1229 lines
61 KiB
Plaintext
1229 lines
61 KiB
Plaintext
-Start-of-Demo-News-#72-------------------------------------------------------
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______/\___________________________ __ ________________ ___ /\_______
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\____ \ ________ _ _ ______ \ / \| \ ________ | \/ ______/
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/ | \ _) \ \_/ \ | \ / \ \ _) \ | \______ \
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/ | \ \ | \ | \/ \ \ /~\ \ / \
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\_____ /_______/___| /________/\____\_____/_______/_________/________/
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===\_____/============|____/========================================[+tZ^]==
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ISSUE #72
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November 27, 1994 - December 3, 1994
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DemoNews is a weekly publication dedicated to the demo scene. It is
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produced at the Internet FTP site ftp.eng.ufl.edu (aka HORNET). This news-
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letter focuses on all aspects of demos and demo-making (including music,
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art, and coding). ALL are welcomed to contribute articles, rumors, adver-
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tisements, etc.
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SUBSCRIBERS: Last week - 732
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This week - 748
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Change - +16
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==============================================================================
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<< CONTENTS >>
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==============================================================================
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Section 1.............Standard Information --> Who Are We?
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Section 2..........................General --> Goodbye Michelle
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Goodbye Music
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Secret Part - New Intro
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Section 3............DemoNews Advancements --> WWW/HTML/USENET
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Section 4......................New Uploads --> New Files for the Week
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Section 5.................Musicians Corner --> Interview with SKAVEN!
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Extreme's New Tracker
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Section 6....................Coders Corner --> Aspyxia Lives
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Reviewing Code (Metal)
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Section 7...................Artists Corner --> Stony's First Article
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Section 8....................Escape DemoCD --> Its out!
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Section 9...................Advertisements --> Data Connection BBS
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Section 10....................Miscellaneous --> DemoNews growth limits
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Section 11.................Closing Comments --> Quote for the Week
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==============================================================================
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((Section 1...Standard Information))
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==============================================================================
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"HORNET" is the name of an FTP site on the internet. It is a place where
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people upload and download files. However, HORNET has grown much larger
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since it was first created 2.5 years ago by Dan Wright. Now HORNET
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releases a weekly newsletter called DemoNews, and is starting to offer other
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services. HORNET specializes in the "demo scene", and files that are re-
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lated to demos, coding, music, or graphics are welcome.
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Officially:
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Site Name : HORNET
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Address : hornet.eng.ufl.edu (128.227.116.7)
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Location : Florida, USA
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System E-Mail : dmw@eng.ufl.edu
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There are currently 16 active demo-operators for this site:
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Name Position Address
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
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GEN|Christopher G. Mann COORDINATOR r3cgm@dax.cc.uakron.edu
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|Jeff (White Noise) WEBMASTER jeff@ego.psych.mcgill.ca
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|Kim Davies DNDISTRO kimba@it.com.au
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|Burning Chrome DEMOBOOK? bchrome@foley.ripco.com
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|Styros LINKMAN iq23@jove.acs.unt.edu
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DEMOS|Mike DREVIEW weis@elf.stuba.sk
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|Brenton Swart (Zenith) DREVIEW bswa1595@pilot.stu.cowan.edu.au
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MUSIC|Ryan Cramer MARTICLE rcramer1@osf1.gmu.edu
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|Per-Ivar Knutsen MREVIEW perk@stud.cs.uit.no
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CODE|Grant Denthor CARTICLE denthor@beastie.cs.und.ac.za
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|Dee-Cug (JsNo) CARTICLE jsno@amigar.apana.org.au
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|Andy Younger (King Tech) CMOVER aiy@mundil.cs.mu.OZ.AU
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|David Thornley (Metal) CREVIEW dthorn@gco.apana.org.au
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ART|Jester ARAY jester@rbg.informatik.
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| th-darmstadt.de
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|Stony AHAND p.vanmun0@hsbos.nl
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|Jason (Cavalier) AANSI cavalier@shadow.net
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THIS SITE IS MIRRORED BY THE FOLLOWING FTP SITES:
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FTP Name IP Address Country Base Directory
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-------------------- -------------- --------- --------------------
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ftp.uwp.edu 131.210.1.4 USA /pub/msdos/demos
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*ftp.luth.se 130.240.18.2 SWEDEN /pub/msdos/demos
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ftp.sun.ac.za 146.232.212.21 S. AFRICA /pub/msdos/demos
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ftp.uni-erlangen.de 131.188.2.43 GERMANY ??
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ftp.uni-paderborn.de 131.234.10.42 GERMANY /pub/msdos/demos
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ftp.cdrom.com 192.216.191.11 USA /pub/demos
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freedom.wit.com 144.92.88.30 USA /systems/ibmpc/demos
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*Only site that mirrors the /incoming directory
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OTHER GOOD DEMO/MUSIC FTP SITES TO CHECK OUT:
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FTP Name IP Address Country Directory
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-------------------- -------------- --------- --------------------
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ftp.mpoli.fi 193.210.15.65 FINLAND /pub/starport
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ftp.brad.ac.uk 143.52.2.6 ENGLAND /misc/mods
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If you know of any other good ftp sites, let me know and I will add them
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to this list.
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[SUBSCRIBING TO DEMONEWS]
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You can subscribe to this newsletter by mailing listserver@oliver.sun.ac.za
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and putting "subscribe demuan-list your_real_name" in your message.
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The listserver is what sends out this newsletter every SUNDAY morning.
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kimba@it.com.au is the keeper of the listserver. If you have any questions
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about subscribing to DemoNews, write to him.
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For those who use the GUI environment check out our DN.HMTL in the
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/demos/news directory. The URL is ftp://ftp.eng.ufl.edu/demos/news/DN.HTML
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==============================================================================
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((Section 2...General))
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==============================================================================
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(Goodbye Michelle) Christopher G. Mann
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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For the past 4.5 months, I dated Michelle Davis. Very early in our
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relationship, I introduced her to demos. She seemed very impressed with
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the work that went on in making such a production. Over time, we made
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a regular habit of getting together and watching the latest releases.
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Michelle was a good listener and would let me ramble on about Music Contest
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][, the Escape CD, Assembly 94, etc. It got to the point where I could say
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'I hear that FC is coming out with a new demo soon', and she would reply
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'well, its about time...the last major release was Second Reality at ASM93'.
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She KNEW the scene (from my perspective).
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I started dating Michelle back when Music Contest ][ was a baby. We would
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listen to new entries as they came in. V-vibes was a song she was
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particularly fond of. Given the limited space on the Escape CD, her
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pursuasion was actually a factor in getting that song included. It was kind
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of funny when the contest was finishing up: we would look at some of the
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ratings the judges were giving songs and shake our heads in disbelief. :)
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She was there when the MC2DEMO, Escape intro, Escape CD, and several other
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projects were finished. In fact, she is the only person that can really
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appreciate the work that went into MC][. In many ways, she has an edge over
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many people in the scene already because she has seen several projects
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go from idea to planning, to production, and to release. Even though she
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can not code, write music, or do graphics, I think she might have done a
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pretty good job organizing people to put together a demo.
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Recently, Michelle and I parted on good terms. She is a user of Prodigy and
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recently gained the ability to send e-mail on internet. Here is part of a
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letter I receieved a few days after our breakup:
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Me again... Thank you for your prompt reply. I've been
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doing a lot of thinking today and I don't want to completely
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lose you. I understand that we are no longer dating but, if
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we could, I'd like to stay in touch through demos...
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I've come to really love the demo scene and since I have a
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sucky<G> computer, I would probably never watch another demo
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again. That thought doesn't sit well with me. If it would
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be alright with you, I'd like to get together every now and
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again to watch whatever new demos are out there.
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Also, I'd like it very much if you'd keep me updated on all
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demo happenings, if possible I'd like to hear about all the
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important stuff before DemoNews comes out.
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Maybe we can base a friendship on this subject. It is just
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an idea after all.
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The Demo Scene had a big impact on our relationship. It served both as
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something to do (watching demos), and something to talk about (my projects).
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I count myself very lucky to have found a girlfriend who took an active
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interest in the demo scene. Those of you out there whose girlfriends
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couldn't identify an IBM from a toaster can agree. :)
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If you look back at what I've done in the past 4 months, there is a little
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bit of Michelle in everything. Her constant support and encouragement
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have allowed me to function better under stress.
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Michelle, even though the demo scene might not have known who you were, your
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influence was felt around the world. You will be missed.
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-Christopher G. Mann November 26, 1994
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(Goodbye Music) Christopher G. Mann
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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With this issue, I formally say goodbye to the music aspect of the scene.
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I have three releases this week:
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byemusic.zip - My first (and final) music disk.
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mictro .zip - A birthday demo I did for Michelle (see above)
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tut1 .zip - Converted source code to Denthor's demo tutorial.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(Secret Part in New Intro/Majic 12) Mike
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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NewIntro - New Intro / Majic 12
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- again Maxwood's secret part :)) This time it was really easy to find
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how to enter it using debuger - press up-arrow to start tron-like
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game, and use all arrows to control it.
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- as usualy, this intro is "GUS at 220 only" but it also works with
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no-GUS. But it is terrible to get no-sound if there is a GUS in machine
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on other port (users with GUS & SB know it very well). But again
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you'll need to patch a lot of values in uncompressed code to switch
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it to 240 or other base-port....
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==============================================================================
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((Section 3...DemoNews Advancements))
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||
==============================================================================
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We are still working on the WWW/HTML interface for DemoNews. White Noise is
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in charge of pushing DemoNews to new heights. We are also considering
|
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posting DemoNews to a few demo newsgroups on USENET.
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Ryan Cramer has just told me that Data Connection (his BBS in Virginia, USA)
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will be getting an internet mail connection around X-Mas time. This should
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increase the number of subscribers to DemoNews by about 100.
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==============================================================================
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((Section 4...New Uploads))
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==============================================================================
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Note: All ANSI was taken offline this week. We do not have resources to keep
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this area active on HORNET. In addition, there was more profanity and
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creation of difficult-to-remove directories in this section than in any other.
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For example here are some of the files that WERE in the /incoming/ansi
|
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directory this very week:
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drwxrwxr-x 3 10 512 Nov 23 00:43 ????
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drwxrwxr-x 11 10 1024 Nov 25 00:55 ..????????
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||
drwxrwxr-x 2 10 512 Nov 24 07:12 this.sucks
|
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-rw-rw-r-- 1 10 299 Nov 25 02:49 sHUT.dA.fUCK.uP
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-rw-rw-r-- 1 10 0 Nov 19 10:57 gzip-1.2.4.msdos.exe.lsm
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drwxrwxr-x 2 10 512 Nov 25 12:06 why.are.you.taking.the.site.down.
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assholes
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I am NOT pleased. The last directory above answers its own question.
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FILENAME.EXT LOCATION SIZE DESCRIPTION
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------------ ---------------- ---- -----------------------------------------
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.-----------.
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| --DEMOS-- | (all locations start with /pub/msdos/demos...)
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`-----------'
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ignite .zip /alpha/NEW 528 Ignite by Xtatic (GUS/SB)
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miopia20.zip /alpha/NEW 619 Miopia, the first demo by RST (SB)
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phantom .zip /alpha/NEW 8 BBStro by Natas / LiTHiUM
|
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rst .zip /alpha/NEW 56 First Intro by Rising Sun Team (ADLIB)
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||
unknown .zip /alpha/NEW 347 Unknown by Mindprobe - (GUS)
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|
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.-----------.
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| --MUSIC-- | (all locations start with /pub/msdos/demos/music...)
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`-----------'
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rr_ch4-1.zip /disks 1347 Radical Rhythms Music disk (1 of 2)
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rr_ch4-2.zip /disks 1435 Radical Rhythms Music disk (2 of 2)
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ls034 .zip /programs/frontend 66 Multiformat MOD player shell -LiTHiUM
|
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kardp10 .zip /programs/misc 226 Karoke Player for DOS
|
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m3rip211.zip /programs/rippers 32 Rips MOD/MID/S3M/STM/MTM/ULT/FAR/XM
|
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rip01 .zip /programs/rippers 17 Module ripper by Natas of LiTHiUM
|
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etrck07 .zip /programs/trackers 267 Extreme Tracker (See review below)
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sclub_sw.zip /programs/trackers 581 New graphical music editor
|
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1995.lha /songs/mod 719 MOD "1995" by Sidewinder
|
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lostalon.zip /songs/mod 78 MOD "Lost Alone" by Domino
|
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m-break .zip /songs/mod 6 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-cheese.zip /songs/mod 6 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-comfor.zip /songs/mod 56 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-cresce.zip /songs/mod 47 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-electr.zip /songs/mod 84 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-fastla.zip /songs/mod 45 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-gettin.zip /songs/mod 112 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-guder .zip /songs/mod 57 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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m-house .zip /songs/mod 116 MOD by Mystical of Purple
|
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tl-affin.zip /songs/mod 242 MOD "Affinity" by Timelord
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tl-dark2.zip /songs/mod 290 MOD "The Edge of Darkness 2" Timelord
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tl-omni .zip /songs/mod 240 MOD "Omni" by Timelord
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tl-vibe .zip /songs/mod 195 MOD "Nightvibe" by Timelord
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odyssey .zip /songs/mtm 166 MTM "Hyperspace Odyssey" by Sybaris
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2k-squar.zip /songs/s3m 255 S3M by Mopias 3/Kookie Kontrol
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2k-jaxx .zip /songs/s3m 187 S3M by Karl/Kookie Kontrol
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8363-hmm.zip /songs/s3m 131 S3M by Eight363
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8363-met.zip /songs/s3m 119 S3M by Eight363
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abyss .zip /songs/s3m 177 S3M "Abyss of Despair" by Pest/TranZe
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chpology.zip /songs/s3m 9 S3M "Chipology" by Leviathan/Ren'94
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discover.zip /songs/s3m 66 S3M "Thrill of Discovery" by Blackwolf
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etack .zip /songs/s3m 82 S3M "E-TACK" Hardcore by Woody
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fiction .zip /songs/s3m 322 S3M "Fiction" by M-S-M/TranZe
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fuga .zip /songs/s3m 95 S3M "Fuga" by Crazy Teo
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hyp_res .zip /songs/s3m 156 S3M "Hypnotic Research" by Humanoid
|
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imh-had .zip /songs/s3m 58 S3M "In My House Remix" by Hadji
|
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lv-2ndna.zip /songs/s3m 79 S3M "Second Nature" by Leviathan
|
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lv-invic.zip /songs/s3m 140 S3M "Invictus" by Leviathan/Renaissance
|
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mystery .zip /songs/s3m 380 S3M "Waves of Mystery" by W!ND/Enigma
|
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nl-mod .arj /songs/s3m 2936 MODs from Nordic Line Party compo
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s!p-ripd.zip /songs/s3m 145 S3M "Ripped Fuel Rules" TheFaker/S!P
|
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vir_ride.zip /songs/s3m 210 S3M "Virtual Ride" by Juergen Brocke
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*** Created new directory /songs/xm ***
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achlys .zip /songs/xm 694 Three XM music files from Achlys
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excsagrs.zip /songs/xm 346 XM "Excessive Agression" by Trifixion
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hmm .zip /songs/xm 214 XM "Grr-hmm" by YANN
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.----------.
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| --CODE-- | (all locations start with /pub/msdos/demos/code...)
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`----------'
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Next week, Denthor will regularly start handling the /incoming/code files.
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.----------.
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| --MISC-- | (all locations start with /pub/msdos/demos...)
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`----------'
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==============================================================================
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ooo ooooo o8o oooo
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`88. .888' `"' `888
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888b d'888 oooo oooo oooooooo oooo 888 oooo
|
||
8 Y88. .P 888 `888 `888 d'""7d8P `888 888 .8P'
|
||
8 `888' 888 888 888 .d8P' 888 888888.
|
||
8 Y 888 888 888 .d8P' .P 888 888 `88b.
|
||
o8o o888o `V88V"V8P' d8888888P o888o o888o o888o
|
||
|
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((Section 5...Musicians Corner)) <BY> Ryan Cramer [Iguana/Renaissance]
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rcramer1@osf1.gmu.edu - George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
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==============================================================================
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(General)
|
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
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This week we have some great music scene coverage. We start out with an
|
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extensive interview of Skaven of Future Crew. The interview discusses many
|
||
things including Skaven's background, his influences, and his future as a
|
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musician. The interview also goes into Future Crew productions, the future
|
||
of Scream Tracker III, Skaven's other interest: Graphics, and his plans
|
||
for a new tracker. I think that this is the most extensive interview done
|
||
on Skaven to date. Hope that you enjoy it.
|
||
|
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Next, we also have a very complete review of Extreme's new tracker, called
|
||
"Extreme Tracker". We go through many of its features, its advantages and
|
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disadvantages. The article also compares it to Scream Tracker III and Fast
|
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Tracker 2, its two main competitors.
|
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|
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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INTERVIEW: Skaven (aka Peter Hajba) of Future Crew [Music Article 1 of 2]
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_______ __
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| __| |--.---.-.--.--.-----.-----.
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|__ | <| _ | | | -__| |
|
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|_______|__|__|___._|\___/|_____|__|__|
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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|
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Skaven of Future Crew is perhaps the most famous musician in the PC demo
|
||
scene, along with Purple Motion. Both musicians have maintained the top
|
||
two spots in the charts ever since Future Crew's megademo "Unreal" was
|
||
released in 1992. Their demo "Second Reality" is still undisputed to be
|
||
the best demo ever produced. Skaven's music gave the demo a movie-like
|
||
feel and I think that many people would agree that it was the best music
|
||
that we've ever heard in a demo. Skaven truly is one of the founders of
|
||
the PC demo music scene. I think that many musicians in the scene today
|
||
were very influenced by his music and may not have been involved in the
|
||
scene had it not been for his inspirational music. Skaven has also done
|
||
music for many other projects, including his kick-ass music disk entitled
|
||
"Chaotic Mind", his TP'92 intro music, his ASM'94 intro music, several
|
||
individual S3M releases, his Epidemic music, and many others... I'm very
|
||
pleased that we were able to get an interview from Skaven this week. This
|
||
interview was conducted on Saturday, November 26th, 1994.
|
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|
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[Start of interview: Skaven/Future Crew]
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|
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RC: Ryan Cramer - rcramer1@osf1.gmu.edu - Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
|
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SK: Skaven - skaven@janus.otol.fi - Finland.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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RC: What originally got you interested in tracked music?
|
||
|
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SK: I got interested in tracker music when I saw Scream Tracker and
|
||
started playing with it. I actually registered my copy from PSI.
|
||
|
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RC: What type of musical background do you have?
|
||
|
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SK: I have no musical background at all - even at school I chose art. It
|
||
started when I began using Scream Tracker. PSI then asked me to
|
||
beta test Scream Tracker III, and thats how my career with Future Crew
|
||
started.
|
||
|
||
RC: Was your first musical work with Future Crew, or were you doing stuff
|
||
before that?
|
||
|
||
SK: I did several pieces with my copy of Scream Tracker and played them to
|
||
PSI and friends, before joining - my first Future Crew pieces were the
|
||
musics composed for our demo "Unreal".
|
||
|
||
RC: So the stuff in "Unreal" was some of your first music. Thats amazing
|
||
considering how excellent the music was. To this day, I'm still amazed
|
||
by your song "Realm of Chaos" from the credits of Unreal.
|
||
|
||
SK: Glad to hear that. :)
|
||
|
||
RC: What music would you say your most influenced by, either from CDs or
|
||
other tracked music?
|
||
|
||
SK: Most probably.. should I say.. Jean-Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream.
|
||
Nowadays I'm into newage and ambient, such as Philip Glass.
|
||
|
||
RC: Jarre's music has changed a lot thorugh the years, do you like his
|
||
older style (aka "Oxygene") or his newer stuff (like Chronologie)?
|
||
|
||
SK: Actually, both. He's gotten stinking rich, so he can afford any synth
|
||
he wants... maybe his newer music is a bit too full.
|
||
|
||
His older music used to be one-man music, but nowadays he has a band.
|
||
So his style has been influenced and mixed a lot.
|
||
|
||
RC: How about Tangerine Dream, they've TOTALLY changed, they used to be
|
||
using all analog synth stuff, now they just use their presets on their
|
||
Korgs. :) Do you like Tangerine Dream's earlier stuff, or their newer
|
||
stuff? (I personally like both)
|
||
|
||
SK: Oh, I didn't like the old "nonfigurative" stuff at all. I DID like
|
||
when they experimented with Klaus Schulze. When it comes to their
|
||
newest music, it has become very "commercial" and populistic. I like
|
||
their music between these two phases.
|
||
|
||
RC: What are your plans for the Future (musically)?
|
||
|
||
SK: Musically? Hard to say - Purple Motion is a true musical professional
|
||
anyway. If I can afford a synth someday, sure I'll keep on doing it.
|
||
But I might as well move to graphics.
|
||
|
||
The future is open, really. I am 70% sure, though, that music will NOT
|
||
be my primary way of making a living ...but rather, a way to earn a
|
||
few extra bucks. :)
|
||
|
||
RC: Speaking of your graphics, they are really incredible. Will you be
|
||
doing graphics for any future FC productions or anything like that?
|
||
|
||
SK: Certainly. I only lacked the EXPERIENCE, because I was never asked to
|
||
draw too much. Not until now have I drawn enough to call myself a
|
||
GFX-man, so expect me to publish an array of graphics soon. For your
|
||
curiousity, the upcoming "Chromatics III" music disk.
|
||
|
||
When it comes to drawing, I've been doing it since I was a kid - on
|
||
paper. I chose art at school even, not music.
|
||
|
||
RC: Well, I, as I'm sure many others, will be looking forward to seeing
|
||
your graphics work. I really enjoyed your graphics works that you've
|
||
done in the past.
|
||
|
||
SK: Thanks. :)
|
||
|
||
RC: What would you consider to be your best piece of music that you've
|
||
written?
|
||
|
||
SK: It depends a lot on the mood. But "Mercury Rain" and "Deep in her
|
||
Eyes" please me the most - in the means of being well structured. I
|
||
never was too good at structuring pieces. Those songs, in my humble
|
||
opinion, were full of ideas with no unnecessary over-emphasizing. I
|
||
kinda like "Omniphilia" too.
|
||
|
||
RC: Well, I for one have really enjoyed all of your music. I think the
|
||
ones I enjoyed the most were your Second Reality tune, "Deep in Her
|
||
Eyes" and your winning ASM'93 song titled "Ice Frontier".
|
||
|
||
SK: ...and I'm glad to hear you like them. Oh, I am personally a bit
|
||
disappointed with my Second Reality music. It was TOO powerful -
|
||
almost noisy. It could have been better.
|
||
|
||
RC: What plans does Future Crew have for the future? Are you guys planning
|
||
on any future releases (if this is confidential, you do not have to
|
||
answer this question)?
|
||
|
||
SK: Well, something confidential, of course... but I would like to see FC
|
||
start a real business. We DO have all the talent and potential to reach
|
||
new heights - but it looks like we've gotten into some difficulties
|
||
lately. Such as, our coders being too tied up.
|
||
|
||
<pause>
|
||
So, we'll see...
|
||
|
||
<pause>
|
||
Something big is boiling under the quiet surface, though... :)
|
||
...but I won't tell more.
|
||
|
||
RC: Something big? Sounds good, can't wait. :)
|
||
|
||
What do you think of the many PC scene musicians that are trying to
|
||
copy your music. They're ripping your samples and everything. I know I
|
||
did that too when I first started composing. :) Are you disappointed
|
||
or complimented by this?
|
||
|
||
SK: I don't mind people ripping my SAMPLES. As I said, I am too poor to
|
||
afford a synthesizer. What else could I do than rip? Of course, I've
|
||
always used Advanced Digiplayer very creatively, and "hidden" the fact
|
||
that I rip - not to mention I have a big library, so all my songs
|
||
contain samples from several differnet songs - and are a real mix.
|
||
|
||
I feel... well... complimented, I guess. If I really should. :)
|
||
What I WOULD feel bad about, is people ripping my chords and melodies.
|
||
|
||
RC: What do you think of these new trackers coming out, such as Extreme's
|
||
Tracker and Fast Tracker 2?
|
||
|
||
SK: I haven't even tried any other trackers other than ST and ST3 yet -
|
||
except for UltraTracker, which scared me away. Perhaps I should be a
|
||
bit more explorative.
|
||
|
||
RC: Do you know if Future Crew will be making any new versions of Scream
|
||
Tracker III?
|
||
|
||
SK: PSI said that he will try to fix most of the bugs in ST3, "if he gets
|
||
the time", which has nowadays become very limited. :(
|
||
|
||
RC: Ah but atleast theres hope. :) Maybe someday someone will code a
|
||
new ST3 just like the old one, but better.
|
||
|
||
SK: Actually, I have already, with my friend, designed a new generation
|
||
music tracker program - "Quantum Composer". But its ONLY a plan, so
|
||
far.
|
||
|
||
RC: This "Quantum Composer" sounds interesting, is there anything else
|
||
you'd like to say about it now?
|
||
|
||
SK: How about.. object oriented? Its the magic word. A new type of
|
||
structure for patterns.
|
||
|
||
Thats only one idea, I'm not going to leak the rest. :)
|
||
|
||
RC: Are there any people you'd like to greet or additional things you'd
|
||
like to say?
|
||
|
||
SK: What I'd like to say... don't trust in rumours. I have gotten quite
|
||
silly on IRC at times, and it seems that some people take that
|
||
seriously, and spread those things as rumours. Not good.
|
||
|
||
...and I'd like to greet Necros, atleast. He has what it needs. His
|
||
songs have rhythm, tension, perfected structure...
|
||
|
||
RC: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, its greatly
|
||
appreciated!
|
||
|
||
SK: Okay... was glad to give it. :)
|
||
|
||
[end of interview]
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
REVIEW: Extreme's Tracker 0.7a [Music Article 2 of 2]
|
||
_______ __
|
||
| ___|.--.--.| |_.----.-----.--------.-----.
|
||
| ___||_ _|| _| _| -__| | -__|
|
||
|_______||__.__||____|__| |_____|__|__|__|_____|
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
This week, Extreme finally released a usable version of their new
|
||
tracker. Naturally, its called: Extreme Tracker. I'm sure that many of
|
||
you have already seen this tracker, but in the past it was unusable
|
||
because it would not let you save. Well, it seems that Extreme decided
|
||
to follow Triton's lead and make their tracker (atleast the beta
|
||
version) freeware. Extreme has really made a nice piece of software
|
||
here, and I'm going to go through a detailed review of this tracker while
|
||
comparing it to Scream Tracker 3 and Fast Tracker 2.
|
||
|
||
General Overview
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
Extreme has really focused on the interface in their tracker. In many
|
||
respects, its very similar to Fast Tracker 2. Extreme tracker uses a mouse
|
||
driven interface, but all commands are also accessable through hot key
|
||
command strokes which are listed in the included documentation file.
|
||
Extreme tracker offers some very powerful features, here is a list of
|
||
features from their information file.
|
||
|
||
* 32 GUS Channels
|
||
* 255 Samples
|
||
* 65536 Patterns
|
||
* 65536 Positions
|
||
* 7 Commands on each note
|
||
* 8 Octaves
|
||
* Separate panpot for each sample
|
||
* Variable C-2 frequency for each sample
|
||
* More Effect Commands
|
||
* Packed patterndata and samples
|
||
* Configurable to match FastTracker/ScreamTracker/Protracker etc standards
|
||
* Over 50 different options in the config.
|
||
* All key shortcuts are reconfigurable
|
||
* Longer samplenames/songname
|
||
* Separate names on each channel and each pattern for easier identification
|
||
* Special Module Description Editor for entering long descriptions of
|
||
your music tune
|
||
* Sample Editor
|
||
* Position Editor
|
||
* Advanced Split Keyboard Feature
|
||
* MIDI styled keyboard (let's you press several keys simultaniously)
|
||
* Loads AMS, MOD, S3M, STM, IFF, SMP and DP3
|
||
* And of course alot more for you to discover!
|
||
|
||
One thing that I should mention is that this tracker ONLY supports the
|
||
Gravis Ultrasound. This seems to be the trend for the demo scene, and I
|
||
can see why they would only support the GUS since it really is the
|
||
standard. However, both Scream Tracker III and Fast Tracker 2 support
|
||
the shitblaster series of cards.
|
||
|
||
Interface
|
||
~~~~~~~~~
|
||
When you first load up the tracker, you are presented with a beautiful
|
||
interface. Everything really looks well placed. They make really good
|
||
use of the mouse, there are scrollbars everywhere! However, when
|
||
actually trying to use the tracker, I found the buttons (called
|
||
"gadgets" in the documentation) kind of hard to read. It uses a font
|
||
which looks kind of strange and there are pin-stripes throughout the
|
||
screen which kind of make it look confusing compared to Fast Tracker 2
|
||
and earlier releases of Extreme's Tracker. When I compare it to the
|
||
previous release (v0.6a) I think that the screen is definitly a lot
|
||
more difficult to read. The little pin-stripes and fancy graphics are
|
||
kind of annoying. Luckily, according to the documentation, you can get
|
||
rid of them by making use of the "configuration: color" feature.
|
||
However, I wasn't successful when trying to do this.
|
||
|
||
Maybe I just have bad eyes, but I also had difficulty reading the
|
||
commands in the track pattern. Extreme Tracker uses a standard
|
||
protracker command interface, but they have added an additional
|
||
character to the field. As a result, a single row on the pattern field
|
||
looks like this:
|
||
|
||
Protracker : D-2 02 C10
|
||
Extreme : D-2 02 0C10
|
||
|
|
||
notice the extra command character
|
||
|
||
They added this extra character to allow for more commands instead of
|
||
the standard protracker A through F command set. By using this extra
|
||
character, Extreme Tracker offers other commands in addition to the
|
||
protracker command set like:
|
||
|
||
E8 00 - break sampleloop
|
||
10 00 - play sample forwards
|
||
10 01 - play sample backwards
|
||
10 02 - enable bidirectional loop
|
||
11 xx - extra fine slide up
|
||
12 xx - extra fine slide down
|
||
13 xy - retrig with volumeslide
|
||
...and others...
|
||
|
||
Interesting stuff eh? I thought it was pretty cool, but I'm not sure
|
||
how often I'd use those. :) I think that a better solution for adding
|
||
additional commands would be to use the other letters of the alphabet,
|
||
like: G-Z while still using the standard protracker A-F command set.
|
||
This would have eliminated the need for the extra command character
|
||
which I feel sort of crowds the command field.
|
||
|
||
Unlike Scream Tracker III and Fast Tracker 2, Extreme Tracker does not
|
||
have an extra volume field. This means that you will still have to use
|
||
the protracker command (Cxx) to set the volume for your sample. I think
|
||
that this is a major disadvantage because the extra volume field really
|
||
makes things a LOT easier... However, Extreme tracker DOES support
|
||
multiple commands per note (up to 7!). As an example, this means that
|
||
you could port a note down, set the volume of it, and at the same time
|
||
set its vibrato. I'm not sure how often I would use this feature, but
|
||
its really nice to have for those few times that you need to apply more
|
||
than one command to a note. Scream Tracker III does support this
|
||
feature, but Fast Tracker 2 does not. Instead, Fast Tracker 2 supports
|
||
the alternative: sample envelopes. Whether you would rather have
|
||
multiple commands or sample envelopes is personal preference, but I
|
||
would rather use multiple commands like Extreme Tracker supports. In
|
||
addition, Extreme Tracker makes these multiple commands VERY easy to
|
||
get to: simply click on the number thats at the top right of each
|
||
track.
|
||
|
||
While Extreme Tracker does not support sample envelopes like Fast
|
||
Tracker 2, it does allow you to set the panning position for each
|
||
sample. It also of course allows individual channel panning using the
|
||
standard protracker E8x command (well, maybe not 100% standard).
|
||
|
||
The Extreme tracker also has a couple of other unique features that I
|
||
really like. Above each channel, there is a small description field so
|
||
that you can give each channel your own description. As an example, the
|
||
author of the example song that was included named his channels: Lead
|
||
Sound, Drums+Roam, Roam+Drums, Cool Noise, Strings, Lead Sound2. This
|
||
helps to keep everything in order. Also, Extreme Tracker has a seperate
|
||
song description field. This allows the author of the song to include a
|
||
lot of text about his song instead of putting all of the chatter in the
|
||
sample names. :)
|
||
|
||
Besides the things that I mentioned, Extreme Tracker seems to have a
|
||
very nice to look at, easy to use, and functional interface. Its very
|
||
similar to Fast Tracker 2 and uses mostly all of the same standard
|
||
protracker keys.
|
||
|
||
Sound Quality
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
Well, considering that this tracker only supports the GUS, the sound
|
||
quality is excellent. However, as you may know, some GUS players are
|
||
better than others. I would say that Extreme Tracker has a fantastic
|
||
GUS player, there are no annoying "ultraclicks", and I have yet to hear
|
||
any random pops or whistles. :)
|
||
|
||
Sample Editor
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
I didn't have any luck getting this sample editor to work correctly. I
|
||
was able to make samples, but they came out really shitty. I could only
|
||
slightly make out the notes that I had sampled from my Korg. Obviously,
|
||
they're still working on the sample editor. It looks like its going to
|
||
be really nice when they get it finished, but for now, I'd advise not
|
||
using it. Lets hope that they also put in a input level indicator (like
|
||
in FT2) so that sampling is less of a hassle. If Extreme gets their
|
||
sample editor fixed up, and they get all of the features working, I
|
||
think that it may be better then the sample editor in Fast Tracker 2.
|
||
|
||
Configuration
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
This is one of the best features of Extreme Tracker. Its configuration
|
||
screen is very extensive and you can change nearly every aspect of its
|
||
operation. If you find anything in the tracker to be annoying, chances
|
||
are that you can fix it by changing something in the configuration
|
||
screen. I'm not going to list everything here, except that I will say
|
||
its the most extensive configuration that I have seen in a tracker. Its
|
||
not quite as intuitive as the Fast Tracker 2 configuration, but it does
|
||
let you have more control over the look and feel of the tracker than
|
||
FT2 does. The only thing missing was the ability to change how many
|
||
channels you want to have on the screen at once.
|
||
|
||
Extreme Tracker also lets you change all of the colors in the tracker.
|
||
It doesn't offer predefined palettes like Fast Tracker 2, but it does
|
||
have very easy to use scrollbars to change the colors to your liking
|
||
instantly.
|
||
|
||
Now, one of my favorite things about the tracker! It allows you to
|
||
change the key definitions to whatever you want! This is something that
|
||
should be in every tracker. This means that you can change any command
|
||
in the tracker to be activated by whatever keystroke you chose. If you
|
||
wanted to use the Scream Tracker III block/copy command set, no
|
||
problem! Simply scroll through the list of available commands, then
|
||
click on one. At this point, Extreme Tracker will ask you to hit the
|
||
key that you want to activate this command ...Incredible!
|
||
|
||
Summary
|
||
~~~~~~~
|
||
It looks like Extreme has developed a really nice tracker, and they've
|
||
obviously put a lot of work into it. I think that it would be tough to
|
||
decide which tracker is the best: Scream Tracker III, Fast Tracker 2,
|
||
or Extreme Tracker. Each tracker offers so many things that make it
|
||
unique and great. It all comes down to a matter of personal preference.
|
||
I think that a lot of people will be using Extreme's Tracker because of
|
||
its great configurability and its easy to use interface. Extreme
|
||
Tracker also has great support for existing module formats (MOD, S3M,
|
||
etc) and it doesn't choke on the S3Ms that Fast Tracker 2 seems to have
|
||
so much trouble loading. Those that are used to the protracker command
|
||
set will be right at home with Extreme Tracker. For people that
|
||
didn't like FastTracker 2 because of its complexity and some of its
|
||
deviations from what some people thought was "standard" for trackers,
|
||
Extreme Tracker is a great alternative.
|
||
|
||
Obviously, many of the features in both Extreme Tracker, and Fast
|
||
Tracker 2 put it above of Scream Tracker III (ie: sample editor,
|
||
panning options, configuration, Extreme's keyboard config, etc) but I
|
||
think that Scream Tracker III will continue to be the standard for the
|
||
demo scene, atleast for now. Reason being that Scream Tracker III was
|
||
released at a time when everybody REALLY needed a good tracker. So many
|
||
people are using ST3 now that it really has become the standard for the
|
||
PC scene. ST3 has a totally different interface from both Extreme
|
||
Tracker and Fast Tracker 2. In addition, it also uses a totally
|
||
different command set. These trackers are so different that users of
|
||
ST3 will probably not be inclined to switch to Extreme or FT2 so
|
||
easily. Atleast, this is the way that I feel about it. I've been using
|
||
ST3 for some time now, and I feel at home when using it. When I use
|
||
Fast Tracker 2 or Extreme Tracker, I have a difficult time making music
|
||
because everything is SO different. In addition, S3Ms are so widely
|
||
supported that just about every good player supports them now.
|
||
Nevertheless, both Extreme Tracker and FT2 really look neat, and I'm
|
||
going to experiment with them a lot more.
|
||
|
||
The way I see it, the music scene has three great trackers, and each of
|
||
them will have equal amounts of supporters and bashers. Anyone read
|
||
the debate between ST3 and FT2 in c.s.i.p.d lately?? I can't wait till
|
||
Extreme Tracker gets added into these debates. :) About a year ago, I
|
||
was sitting around using MMEdit wondering why the PC scene didn't have
|
||
ANY good trackers. Well, now it seems that we've got three great
|
||
trackers. Its about time! =)
|
||
|
||
You can find Extreme Tracker at:
|
||
|
||
ftp.eng.ufl.edu - /pub/msdos/demos/incoming/music/etrck07.zip
|
||
|
||
...by the time you read this article, it may have been moved to:
|
||
|
||
/pub/msdos/demos/music/programs/trackers/etrck07.zip
|
||
|
||
For those that do not have ftp or internet access, the program can also be
|
||
found on Data Connection BBS (numbers given in the advertisement below).
|
||
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
((Section 6...Coders Corner)) <BY> Denthor [Asphyxia]
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
(ASPHYXIA LIVES) [Code Article 1 of 2]
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Well, for my second article in this magazine, I have been asked to
|
||
explain a bit more about Asphyxia and how we live.
|
||
|
||
Asphyxia was formed about two years ago, just after our final school
|
||
exams (end of grade 12/matric/standard 10/form 6 depending on where
|
||
you live) The way it happened was like this : There was a beachfront
|
||
braai (barbecue) held by a local BBS (Connectix). While there, I met
|
||
this strange person calling himself EzE ... he seemed, like me, to
|
||
be very interested in coding. During the course of the evening he
|
||
got steadily smashed. When he was out of it, I wrote my name and number
|
||
on his arm, and went home.
|
||
|
||
A day later, I got a phonecall. "I don't know who you are, but I just
|
||
found your name and number on my arm!" And so Asphyxia was born.
|
||
|
||
He then introduced me to LiveWire, another coder, and our first intro
|
||
was out in a few days. (All hail Norton Guides). (BTW, LiveWire later
|
||
changed his name to GoTH)
|
||
|
||
A few months later, we met a guy at a local computer club, who was a
|
||
gaming fanatic. After meeting him a few times, I gave him a drawing
|
||
program, a mouse, told him to draw something, and left. The pic he
|
||
then gave me wasn't that bad, and he seemed to enjoy it. Fubar, the
|
||
Asphyxia artist, was born.
|
||
|
||
Here is a description of the lot of us :
|
||
|
||
Grant "I had a weird childhood, it's amazing I'm sane" Smith
|
||
AKA : Denthor
|
||
Tall, dark and handsome. Well, two out of three ain't bad.
|
||
Codes _lots_
|
||
|
||
Peter "You have no idea how hard it is being an artist" Edwards
|
||
AKA : EzE
|
||
Short, blonde and handsome. Well, two out of three ain't bad.
|
||
Codes, writes S3M's and is a heavy metal drummer
|
||
|
||
Pieter "I'm so depressed, this'll never work" Buys
|
||
AKA : Fubar
|
||
Medium, dark and handsome. Yeah! 3 out of 3! A perfect score!
|
||
Draws pictures. Plays games.
|
||
|
||
Brian "All I need is a computer and the love of a good woman" Bailey
|
||
AKA : GoTH
|
||
Short, blond, and handsome. Ever heard of poetic licence?
|
||
Codes, sometimes.
|
||
|
||
Hmm. How do we live? We don't, we just exist from coffee cup to coffee
|
||
cup.
|
||
|
||
Let me list a typical conversation between us.
|
||
|
||
Brian : Grant, your damn code doesn't work!
|
||
Grant : Yes it does, I'm sure it does.
|
||
Brian : Nope, it's crap.
|
||
Peter : Umm, guys.
|
||
Pieter : Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
|
||
Peter : Does it work with range checking?
|
||
Grant : Wow! Cool! It does. Fancy that!
|
||
Brian : (very softly) Um, I think I know what the problem is.
|
||
All : (Except Brian) What?
|
||
Brian : Um, never mind...
|
||
Grant : It couldn't _possibly_ be your sound code, could it.
|
||
Brain : ...
|
||
Peter : Oh, god, not again.
|
||
Grant : And you said it was _my_ code, HAH!
|
||
Brain : Well it wasn't _my_ fault the docs are wrong.
|
||
Peter : (Sotto voce) Yeah right.
|
||
|
||
Pieter : Guys, could you handle a solid background while that effect
|
||
is going on in the foreground?
|
||
Brian : No!
|
||
Grant : Yes!
|
||
Peter : Maybe...??
|
||
Pieter : Oh, god, not again.
|
||
|
||
Grant : I feel like some milk.
|
||
Peter : What? You feel like milk? You don't look like milk.
|
||
Grant : Yep, I keep on thinking I'm inside a cow.
|
||
Pieter : Oh, god, not again.
|
||
|
||
Hmmm ... people seem to be quite surprised when we say we are democoders
|
||
from South Africa. Here are a few examples :
|
||
|
||
American (through internet email) : Have you ever heard of ID Software,
|
||
or Doom? Do you have electricity? How
|
||
do you code?
|
||
Denthor : Yep, I have even heard of the internet! Of course, coding is
|
||
quite difficult. My dad has to hook up the battery of our
|
||
chevy to the generator in order to get enough power to my
|
||
286. It isn't so bad, if you don't mind the noise of the
|
||
diesel generator. The only problem is, I can't code at night
|
||
because we need the power for lights, cooking and so forth.
|
||
|
||
In actual fact, we aren't that backwards. At university, I use a lan
|
||
with about 30 486's, with a dedicated net link. There are (gosh) high
|
||
concrete buildings in Durban, and the most exciting recent development was
|
||
the lift.
|
||
|
||
EzE and I have to go off now and take a cold shower. We've been talking
|
||
about Gabrielle Anwar, and we just can't take it anymore!
|
||
|
||
See you next week!
|
||
- Denthor
|
||
asphyxia@beastie.cs.und.ac.za
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
(Reviewing /code) by David Thornley (Metal) [Code Article 2 of 2]
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
[David has submitted a form to me for reviewing code. I have made a few
|
||
alterations and comments on it. Anything in [] is a comment by Snowman.
|
||
Once this form is set, David will be working on reviewing all of the source
|
||
code files on HORNET. Its just another way we're trying to make this site
|
||
better.]
|
||
|
||
[First, NO HIGH-ASCII :), and reduce the size to 78 columns.]
|
||
|
||
Code Review
|
||
.---------------------------------------------------------------------------.
|
||
| FileName : ________.___ |
|
||
| Author/Group : ____________________________ |
|
||
| Date Uploaded: _________________________ |
|
||
| Description : _________________________________________________________ |
|
||
| _________________________________________________________ |
|
||
| _________________________________________________________ |
|
||
| FileSize : ___________ |
|
||
| Languages : ASM [_], C [_], C++ [_], PASCAL [_], BASIC [_], |
|
||
| OTHER [________________] |
|
||
| Compiler : ___________________ |
|
||
| |
|
||
| Ratings ---- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
|
||
| Coding - <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> ___% |
|
||
| Documentation - <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> ___% |
|
||
| Understandability - <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> ___% |
|
||
| Portability - <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> ___% |
|
||
| |
|
||
| OverAll - <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> ___% |
|
||
| |
|
||
`---------------------------------------------------------------------------'
|
||
|
||
Explanations :
|
||
FileName: The Filename of the CODE
|
||
Author/Group: The Author's name of the CODE or Demo Groups
|
||
name.
|
||
Date Uploaded: This is the date at which the file was
|
||
uploaded.
|
||
|
||
[I would rather have the date of the newest file in the archive here, rather
|
||
than they day it was uploaded. Some of the files have been moved and/or
|
||
copied or re-archived. This has made the uploaded date innacurate. Also,
|
||
some areas of the world would see 01/02/94 as January 2, 1994, others would
|
||
see it as February 1, 1994. Because of this, I would rather we have the
|
||
date in <MONTH DAY, YEAR> format.]
|
||
|
||
Description: A Fairly detailed description of the purpose of
|
||
the code.
|
||
FileSize: Gives the person a fair idea of the size of the
|
||
file.
|
||
Languages: A box is ticked by a 'x' or if the CODE is
|
||
made for a not so popular demo coding langauge
|
||
or is just a text document or something along
|
||
the lines of that.
|
||
|
||
[Lets use a 'x' instead of the checkmard symbol. We need to stick to
|
||
standard ASCII.]
|
||
|
||
Compiler: The necessary Compiler and Version number
|
||
used to compile the code.
|
||
Ratings:
|
||
Coding: General quality of the coding. Spagetti and
|
||
confusing codes will get a low rating, however
|
||
a nicely set out, nicely structured and
|
||
occompanied comments will get a high rating.
|
||
Documentation: A rating of the documention supplied with the
|
||
code. eg. A well written, easy to understand
|
||
documention which takes the time to explain the
|
||
workings of the code gets a high rating.
|
||
Portability: This is a rating of the portability of the code
|
||
itself. eg. An ASM Library that is easy to
|
||
add addional code will get a high rating,
|
||
however a piece of code which requires a whole
|
||
re-write because it uses a weird technique will
|
||
score a low rating.
|
||
|
||
OverAll: My overall rating of the code. Not calculated
|
||
or anything but, just how well written the
|
||
entire file is.
|
||
|
||
eg. A nice piece of well documented, well coded
|
||
, new technology, easy portablilty will receive
|
||
a high rating. However a TEXT library that uses
|
||
direct video accessing, which everyman, women,
|
||
dog, cat, and fish, knows will obviously
|
||
receive a low rating.
|
||
|
||
an example of a rating is:
|
||
|
||
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
|
||
Coding - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<78> 96 %
|
||
Documentation - xxxxxxx <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> 42 %
|
||
Understandablity - xxxxxxxxxxx <20> <20> <20> <20> 60 %
|
||
Portability - xxxxxxxxxxxxx <20> <20> <20> 78 %
|
||
|
||
Overall - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <20> <20> 80 %
|
||
|
||
[Once again, we need to keep the high-ASCII out, so I have changed this a
|
||
bit.]
|
||
|
||
I have been writing a Source Code Editor for a while now (on and off). The
|
||
program which I will call (Code-Edit).
|
||
Code Edit will provide the user with a text-mode environment with colors,
|
||
allowing the user to highlight the code and comments. It will use similar key
|
||
combinations as Q-EDIT and have a modern'er look. The user will also be able
|
||
to export the file to a normal text file to compile. I've had the idea for
|
||
a while and have never got around to finishing it.
|
||
Well, you're probably wondering what the hell has this to do with DEMONEWS
|
||
??. My idea was to provide the writers of demonews, with a similar program to
|
||
C-EDIT and a file-viewer for the viewers. This way it can add to the look of
|
||
the magazine. A text file could also be exported so people with Mono screens
|
||
can view it.
|
||
|
||
[This sounds like a great idea. Please send the program to me so I can try
|
||
it out.]
|
||
|
||
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
((Section 7...Artists Corner)) <BY> Jester, Stony, and Cavalier
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
|
||
#### ##### ###### #### ###### ##### ###### ## #### ## ##
|
||
*# ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ### ##
|
||
** ## ## #* #* *###& *####* **## ## ## ## ** ## ## #*#
|
||
&****# *###* ** ** ** #* *# *# &* *# #* **
|
||
&& &* ** && *& *& *& *& &* &* && ** &* &*
|
||
&& && && && && &&&&& &&&&&& &&&&& && && &&&& && &&
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
---- Introduction ----
|
||
|
||
Hi, this is an article about me (Stony), the art manager for hand-drawn
|
||
graphics for the new gfx section in DemoNews. I'm a gfx-artist in the
|
||
demo-scene and do hand-drawn gfx. My job here will be something like
|
||
discussing certain paint-programs/utilities, giving my opinion on GFX,
|
||
helping with questions, etc.
|
||
|
||
---- Background ----
|
||
|
||
I started drawing back in 1988 on my first PC, a 8088 XT with 'real' color
|
||
CGA monitor. My first paint program was an IBM StoryBoard in which only
|
||
keyboard input could be used for drawing and no menu was used. All
|
||
functions had to be done via <Alt> and <Ctrl>. In this program I made my
|
||
first pictures from The Flintstones and The Simpsons, all in a resolution
|
||
of 320x200 with 4! colors. These pictures were saved binary with a size of
|
||
16384. I used those pictures to make some 'real' intros in BASIC.
|
||
|
||
I also used Dynamic Publisher which was delivered with my XT and
|
||
found out that a mouse could be handy so I bought my first mouse after
|
||
a few months of saving money. Mice were expensive those days you know!
|
||
I then got Dr. Genius with my mouse. This was a drawing program in which
|
||
I made some logos and faces for fun and again in CGA 4c mode. I did all
|
||
this together with a nephew of mine who had the same computer as I did.
|
||
I was doing it all under the handle Mr. Stone from which I have derived
|
||
my current handle, Stony.
|
||
|
||
After this paint program I got a new version of IBM Storyboard which
|
||
used a mouse and had an easy menu interface. In this version, I had
|
||
the ability to make my own fonts and patterns (which is very handy if
|
||
you only have 4 colors). I continued drawing logos and funny faces.
|
||
In this period I started making Slide-Show with use of the paint program.
|
||
I ripped (oh oh :) ) some pictures out of some games I had (Defender of
|
||
the Crown and Larry 1) and made some funny things with them.
|
||
|
||
Then a friend of mine got an Amiga 500 with Deluxe Paint and I started
|
||
drawing some gfx on an Amiga, I could use 64 colors which was a
|
||
huge amount to me. Then I got myself the PC version of Deluxe Paint in
|
||
which I only could use 4 colors but I was able to change the background
|
||
color in one of the standard colors and so I was able to make nice
|
||
gfx. In here I made landscapes with mountains and seas!
|
||
|
||
In 1991, I bought myself a 386 with a VGA card that allowed me to use
|
||
256 colors out of a palette of 262,144! In this period I started
|
||
making slide-shows and presentations with real drawn animations as well
|
||
as digitized animation for companies which I did in cooperation with a
|
||
company. In this period I made:
|
||
|
||
- 'De Schreeuw van de Leeuw : The Slide Show ' : A slide-show of
|
||
a very good Dutch comedian. This was almost totally done with a
|
||
video-digitizer and was of poor quality.
|
||
- 'Niece Sue 1 and 2 ' : Two GL files for a shareware company with
|
||
the known theme of most of GL files.
|
||
- 'Terminator 2 Show ': An animation with some parts of the original
|
||
movie.
|
||
- 'The little Man ' : A drawn animation about a little man.
|
||
- 'Van de Heuvel : Aannemersbedrijf ' : A presentation about a Dutch
|
||
company in which was showed what kind of activities they did.
|
||
|
||
Last year, when I started studying Computer Science, I joined II Static,
|
||
a underground-group, as gfx-artist. Here I started using the handle Stony.
|
||
For this I made logos, ansis and asciis. I also made a small X-Mas 1993
|
||
intro for them with some snowy logos and a selfmade X-mas font. Then in
|
||
February this year II Static quit the underground scene and I and another
|
||
member joined the Demo-Scene in an already existing group Trance which
|
||
has been on the Amiga for quite some time and the Dutch PC division
|
||
started also this February. My first demo-scene addition was me taking
|
||
part in the Bizarre'94 gfx-compo with three pix called:
|
||
|
||
- 'Raging' : a pic with a strangle of objects and a sort of a symbolic in
|
||
it.
|
||
- 'Konigstuhl' : a pic of which I got the inspiration from a place which
|
||
I visited with my holidays in 1993 in Germany.
|
||
- 'Alley' : an alley with a downward view upon a city.
|
||
|
||
I'm now also drawing for a German group called Xtended Fantasies. I met
|
||
them at this party. Maybe I'll even join them as gfx-artist as well.
|
||
After this I've done some pics, logos for use with Trance and some logos
|
||
for some people who wanted one for use in an intro. I'm also busy now
|
||
with some drawings for a historical musea.
|
||
|
||
After the summer holidays I read something about the demo-cd and that
|
||
some gfx-artists were needed. So I sent some examples and they appeared to
|
||
be nice enough! The CD is released with a CD print done by me and in
|
||
the intro I had some logos.
|
||
|
||
After this project Snowman asked me if I wanted to become an art manager
|
||
for hand-drawn gfx and this is where it got me.
|
||
|
||
---- About GFX in the demo Scene ----
|
||
|
||
As a real demo-freak I have seen a lot of demos in the past and will
|
||
see a lot of new demos in the future.
|
||
|
||
As GFX-Artist I crittically look to the GFX in demos like a coder looking
|
||
to the difficulty about how the demo has been coded.
|
||
|
||
My opinion is that the GFX-Scene inside the demo-scene is being seen as
|
||
a minor part. This is my conclusion after I've been to Bizarre '94, where
|
||
the graphics competition was held in the middle of the night.
|
||
I thought that it was kind of unprecedented to have a GFX article in a
|
||
magazine, so I was really shocked when Snowman asked me to help out.
|
||
However, a lot of time is being put into graphics, so I feel it was a good
|
||
choice.
|
||
|
||
I think that GFX-Compos need to have more specific rules. For example,
|
||
the maximum resolution and number of colors must be set. This is because
|
||
GFX done on at high resolutions look sharper but don't require any skills
|
||
of making a picture look sharper. If the maximum resolution were set very
|
||
high, then everyone would think 'Oh well, just scan something on my 24-bit
|
||
flatscanner and I have a nice picture!' I think if this was allowed, the
|
||
GFX-Scene soon would be gone because everyone can scan a picture.
|
||
Another good rule would be to have 'original' pictures. I have seen a lot
|
||
of GFX from GFX-Compos which were taken from comic books, CD Covers, etc.
|
||
People can just think 'I'm out of ideas, I'll just redraw a picture.'
|
||
|
||
My future view about the GFX-Scene is also very positive. I think that in
|
||
the future the GFX-Artists will keep existing. There are a lot of good
|
||
GFX-Artists now and there will be in the future, also because we aren't
|
||
dependent on certain systems/processors etc. We are 'compatible' with all
|
||
systems :)
|
||
|
||
I myself hope to stay in the demo-scene for a very long time, active or
|
||
non-active. My skills keep growing and growing, and I learn a lot from
|
||
other gfx, special techniques and styles etc. I started with CGA and
|
||
learned everything from the beginning. I really enjoy drawing.
|
||
|
||
---- End sentences ----
|
||
|
||
Well this was the article about me, a short introduction about who I am
|
||
and what I am going to do in the future in DemoNews and Hornet.
|
||
|
||
You'll be hearing from me again.
|
||
|
||
Greets, Stony.
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
(no more ansi)
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
This week, the ANSI files we be taking off HORNET. We do not have the
|
||
resources to keep these online anymore. By deleting the ANSI, we have freed
|
||
up nearly 40 Megs. Since we only have about 340 to work with, this is a big
|
||
gain.
|
||
|
||
Any flames concerning this will be forwarded to /dev/nul.
|
||
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
((Section 8...ESCAPE Demo/Music CD)) Its OUT!
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
[From Snowman]
|
||
|
||
This past Monday, I receieved 15 copies of the Escape Demo CD. Although I
|
||
may be a bit bias in this, I think they are GREAT! It was really cool
|
||
listening to the winning songs of MC][ through my Cd player rather than my
|
||
GUS. My relatives and friends seem puzzled (they can't really figure out
|
||
what the cd IS), but they see my name on it and smile. :)
|
||
|
||
I will be sending out 2 of my copies this week: one to Royal, and the other
|
||
to the MC][ winner.
|
||
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
((Section 9...Advertisements))
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
[Advertisement 1 of 1]
|
||
|
||
__ \ | __| | _)
|
||
| | _` | _| _` | ( _ \ \ \ -_) _| _| | _ \ \
|
||
____/\__,_|\__\__,_| \___\___/_| _|_| _\___\__|\__|_\___/_| _|
|
||
RENAISSANCE WHQ, FUTURE CREW, LEGEND DESIGN, IGUANA, EMF, PRIME
|
||
-
|
||
Node 1: (703) 506-8598 - 16.8k HST DS v.32bis
|
||
Node 2: (703) 847-0861 - 28.8k HST DS v.34
|
||
-
|
||
Sysop: Ryan Cramer [Iguana/Renaissance]
|
||
Located in McLean, Virginia, USA
|
||
Online since 1990
|
||
No Lamers (had to say that =)
|
||
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
((Section 10...Miscellaneous))
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
DemoNews is getting quite huge! This issue is pushing the 64k barrier. Not
|
||
too bad for a weekly newsletter IMO, but I fear if it gets much bigger, it
|
||
will start bouncing from some people's mailers. To prevent this, you have
|
||
my assuance that DemoNews will remain under 64,000 bytes.
|
||
|
||
This week, Ryan's articles totalled about 23k. I am going to have to say
|
||
something to him about this. :)
|
||
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
((Section 11...Closing))
|
||
==============================================================================
|
||
|
||
The quote for this week comes from Gene Roddenberry in the Star Trek The
|
||
Next Generation Technical Manual, page v.
|
||
|
||
"The Starship Enterprise is not a collection of motion picture sets or a
|
||
model used in visual effects. It is a very real vehicle; one designed
|
||
for storytelling."
|
||
|
||
-Christopher G. Mann (Snowman)-
|
||
r3cgm@dax.cc.uakron.edu
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------End-of-Demo-News-#72-
|