jim Ross/Host: Yeah, happens to us all. Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Here they come Ian Jasper: Hi there back again, will just watch for the moment! Jim Ross/Host: Drumming fingers on table...Disney was here for a | while, I think they're Jim Ross/Host: out getting a transcript ready. Aha, the door | opens. . . . Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Hi Ian... Greetings to the UK Jim Ross/Host: Ah, hi Jim E. Jim Elmore: yea, but what am I doing here ! | Why did I get lured into this room ? Jay | Did we lose Dave again? Jim Ross/Host: Hehe. This is a "formal" conference on Stunt Island, | Jim, but formal part | hasn't started yet. . . Just a mo. Ian Jasper: Hi rick nice to speak to you, been a bit busy lately, what | with late shifts and all that! All well?? Jim Ross/Host: Yeah, lost Dave again. They were eating Chinese food. Disney Software: Dave..>OK, we are here! Jay | Sounds about right... Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Everything is just great around here Ian. | They're baaaAAAAaaack Jim Ross/Host: Aha. Dave again. Hang in there Dave. Don't desert | us. Two transcripts going Jay | Yeah! Jim Elmore: I gotta go file an amended report...see you jim. AND THE FORMAL PART BEGINS. . . Jim Ross/Host: Hokeydokey, folks. I hereby announce that the First | Annual (we hope) | Stunt Island formal conference is under way. . . . Jim Elmore: ...poof... Jim Ross/Host: General procedure: as I just did, end line with ... | if you have more to say | and GA when you're done. | As with all formal conferences, I'll call on the Disney people | for some | introductory comments. . . | and then open up the floor for questions. But right now. . . | Any preliminary questions on procedure from anybody? speak up. ... | Lovely lovely. Now, Dave, introduce your people and call on | them for . . . | introductory comments. The floor's yours, Dave Arnspiger. GA Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>I have with me tonight, Ron Fortier, the | Producer. | I also have Cary Hara, Software Engineer! | Leonard D'Ambrosio, Tester/Pilot, and | Helen Fillman, Our single white female from Marketing! | WE are new to this, so bear with us!... | We are happy to be here, and ready to answer all those | questions about Stunt Island. | ... | We are sorry to report that Adrian Stephens, the Developer, | could not be with us due to illness! Jim Ross/Host: O.k. Dave? Ron, you have any preliminary remarks to | make before we go? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>Just that we are really excited about | Stunt Island, and rarin' to go! | Let's take some questions! Jim Ross/Host: O.k. Procedure, folks. . . | At my signal, hit "?" when you have a question, and I'll call | on U in order | Go ahead with "?"s now. GA Jim Ross/Host: Ok. The floor is yours, C. Lafferty. Ask question | and I'll give you followup r C. Lafferty: First of, I'd just like to say GREAT GAME!! I was curious | as to when expansion .... | disks would be available and what they may contain! GA Jim Ross/Host: Get that, Disney folks? GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>We have planes and stunts already complete, | but we are still working on enhancements.. | to the technology. We aren't quite ready to announce a release | date... | at this time. Jim Ross/Host: Followup, C Lafferty? r C. Lafferty: yes... | Any new scenery likely to be included.? and what kind of | enhancements do you mean.. if you can say GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>We are woring on texture mapping,... | ease of use of the animation engine.... | and additional professional editing features..... | do you have any specific things you are looking for in the | upgrade? GA Jim Ross/Host: Any particulars, C Lafferty? r C. Lafferty: Everything I wanted, you basically named.. Except maybe | additional pre-defined sets!! GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>There will be more sets too! GA Jim Ross/Host: Thanks. Lee Perkins, a question? Lee Perkins: yes.. Lee Perkins: How widespread was the pink ocean thing I experienced before | I got the patch.GA Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>Mainly on local bus video machines, and a | few off brand SVGA cards. | Not too bad, oops! Jim Ross/Host: Followup, Lee? Lee Perkins: not now ,thanks. GA Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>For those who are curious, I am doing all | the typing... | the other guys can spell! Jim Ross/Host: O.k. Rick Lee, you're up. Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Hehehe | OK... could you please elaborate... | on the "texture mapping"? Jim Ross/Host: Texture mapping, Disney? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>We have images mapped on planes right | now.... | we are just trying to find appropriate images and uses for the | technology... | to enhance the visuals. GA Jim Ross/Host: Good. Followup, Rick? Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Hmmmm | I'm not sure I understand... | what has images mapped on it in the original game? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>The ability to wrap a picture, like nose | art onto the planes... | camoflauge on planes, etc. GA Jim Ross/Host: Ah, wowie. Sounds great. Rick L./Assoc SysOp: I think I misunderstood... Rick L./Assoc SysOp: you didn't mean to say that the original had | textures mapped... right? Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Some of the p[lanes | Some of the planes already have a crude implementation of | that... | we are enhancing it. IE: F-86, Sopwith Camel. GA Rick L./Assoc SysOp: I see... thanks... all for now... GA. Jim Ross/Host: Good shot, Disney. Now, you're up, Dick Campbell. Go | ahead, Dick. Dick Campbell: Hello--Regarding the user sound sample files | is there any way to import or merge the sound sample files | together. Jim Ross/Host: Go ahead, Diz. Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>Disney/Cary..>Do you mean the .SMP files, | or the individual .VOC files? Dick Campbell: Yes-the sample files. Dick Campbell: USER1.SMP Jim Ross/Host: Got it, Cary? Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>No,not directly right now, but we may be | able to publish something like that... | With enough demand! It's fairly easy to do. You can always | concatenate them as .VOCs. GA Jim Ross/Host: That would be very helpful. I have a whole buncha | .SMP's and they're a mess | Followup, Dick Campbell? Dick Campbell: Ok--I as | I asked because I now have two USER1.SMP files with | only 5 sounds and 2 sounds in them. Jim Ross/Host: right. Thanks both. Now, Lee Perkins again. Fire | away, Lee. GA Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Cary's mind is whirling, I think you may | see that type of tool in the next one! GA Jim Ross/Host: Sure hope so. Lee? Lee Perkins: Any possibility of Thrustmaster support for the FCS hat ? GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>Not currently, but we will look into it! Jim Ross/Host: If I didn't know this was a game I would think that | was code. Diz? GA Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>What? Jim Ross/Host: Followup, Lee? Lee Perkins: Later thanks Jim Ross/Host: Ok. End of the line. Floor's open for your "?"'s, | folks. Roland? Jay? Jim Ross/Host: George White, you have the floor. GA George White: first off great game, truly amazing... George White: is the development team overall surprised by the... | type of movies being created. movies without planes? GA Jim Ross/Host: You surprised, Disney? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>No, we expected that! We are impressed | with them though! GA Jim Ross/Host: Followup, George (BTW, folks, George wrote one!!). GA George White: yes... | If you expected that are you going to add car support and maybe | people walking.. | and things besides flying? GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>More than likely that will be in the next | FULL rev, not in the Disney Software: upgrades.. | Lot's of requests for that though! GA Jim Ross/Host: I bet. Now, Jay, you're up. GA Jay. Jay | Will the ability to design... | your own props be added? GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>On average it took 2 days in order to | complete... | one of the planes that exist in the original Stunt Island... | We feel that it is too complex for users to spend that time... | to get professional results from their props. GA Jim Ross/Host: Remark from Jim Ross. You ought to see what Flight | Simulator scenery | designers can do. Give us a crack at it. GA Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>Our objects have a lot more non-obvious | data... | associated with them (execution speed, animation, | collision...). Ga Jim Ross/Host: Thanks, Cary. Followup Jay? Jay | No...thanks! GA Jim Ross/Host: O.k. C Lafferty, you're on. GA r C. Lafferty: When you said FULL upgrade, were you refering to expansion | disks, version updates, or a NEW program (like Stunt Island | II).? GA Jim Ross/Host: Good question. Diz? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>I was referring to Stunt Island II, the | next release will be an interim upgrade. GA Jim Ross/Host: Hoho. Followup, CL? Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Santa! r C. Lafferty: YES!! Jim Ross/Host: You mean by Xmas, DAVE? GA, CL. r C. Lafferty: Well, you opened up a whole can of words saying that!! | SANTA? Does that mean christmas..? And how well has Stunt | island done.? GA Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>No, I meant Jim's hoho! R MacKay/MicroWINGS: Yo, what's up? Jim Ross/Host: Now's the time to tell of the prizes you've won, Diz. Disney Software: Disney/Leonard..>We won the Golden Triad from Computer | Game Review magazin... | The SPA Award for Best Consumer Product of 1992... | And many top 10 critics lists in magazines all over the world! Jim Ross/Host: Gee. How's that for a slow ball over the plate, Diz? | Now, Rick Lee, floor yours again. Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>We don't have a firm date to announce for | the add-on upgrade yet! Rick L./Assoc SysOp: George asked my question... Rick L./Assoc SysOp: I was going to ask about more "pilotable"... | vehicles such as cars, trucks, people... | I would like to make one point... | if you get a sizable core of dedicated users... | you shouldn't underestimate their dedication... | and willingness to spend serious time on projects such... | as scenery and vehicle design... | subLOGIC was begged for a scenery designer for years and... | they continually told us it was over our heads... | When another company finally gave us some design tools... | the users went completely bananas... | and showed the professionals a thing or two. GA. Jim Ross/Host: Hehe. Quite right. Comments, Diz? | They're thunderstruck. Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>Our data structures include something that | only the prprogrammers can create. It really is too | complicated, not to mention | we have to design and support it. Jim Ross/Host: Followup, Rick? Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Just to say that I know the design tools... | might be difficult to create... Rick L./Assoc SysOp: I recall many of the same types of things... | said about FS4 scenery... | especially in the area of "prioritization", etc... | just something to keep in mind for the future. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>We are not saying it will never happen, | just not in the immediate future. Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>We will do that. Thanks for the input! Jim Ross/Host: Looking forward to it. Now, Dick Campbell, front and | center. GA Dick. Dick Campbell: Regarding the making of Objects register on a Collision | window in order to start an event. | I had trouble getting the Pteradactly to register a hit on | a Collision window until I place a large Invisible | sphere around the Pteradactly. | It took me many hours of trial to discover that, Jim Ross/Host: Hehe Them Ptero-whatevers were always a bit screwy. | Comment, Diz? Dick Campbell: but once I did I waas able to start an event at exactly | the right momemt I wanted to | Is this the case with every object or just with the Pteradactly? Jim Ross/Host: comments, Diz? Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>We will have to take a look at the Ptery, | maybe there is a bug! | However, the first... | suggestion here is to make sure that COLLISION is on on both | objects. If you | can upload the SET file to me, I will take a look at it! Jim Ross/Host: Followup, Dick? Dick Campbell: Ok--I still have | it because I am still working on the film. Ga Jim Ross/Host: Fine, Dick. Now, Lee Perkins. GA Lee. Lee Perkins: By non-obvious data, do you mean things like 'Gouraud'(sp) | shading. I really liked that. GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>No, we mean things that accelerate the | performance of the | polygon engine, which allows us to have ... | more polygons on the screen per frame. GA Jim Ross/Host: Yup. Follwup, Lee? Lee Perkins: I just wish I.. | could DE-celerate the polygons at the end of a snap roll GA Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Hehe Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>We are constantly tweaking the flight | model engine, but can't promise anything at the moment. Jim Ross/Host: Rightyho. George White (a famous movie director): George White: As a part time coder... George White: I am curious about the language you coded it in... | 'C', ASM?? Any info on the development would be interesting!! | GA Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>Interpreted COBOL! George White: HAHA Disney Software: NOT! All assembler! Jim Ross/Host: Followup, Geo? George White: yes... | Any plans for a utility that creates a .AVI file from a film. GA Jim Ross/Host: What's an .AVI, Geo? Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>No. I won't tell you who's laughing here! | That's a good idea for the | future though! Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>.AVI is the Microsoft Video file format, | Audio Video Interleave, AVI! Jim Ross/Host: Now: C Lafferty one more time [then he's gotta go]. r C. Lafferty: Besides awards, has Stunt Island sold well.? And do you | have any projected release time for SI 2 .? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>Yes, it has sold well, and we have not | fixed a release... | date for any of the followup products. The add-on is next, | followed... | way down the line by a SI Mark II! Jim Ross/Host: Followup, CL? r C. Lafferty: How about doing a "films" disk, of just films people can | view and edit.... | SI Mark II.. What's the Mark mean.? Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>That would be Stunt Island II, I was | gettin' fancy! | Disney/Dave..>You are free to do what you like with any of the | films on our BBS... | and I am working on a film that contains the best of the films | we have so far! Jim Ross/Host: And there are a good many films on FSFORUM and | GAMBPUB, too. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>True! Forgot that! Jim Ross/Host: Don't EVER want to forget FSFORUM and GAMBPUB. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>30 lashes for me! Jim Ross/Host: Now, floor open for "?"s. Dave Renken, Pete Paglia? | Answer with "?". r C. Lafferty: ok.. Thanks for the info.!! I'm outa here! But hey GREAT | GAME!! it really is amazing, so pat yourself on the back!! | BYE!!! Jim Ross/Host: Now, Dick Campbell. GA, Dick. Dick Campbell: What about doing a cooperative... | film with a number of users all doing specific... | parts of the film.... | then combining them all in to one major film... | The film segments would have the same theme... | just like Hollywood motion pictures... | I think that would be a really neat thing to try .... | and a real learning experience for the software... Jim Ross/Host: Comments, Diz? Disney Software: Disney/Leonard..>We tried that with our third demo | film... Disney Software: it didn't flow too well.. | Disney/Dave..>You would need a good script and everyone would | have to follow it closely! GA Jim Ross/Host: O.k. Followup, Dick? Dick Campbell: Yes--... | I can see where things might go wrong... | but I think it would be possible.... Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Give it a shot! Lots of people would be | interested I am sure! George White: How long was the ... | development time and how close to the original design was the | end product. GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>The program was developed over the course | of 2 years... | but the bulk of development happened over the last 12 | months..... | The program was very close to the original feeling we wanted... | but the design document and the final product were very | different! GA Jim Ross/Host: Right. Followup, GW? George White: yes... | Since SI is selling well do you see other companies selling | products like this... | maybe other programs that create movies. GA Jim Ross/Host: Foresee any cheap immytashuns, Diz? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>That's up to the individual companies. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>It's a neat market though! Lot's of areas | could be covered! Jim Ross/Host: Hokay. Lee Perkins, front and center. Lee, GA. Lee Perkins: If you ever decide to take up Dick's idea about the long | movie, could we leave out the obligatory bombing of the Country | Western Bar, I g Jim Ross/Host: He's cut off in mid-sentence. . .Lee, you with us? Lee Perkins: to go play one here in about 5 minutes.. Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Hehe Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>And I am setting up a B1 to nuke it as we | speak! Lee Perkins: But congratulations on a great game that will keep... | me busy for many hundreds of hours.Thanks. GA Jim Ross/Host: O.k. End of queue or whatever. More questions, | anybody? Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Thanks Lee, have fun at the bar! Jim Ross/Host: Fire away, GW. George White: Is there any easier way to place the... George White: letters than one at a time? GA Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>No. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>It's a tedious, time consuming task! Jim Ross/Host: So is stringing them all together, though. Followup, GW? George White: yes.. | I would also like a way to jump right to a MM:SS frame in the | editor. The... | fast forward is too slow for a 15 minute movie. GA Jim Ross/Host: Oh boy that would be nice. Comments, Diz? Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>We will consider that for future revs, ... | it would increase the size of the films. George White: ok... | I assume that the only data stored in the .flm file is the | props and the location and motion... | of the objects. The actual frames are created on the fly. Is | that correct? GA Disney Software: Disney/Cary..>Yes. But the number of references would | double along... | with other house keeping information for film editing, etc. GA Jim Ross/Host: Right. Followup, GW? George White: no. GA Jim Ross/Host: Hokay. I'm about ready to close this down. But, as | they say at the bar, | one more round. . . Questions, anybody? Jim Ross/Host: Failing that. I would like to thank all of you | Disneys profusely for your George White: When is the book coming out? GA Jim Ross/Host: patience and forbearance. | Ah yes, the book. Diz? Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>We are not sure of the exact release date, | but it is... | being printed as we type! There is also SIUPDATE for those of | you who... | haven't seen it. Download SIUPDA.ZIP from ... | GAMBPUB in the Disney/Buena Vista Library/ Number 8. GA Jim Ross/Host: No, that's library 6 on GAMBPUB. Just did it myself | tonite. Great! Disney Software: Whoops! It's Jim's fault, he told me 8 earlier! Dick Campbell: Is that the March issue ga Jim Ross/Host: For those who might not have seen it [yup, my | mistake, Dave!) that SIUPDATE Jim Ross/Host: is worth a lot. Each issue gets better. *Full* list | of files, tutorials, | etc. | Yes, Dave, sorry, GA. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Yes, that's the latest, just cleared by | Nightie yesterday! Jim Ross/Host: All righty. Any last minute word, anybody? George White: just... | I am ready to throw money your way for new product. I will be | waiting. GA Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Our bankers are waiting ! Dick Campbell: Thanks for creating a super program... Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Thanks everyone for joining us tonight! Dick Campbell: I am glad I got it Disney Software: Disney/Ron..>Keep those comments coming! Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: <--- breaking protocol to applaud :) Disney Software: Disney/Dave.Disney> BOWING Jim Ross/Host: On to better flying and better movies. And, Diz, we | got by without *one* | comment about the flyability of your planes!!! | The Wimp has been lurking for a while. Typical of wimps. Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: o:) Jim Ross/Host: I hereby declare the conference closed and the bar | open. Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Disney Software: Disney..>Good night all! Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: <--- restraining self from getting out the bartender | macros Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Jim Ross/Host: Nightynite. Sorry Adrian couldn't make it. But | thanks to all GREAT CON. George White: Thanks DISNEY and Jim!!! THINGS KIND OF DETERIORATE FROM HERE ON OUT Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: Sorry I only caught the end... had pressing affairs of | state | (calling girlfriend that is) :D Jim Ross/Host: We need that applause like in the SI theatre!! | Well, maybe you're not as wimpish as I thought!! Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: [S Thunderous Applause] --- oh, sorry, wrong system ;) Jim Ross/Host: Speaking of girl friends. My wife just back from CA. | You'll excuse me, | folks. . . . . Transcript of conference as soon as we can make | it, folks Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Disney/Dave..>I will hang around for any | afterglow questions! George White: Disney, I would have paid double what you charge for the | game! Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: What's the air speed velocity of an unladen sparrow? Jim Ross/Host: Do that, Dave, and I'll send you the transcript and | you can add 'em if | necessary. | Wimp: 2 times a pterodactyl. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Hey, it's a FAST Ptery! Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: Hehehe... the slewodactyl you mean :) Jim Ross/Host: Poofitypoof. See y'all. Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: Wow, a poof with panache! Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>You know what they say about those panache | guys! ;) Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: Thanks, Dave --- sorry I missed the best part of the | show! Disney Software: Rick, I really expected flight model questions from you? Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: I'll have to snag the transcript when it comes out :) Disney Software: Owell, just read the book! Rick L./Assoc SysOp: Well.. I'm under NDA on that! Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: <--- gave up flight model questions for Lent Disney Software: I think you guys put a bug in their ears though on some | stuff! | I too would like a prop editor! Wish they would try anyway! Rick L./Assoc SysOp: I've gotta run... see you guys later... George White: Disney, Do you use outside beta testers? Rick L./Assoc SysOp: and hearty congratulations for all of the awards!! Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: Bug? Did somebody say bug? Rick L./Assoc SysOp: You really deserve it... | for creating a new genre. Disney Software: Disney/Dave..>Not at this time George, unless it's a | special instance. Wimp/Ass't.SysOp: Seeya Rick! And megadittos! END OF RICK LEE'S TRANSCRIPT. IF ANYTHING ELSE SIGNIFICANT HAPPENED THEREAFTER, IT'S LOST FOREVER.