The Awards - Vandalism News 47
Hosted by Jonatan Forsberg "Macx" & David Simmons "Jazzcat"



After the demise of "the charts" there was going to always be something missing in this magazine. Can there be another system that can capture who is doing what and how good it is? To be fair, the traditional charts system is a cool and memorable routine for most magazines, but while the system works it is made reduntant by lack of user participation.

In each issue we will look back at the releases since the last edition, making comments (judging) and coming to a conclusion on who in our opinion was best.

THE AWARDS will take the stakes higher, by providing the thoughts of those participating and debating which single person, group, production etc. should receive the token award on behalf of this magazine. So, you don't get any prizes? I guess you can't put a price on recognition. The chosen one - that product, individual or group that reaches the summit and claims victory - receives the respect of the editors and the positive promotion from this influential publication. Receiving an "Award" in Vandalism News should be considered no easy task and in this way it challenges those involved much further than the traditional charts could ever have achieved.

This is our first attempt of The Awards and will therefore come with a bit of baby sickness you have to bare with. Of course we will gladly receive any comments on how to improve the future chapters. Some may argue that the releases commented on are arbitrary chosen and that it is not up to us to decide what should win. That pinpoints just what separates it from the charts; it is the minds of the hosts that give the awards. Hopefully it can be better in being more up to date than the charts were, meaning that some non-releasing person or group stays in top forever and ever. But it will at the same time be less democratic and if you prefer, arbitrary. We are not insensitive to criticism though, that is however not the same thing as saying that your opinion is better.

The key is entertainment - this segment rewards those that were most entertaining, whether it is technical achievement or innovative originality - we will try leave no stone unturned.


DISCUSSION

(Macx)
Apart from the demos released at demoparties there has been some smaller releases inbetween. Earlier this year Radiantx of Panda Design did just that, giving the scene something to munch on whilst waiting for the next event to take place. Then it was a demo called Psyche. In late May, together with his new recruit Moh, Radiantx was back to release a small onefiler out of the blue named Volatile. With it Radiantx shows that he is an active c64 coder in progress and I assume we can expect much from him in the future.

A month earlier another release between parties was let loose by a new swedish group, consisting of as far as I get it two new c64 sceners. The onepager is called Bne or Bust and the group Bitnop Design. The demo comes with some brilliant oldschool feeling to it. Maybe not intentionally at all, but succeeding very well in giving me a gentle rush of true 1988 C64-spirit (as I got it when loading tape-stuff in 1991). The logo, the lady in front of the sunset, the obscure beamer like sci-fi artefact on each side and of course, the scrolltext. This is just a trembling first attempt, but stay true to the school at least for another demo or two and you may actually make it in following a concept that many have failed in attempting to follow.

Digital Dreams is a new polish group that has also released some small things outside democompos recently. In the beginning of April two small onepagers by Axel! was released. Both being not much more than a picture, a scroller and some ripped music, but proof of new coders emerging from the scene periphery.

In June a new coder named Nori from Strasbourg, France, released a small onepager named Pirate intro. It is some sort of scull above a scrolltext accompanied sidmusic from Eclipse. It is nothing much but reinforces my thesis. It is nice to see, but shouldn't stop there. Improve and show the scene your skills!


(Jazzcat)
I'm a big fan of graphic shows. One that caught my eye was Chronicle of Craft by Booze Design, more specifically by Jailbird. I have to admit I was expecting it to contain his newer pieces but was surprised to see it covered his older days also. This made the collection interesting, in contrast some of his older work is funny compared to his new art, he really has come so far as an "artist". My favourite format on C64 strikes back in this mixed collection, that's right, multicolour is displayed at a quick pace to the beats of a Dane rendition (the track remind me of something by Madonna some how). So many people focus on the enhanced formats like UFLI (which is great!) but its so pleasant to get the real "pixel-feel" that enhanced formats don't seem to provide. I'm hoping HCL and Jailbird will have the courage to release Scenethic on C64 (scene cartoon) with the support of recent events.


(Macx)
Since I first saw Draztic Art from Noice back in the days, graphic collections has always had a special place in my heart. Especially those that contains a mixed variety of pieces in different styles. Fullscreen pictures accompanied with smaller logos for all different kind of groups and productions. The latter ingredient by itself is something that will make my mind work: I wonder what the heck is up with the geezer in Megaunit I swapped with ten years ago, and what was that group, I must have gotten it wrong, kindalike. Many have tried, but also many have failed in making collections I really like. It either is too slow, making me bored with having to face a picture too long, it contains too few pictures or the soundtrack just isn't making it to the standards set by Liket's tune in the Draz-collection. It is a good thing Booze has Dane and that I have a possibility to listen to it, cause it makes me beam. The graphics in Chronicle of Craft gives me what I want. Though some pictures seems unfinished in comparison to the others, they still become interesting as the majority is brilliant and I only have to watch it a couple of seconds anyways. However, if the graphics gets a good eight out of ten (a diverse graphic collection cannot get more), the soundtrack gets twelve.


(Jazzcat)
Non-completed demos made for scene-events have become a standard. Debate has arisen regarding these demos and if demos shouldn't compete or be released unless they are fully completed. I guess this is purely a matter of opinion and I will let the many demo theologians debated that one (as they constantly do), a positive for me is that we get something a little extra, inbetween scene parties, as the "100%" version of the demo is generally released as a stand-alone production during the quiet times. For this reason I'm particularly happy when I see something comeout. Take for example Nada from Level64, released originally at Maximum Overdose 7 and achieving rank #3, the "final" version made it out some time later and I was entertained with a original piece that didn't scream to me with excitement but made me smile and felt like a breath of fresh data (air).


(Macx)
Level64's Nada starts up with a beautiful intro. In a nice pace I land somewhere inbetween anxious and mellow, the kind of mood that inspires contemplation. A heart is shaped by the knees if squatting. I could have imagined the upscroller less repetitive, but perhaps it is part of the zen communication. AMB's tune is (almost) fading out and the final part is an abrupt awakening, scary almost. Zed Yago has done something with AGod's picture that reminds me of some work by Wrath Designs. It is nice when you have woken up from the meditative state of the intro. The transition between the two parts is not in any way smooth or pleasant. It is a clash and I somehow sense that to be inspiring.


(Macx)
The very proud group of Speedfisters released a 3D demo named Does Karita Know? which contains some serious cocaine propaganda. An important task when writing scrolltexts is having something to say, and the authors manages that with style (together with fellows present at Geekmeet Pi). Speedfisters once again takes the role as the bright flare on a dark sky. Youth of today cheers.


(Jazzcat)
I agree also. Geekmeet Pi was a small meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden in early June. Despite the omnious presence of the big parties like Breakpoint or Maximum Overdose, this meeting managed to produce some gold. Who are those mysterious guys in Speedfisters?


(Jazzcat)
What happens when Clarence, Leon and Drax get together? Unicorn (Collector's Edition) is planned and executed and what a graceful production. Again, another cool project that was improved and re-released outside of the party-scene. I didn't really expect this one, so it was a big of a surprise! This demo features very smooth effects and shines with effort, the Collector's Edition contains a note with a VERY cool animation and some musical extras by the master known as Drax. I guess the main highlight for me was the graphics in this production by Leon, which includes his first work done in the newly reinvented UFLI-mode. Another highlight for me was the starfield in all borders - nice! When watching the demo for the first time I was slightly irritated by the sudden changes in music that was being played, maybe less music next time and have it play more into the transitional-phase between each effect. The Commodore continues to funk the scene in 2006 and productions like this are just killer and keep me coming back for more, it deserved a higher place at Breakpoint for sure.


(Macx)
How much 4k is I really do not know. I have a hard time grasping such things, partly because I know nothing of how to code. It has to be very little as many demos take a full diskside and Krill's Artefacts takes 17 blocks. That is like a sidtune or something. And this small demo has a tune, a spinning planet and something moving around it, a landscape and some weirdo alien artefact. Besides many other releases this one also has something more than a constant flow of coderpr0n. Nothing deep at all, but at least a storyline, and a mood that is amplified by Fanta's sid. Krill touches my spots good as he also releases a NTSC-version of it named Artifacts, and I guess and hope there are tonnes of other nerds on the C64 to appreciate that aswell.


(Jazzcat)
I also really enjoyed Artefacts by Plush. A nice voxel-routine that takes the viewer into an adventure in a solar system. For me this is one of the best 4K demos I've seen in a very long time. Both Krill and Fanta presented me with a nice atmosphere and a show that they deserved to take number one position in the 4K compo at Breakpoint. Fourking by Britelite was good also as it felt fresh to me, helped along by the nice graphics and bopping sid by Dalezy.

Checking some of the other demos from Breakpoint, Non Plus Ultra 64% (aka Arok party 8 invitation) made it to the number one position. Who would have thought that a "party invitation" could win a demo competition? It is quite slick and surely one of the best party invites to grace the C64. I thought the demo compo results should have looked a bit different. Error 23 90% should have been given the number one place followed very closed by Unicorn and then Non Plus Ultra 64%. The demo from TRSI called Animatron had some negative elements that didn't appeal to me, the graphics being the main concern, but nice touch was the bonus 1581 version that was spread and the incredible sid power by Linus/Triad. It appears some people are getting tired of these animation demos (or perhaps jealous of the attention the production is getting compared to their own?) but the voters seem to enjoy TRSI's Rohrschach 90% giving it permission to cross the finish line as first. Rohrschach is another demo by the Street Tuff, Benson and Linus-combination and I enjoyed it more than their previous effort (although I loved Linus' work more in Animatron). This one is from the "Gnarls Barkley - Crazy" video clip. Some people may feel these animation demos are not a "real demo"? In my humble opinion, a demonstration can be many things, its also a hard topic to clearly define as it keeps evolving.


(Macx)
At Maximum Overdose 7 Jackasser and RaveGuru of Instinct released a onepager named Chili Power 2006. A very lo-fi spaceman is being attacked by a huge purple spinning star and has to battle it off followed by gigantic commodore letters in green. Next to this sits RaveGuru and plays his sid and does it in such a way that also the lame starts to juggle their head up and down, left and right. Some say it is a spontaneous production made at the event. If that is true and it captures the spirit present at MO7 I really am sorry that I was unable to attend.


(Jazzcat)
I would have loved to have gone to this party, sure there is some bigger parties like Breakpoint but this would have been just as fun, I was quite surprised at the amount of releases and the quality of some of them. One I should especially mention was the nice little music demo called Triad at MO7. This funky SID package featured some cool audials by Linus, Ne7 and Dalezy. I like these smaller releases, which includes Chili Power 2006, they just really give me the thing I need. More please.

I also heard they had a barbeque there, which is something us Australians really appreciate! (Y O U s e x y R E T R O F U C K E R !)

Magazines:
(Jazzcat)
"The freaking scene is still alive in Germany, so why NOT have a mag in German language only? If you don't like it, learn german and learn to like it :) But don't say that all scene related stuff has to be english. Love you all" - says Finchy, the main editor of Digital Talk regarding issue 78 (or should I say Digitales Gespraech?). I'm continually disappointed in this production for it being German-only. The scene is too small for this type of production, especially when most Germans can speak and read English anyway. Albeit I know this publication aims to an audience made up of non-sceners, you know, those on the outside who sometimes look in. Anyway, just a pity that the bits that ARE scene related are not in English so *I* can enjoy them too. Quickly moving on to the next...

The ArachnoPhobia continued, I was quite surprised to see it out again, thinking it had lapsed into a coma or such. Unlike other critics I won't be so destructive with this magazine, knowing how hard it is to try and produce something decent to read for a sometimes mostly ungrateful and in some cases unexperienced audience. Issue 35 was the latest in the lineage of arachno. It really was an uninspired issue that seemed outdated and dull. I was glad to see a new issue but would have enjoyed an issue that was well prepared and detailed. To me a magazine is just like any other project on C64, people should try and get the most they can out of their production and have pride in doing so (despite Twoflower's comments regarding using high quality graphic/music for a mere magazine, I tend to disagree - be BOLD and fulfil your dreams, it is not your fault other productions haven't fine-tuned to the point of envy, shove your productions in people's faces!). With the next issue (and I hope there is one) I'm hoping that the editors will take a step back, look at what is out there in the C64-magazine-biz and then produce something that can challenge the rest.

Game Over(view) entertains us once again, some great writing style and nice things done with the mag (proportional font). Some of the stuff Alih writes about is just hilarious (review of Wanderer's game). So, we have a good outfit and a good editor but the content presented to Alih for reviewing is normally just crap with rare exceptions. This "crap" is shown to be just that and whilst the text is funny is reeks of negativity. This is not the magazine's fault, but a suggestion would be to review old C64 games also, in the hope that there is a balance between the good side and the dark side of the C64 game scene. The other positive thing about GOV is it's regularly released, which is a difficult feat in 2006 but made easily possible by making the production small like in Nordic Scene Review for example.

Misc:
(Macx)
I rarely play computer games these days at all, and if I ever play games it either is an old c64-, NES- or SNES-game. I guess part of it has to do with that the situations in which I have so much spare time in order to either do something creative or to take the time to learn a new game comes too far and few between. That latter one may change if I get a hold of something portable though. The other thing is that most of the games I encounter are on the c64, a quick play before uploading them to the boards or because ALiH wrote nice things about them in his magazine. To be honest, the previews hasn't invited to good continuous gameplay lately. In late May when I had some massive study sessions I discovered a new game though, Zoo Mania, and I immediately got stuck. As soon as my brains were too tired to grasp more human physiology I quickloaded it from my MMC. I haven't paid so much attention to a scene release for ages, it has been hours and hours of trying to make them small animal faces meet their siblings. If Zoo Mania is an exact conversion of the game Zoo Keeper available on various Nintendo-ish platforms I don't know, but that does not matter at all as it was new to me. The guy with the weird german webpage, Hannenz, is the coder, and besides a few bugs it is smooth as a jellybean. Fanta did some neat audial scores that in the long run will wear out though. Crossbow and someone named Scorp.ius did the graphics, and they look good. I predict the future versions to come with more tunes and the option to play against eachother, either on the same machine or live over the RR-net. What should be implemented soon is a possibility too hook up the highscoretables (say, top 50) to a server which gives the player an updated list via the RR-net to combat each time he or she turns on Zoo Mania. Start playing this game, and get stuck!

(Macx)
Another game that saw daylight recently was an updated version of Andy of AEG Soft's soccergames. This time he released Germany World Cup 2006 Microprose Soccer and it gets me in the mood at least. But perhaps that is just because I get interested in soccer all of a sudden every fourth year. I will need to give it some more time though.


(Jazzcat)
When you mentioned these games I couldn't help to start thinking about the various game cracks released in the last few months, the most active of which was Wanderer. Unfortunately I disagree with his way of cracking (using other groups work rather than 100% his own) and the fact that every game he releases enhanced versions of the same crack are bound to follow. Certainly no one can deny his amount of activity and some may enjoy his work, but not me I'm afraid. I guess the game that is on people's minds is the C64 version of Pinball Dreams headed by WVL/Xenon with support by JackAsser/Instinct, the latest official preview was released at the Breakpoint Party and is fastly providing to be the one to watch this year. The game now features not only Glenn Rune Gallefoss sound but the work of A-Man, who of course most know by now as returning to the scene and joining Xenon. Trying to showoff what was classic on the Amiga is a hard task but graphically the game still remains strong with efforts by Jailbird/Booze Design, TMR/Cosine, Deekay/Crest and TCH/Brutal/Oxyron/Crest. For me this is the strongest NEW game release of the year.


(Macx)
A couple of months ago I requested a onefiled C/G telnet terminal for the RR-net in order to be able to call Antidote and The Hidden from the C64. Loading up Contiki takes it's time but when having it up it beats calling with an emulator by millions. To this comes that often one has an urgent urge for some board slacking. As my knowledge is limited to freezesave with the AR and that did not work I threw out my wish amongst the boardcallers. I wanted it onefiled in order to be able to use it from the MMC64 and I also wished it to be able to load sids from HVSC to run in the background. RaveGuru of Instinct didn't give crap about the last wish, but he sure as hell released GuruTerm beta 1 in early May. It makes boardcalling a whole lot easier and enjoyable. When coming home drunk in the middle of the night you get that instant fix you so badly need. Your face reflected on the dark screen, the quiet and immediate startup of the c64, the loadingtime is gone as it runs from the MMC64. You dial and then have to press delete.


(Jazzcat)
GuruTerm is certainly something that we needed and I'm thinking it will/is THE tool to you when it comes to telnettable boards, I do miss the feel of tools like CCGMS but why copy when you can create. Something that caught my attention more than GuruTerm was the brilliant graphic tool my Mirage/Focus called Timanthes (beta). Ths program is simply wonderful for conversions, retouching and pixeling and is a tool made by a graphician for graphicians. The tool is very powerful and creates the foundation for adventurous art and pushing the C64 final product even further. Despite the tool being so powerful, it doesn't mean that anyone can be an artist, you still are required to have skill and show originality in a copy-scene-style environment. This tool ranks very high for me in this awards chapter, especially as there have been quite some attempts at something like this and Timanthes is the only one to really breakthrough (out of interest Timanthes was a Greek painter of the 4th century).



DEBATE

(Macx)
If the award should go to the program I have used the most since last issue it must be either Zoo Mania or Guruterm beta. As the nerd behind Guruterm also did a fab tune in a small demo perhaps he, RaveGuru, should win because of several good releases. But there are also a whole lot of other people that has released lots lately, and is it really sheer quantity that should win anyway? However, Guruterm is something that will affect the everyday life of the common boardcaller to the better. The improvement is a big leap for mankind so to speak. Perhaps RaveGuru should get the award for issue 47?


(Jazzcat)
Guruterm is certainly a step forward in C64 land. Projects like these is what keeps the interest in C64 going and it shows you can develop things that can be very useful. This CG Telnet terminal is for use with Retro Replay plus RR-net and opens up access to boards like Antidote without having to trouble At&t or MCI! :)
However I do see one downfall that may disrupt a chance for the award, how many people have RR, RR-net or even MMC64? Of course everyone should have these additions (for free, I will send them out to everyone tommorow) but everyone doesn't. Still, this certainly is one of the best applications on C64 for 2006.


(Macx)
I agree and I disagree. Part of the success of the C64 scene is that it is the very same machine as it was back then. The computer and a diskdrive (as the tape-users were ganged up on already in the dark ages) is what is needed to run the stuff. Most people get a speedupcart or something similar, but it is in no way needed. A faster CPU, more memory or such is frowned upon. The C64 is the shit, face it. Go play with your pc if you do not get it. Is the MMC64+RR-net to be seen as an update of the C64, is it not rather an addon? The alternative would be to call the boards run on the real machines from an emulator on mac or pc. I could only use CCGMS if I had a modem and a phoneline (even if I used the 2001 version by Onslaught from 1990) and I can only use Guruterm if I have a RR-net and internet. If people want to call the boards from the C64 they will need to get some hardware.

The game Zoo Mania then? I just scored 18647 on the first gameplay after a month of absence, is it because you cannot beat me that you prefer an unplayable version of Pinball Dreams? :)

Chronicle of Craft is another release release that deserves some major props. Some of the works of Jailbird is stunning, and nicely fitted together with Dane's audial brilliance by HCL makes it one of the productions with the highest quality. Would that give the award to the entire Booze Design posse then?


(Jazzcat)
Well, for me Timanthes by Mirage/Focus is just as usable on a daily basis as GuruTerm but is used even in a more constructive way, as a lot of graphical displays will be a direct result of this tool whereas GuruTerm fits to a small audience in my opinion. Zoo Mania on the other hand is certainly one of the better titles and I admit when I think of Pinball Dreams I'm thinking of the end result (which doesn't exist yet) rather than the current state of affairs (which should be focused on in reference to the award).

Demo-wise, Chronicle of Craft is indeed a fitting title for a nice product but it all has been done before, with the award I'm seeking slightly more original or unique concepts, for this reason Krill's Artefacts comes to mind or even Prophecy & Fate by Civitas which struggles with a mixture of really good intentions which were averagely executed.


(Macx)
We have to face that most of the productions we will award will have had a couple of similar predecessors. Tools, demoparts, chapters in magazines and of course collections. Much of the scene is built on evolving and taking these ideas to smoother design, more clever coding, better reading, telling something interesting etc. To me Chronicle of Craft is using the concept of a graphic collection, but implementing it with a force of beauty. It is thought through, and designwise a masterpiece. Chronicle of Craft works is showing me the pixels from Jailbird's hand as good as a Patek Philippe would show me what time it is.

Timanthes is a graphic tool that was introduced to me by Twoflower a couple of months ago. Since then I have had too little spare time to try it out with the graphical ideas I have got, why I have forgotten some of the nice tips he gave me (hint, 2f!). It will take, and have taken the C64 graphic production a big leap further, but Timanthes is however not a new concept, if that is what we should be awarding. WDpaint and Project1 has been out for some time, and Photoshop and Advanced Art Studio has been out for ages. What this program does though, is giving people like me, with no understanding whatsoever of figuring such things any other way, a possibility to create pictures in a great environment on the PC, but for the C64. Some will of course regard it as cheating, others that have been doing this for ages but pretending they didn't will meet strong new competition and again some others will applaud it. As I'm interested in photography, it will be a way for me to implement my original pieces in productions on the C64. I will also be able to modify the picture in an easy way. Having worked in pixel-editors with no filling-mode, that alone could take me a long time, with Timanthes I have moved light years ahead into the bright future. It is a PC program though, and a PC is much more expensive than a MMC and RR-net if you get what I mean. Isn't that a downfall, you reckon?

When it comes to Artefacts I'm still perplexed, months after I first saw it. Do you understand how it all is done in 17 blocks?


(Jazzcat)
Timanthes should open the doors up and make a once small gathering into a noisy room. Sure the tool is based on PC, but the emphasis is on it's usefulness. Ideally I prefer more directly (C64)-related stuff like the MMC or RR-net and the advantages that hardware gives, even though the PC is more powerful it is not as closely related and makes me sometimes feel like I'm betraying my morals and cheating on my loyal girlfriend. :) Hopefully Timanthes will be seen as the useful tool it is, rather than reigniting old arguments about "artist", "craftsmen", or similar terminology-debate.

Artefacts (or Artifacts if your viewing the NTSC version) is the perfect choice for receiving the award. It represents what the C64 can do in just 17 blocks, showing more entertainment-value than something that is much bigger. It's not the car, it's how you drive it - voxel-space hasn't looked better on the C64. Some people dislike the blocky stuff but this 4K production, winner in its category at Breakpoint, shows exactly how it should be done. Maybe the sequel will support a zoom feature just like on google-earth? :)

Comparing all productions, who should win the struggle and triumph supreme?


(Macx)
Someone told me that 17 blocks equals the storage of 4300 characters. That is a bit more than the latest CV I wrote in danish. I know it is in no way comparable to programming space and some day I might grasp all that, but in any way it is not much at all. It is very little. A C64 disk can store 664 blocks on each side, which means that Artefacts could be stored 78 times on a 5,25" run in a standard 1541. Most good demos take up a full disk, and it is not that they are 78 times as good as Krill's small program or that it is in any way possible to measure things like that. But if this can be done in this small space, what could be done with more? A full disk could store the abridged version of Lord of The Rings? Well, anyway, I guess I want to say that if we award Artefacts we make the point that it is not size in itself that matters pretty clear.

Artefacts is not just code though. The story and music is almost creepy and the obvious sci-fi connotations are not followed up, questions are left unanswered. Finding alien artefacts are like finding moais on Easter Island, an exciting start for future expeditions. Will there be a follow up telling us of the ancient cult on this very planet? Will it come with that zoom feature Jazzcat craves?

Could we really give the award to this tiny file?


(Jazzcat)
Ah, indeed fascinating figures there but does size really matter? Of course if Artefacts held its design and technical standard over a bigger area it would possibly make a bigger impact but this is easier said than done. The bigger the demo the more room for errors and the more difficult it becomes to hold it all together. Of course this doesn't mean that people shouldn't strive for larger productions but is just an example of how Artefacts shines as a tight package, a compo-entry that had boundaries to work in and did it with style. Unlike other demos, Artefacts not only had the limitations of the C64 in general but also the "4K"-category and for that reason I think it is even more of a success, especially when you compare it to other 4K productions.

The imagination does wonder what a scener can produce when they impose restrictions upon themselves, not only restrictions of technical nature but also trying to improve upon existing routines (voxel) at the same. Is what C64 art is all about? Limit as no limit, less as more? I'm not sure, but in the case of Krill and Fanta's little production I would hope that others will try as hard as they did and then let the result speak for itself.


(Macx)
I guess it is not much more to debate then. The first edition of The Awards, published July 2006 in Vandalism News Issue 47, goes out to ARTEFACTS by Krill and Fanta. It is not only an outstanding usage of 4K, but an actual demo. Artefacts has besides its well implemented concept, at least from my novice point of view, also seem to have demanded quite some brains from the coder. It is an idea that has, on both a programming and a musical level, been fullfilled. With the imposed limits I can see no flaws with this production. As many times before, such a production will spur further advancement of the C64 programmers. The sceners' creative minds are what sets the real restrictions.


(Jazzcat)
The 4K production is hard to flaw. Despite its conventional feel it does have a feeling of being somewhat contemporary and works well despite imposed restrictions. I disagree with some of the critic this demo has received on CSDB as the resolution is smooth and the graphic mode is something perhaps certain others should try instead of their own attempts. Drawing to conclusion, Vandalism News Issue 47 awards ARTEFACTS the recognition of excellence. This decision was hard, as there have been a group of great productions that we had to decide from, but we feel that we've chosen a release deserving the recognition in all categories.


(Macx)
I second that it was not an easy choice as the past months has given the scene quite some qualitative productions. This time, on several good grounds, a small 4K demo got the award. Whom or what will be recognized in the next edition of The Awards may become that for different reasons.


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In future segments of this chapter we may include guest participators, this may be done in the attempt to add further flavour to the cauldron which may give the readers a better taste and a more deserving result. Wanna join in on the fun? (or are the public forums more easier and "safe")

Was this chapter a success? We expect criticism and will open up a reaction-section for each issue at the end of this chapter where people can submit their views. Reactions on our judging and conclusion, but also on whom perhaps would deserve the awards better.