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UNDERCOVER '6'
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                                  EWIGKEIT
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Crew    : Spirits / Deutschland
Was?    : 4-Ktro -> Competition (1. Platz)
System  : F030, 4 MB RAM, RGB, 4056 bzw. 4060 Bytes auf Platte
Credits : Coding - Kyne of Spirits
                   Connor of Spirits

Dies war nun (entgegen A.-t-'s Aussage in der ST-Computer) das Gewinner-4-Kteil
auf der  Symposium... Technisch zu  Recht, mit  der Message  des Demos kann ich
allerdings, als gestandener Atheist, absolut gar  nichts anfangen... Die beiden
haben Bibel-Texte eingebaut und mit entsprechenden Effekten untermalt.
Zu Beginn seht ihr eine sich drehende Erdkugel als Line-Vektor, diese wird dann
abgefackelt  und eine  zweite Line-Vektorkugel  erscheint. Danach  gibt es noch
einen Feuereffekt und zum Schlu noch eine Simpel-Grafik... Wie gesagt, auf der
technischen Seite ist dieses Teil fast  schon ein Wunderwerk. Kyne  hat die mit
Abstand besten Fire-Routinen  auf dem Falcon  geschrieben, welche meines Erach-
tens erheblich  besser als die  von Lazer, Inter und  allen anderen sind... Ich
habe diverse Testscreens von ihm hier, die jedoch nicht  released werden drfen
und somit habt ihr leider nur dieses kleine Demo hier zum Vergleich...
Wer dieses Demo nicht  hat, gehrt erschossen. Ignoriert die Texte, solltet ihr
euch daran stoen...
Obwohl dies das letzte Falcon-Demo der beiden werden sollte, haben sie die oben
aufgefhrte Demo in Angriff genommen, ob es zu einem Release der von Connor ge-
codeten Parts kommt, wei ich nicht...

Wertung / Schulnotensystem
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Coding       : 1
Design       : 1
Originalitt : 1
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Gesamt       : 1
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MAGGIE 20
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 SPIRITS 4KTRO
 -------------

Most people haven't heard of "Spirits", and most people will never
hear of Spirits again as this appears to be their last demo, and a
pretty controversial one at that.

The demo begins by switching into double line mode (yes, it is
German). The screen is split into two for the demo with effects
appearing on the left and text appearing on the right. This
effectively gives a 192x100 area for effects.

The first effect is a spinning globe. The definition is quite rough,
as you would expect from a 4K intro, but it still a good effect. The
countries then explode into fire and the earth spins around burning in
an Armageddon-stylee.

Another spherical object appears, this looks like an oversized beach
ball and it spins about pleasantly. I'm sure there is some deep
theological meaning to this object's structure and angle of rotation,
but I couldn't find it.

Next up there is the lake of fire and brimestone - a good excuse as
any for a fire effect. OK, so fire effects have been done to death -
their impressiveness is almost burnt out - but this is done so well,
it makes other fire effects glow with envy. It is a roaring success.

Next we have some shade circles drawn with three crosses superimposed
on them. Yes, its a god-squad demo, and the bible-bashing doesn't come
more righteous than this. On the right of the screen we have
quotations from the bible and other religious messages. The read me
text file is an outpouring of hate against computers, coding and
computer users, saying that they are pointless. You know you are in
trouble with a demo when it comes in two versions: King James and
Luther! (We are just waiting for the Waco Cult remix!)

I'm not against people having a belief, but I'm not sure its a very
good idea to have demos promoting political or religious messages -
that's not really their purpose. Demos are there for entertainment,
its as simple as that.

The messages on this demo are unintentionally funny as the coder's
grasp of English grammar isn't very hot. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
THESE DAYS?" he demands, proving he had no divine intervention when
checking the grammar of the scroller. The misspelling of "repent" at
the end is also quite ironic.

The coders claim in the read me file that they didn't care if they won
the competition as they had no interest in either it or computers any
more. They did actually get an award for their demo, and did they
reject the materialistic prize? No, they marched through the crowds to
the stage with great grins on their faces. A bit of hypocrisy there I
think.

Whilst the other read me files are friendly and jokey and extend
messages of warmth and friendship to other computer users, the Spirits
one does the opposite. They believe their faith makes them superior to
everyone else, who they have nothing but contempt for. How charitable.

Spirits say the only reason they made this demo was to convert people
to Christianity, but it has the effect of hardening people's hearts
against the religion. The bible is just a form of social control. Most
of the New testament was written 40-100 years after the events they
report on, so great doubt must be cast on its accuracy. Lets face it,

if there was a god would we have to put up with Windows 95? I think
not.

( Blaspheming : Mr. Pink )


CiH add-on ed note thing..

Yeah, there's something about fundamentalism that attracts the morbid
and weird obsessive elements like moths to a blowtorch.. I heard an
interesting little story a while ago from a friend who associates with
these kind of people.. You can be having a normal conversation, and
then they say something which completely blows you away..

For example:-

Friends Wife.. "Gaw Blimey! (Jokingly)

God botherer.. "You mustn't say that, it's dangerous!!"

Friends Wife "But why not, it's just a harmless turn of phrase.."

God botherer.. "Ah, but if you look *closely* at the phrase it means
'GOD BLIND ME' and I'm sure you don't want that to happen!"

Friends Wife.. "?!?!?!?!?!" (Surprise)

And having attracted a fatwa from frenzied Spirits members onto my not
inconsiderable shoulders, I'll leave it at that!! - CiH

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Next up, is something very different, a group called Spirits who produce
something that can only be described as a 'Godtro'.. It comes in several
parts,  which  sort  of  contravenes one of the main rules  for  the  4K
category,  one  effect  only..  A spinning vector representation of  the
world,  continents  in  outline  form  start up,  with  a  progressively
creepier  religious  text on the right hand side..  The spinning  vector
continents  burst  into flame,  then when the text gets really dire  and
turns  into  threats,  a brilliant liquid bubbling flame comes into  the
screen.  The  last  screen  is  an eclipse  like  scene  signifying  the
resurrection..  Brilliant demo,  dubiously posed message..  This one get
cheers when particular effects are onscreen..

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Question:
  Which group did the rather strange and oppressively religious 4k intro?

Correct answer: Spirits
  Yes, what a miserable bunch of tossers

Wrong answer:
  No, burn in hell for getting it wrong!