Awards Anyone?

And here is today's crazy email of the day.

Hi, my name is [Name] and I have a proposal for you

Here is what we offer our customers. We have many downloads and reviews of different software. We are constantly looking for new useful software for our visitors. While searching we came across your software and were impressed by all the great features it offers. Consequently we awarded your software our highest recommendations, 5 stars and a place on our editor’s choice list! We would consider it a great honor if you could post our recommendation for your software on your site. You can find it here [link]

Your remarks are always welcome because this gives our visitors the opportunity to see what publishers have to say.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you for all the hours you have given to the software industry and wish you success in your future business.

Regards [Name]

So if I understand this correctly, this jackass is feeling honored for giving me an award.

Satisfaction Through 3D Graphics Technology

Today we received an interesting email at the SYCODE info email account:

"I would like to discuss with you ways we can work together in placing our banners on your site. We are may be interested in paying a flat rate to advertise or giving you a higher rate as an affiliate. Please let me know if this might be something you would be interested in pursuing. If you want to see a full copy of the game, let me know."

Wow!! A gaming company wants to advertise at sycode.com? That's great. While I do not do ads (not even at this blog), I still wanted to know which gaming company found my company web site worthy of advertising on. So I following the link in the email and then spat my coffee all over my keyboard. Instead of explaining what I saw, I will simply list a few things that I read.

"[Product] is one of the most advanced adult virtual sex games on the planet. Fulfill any fantasy with life-like cybersex graphics that look so good, you'd swear they were real! [Product] is the only 3d sex game that allows you to choose your partner's hair color, eye color, skin color, and piercings."

"Numerous high detail locations can be selected for you and your virtual sex partner to act out all your fantasies! Solo, girl on guy, lesbian and even threesome action available!"

"Customize a girl, then watch her have interactive sex in multiple scenarios"

"After you pick your type of girl, tell her what position you want her in during sex!"

And by the way, they got a couple of testimonials as well:

"This game rocks. I've tried a few different games like this but most are just low quality crap that don't really deliver a good experience...this one is the best out there right now."

"Love the graphics and movements a lot! Everything looks so real!"

Looks like I am going to take their offer. Not the advertising one, you moron. The offer wherein I get to see the full version of the game. In that case, I had better call my wife and let her know that I will be coming home late today. And she had better not be reading this blog, or I may have to sleep on the couch tonight, and that too, hungry.

New Clone on the Block

Looks like Bricsys, the developer of Bricscad (an AutoCAD clone), is all set to take off. Along with a complete redesign of their web site, they have also revamped their software. Not only does the new Bricscad support DRX, the ODA's alternative to Autodesk's ObjectARX, but Bricsys has its own SDK (aptly called BRX) which is source compatible with ObjectARX. In short, third party developers will theoretically be able to take their ObjectARX code (which is used to create AutoCAD plug-ins) and recompile it with BRX SDK to get a Bricscad plug-in. And this opens a whole new range of possibilities for Bricsys. Basically, they are making it a lot easier for AutoCAD users to dump AutoCAD for Bricscad, especially those who find themselves tied to AutoCAD due to to third party ObjectARX plug-ins. It will be interesting to see how Bricsys is going to woo third party developers to use their BRX SDK to develop Bricscad versions of their AutoCAD plug-ins.

According to their web site Bricsys builds "long lasting win-win relationships with application developers". I wonder if Autodesk should be concerned that such win-win relationships could result in them losing some of their customers in the bargain. Like I mentioned in my earlier article ("The Future of AutoCAD Clones"), 2D AutoCAD customers who are looking to make the move to 3D may need to maintain 2D capability for some time, or maybe forever. In such cases, a low cost AutoCAD alternative will definately help making the switch, especially if it runs their plug-ins as well. I doubt many companies will be able to afford AutoCAD as well as their new 3D CAD system. AutoCAD LT may not be an option since it does not load plug-ins. With Bricscad Professional priced at $445, some may find it worthwhile to add it to their workflow. The Classic version is priced at $100 lower, but then you lose ACIS modeling and the ability to load BRX plug-ins. Surprisingly, the Classic version can load DRX plug-ins.

No other company understands this dynamic better than SolidWorks, which offers DWGeditor, an IntelliCAD variant developed for them by Cadopia, whose webmaster is still sleeping. I will not be surprised if, in the near future, we find SolidWorks aligning themselves with a more powerful IntelliCAD variant such as Bricscad.

And by the way, at least one CAD vendor believes that I am a CAD Guru. The new Bricsys web site has a section called "The Blogs of the Gurus", where this blog is listed alongside "WorldCAD Access", the blog by the reverend Ralph Grabowski. I feel as if I have been canonized.

Disclosure: My company, SYCODE, has partnerships with Autodesk, SolidWorks and Bricsys, along with a host of other CAD vendors. As a company and personal policy I make it a point not to take sides. And I like it that way. I get to sleep with everyone and yet live alone in my own home. I am beginning to understand the merits of western culture.