MTropolis: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
'''mTropolis''' (pronounced "metropolis") was a multimedia authoring tool created in [[1996]] by mFactory (pronounced "em-factory"). The development environment was very different from the other tools around at the time - [[Apple Computer]]'s [[HyperCard]] and others had a card based metaphor, and [[Macromedia Director]] had a film metaphor (the content area is called The Stage, the time line The Score, an assets library named The Cast, etc). In mTropolis there were sections, subsections, and scenes. Assets would be placed onto the scene, and then combinations of behaviors and modifiers would be dragged onto the assets |
'''mTropolis''' (pronounced "metropolis") was a multimedia authoring tool created in [[1996]] by mFactory (pronounced "em-factory"). The development environment was very different from the other tools around at the time - [[Apple Computer]]'s [[HyperCard]] and others had a card based metaphor, and [[Macromedia Director]] had a film metaphor (the content area is called The Stage, the time line The Score, an assets library named The Cast, etc). In mTropolis there were sections, subsections, and scenes. Assets would be placed onto the scene, and then combinations of behaviors and modifiers would be dragged onto the assets |
||
Powerful interaction and animation could be created by making different modifiers send messages to each other, allowing a user to create something impressive fairly quickly, without any typing. There was a simple programming language, accessed via a Miniscript modifier, but most of the programming was achieved by attaching standard behaviors and modifiers, and making selections within the modifier pop-up menus |
Powerful interaction and animation could be created by making different modifiers send messages to each other, allowing a user to create something impressive fairly quickly, without any typing. There was a simple programming language, accessed via a Miniscript modifier, but most of the programming was achieved by attaching standard behaviors and modifiers, and making selections within the modifier pop-up menus. |
||
One criticism of the tool was that the included textual programming language, Miniscript, was lacking key features necessary for many tasks. Because '''mTropolis''' was conceived around a [[visual programming language]] metaphor, mFactory engineers intentionally omitted control constructs such as loops. This turned out to be a serious limitation. To remedy this, the third-party developer AX Logic produced the popular Alien Studio modifier as a drop-in replacement for Miniscript. |
|||
The main problem with this sort of program is that the Internet has offered so many options that delivering content on CDs and even DVDs isn't commercially feasible anymore. Still, mTropolis remains an interesting study in application design, and held a loyal following for many years. |
|||
'''mTropolis''' was short lived, being bought by [[Quark, Inc.|Quark]] in 1997, who then discontinued the product a few months later, possibly in favor of [[QuarkImmedia]]. Many believe though that the use of behaviors in '''mTropolis''' spurred [[Macromedia]] on to introduce behaviors in [[Macromedia Director|Director]] 6.0. |
'''mTropolis''' was short lived, being bought by [[Quark, Inc.|Quark]] in 1997, who then discontinued the product a few months later, possibly in favor of [[QuarkImmedia]]. Many believe though that the use of behaviors in '''mTropolis''' spurred [[Macromedia]] on to introduce behaviors in [[Macromedia Director|Director]] 6.0. |
||
== Release History == |
|||
=== mTropolis 1.0 === |
|||
Macintosh-only authoring tool, with players for Macintosh and Windows. Retail price $4,495. |
|||
=== mTropolis 1.1 === |
|||
Retail price $1,195. |
|||
=== mTropolis 2.0 === |
|||
1998 |
|||
Revision as of 23:44, 31 May 2008
 |
mTropolis (pronounced "metropolis") was a multimedia authoring tool created in 1996 by mFactory (pronounced "em-factory"). The development environment was very different from the other tools around at the time - Apple Computer's HyperCard and others had a card based metaphor, and Macromedia Director had a film metaphor (the content area is called The Stage, the time line The Score, an assets library named The Cast, etc). In mTropolis there were sections, subsections, and scenes. Assets would be placed onto the scene, and then combinations of behaviors and modifiers would be dragged onto the assets
Powerful interaction and animation could be created by making different modifiers send messages to each other, allowing a user to create something impressive fairly quickly, without any typing. There was a simple programming language, accessed via a Miniscript modifier, but most of the programming was achieved by attaching standard behaviors and modifiers, and making selections within the modifier pop-up menus.
One criticism of the tool was that the included textual programming language, Miniscript, was lacking key features necessary for many tasks. Because mTropolis was conceived around a visual programming language metaphor, mFactory engineers intentionally omitted control constructs such as loops. This turned out to be a serious limitation. To remedy this, the third-party developer AX Logic produced the popular Alien Studio modifier as a drop-in replacement for Miniscript.
The main problem with this sort of program is that the Internet has offered so many options that delivering content on CDs and even DVDs isn't commercially feasible anymore. Still, mTropolis remains an interesting study in application design, and held a loyal following for many years.
mTropolis was short lived, being bought by Quark in 1997, who then discontinued the product a few months later, possibly in favor of QuarkImmedia. Many believe though that the use of behaviors in mTropolis spurred Macromedia on to introduce behaviors in Director 6.0.
Release History
mTropolis 1.0
Macintosh-only authoring tool, with players for Macintosh and Windows. Retail price $4,495.
mTropolis 1.1
Retail price $1,195.
mTropolis 2.0
1998
Titles Created with mTropolis
A few CD-ROMs were created using mTropolis, including Scott Kim's Obsidian, A Sharp's King of Dragon Pass, the Muppets Treasure Island, Voyager's Fun With Architecture and The Magic World of Beatrix Potter.
According to Starship Titanic author Douglas Adams, his team had originally selected mTropolis 1.0 for its development platform but it had to be abandoned for unspecified technical insufficiencies in favor of an in-house tool.[1]
External links
- Adams, Douglas. "Why isn't Starship Titanic on the Macintosh?". Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- Lindsay, Greg. "The software that refused to die". Retrieved 2008-05-31.