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Monster Media 1996 #15
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psych25.zip
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README.TXT
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The Psychedelic Screen Saver Collection - Version 2.5
Copyright (C) 1995-1996
All Rights Reserved
http://www.halcyon.com/pixel/psych.htm
By Mike Irvine
EMAIL: pixel@halcyon.com
This file contains the following information:
OVERVIEW ..............: What is the Psychedelic Screen Saver Collection?
BACKGROUND ............: Where did it come from?
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ...: What do I need in order to run it?
INSTALLATION ..........: How do I install it?
REGISTRATION ..........: Where can I find info on how to register it?
QUESTIONS/SUPPORT .....: Where can I get help with problems?
OVERVIEW
The Psychedelic Screen Saver Collection is, as the name so cleverly
suggests, a collection of screen savers that generate an endless variety
of mesmerizing patterns. As the patterns materialize on your screen, the
colors will shift, undulate, and generally speaking, look cool. Whether
you're into abstract art, mathematics, or just have a history of mental
illness, you'll love these screen savers.
Included in the collection are the following programs:
Program: Directory: Purpose:
PSYCH.SCR System The Psychedelic Screen Saver
RANDOM.SCR System Randomly play from a list of screen savers
RUNNER.EXE Windows Allows you to quickly launch screen savers
BACKGROUND
The algorithms I used in these screen savers were originally conceived as
part of an art project I worked on in my senior year at the Evergreen State
College. I implemented the algorithms in about 70,000 lines of Borlands'
Turbo Pascal for MS-DOS and included a "User Interface From Hell" that
provided access to the hundreds of parameters used to customize the image
generation process. After I graduated, I attempted to make a living as an
artist by selling the images I produced to various galleries around the
country. I quickly discovered that being an artist requires not only a
healthy dose of creativity, but also a boatload of marketing savvy (which I
was lacking). Since I was having a hard time making ends meet, I decided I'd
have to find another way to make a living (besides, another month of macaroni
and cheese would probably have killed me). After kicking around the idea of
putting together a company to do the video/effects for raves, I decided that
I'd be better off getting a programming position with a company that wouldn't
require me to wear a suit. In order to prove I'd done some programming, I
ported some of my Pascal code for MS-DOS into C for MS Windows and sent it
out with my resume. The result was the beginning of the collection of the
screen savers included here.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Suggested:
* 386 (preferably with math coprocessor) or better <g>
* Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 95, or Windows 3.1
* 256 color display card - While the screen savers should still work in
high/true color modes, you won't get palette animation.
In order to get some of the effects that they use, the screen savers use
a palettized video mode. This means that colors are referenced by index
rather than by RGB value. By using a palettized video mode, the screen
savers can change the RGB value that corresponds to a particular palette
index and the result is that all of the colors on the screen that use
that index are immediately updated. Neither high or true color modes use
a palette, so it is not possible to achieve the effects without manually
updating the entire display. Since updating the entire display is far
too slow, I didn't code the screen savers to do it.
On the bright side, Windows 95 supports dynamic video mode switching
which means that the display mode can be changed without rebooting the
system. Unfortunately, most of the drivers that are available now don't
handle changes to different pixel depths very well. Once the video
driver writers get their act together, I'll setup the screen savers to
change to a palette based video mode when they start up and then change
back when they are done. However, until then, we're stuck with the
limitation :-(
INSTALLATION
Just run the setup program (SETUP.EXE) and then follow the directions.
REGISTRATION
Registration is easy! The file "ORDERFRM.TXT" contains all the information you
need on how to register the "Psychedelic Screen Saver Collection"
Please refer to LICENSE.TXT for information on the license agreement.
QUESTIONS/SUPPORT
If you have access to the World Wide Web, check out the home page for the
Psychedelic Screen Saver Collection at:
http://www.halcyon.com/pixel/psych.htm
I maintain a "Frequently Asked Questions" page similar to the FAQ.TXT that
I've included here with the collection (but more up to date). The FAQ
provides answers to the vast majority of the questions I get via email.
You can find the information in the FAQ.TXT or in the FAQ on the home page
for the collection, send email to me Mike Irvine at pixel@halcyon.com
I do my best to answer *every* question I get.