Contact: Beth Fisher, Regis McKenna Inc. (415) 354-4436
Sally Swift, Regis McKenna, Inc. (415) 354-4464
Coleen Lim, MacroMind Inc. (415) 442-0200
MACROMIND ANNOUNCES MACROMIND DIRECTOR VERSION 2.O
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21, 1990--MacroMind® Inc., the leading vendor of multimedia software, announced today a new version of its flagship application, MacroMind Director®. Designed for professional users and Macintosh® enthusiasts,
MacroMind Director version 2.0 provides significant enhancements to MacroMind Director 1.0.1. MacroMind Director 2.0 will be available in April with a suggested retail price of $695. Current owners of MacroMind Director 1.0.1 will be able to upgrade for $100. Customers who purchase version 1.0.1 between February 21 and April 30, 1990, will receive the upgrade free.
In direct response to customer requests for greater control and flexibility, MacroMind has added three significant enhancements to version 2.0: the ability to add interactivity to multimedia documents, to control external audio and video devices, and to create and animate 24 bit color images. While maintaining the ease-of-use of version 1.0.1, MacroMind Director version 2.0 includes Lingo,™ a HyperTalk™-like scripting language that allows the user to go beyond HyperCard® in performance and provides the flexibility to easily add a range of interactivity to multimedia presentations via buttons, menus, and scripts. Lingo supports X-Objects™ and HyperCard XCMD's, which let users control CD-ROM audio and video disc players and videotape recorders. This feature enables users to add high-quality sound and full motion video-in-a-window to their interactive presentations, time-based simulations, prototypes, courseware and information kiosks. Users can also record their productions with professional quality using frame-accurate videotape recorders.
MacroMind Director 2.0 also includes a new version of the MacroMind Player™ which now supports interactivity. MacroMind Player is a run-time utility that allows users to play back MacroMind Director, MacroMind Accelerator™ and VideoWorks II™ documents stand-alone, or from within HyperCard or HyperCard-compatible products.
"MacroMind Director is the multimedia presentation tool that allows you to convey ideas with a force beyond any combination of words or pictures," said Marc Canter, MacroMind's chairman and founder. "Imagine having the ability of user-driven animation, video, sound and color. Once you start using this product, you will never go back to static presentation or authoring tools."
Praise from Multimedia Users
Multimedia users who have evaluated developer versions of MacroMind Director version 2.0 have praised the product. "I use MacroMind Director because there is no other animation tool in the Macintosh market with such versatility and power," said John de Lormier, multimedia expert, animator and artist. "This is especially true with regards to MacroMind Director's scripting language, Lingo. I am particularly impressed by MacroMind Director's ability to drive CD-ROM and video-disc players." de Lormier's client roster includes Bechtel, NASA, Pacific Telesis, National Semiconductor, and Apple Computer.
"There's no product that comes near MacroMind Director," said Mark Schlicting of Planet Productions, a multimedia design group specializing in animated, interactive training programs and presentations. "It creates animations faster than other programs. For nonprogramming designers, MacroMind Director provides them with instant gratification and quick conceptualization."
MacroMind expects users of its current MacroMind Director 1.0.1 and VideoWorks II applications to upgrade to MacroMind Director version 2.0. Those who purchased MacroMind Director 1.0.1 (suggested list price of $695) prior to February 21, 1990 can upgrade for a cost of $100. Individuals who purchase version 1.0.1 between February 21 and April 30, 1990 will receive the upgrade free. Owners of VideoWorks II who purchased the product prior to Feb. 21, 1990, can receive an upgrade to MacroMind Director version 2.0 for $250. Individuals who purchase VideoWorks II after February 21, 1990, can receive an upgrade to MacroMind Director version 2.0 for $400. These offers are valid until June 30, 1990. Owners of MacroMind Director 1.0.1 and VideoWorks II can call MacroMind (415-442-0200) for upgrade information.
MacroMind Three-D ($1,495), a three-dimensional animation, rendering, and image manipulation tool for the Macintosh, will be available directly from MacroMind during the second quarter of 1990. The company also offers MacroMind Accelerator ($195), a software utility program that speeds up and smooths animations for professional-quality output, and clip sound and animation sequences, available in CD-ROM format ($195) or floppy-disk format ($59.95 per disk). The MacroMind Director family of products is distributed by Ingram/Micro D, Softsel Computer Products and Macamerica to computer dealers and other resellers.
A privately held company, MacroMind is backed by the Cole Gilburne Fund and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
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MacroMind and MacroMind Director are registered trademarks of MacroMind Inc.
MacroMind Accelerator, MacroMind Player, Lingo, X-Objects, and VideoWorksII are trademarks of MacroMind Inc.
Macintosh and HyperCard are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.
