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Posted:
09 Jan 2001 16:52
by CAN uck
I really only got started in computer gaming recently. That is the internet type where you can play in real time versus other people like we do. So my level of knowledge to make comparisons is still very low. But I am surprised when I compare VSK to something like Flight Simulator.
I think we are really missing out on a lot of fun.
I believe if VSK was opened up (or whatever the proper terminology is) to allow other people to write programs for it, the simulation would develope a lot more quickly.
If you are not familar with the Flight Sim. experience have a look at some of their sites. The depth of development and involvement certainly makes VSK look like amateurs. :frown: But I suppose the Flight Sim. programs have been around for a lot longer.
Perhaps one of the problems is that Duran sees this as a game rather than a simulation.
I think Bifrosty had the right idea a few months ago, we need to organize a buyout of their code and takeover.
:walkingsm: Oh well so much for dreaming, back to work.
(Edited by CAN uck at 10:00 am on Jan. 9, 2001)
(Edited by CAN uck at 10:03 am on Jan. 9, 2001)

Posted:
10 Jan 2001 01:49
by Bifrosty
I think 100% seriously that we should find out how much Virtual skipper and it's code could be bought for?
i'm sure that other companies would be able make vsk 10-fold better, duran is a really weird company.
maybe star chase can help us out;)

Posted:
10 Jan 2001 10:53
by admiral 1
For information about Duran (the guys that had vsk developed) check
http://www.dunet.com. There you'll find information about their business operations, financing etc. For about a year ago Duran had about 250.000.000 FF capitalised (when I remember it correctly) that reads in US$ as about 42,000,000.00 :biggrin: Can't tell you what their stock is doing at the moment in terms of a hostile takeover. :biggrin: :biggrin:
Still interested?

Posted:
10 Jan 2001 10:56
by admiral 1
!! make thet
http://www.dunet.com/ should n't hasve added the point at the end of the sentence !!


Posted:
10 Jan 2001 14:22
by Bifrosty
we are just talking about the virtualskipper product, not the entire duran, they are a pretty big media company producing television etc...

Posted:
10 Jan 2001 18:11
by admiral 1
according to their anual report they have something in the order 0f 15,000,000.00 FF running on Mendel 3D and VSK say 2.5 mio us$ still, and for being less then 1% of their total operations it get's a whole lot of attention in the report...... think :biggrin: :biggrin:
Lets just try and keep encouraging them to make vsk2 the best yet..

Posted:
10 Jan 2001 20:58
by Star Chase
Bifrosty seems to think I must have some insight or influence here. Sounds like he's been to my web site.
While I used to know the US distributor of VSK (UbiSoft) pretty well, that was years ago. All the people I knew are likely gone. Including that bruentte with the green eyes. Oh, sorry, different story.
Unless ITBYC were willing to put serious money on the table I doubt DURAN would even listen to us. It is more desirable to kill a product or let it wallow in neglect than it is to sell it at a bargain basement price. What might be serious money to us might be looked upon as a minor rounding error on Duran's books.
The better bet is to contact the designer(s) of the game directly and start a dialog. If they are not Duran employees (and it is likely they are not), then who knows what their contract looks like and how much love they have put into their baby. Maybe they have the option of creating a better product and need some particularly talented beta-testers. :glasses: :devil: :biggrin:

:smokin: :smilehat: :pimp:

Posted:
10 Jan 2001 21:55
by o2
:dance:
Maybe Duran's programmers are fans of :beer: .......
so that we can exchange ideas against good ones


Posted:
10 Jan 2001 22:47
by Bifrosty
that is actually one of the goals of itbyc i think besides having fun and :beer:
we want to be beta testers, and we want to influence the game to help make it better.
just sad that duran is such a weird company.
and I don't think that i'm the one to contact duran about this little group and all of our suggestions, i've talked trash about duran too many times, guess i'm just used to quality and profesionalism.
however I think that as soon as we have a few good suggestion, some of them well documented we should them to duran and to establish communication...
well, 2.5 million dollars that's only like:
:beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:
nah to many beers, i think i'll rather drink them;)

Posted:
11 Jan 2001 00:41
by admiral 1
well actually I ow the vsk people a case of beer wich I plan to deliver first opportunity, wich will be in march some where wen I make it to paris, or I'll have a friend from Paris deliver it midlle of april. As this 3d Mendel engine is going to market soon (this year?) I reckon there will be soomeone around to talk to. However delivery comes for any wishes or anything else. In my opinion we are best helped with some positive critique, and a modest wish list.
Or we go out, get ourselfs this coming mendel 3d tool kit and start from scrap.....

Posted:
11 Jan 2001 10:50
by o2
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
If it s ok for every ITBYC members I can be our spokeperson for Duran.
I can send them all our suggestions by mails in french.
If they are interested about our team, I can also meet them when then want ( I live very close to Duran's office : around 15 mn walk ).
So if you all agree with my proposal, we just have to summarize our mains ideas and I will translate them in french for the VSK team.
But first let's have some good :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:
CYA
O2


Posted:
11 Jan 2001 14:27
by admiral 1
I agree. Better to have some personal contacts then just electronic ways of comunication. How about inviting some Duran New Media employee to join the ITBYC.
Would be a good way to for them to get a feeling of the thoughts and impressions of some of the more serious skippers. What about Luc Fresel?
What about Luc Fresel ?

Posted:
11 Jan 2001 16:04
by euphoria
I think all of us should send one wish list each. Volume will definatly make Duran consider our suggestions seriously. But I think it's a good idea that Benjamin in addition translates the most important ideas and hands them over to duran on behalf of this big (and growing) group.

Posted:
11 Jan 2001 20:27
by Bifrosty
we should drop of some :beer::beer: and stuff a friday, courtesy of ITBYC to the vsk team, that should make them happy, i know the :beer: would make me happy...
if we all set up paypal accounts, we could send money to o2, like 5-10 dollars each and we should be able to give them a couple of quality beers and some other stuff....
set up your paypal account today, it takes a while to authorize your credit card....
good idea?

Posted:
11 Jan 2001 21:10
by Guest
I support Peter's idea. How do you set up that pay account? :rolleyes: BTW I had not yet had a :beer:, I just don't know this pay... :bubble:.