Interviewing Fluid Entertainment [Dundjinni & Master Tools]

[Morrus]

I'm in the process of preparing an interview with Scott Matthews of Fluid Entertainment. As you probably know, Fluid are the publishers of Dundjinni, a new RPG map-making application, and were the developers of Master Tools/e-Tools.

Is there anything you'd like me to ask him? Post here, and I'll try and include it in the interview.

 

[WingOver]

Some of these questions might sound rude, so I apologize in advance. Not sure how "hard hitting" you want to make this interview, but I am interested in hearing the answers.

1. Were you worried that potential customers would shy away from Dundjinni based on the performance of your last project, E-tools?

2. Who is your target audience? $80 seems very expensive for the casual mapper.

3. What do you think about CMP's recent partnership with ProFantasy?

 

[herald]

What happened with mastertools?

Do you still have a offical relationship with Wizards of the Coast?

What was the story with the isometric mapper?

What there ever a plan to turn mastertools into an online game server?

You claim that you will have compatability with eTools to intergrate stats with your maps but do not seem to have any agreement with CMP (according to CMP) to do so, any comments on that?

How many people were involved in creating eTools?

How many people are still on board with Fluid who worked with the eTools project since fluid stopped eTools support?

What was it like working with Anthony Valtera and Ryan Dancy?

 

[Thanee]

2. Who is your target audience? $80 seems very expensive for the casual mapper.

Sorry to intervene, but you know that there is a $40 version, that just doesn't have all the adventure building stuff and free extra tile sets and whatnot included, but comes with the full mapping software AFAIK?

Just noticed everyone seems to say the software costs $80, which simply isn't the case. Only the platinum edition costs that much.


One question I have in mind.

-> How did you come up with the name Dundjinni?

It seems to be a mix of D-un-D (D&D), Dundjin (Dungeon) and Djinni (Genie).

Bye
Thanee

 

[WingOver]

Sorry to intervene, but you know that there is a $40 version, that just doesn't have all the adventure building stuff and free extra tile sets and whatnot included, but comes with the full mapping software AFAIK?

True enough... I didn't mean to sound negative there. In fact, I seriously considered buying the Silver edition because I'm not interested in the adventure creation part, just the maps. But then I saw the Platinum edition got 2 artpacks and I got all jealous and didn't want to settle for Silver.

 

[Ranger REG]

2. Who is your target audience? $80 seems very expensive for the casual mapper.

Actually, you're referring to the Platinum Edition with add-ons.

The more casual or beginning mappers may go with the affordable $40 edition.

3. What do you think about CMP's recent partnership with ProFantasy?

I don't know if this will ruffle their feather. It would be more interesting if you ask if their Dundjinni may not be compatible with the new version of e-Tools that CMP is rumored to be developing (from the ground up) right now.

 

[gravyboat]

Question:
I purchased Dundjinni and the only real problem I have with it is its slow performance. Given the resource intensive nature of such a program why was Java chosen as the language to code Dundjinni with?

 

[kingpaul]

I don't know if this will ruffle their feather. It would be more interesting if you ask if their Dundjinni may not be compatible with the new version of e-Tools that CMP is rumored to be developing (from the ground up) right now.

Not a rumor: http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=6095

eTools 2 will be called RPG Toolkit. CMP will have 2 sessions on it at GenCon: http://www.codemonkeypublishing.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=6270

 

[Ranger REG]

Question:
I purchased Dundjinni and the only real problem I have with it is its slow performance. Given the resource intensive nature of such a program why was Java chosen as the language to code Dundjinni with?

If you ask me, whoever invented Java should have his or her lobotomy fried.

 

[Kaleon Moonshae]

If you ask me, whoever invented Java should have his or her lobotomy fried.

couldn't agree more. I love the program but the java problem is keeping me from buying it. It's just too slow and the demo crashes at the most inoportune times