Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Ray,
    	I have had Vidgen since version 1.0. I feel it is a good product
    for embossed backgrounds. I am very tired of hearing people claim 
    you can do this or you can do that in other programs. Of course you
    can generate Embossed backgrounds in just about any paint product.
    But Vidgen will take a single color brush ie: a red heart, from Dpaint
    and instantly turn it into a embossed background. At that point you
    have the ability to alter the pallette (all colors shift together
    so you can go from red to white instantly without looseing the effect)
    then you can set the depth of the embossment real time until you get
    the effect you want. The same applies to brightness, and shadows. If
    this isn't enough you can alter the way the pattern repeats itself,
    the distance (both vertical, and horizontal) between each repetition
    of the design. Then you can move the whole screen left, right, up,
    and down, and select to view it in overscan to see what it looks like.
    Of course it supports the degree of overscan you want, and also allows 
    you to select additional screen formats like Brodcast Titler,and Pro
    Video Gold. Now you find the best person you know with any paint
    program, and I'll generate many many COMPLETE backgrounds in the time
    it takes them to adjust the pallete. That is of course if thay attempt
    to duplicate the program, and not settle for the first attempt they
    get. At 150.00 list it is pricy but if you can generate backgrounds
    at $50.00 apiece, or better that is no big deal. The product is a
    professional tool developed to work in a professional enviornment
    and it shows. But then i forgot to mention tha I JUST RECIEVED A
    UPGRADE NOTICE TO Vidgen 2.0 THAT HAS A LOT OF BRAND NEW FEATURES
    ADDED. Same price( I have to cough up $50.00, will do so but complain
    bitterly). I will bring in the flier tommorrow with the new info. I
    know it is not a quick seller, but that is because the general customer
    is not geared toward costly dedicated software, when they feel they can
    do the same thing in Dpaint etc. If you want to compete in the
    professional market then Vidgen is the answer, if you wnat to spend
    time(or enjoy doing it) in a paint program fine. I like to get the
    results as quickly, and as easy as possible, then I can spend my time
    in more creative ways.(lets face it embossed backgrounds are great but
    I consider them a chore that needs to be done). So yes Microft is alive
    there is an upgrade coming, it has all the features of the old program,
    SUPPORTS MULTIPLE COLORS, an is still a great product. System eyes has
    a copy on the shielf ver 1.0, but I am not sure if the upgrade is free
    to those that buy now. I have a self running demo at home of ver 1.0 .
    I thought i had uploaded it a long time ago. I put a note out here
    praising Viodgen(titiled "Vidgen") but never got a great response.
    I just assumed that the masses wern't ready for it yet ! After all
    this was back when all there was was Broadcast titler,and Pro Video
    gold.
    PS. I program that will give very good embossed screens of text, and
    frames etc is TV TEXT Professional. I feel it streches the zuma fonts
    to infinity. For static screens it is great. You can take a single font
    type and generate an endless variety of types of faces, extrusion etc.
    This is another program that seemd to get ignored.
    					bill

	Here is the info on Vidgen 2.0 .

			Design Options
  Make instant changes in spacing,contrast,color,depth,and many other controls.
  Many highlighting, embossing, and tiling effectes.
  View your background graphics in overscan for recording directly.
  Full color or single brush option. *
  Instant scrolling backgrounds in one of eight directions.*
  several gradient screen fill options.*
  Single brush option, add VidGen effects to a single brush on a background*
  Brush rotation, and scaling.
  Drop Shadow(color coordinated with background color)mode.*
  Wide variety of clipart-includes color brushes.*
  Save all background parameters as a project for convienent reloading.*
  Multiple resolution options including your own custom.*
  incorperates the 3D look of Amigados 2.0 making VidGen more intutive.*

	* New Features for vidGen version 2.0 .
		
			Compatability

  Supports overscan resolutions of major packages including Delux paint III,
     Pro Video Post, Broadcast Titler 2. 
  Compatatible with 1.3, or 2.0 AmigaDos.

    
    Vidgen sounds like the tool I need.  $150.00 is'nt bad when taking in
    consideration the time you'll save. And time is a premium! 
    
    I have TV Text Professional, I bought it when I first got the system a few
    months ago.  Latly, I've been spending my extra time on trying to get
    a handle on Lightwave 3D.  I guess TV Text is more powerful than I
    realized.
    
    Thanks,
    ~Ray
    

    I was on the phone with Microft the other day. I was not pleased with 
    the info I got. I payed $149.00 when I bought VidGen 1.0 quite awhile
    back. The update price is $50.00 . 2.0 is listing for $149.95 . I felt
    the cost of the update was high. Then it came out that Vidgen 1.0 is
    still being offered at $74.95. I told them I did not agree with their
    pricing for current 1.0 owners, and that I would not be updating.
    However I wanted to make sure that the price was reported here
    correctly.
    							bill

    Bill,
    
    Where can you get Vidgen 1.0 for $75?  
    Could you also note the phone # to Microft?
    
    Thanks,
    ~Ray
    

    I don't know where it is available at that price yet. Many dealers
    bought it at the old price, and are going to have to take a burn on
    it when the new pricing is in effect. 
    	(215)642-7638
    							bill

Succesfull products should cost less and less as developpement costs 
are absorbed.  When you agreed to buy the product, it met your needs
for the price you were willing to pay.  

I don't come down on C= for selling Amigas for less than what I paid
for mine, it's just basic economics, sometimes you have to pay for
exclusivity or being the first to have one.  I remember paying close
to $2000 for my camcorder with no auto-anything.  Now you can get
pro-sumer stuff for the same money.  I shelled out the money because
I needed it at that time and do not regret all the "films" I made.

Jean

>>Succesfull products should cost less and less as developpement costs 
>>are absorbed.  When you agreed to buy the product, it met your needs
>>for the price you were willing to pay.  

I payed more for my 1000 than you would care to think. Then I payed $1000
more and traded in my 1000 no complaints. 
	However in an instance where I purchased 1.0 of a software product
and am asked to shell out another $50.00 for the upgrade(first one) when the
new one is still selling for $150.00(price payed for 1.0) just did not set 
with me. I have payed for many versions of Pro Page(but nothing for some),
and will pay 25.00 for diskmaster II, and 45.00 for cando 1.5, and somemore
for Distant Suns 4.0, but in all instances the list price also increased,
along with the utility. I get upgrades to Crossdos, and Quarterback all
the time for the disk, and 10.00. I may be off base but I just did not feel
right about this particular package. I still use it and will continue to
do so but just chose not to upgrade. 
							bill