Joint #01 31 января 2006

Articles - ZX Graphics: A look from the Atarishnika Exocet.

ZX graphics. View from the outside.
by Exocet


I was asked to write a short article for the JOINT of my
views on the ZX graphics, possibly due to the fact that I, as I
I know, the only French artist, drawing on the ZX in 2004
year. Spekovskaya graphics - it is something relatively new for
me, because years ago I was 02/03 I could hardly do anything
portray. The reason that the Spectrum did not become widely
distributed as a gaming machine in Western Europe in the 80's, 
for exception of Great Britain and Spain on a smaller scale,

Portugal and Greece. Commodore 64 was more popular with almost
everywhere. It is logical that the most popular platforms past
are a popular old-school demostsenovymi platforms
present, and, as in the UK and southern Europe are now
There is no more or less active stage, ZX Spectrum rarely used
to create a dem. In fact, I can hardly remember
some spekovskuyu DeMouy, released at some
majeure demopati in Western Europe, except for "Losing 
Victoria" by Hooy-Program for Assembly 2002.


In fact, the whole spekovskaya demoscene is a kind of terra
incognita to us - the West Europeans. And from our point of view
this is the most exotic scene of the now existing, especially
Considering that the new demos are increasingly going only on 
machines who have never been available in Western Europe - I'm 
talking about Pentagon and Scorpion compatible computers. Enough

interesting to realize that in any particular part of Europe, 
although continent and is divided almost half a century ago, 
there was a phenomenon: people directed their efforts against 
hacking games on team building, designed to show that they and 
their computer can achieve. If you believe that this unusual 
hobby there is hardly anywhere then it's probably one more 
modest evidence that we Europeans have similar cultures and 
values. 

Well, back to the ZX graphics. The biggest advantage of the 
schedule is that it can be seen in a completely proper form 
everywhere, even on a machine different from that on which it 
was created. May present small differences, like that picture

VGA monitor clearer than RGB or TV, but not in this case.
Do not need any emulators! I though I saw only
a couple of pictures before, the real interest in this area 
arose after reading an article published on the GFX Zone

(Www.gfxzone.org) about 2 years ago, written by Paracels
and NdK / GFX Zone. She talked about the basics of video mode, 
there describes several key programs to create graphs and

included some very good pictures as examples
what can be achieved, man have you at least some talent
perseverance. Since this was something new for me, it was
enough to arouse interest and I began to shake a lot
ZX graphics from the Internet, for example, ZpiXels, which,
Unfortunately, later still. I became more and more
smote the image I have ever seen. Who would have thought that
possible to create detailed images, using only 2 colors
for each familiarity 8 * 8 and so bright that they are usually
swing while working on other platforms (the so-called
"Koderskie color")?

Because of the restrictions that have ZX graphics, it has 
become for me an intriguing blend of art and technical 
framework, by the way that that the video mode will affect the 
way the implementation of planned composition. Some artists 
would be shocked by the fact that their creative impulse to 
limit the computer, but some may understand that the other side 
of creativity - to play with these constraints and finding ways 
to involve them in their plans. Andre Franquin, the famous 
Belgian comic book artist one day said: "L'Art nait des 
contraintes", in the approximate translated means "The Art of 
generated frames. Even if he never heard of spekovskoy 
schedule, his claim seems to be exactly suited to her. I really 
think some Pictures from Rion, Pheel, Diver or Paracels (for 
example) real works of art, even if most people

never think the same way because they see no point
paint with such a huge number of limitations, while
how this can be done easily by using modern
funds.

Looking at the level of work that are available to the party and
which rose strongly over the past few years, I think
ZX demoscene as a phenomenon will not disappear, but instead 
continue grow to unprecedented heights and surprise us. Continue

do we like what we would do!