Developing for love, not money
Article Abstract:
Interactive CD-ROMs based on traditional book content have a very poor market share, although CD-ROMs containing reference and educational material are selling well, as are games. Well-designed interactive CD-ROMs may be attractive to the general public, but the production costs exceed $250,000 per title. The resultant CD-ROMs cost $50 retail and do not compete favorably with the vast number of paperbacks published in the US at an average cost of $10 per book. Developers who still want publish their material will have to target niche markets and be prepared to work with small budgets, reusable codes and templates, and they should plan on producing multiple titles in the same area. Products should also be scalable to interactive TV, the Web and other media. The Web also provides dedicated developers a distribution channel. However, high-concept Web sites and action games are more profitable than CD-ROMs.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1996
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A new wave in Web surfing
Article Abstract:
WebTV Networks provides consumers with a simple-to-use online subscription service that allows subscribers to view Web pages on a television monitor from up to 12 feet away. WebTV Networks' COO and VP of engineering, Bruce Leak, maintains that by controlling the hardware and the consumer access to the Internet, WebTV Networks' closed system eliminates the complexity of choosing between service providers. Leak also points out that all subscribers experiencing problems are directed to the company's quality service provider, Concentric Network, with 200 presence points throughout the country. WebTV Networks is looking towards improving WebTV content and is targeting family audiences. By the beginning of 1998, Leak hopes that WebTV Networks is a brand-name Internet service provider that is well-known for easily-accessed and compelling content.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1997
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The machine with the most control wins
Article Abstract:
The widespread acceptance of the PC may cut into the television audience and may even change the nature of television. It is very unlikely, however, that the presence of the Internet as an information medium will completely replace television. Although the number of PCs sold outnumber televisions sold, the television still has several advantages. Television provides much more bandwidth, at least for the present time and the Internet is impractical as a medium for broadcasting mass entertainment. The media with the biggest growth has typically been low-bandwidth, high-control, such as video games, fax and cellular telephones. High-bandwidth technology on the other hand, such as HDTV, has not seen any growth. This technology is expensive and does not offer the user any greater ability to control the experience.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1995
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