From: Jerry Isdale <72662.410@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: PUB-REV: VR Madness

 There is a new pop-media book out with a VR title: "Virtual Reality
Madness" by Ron Wodaski, from SAMS (ISBN 0-672-303-91-4). It includes
a CD-ROM for PC (DOS/Win).

DISCLAIMER:
 I did the technical review for this book, and it carries the
following note on the back cover:
 "Approved for Technical Accuracy by Jerry Isdale, Head of
CompuServe's CyberForum, and Doug Faxon."

 While Doug and I did review the material for tech accuracy, I
repeatedly stated to the author and publisher that I did NOT think the
term "Virtual Reality" should be applied to this book. The only things
in it that meet my requirements for VR are sections on Domark's VR
Studio and Rend386. The majority of the book is about 3D animation,
VistaPro, Morphing, Video editing, and other more conventional
technology.

 The book provides lots of demos and cookbook how-to's for these other
things.  It is much in line with Ron's other books... Multimedia
Madness, PC Video Madness. It even introduced me to some rather fun
programs (Disney's Stunt Island). If you are into this stuff that lies
somewhere in the continuium from animation to WoW virtual reality, and
have a PC w/windows, then you might like this book.

 HOWEVER, if you are looking for a book about interactive graphical
simulations, immersive or windowed, dont be suckered in by the title
of this book. There are a number of other excellent popular media VR
titles out now (many of which I also did tech edits on). I will be
posting a short review of these soon, along with an update to my white
paper "What Is VR?" (whatvr.zip on sunee,uwaterloo.ca and other
places).

Virtually Yours,

 Jerry Isdale
 SysOp, CyberForum, CompuServe.
 i.e. Isdale Engineering
 Dreamers Guild
 72662.410@compuserve.com