From: Mitchell Waite <75146.3515@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: PUBS: Virtual Playhouse
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 05:30:02 GMT



==================
From: "Dan D. Gutierrez" <73317.646@@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Re: PUBS REQUEST: Info on "Virtual Reality Playhouse"
Date: 07 Sep 92 12:54:50 EDT


I'm not sure why "Virtual Reality Playhouse" has received so much
positive attention here.  I saw the book, and after my initial
positive reaction, I looked deeper to see that it is really just a
collection of public domain demos and crude VR examples.  The text in
the book is more like a bunch of ads, nothing too factual or mind
bending.  I was actually disappointed in its content.  The only thing
I can up with is that its the only book of its kind and therefore is
viewed positively here.

I'm waiting until someone puts out a more serious book.  The Waite
Group has always been a favorite of my mine, having clearly written
tutorial books.  This time, I think they were sold a bill of goods.

Just my opinion...
=================

>From Mitchell Waite:

Mr. Gutierrez:

I think you are forgetting that 99% of the people who walk into
computer book stores do NOT have access to CIS or usenet. To those
people this book is a big service. I can see how to a techie who can
download all these programs, has time to search for them, and is
familiar with the subject, the book might not be as attractive as to
the average buyer.

I invite you to get out a stop watch and see how long it takes to
download and set up the 10 programs that are on the disk, test them,
then write instructions for using them. The details on the wiring of
the Sega glasses and powerglove are particularly hard to find. The
text was not meant to be mind bending, just informative, which it
is-the key topics are covered and the key players revealed. I won't
say I am sorry it doesn't appeal to the higher more jaded programmers,
it wasn't designed that way.

A great number of people have told us they are thankful we published
VRP because it alerted them to what is going on in the field and
provided a quick way to get a good overview. So far out of 23,000
copies sold you are only the 2nd person to complain about lack of
depth :-)

We are actually working on more advanced book on VR called Virtual
Reality Creations. Its molded on the same principle as our best
selling Fractal Creations (Wegner and Peterson). It will come with a
full featured VR program and several example worlds you can
manipulate. And the source code will be provided so you can expand the
program. Building your own worlds can be done in a text editor.

I don't think its fair to say we are selling a "bill of goods" (I
never quite understood what that phase means...you get the bill and no
goods :-). The book debuted at #3 on the B. Dalton Computer Bookstore
Best Seller list and has been their for seven weeks now. We have
43,000 copies in print. So far all the satisfaction reports cards are
marked either excellent or very good.

Thanks for your message and interest in our products.

Sincerely

Mitchell Waite
Publisher and CEO
Waite Group Press
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds