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To: lml who wrote (3395)	2/18/1998 7:37:00 PM
From: Brad Patton	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4679

lml, I'm still learning how this biz works. But if all these 3D game enthusiasts are going to cancel their orders for the DIMD 8MB card in favor of the CREAF 12MB card in order to meet ANTICIPATED demand of 3D games YET TO BE RELEASED, then it may be prudent, at a minimum, for DIMD to merely ANNOUNCE (they're real good at this) plans to release a 12MB card in the near future. I believe a DIMD announcement on a 12MB card will have a chilling effect on the switch to the CREAF card. Such an announcement would take the wind out of CREAF's sails, and return the favor to CREAF, which has done similar to DIMD by going with a 12MB card before the release of any games requiring 12MB. The fact of the matter is that hardcore gamers (I consider myself medium but I know many hardcore ones) want the biggest, the fastest and they want it now. The reality is that Creaf (after listening to gamers) is going to ship a 12MB card on Feb. 20. An announcement that sometime in the future DIMD will have a 12MB card (these things take time to design) will not have any effect of those that want the card now (myself included). My own experience with purchasing computer technology has taught me that if I don't immediately need, or can put to use, the upgrade options offered in the product, don't get it. Why? Because when I need it, or when I will put it to use, I can get it cheaper, or something better will then be available. So the question is, how many of these gamers think like I do? Not many. I agree with your strategy for purchasing most computer equipment. However, most gamers I know go overboard when it comes to new toys. I can either buy a 8MB now, save myself $100 (CREAF pricing), & wait til' the games I purchase demand the additional 4MB. How long will this be? If its less than 6 months down the road, then DIMD ought to release one before then, & announce it plans to do so now. If it is as much as a year or so away, then I'd go with the 8MB card, & buy a cheaper or better 12MB card at the time I could immediately utitlize it. The fact is the new games coming out won't require 12MB, however, they will look better and run faster with 12. A lot of the gamers I talk with want to buy one 12MB card now and maybe another six months from now to take advantage of SLI. The reality is DIMD dropped the ball and did not do their market research.

To: lml who wrote (3395)	2/19/1998 5:27:00 AM
From: John Coltrane	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4679

Lml, You gotta realize the first buyers will be sophisticated or at least experienced purchasers. An announcement won't fool them, nor will it fool me. There are dozens of magazines, newsletters, newsgroups, websites that discuss, evaluate and ruminate every tidbit of news, info and just plain rumors to get at the "fact". Only the diehard "Monster" fans would have intention on waiting, meanwhile their buddies are having the Voodoo 2 experience w/o them. They'll give in. For DIMD it'll take a ramp up and TIME to switch gears at this point. Remember VD2 chips will be/are in short supply. Where will they get the chips? Cannibalize the already produced 8 meg cards, but maybe they'll surprise us all. <<<CREAF is playing "come from behind," How about "embrace and extend"...there's a company that's done very well with this concept at their focus. <<<My own experience with purchasing computer... I fully understand where your coming from personally, but have you ever spent $50-$80 bucks on a game, take it home, load it up, and "nada", it won't play or is virtually unplayable. If you bought the game for the kids, forget it. "It doesn't work Daddy", can be a dread. I'm childless but I've had the calls from my friends. The only way to avoid this is to stay ahead of the curve. After awhile you simply get addicted. Personally, I intend to go to VD2 along with a major system rebuild around 12/98. Though I certainly will upgrade a little in the meantime. I can do this simply because my preferred game, Descent2, won't have a new version until that time, but there's a game called Foresaken that will take advantage of the VD2, its supposed to be similar to D2 and is awesome. So who knows, my wallet has been known to jump right of my pocket of its own volition while at CompUSA, but then I'd need a PII, a 100mhz bus, a 85hz monitor.... BTW, are you a voodoo owner?

To: lml who wrote (3395)	2/19/1998 6:28:00 AM
From: John Coltrane	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4679

Thanks again for the link. While DIMD is not actually taking a "survey", the "fact" that on/or about 2/11 (the day after CREAF's announcement) DIMD execs were having a meeting to discuss their response to CREAF confirms, that DIMD was/is completely unaware of CREAF's intentions/strategy with regard to VD2/3D (IMO, they just didn't see CREAF entering the market as strongly has they are (big mistake). Though I've been through this before, I must re-emphasize: It is not simply that a competitor is producing a 12 meg board while DIMD is/was not. I'm confident that this was expected, but by much lessor producers. IMO, DIMD was fully prepared to use its considerable marketing muscle to further brand the Voodoo nomiker with their "Monster" label, with intention to virtually make the two appear synonymous. The majority of the public (especially the newbies entering computerdom with those $1,000 PCs wouldn't recognize nor comprehend the facts of the matter. They'd want Voodoo and Voodoo would mean Monster. The evidence suggests, that in DIMD's determination only the techies and seriously hard-core gamers would be concerned with memory, megabytes, textures and the like in choosing their boards and they're only a small segment of the overall 3D/Gaming market. On the face of it one would have to agree. Thus speaks the 8 meg only decision, the techies and hard-core gamer segment (12 meg lusters) was fully conceded to lessor players and also I presume the thinking was--besides these guys won't wait they'll purchase the first boards out period and our margins will be nice and large. What I feel has been DIMD's failure is in MISUNDERSTANDING the gaming/techie INFLUENCE on the greater market. They are the leaders and definers of the market. This strategy has been completely blown out of the water. BOOM! What's got them shaking is that CREAF has equal and/or better capabilities to do exactly the same which none of the other competitors have. CREAF is at this moment completely outmaneuvering DIMD on all fronts. IMHO CREAF intends upon TAKING the market as completely as they can. Look at the facts: 1) CREAF made announcement to market VD2 like most others, but not their intention to be first to market. This is no coincidence. 2) CREAF apparently confidentially secured agreements with 3Dfx for what I assume to be a secure supply (this remains to be seen as VD2 will be in great demand, but in short supply) and "exclusive" use of the Voodoo2 nomiker on their packaging. Infreakincredible. 3) CREAF's willingness to concede to whatever demands 3Dfx had in order to secure the above, indicates PURPOSE, as does their decision to go with 3Dfx' reference design and drivers. Being first was important and by design. 4) While all eyes were upon DIMD, CREAF assigned the necessary resources to get their product to market FIRST, seemingly irregardless to cost and by all indication will accomplish their goal. (There was a post from the Yahoo board from Sim cross-posted to either this or the Creative board outlining the efforts CREAF has made. If someone has this could you email or post it to me, thanks.) DIMD apparently never expected a competitor of relatively equal MARKETING and MANUFACTURER resources to enter this market and surely not one with the apparent guile CREAF has shown. BOOM! Sorry, I'm a gamer at heart.