Demofocus - Melrose Space [Win32]
by zYX/a51
[alan@a51.org.uk - http://www.a51.org.uk]

I was originally going to name this article "light source orientated 
around a running process requiring no user interaction". It seemed a 
bit of a mouthful so I settled on "Demofocus" instead. It just seemed... 
Well, snappier! 

Everyone raves on about the good old days and classic Amiga demos 
such as Jesus On E's, State Of The Art and Mental Hangover, but 
there are plenty of other demos being produced on other systems
around the world that deserve the same recognition too. That's 
what I hope to do with this, hopefully, regular section if no 
one deems it too boring. 

First up is a Windows demo surprisingly enough. Since the 
standardisation of programming for specific graphics cards 
using API's such as DirectX and OpenGL the PC has become a 
major platform for demo production. Before that there were 
only a few demos and intros available which lurked in the 
murky waters of DOS and insisted on you having their favourite 
sound and graphics card. Even then they only ran on a good day. 

That's the good news! The bad news is that everyone has jumped 
on the "let's get a load of 3D objects spinning around the screen" 
bandwagon and innovation has disappeared. There are some very good 
demos on the PC but, for me at least, they are outnumbered by an 
excess of, technically impressive, but ultimately dull productions. 
Technical achievement alone does not make a memorable demo and an 
entertainment factor has to exist to make people sit through it 
until the end, and above all, enjoy the experience. 

I'll get to the point! Melrose Space is a demo by 3State that 
takes warped inspiration from, believe or it not, Melrose Place 
as the basis of it's design. 

You are greeted by the following quote from The Matrix as the 
demo is loading and decrunching: "What is real? How do you define 
real? If we are talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, 
what you can taste and see. Then real is simply electrical signals 
interpreted by your brain." 

The next thing that hits you as the demo launches is the sample 
"We're not gonna do this like everyone else does it!" and some 
very moody techno by Vic of Level-D sets the stage. 

The demo was only released in 1999 but is already looking a touch 
old skool. The effects are mostly 2D based routines, as opposed to 
fly around 3D scenes, featuring: plasmas, wireframe vectors, 
distorted textures, grainy video footage (Fairlight 242 style) 
and good old fashioned pixelled graphics. The design is spot on 
as the effects follow the tempo and style of the soundtrack perfectly. 

All in all this is a demo well worth a few minutes of your time 
to view. Excellent coding, a thought provoking design and a slamming 
soundtrack that will stay in your head long after the demo has finished. 

The great irony behind Melrose Space is that it takes a subject
 matter as corny and tacky as a daytime US soap opera and turns 
it totally around into something cool, mean, dark and moody. 
Genius! 

[The screenshots in this article were "borrowed" from monostep.org 
as I didn't have a DirectX capable screen grabber installed and I 
was too lazy to find one. Hope no one is too offended! :P]