RUSH #02 30 ноября 1999

Демосцена

Parallel measurements - Review of PC-demoscene.

  A small preface to the following three
messages that contain an article
Illuminating the theme, the importance of which
Recently, often hinting:) Article
written over a year ago for a magazine
"Harm". Since the magazine does not have direct
relation to the demoscene, exposition is
on the basis of accessibility for all
reader, including a completely
unfamiliar with the demoscene. Please
treat it with understanding and not
asking questions like "intricate shapes
- How many polygons it? ":) The article
consistently highlighted various demos
styles. I think every
be able to find at least a mention of his
favorite demo. The survey included only
PC-demos. And, according to the date
publication of articles in the journal "Harm", do not
mention of "Relic", "Smokebomb",
"Kkowboy", "Moral Hard Candy", etc. - Their
if it was not simple.

Orange, Psychic Link, Coma, CNCD, Pulse,
Complex, Renaissance, Moppi Productions,
The Black Lotus, Tpolm, Oxygene, Exceed ...

 As in almost infinite
cyber space to find something that
shake you, dear reader? Something
close your outlook, but transferred
unusual means, filled with new
and ideas embodied in reality.
Something is created close to you in spirit
people, the result of their hard work and
reverent attitude to the child
they create with love and care ...

 In the traditional 'non-cyber-space "
it's a movie, book, music concert.
Good movie, cleverly written book
and masterfully executed a brilliant
musical work. Admit it,
such a bit. Events that shook you
its depth and proximity to your
inner peace, a little - books, movies
can be counted on the fingers. Concerts ...
How long have you been in the conservatory? .. And in
Theater? .. Oh, how much time we
provodim the computer! ..

 But since we are part of life in the
cyber-space, let us remember that
This "fake" life can give
most that on a human
feelings, experiences, jitteriness and emotions.

 DEMO. The concept of "demo" is not entirely accurate
captures the essence of what is to be seen
viewer. With the same success with the word "demo"
include feature films,
because it shows on screen
fictional events and displays of actors,
playing the role of fictional characters.
Between the film and that is usually called
"Demo", there are some similarities. The success of
project depends primarily on the scenario and
the quality of its execution. In fact -
precisely because of the studio work we
see on the screen actors reading the roles and
experience with them as if
These were real events taking place
next to us. At any time you can
say: "Yes it's just actors,
performing their job! They simply
read the role, written by another person. "
Say so - and destroy the beauty.
Destroy in yourself, within yourself ... We
knowingly allow that what is going on
screen penetrate deep into us, otherwise why
we arrive at the cinema? Same thing in the demo
- The art of programming replaces
Performing Arts and you can always
say: "I think I know how it
do - it's just "and - pufff! -
magic has disappeared, we have killed a great ...

 But if so we set off in search of something
unusual and wonderful in our
cyber-space, let's agree not
kill is a great advance. That is
do not approach what they see with a scalpel and
forceps, dissecting on the go, all we
offer disinterested creators demo.
Nobody forbids admire the skill
programmers and artists (as we often
admire her acting), but let it
does not interfere with the general perception. Generally better
leave the analytical analysis with
delights for later.

 By the way, here's another parallel between the demo
and movies: a revolutionary breakthrough in
film has occurred with the advent
sound film. There is no doubt that
silent films produced large
impression on the viewer, but with the advent
sound film world transformed - some
scenes are even greater burden on the sound
than the image. Of course, first of all
this speech, but other times and "just" music.
Same thing with the demo: the old demo and intro
had no sound, and on
today on any computer without Gravis
UltraSound many demo and intro are
silence:) No doubt - and, as such, they
can be fun ... but with
soundtrack - just another
level.

 Thus, we shall look for such demo, which
can be viewed over and over again, as
favorite movie. This demo, which
You can come back as good books and
albums favorite band. Forward! :)

 In order to understand exactly what
You need to find, determine
what you are. Your aesthetic and
musical preferences, ways of thinking and
etc. Below, we provide a description
the characteristic features of creativity
several groups, but you'd better look yourself,
that suits you.

 O R A N G E

 Outstanding and original Finnish group.
Its roots go to the group Sonic (y
which had two divisions: AMiGA and
PC). Sonic PC acted as one of
organizers Assembly'93 and '94. With Sonic
started many talented people,
continue its activities in such
groups as the Five Musicians, KFMF, Orange and
etc. The main musician Orange is
now the most popular in the world (
chart'am Hornet, Shain and others). Dune.
He started with jazz (like the second musician
Group - Cybelius), but in 1994 became the year of
to get involved in electronics in a variety of
manifestations. At first, it has combined
with its old style, but not further away from jazz
nothing was left except the unusual chords
(But already in the ambient sounds). Not
dwelling long on ambience, Dune
began to fill his music hard
sounds discouraging sometimes broken beat
hardcore barrel under the gurgling, whistling
and metal sound effects. People
know him personally, but hinted that the
musician simply addicted to
Drugs. In principle, the same talk and
about the other members of the group Orange, yes and
their demo is easy to see. In general,
Orange fills their creations not only
strange music, but also surreal
visuals. According to the complexity of their code
recent work has been possible to put on
same level as the Future Crew 93rd year:)
For lack of prominent coders Orange
take the overall atmosphere of their demo.
Incidentally, almost all of their releases Orange
supply two names (the second name
given in parentheses). Size (ranked
on disk) is provided for in the demo
raspakovanom form.


 DEMO "The Secret Life Of Mr. Black"
(High Speed ​​Dubbing) - second place at the
Assembly'97. Size - 3 Mb.
It supports all sound cards.
Video Mode - 13h (VGA 256 colors).
Run even under Windows.
 The idea of ​​demo truly remarkable: Dune
digitized from the album English Lessons
language and interchange standard and
known to every student in school
English phrases. Imagine
speaker, which solid man's voice
instead of the standard "I am a man. My wife
is a woman "says" I am a woman ",
with multiple echoes, and a terrible rhythm
attach to this statement is
sinister:)

 The image is combined with music:
announcer lists the members of his close-knit
family, and on the screen appear incredibly
inappropriate portraits that give the entire demo
still healthy share of humor. Changes
music - and the picture changes:
there are very beautiful light
effects. Another funny moment: on the background
infinitely receding into the distance rotating
helices sweeps the number pi (which, as
known, an infinite number of digits
after the decimal point).
 Vobschem, "The Secret Life Of Mr. Black"
definitely worth a look.

 DEMO "Super Television" (Makako) -
fourth place at Assembly'96. Size -
3.5 Mb. Supports GUS and SB. VGA 256
flowers (do not think that this is not enough:)
May cause problems for owners of GUS
PnP (need to run program from MaxMode -
emulator of the old Gravis'a) and the owners
SB (try to enable / disable
Emm386). Under Windows will not start.
 According to the complexity of code, this demo does not concede
the previous one (although written in a year
earlier). Sound track consists of a
accumulation of effects in the spirit of Future
Sounds Of London against the backdrop of eerie
"Analog" chords, plus a terrible
hardcore drum, completely rescuing
broken beat:) And oddly enough, all
it sounds beautiful. And most importantly - closer to
the end of the demo appreciative listeners
rewarded with an unusually beautiful and
relaxing musical theme.
 The screen protshodit something creepy:)
The viewer will then fly through tunnels and loops
amusement coaster ride (and
image is displayed so that the flight
more like a vague dream or even
delirium), then watching hitters in convulsions
surface with the inscription "STV", it contemplates
extraordinarily beautiful water surface,
where sunbeams dance on the waves.
In addition, during the entire demo viewer
expect surprises in the form completely
unexpected ... Well we will not disclose all
secrets - better to just look at this
demo.


 DEMO "Megablast" (Mustaks) - second place
at The Party 6. Size - 5.3 Mb.
It supports all sound cards. VGA 256
colors (and there are more and not have to:) By
Windows is not.

 Start demo: two combat helicopters under
sound of a military march break through
blizzards, authoritative voice broadcasts
something like "the Power of MEGABLAST !"...
Very impressive. And then - we
falls into some kind of terrible darkness:
becomes very quietly, only vague
whistling sound worried mind. Afar
there is light, but we are separated from the light
something dark and massive - the rays with difficulty
breaking through the barrier. Light goes
denoting vague outlines, and we remain
this dark and strange world, which
begins to discover their secrets. Words
it is impossible to convey - is the most
"Freaky" demo of all, made
Orange. And does not need to sin
use all sorts of foolishness to
take this scene and understand the unusual
beauty, non-Euclidean geometry and
unconventional harmony:) Sometimes
"Megablast" presents us with a recognizable
images (for example, a portrait of Salvador Dali)
but inscribing at the big picture, they
appear in a new light ...

 INTRO "The Sea Robot Of Love" (Korso2).
Size - 64 Kb. GUS, VGA, no Windows.
There are problems with the launch on Pentium'ah
- In this case, you need to start with the key
"-M".

 Korso2 - one of the few intro, for the sake of
which should I buy Gravis UltraSound.
Without sound, it loses half of its
attractiveness.
 Describe the intro is more complicated than
demo. Therefore we note only the extraordinary
Styling Korso2 (compare with it can
except that "Transgression2" by MFX).

 T P O L M

 Smoothly move from the Finnish band Orange
to an international group Tpolm. In Tpolm
are the Poles, Finns, etc. The transition will be
really smooth, since
considered below intro "Bjoer" described
Tpolm'ovtsami themselves as "the first attempt
do something in the style of Orange ". In
addition, one group of musicians (Mellow-D)
as well as Dune "grew up" in the group Sonic
PC.

 INTRO "Bjoer". Size - 64 Kb. GUS
(There's a version for SB), VGA. Something
both run from Windows, but loses
synchronization with the beam field sweep.
 Describe the intro, once again, it is difficult, but
briefly, Bjoer - is complicated Korso2
(Orange) with an admixture of Megablast (Orange) ...
Very informative, taking into account the full
no description Korso2:)

 Music - like Dune, but sanitized and
calmer. Sound-track is made
simply amazing: in such a humble
size (64 Kb with the code and graphics)
fit a full-fledged product with
nice rhythm and sound effects.
 The image is based combination
eroded vector shapes and fonts,
and on a dynamic background, the stylized
by cosmic landscape. Very nice
"Metal" palette. Stylish and
dynamic intro.

 DEMO "Te-2rb" - third place
Gathering'98. Size - 6 Mb. All
sound card, SVGA 640x480. Runs and
under Windows. The faster the processor,
the better (p200 small).

 Demo displayed in monochrome.
256 shades of gray, plus complex
font multifaceted compositions - all
it gives the image a sort of
"Printing" look:) As in "Bjoer" -
wire-three-dimensional objects. Again
variations on the theme "Korso2" and "Megablast",
but with one significant addition:
there are also painted plane
Some objects look like
made of paper mock-ups ... Demo
definitely have to like anyone whose
activity concerns the design and
printing.

 Music is rather unusual: Mellow-D
using unsophisticated electric
sounds, of which the track is built
complex structure with infinitely
overlapping themes. All this is flavored
intricate percussion. Incidentally, all
samples of 16-bit:) Unfortunately, the music
has no bright accents, under which you can
would synchronize the image
(In fact, part of the demo can be
simply browse to the key
"Esc", while any deviations from
music will not be observed).

 ... Generally speaking, the feature group
Tpolm has always been their naive and slightly
silly humor, and humor is quite
kindly:) Rather than attempting to emulate
Orange, Tpolm filled their intro and
small demo funny pictures and
cheerful music. Moreover, in one
intro they allowed a running line with text
read: "Say NO to drugs,
kids! We care about the youngsters of the
demoscene, and don't want you to end up
like those drug addicts in Orange or the
alcoholics in Coma! "

That is to say they disliked the group Coma and
Orange, and struggled with drugs.
The latter is true, but the first -
doubtful. Nevertheless, his intro
"Bjoer", Tpolm demonstrated that
create extraordinary surreal
worlds is quite possible and sober.

 From old demo should be noted gay
"Yie Ar Family" and "Bobble Bulb"
(Bernatio). They cause a smile, even in
very dark and harsh viewer:)

 C N C D

 One of the cult AMiGA'vskih demo groups.
CNCD is on a par with the likes of
as The Black Lotus (TBL) and Houjjob.
Being an ethnic finami, CNCD
performed in the 1994th year of AMiGA'vskuyu
demo party Assembly. In 1995, the year of
group decided to try his hand at
Platform PC. Then released demo
"Inside" is still considered one of the
best: that get up on the screen
computer 382nd processor, just not
fit in the head! This demo
necessarily need to look to
evaluate how the game industry
behind the demoscene ... Immediately after
"Inside" is recommended to see demo
"Outside" by Melon - it's very funny
parody:)
 Proceed to describe products CNCD ... and
again return to Orange.

 DEMO "CNCD vs Orange" (Seks) - first
place on Gathering'97. Size - 4.8 Mb.
All sound card, VGA. Runs from
under Windows.

 Music - a separate conversation. Light,
but extraordinarily expressive playful
Party on the guitar, mellow bass, very light
swing rhythm played on the ride cymbal
- Is the party Yolk'a (CNCD). But
suddenly appears Dune (Orange) and fills
music crazy effects and
erratic rhythm. Light sweet
melody turns into kryshesryvatelny
sound track:)
 Image is fully consistent
music: "Mercury" amorphous objects, people
in bizarre costumes, signs the alphabet
unknown language, vector arrows, and
the circle that converge to the most interesting
parts of the displayed scene. Separate
attention should be relaxed in some
mid-demo - floating among the small
Marine fishes ramp. Very nice
looks when Ray accidentally
touches svom powerful wing swum up
too close to the fish:)

 This demo you want to view at least
twice.

 DEMO "Killer" - second place at The Party
97. Size - 5 Mb.
 This is just super! Very stylish demo.
People and objects from the liquid metal,
struyuschiysya light and energy flows, the game
light and shadow, soft bass, combined with
expressive rhythm ... Wow! :)

 And if for Korso2 (Orange) is
buy Gravis UltraSound, for the sake of Killer
worth buying AMiGA. Yes, this demo is
only AMiGA, but did not describe it in this
review would be a mistake. "Killer" is better
look at the machine with a processor MC68060,
Although he started and MC68030.

 P U L S E

 If so our story all the time
revolves around a group of Orange, then there
We begin by describing the demo, to create
which was attended Dune, but this
Once the role of the coder (programmer) and not
musician. Albeit without the aid of Dune music
in the demo looks like Orange'vskie sound-tracks.
By the way, Pulse - the international group
(Basic structure is located in Poland and
France).

 DEMO "Square" - fifth place at The Party
7. Size - 2.8 Mb. All sound card, VGA
256 colors. Under Windows is not
runs.
 So, the music - a mix of Dune and trip-hop.
Like the music itself carries a demo
a very somber mood.
 On the screen are arranged is very beautiful and
dynamic collages are calculated in
real-time scenes. It looks like
video, flattened talented
director. Every action is smoothly
spills over into the following items - demo looks on
one breath.
 Skill programmers - in fact
high level. The only major
drawback - when drawing the image is not
time left on the track
scan, and personnel are constantly "fall under the
beam.
 In general, a very beautiful, complex,
interesting and gloomy demo:)

 DEMO "Sunflower". Size - 3.3 Mb. All
sound card, Vesa 2.0 (high colour). Under
Windows starts up (at least for
the presence Gravis UltraSound).
 If you are tired of the dark with a demo
terrible music, and surreal
video series, Sunflower - best way
regain its vitality.
 This demo is the undisputed leader in
popularity among the female population
planet:) In fact, as can not
umilyat bouncing a fantastic music
grasshoppers and butterflies, colorful
flowers and sparkling waterfalls? :)

 M O P P I P R O D U C T I O N S

 Again the Finns.
 If you think that Sunflower - solid
syusyukane a sugary Muzychka, then
nizheopisanaya demo from Moppi Productions
surely you will be pleased, although she made
as bright and colorful. Just a "Tree
Little Goats "there is a healthy share of
humor (even a little cynical).

 DEMO "Tree Little Goats" (3PP). Size -
4.3 Mb. All sound card, VGA. Under
Windows is better not to run (lost
synchronization with the scan, if not
is not).

 This is a cartoon. But it's great -
three-dimensional cartoon. That is all
image is computed in real
time (as it should be in the demo), but
displayed in stilizovanom
"Flat" form. Very impressive.
 Tree Little Goats accompanied
funny sound effects and
subtitles, which in combination with a comical
image makes demo inimitable.
Something about her is the famous
cartoon last year's snow was falling ":)

 Outstanding demo.

 E X C E E D

 Pass from stilizovanyh
animated films to stilizovanomu
video. Exceed - Hungarian group. Their
latest demo - a typical AMiGA-style.
Finally, we have the opportunity to observe at
PC that enthralled amizhnikov in
1992nd year.

 DEMO "Rip Rap" - Antiq'98. Size - 4.9
Mb. All sound card, VESA 2.0 (15 bit
video mode).

 Very beautiful and expressive music with
elements of ambient, jungle and funk.
 First of all - a distinctive feature
AMiGA-style - a white background: some of the scenes
narisovanye look like on paper or
as magazine clippings. Funny
cartoon pictures, intricate
Funny inscriptions, dynamic background,
silhouettes of people dancing - all blend into
one video clip.
 In the first part of the demo - very nice
some with folding of many
small pyramid complex shapes,
and in its slow movement, they
how to swim in the appropriate music.

 Excellent demo. After graduating from want
watch it again ... But it is better not
do, as there is a possibility
Reset CMOS-RAM. Should first
restart the computer (and not by
Ctrl + Alt + Del, and click Reset).

 P S Y C H I C L I N K

 Ancient demo group, dropped out of life
scene for a period of 95-96 years. At the end of
1996-year primary developer of
(Statix) returns to the stage from the demo
"Headache". Very beautiful, nice and
fun demo with remarkable sound-tracks.

 DEMO "303" - first place at Takeover'97
(X97). Size - 3.6 Mb. All saundkarty, VGA 256 colors. Something 
like runs under Windows.

 Musician Vic (the band ACME) wrote to
"303" song. With words. All demo
looks like an amazing video clip.
Here and video, and subtitles, and complex
three-dimensional objects placed in
synthesized the world, photos,
crazy sound effects and energetic rhythm
and beautiful voice.

 At the beginning of the 1997 "303" marked
new stage in the creation of demo on the PC.
Specifically, it is in the top five
demo of all time.

 INTRO "Paper" - first place at Wired'96.
Size - 64 Kb. GUS, VGA. No
Windows:)

 There is a pencil and a clean sheet
paper begins to draw children's picture:
sun, tree, house ... And suddenly
the picture comes alive, filled with color and
begins to move. Like "Three Little
Goats "- stilizovany under Cartoon
realtime rendering. Good-natured and
beautiful intro.

 Music. If you do not have music in the demo, not
Despite the fact that you have included speakers on
full volume, so you do not have
Gravis'a. Sorry. Extremely sorry that you
will not hear anything.

 C O M A

 When it comes to using video
in the demo, then just remember the group Coma.
Initially, the wonderful gay guys
have issued 64K-intro "Stickman's World"
(Second place at Assembly'95) and the demo "John
Lennon Ain't Dead ", lived up to the fact that
Tpolm put them in a
negative example in his intro
"Against drugs". Indeed, since
Of 1996 on the works of Coma can
say that the guys at least never
There are sober. This affects
not so much on the quality of the code:)
as on topics filmed
video fragments. Despite vobschem something
stylish design, music and videos
create eerie depressive mood.
Maybe it's someone and liking. In this
case, you should pay attention to
the following work:

 DEMO "The Control" - second place at the
Gathering'95. Size - 2.5 Mb.
 DEMO "Insects" - fourth place at the
Assembly'97. Size - 3 Mb (the archive).
 DEMO "Parhaat" - first place in the
Juhla'97. Size - 1.4 Mb (archive).

 By the way, about Juhla'97. Surprisingly,
that the demo "Time Zone +13:00" took only
only third place. This is a very stylish
demo with beautiful lighting effects and
rather soft music from Dune (Orange).
It may be seen many times in a row.

 R E N A I S S A N C E

 That's really all groups of the group. From
Renaissance, as well as from Sonic PC
went KFMF, Iguana, Analogue and other
known groups. Main encoder
Renaissance (Tran) except for a few
great demo that gave the world 386
protected mode extender, virtually
all respects superior to other
dispatchers protected mode (including
and DOS4GW). This Pmode use
most of the demo, intro, and systemic
programs (Fast Tracker, for example).
 As for Renaissance'vskih demo,
they all have one distinctive
feature: they are infinite. You can
run any of them and watch for
the screen is almost non-recurring forms.
Demo accompanied by ambient music,
written by such professionals as
Basehead and Ryan Cramer.

 DEMO "Luminati" - 860 Kb
 DEMO "Ambience" - 510 Kb
 DEMO "Timeless" - 435 kb

 B L A S P H E M Y

 P U R P L E

 O X Y G E N E

 It will be followed by a description of the three demo
three different groups. Their style is
something in common with the demo "Te-2rb" (Tpolm).
In short, they all look in the spirit
the very first movies using
computer graphics (legendary film
"Tron", for example). That's because
programmers do not try to squeeze out
computer that he is unable to
well done, the schedule obtained by "pure
computer "and it gives the image
certain charm. In addition, two of
three demo made in the resolution of 640x480,
and it looks just fine.

 DEMO "Louis Lane" by Blasphemy 'Orange -
2.6 Mb. 640x480
 DEMO "Plastik" by Purple - 4.6 Mb.
640x480. DOS 'Windows
 DEMO "Solex" by Oxygene - 330 Kb. VGA.
No Windows please.

 C O M P L E X

 A very old Finnish group created
such wonderful things as "Dope",
"Cyboman2", "Message From the Cosmic
Brothers "and" We Go ". Complex tried
just write a demo for Windows, but
outperform their older creations, naturally,
failed.

 DEMO "Rebel" (As Perceived). Size -
2.6 Mb. VGA 256 colors. Under Windows
runs.
 Wonderful sound track in style
Underworld. Overall mood and structure
demo reminds somewhat softened
"Super Television" (Orange). One of the
effects deserves special
mention: a break-dancing bit stream
smoke. In general, this demo is hard to describe, its
just need to look at.

 INTRO "Bill G Force" - the third place at
Assembly'95. Size - 64 Kb. GUS, SB.
 Wonderful ambient sound-track,
flight in cyber space, beautiful
objects, light, high colour emulation on
VGA. In itself a spectacle fascinating.
Beautiful and stylish intro.

 D O O M S D A Y
 T H E B L A C K ​​L O T U S

If you like the show colorful, energetic
music and uncomplicated plots, these groups
become your heroes:) Also,
looking at that and get up TBL Doomsday,
You can be proud of his strength
computer: what is happening on the screen
really impressive (especially
complexity of the code). Feel free to download all
demo and the intro of these groups and enjoy!
Never mind that in the demo is no deeper meaning
- Very upbeat sound-tracks in the style
acid goa trance beat out of my head all
complex thoughts:) If you do not have Gravis
UltraSound, download versions for Windows,
otherwise the music will not. And the music there
excellent.