b3tInterview - Dr.DreyertRokDaZonetfpf2s2c08 INTERVIEW WITH DR.DREYER f1c10 by RokDaZone c09The c10Demo.Guide c09which has lately reached its fourth revision is a guide containing data and reviews of several demos released through time, both good and bad, it includes authors, ratings, technical data, descriptions, inside information and more valuable data; not to forget the screenshots from various demos. And maybe best of it all: It's Amiga only. The author and publisher is c10Klaus Dreyer c09(c10Dr.Dreyer/Blasphemyc09) from Denmark. Dr.Dreyer has before been member of c10Spoon c09as musician and people might remember his module from the soundcompetition at The Party 96, where he reached the third place. Currently he is searching for a new Amiga group as c10Blasphemy c09is PC only. f2c08 CURRENTLY I'VE GOT ABOUT 300 DEMOS JUST WAITING TO BE JUDGED f1c10When/why did you get the idea for Demoguide? f4c09 "It happened early this year (1997) I guess, when having most of c10Blasphemy c09and some other strange people visiting me. We had placed all the computers in the living room, and one day or night I got a bit tired, maybe a bit bored 'cause I was unable to compose any music in the noise around me. I think, I watched some demos, wondering how many of those things are out there, who made them... Would be nice to have a place to look that up. Also a place where you could see what's crap and what's not (you probably know the irritating feeling watching a lousy demo after the trouble getting hold of it, installing it and so on). Unfortunately I didn't know any place to find information on such things, so there was only one way! Also it's a chance to preserve my English and to get in contact with other Sceners. And it works!" f1c10Have you been the only one working on it originally? Do you get help from others? From whom? f4c09 "No, I did almost everything by myself. The only persons who helped me then were c10Cytron/Depth c09(editor of the c10EuroChartc09) with some minor error corrections and another friend of mine - an ex-Scener - who uploaded it to c10Aminetc09. Now, I'm pretty much the only one (except for upload) that makes the guide. That is if you do not count the help I get from a little group of Sceners around Europe who sends me information on different demos, but untill now that hasn't been too many. And I guess this would be a proper time to announce for co-editors: c08'Help!'c09" f1c10Sceners who strongly depend on feedback - like maineditors - often curse the poor answer they get from their audience. Do you make any exception? f4c09 "No, I don't get a lot, but some. I guess that people don't bother to write, just because of laziness. Anyway, the response I have gotten has been very positive. I don't remember any negative letters. There has been only once 'incident' where a friend of mine, c10NoName/Sector7^Haujobbc09, didn't understand the rating for c10Closerc09. And of course he wasn't angry, he just acted strange." f1c10Don't you fear that in the long run writing and doing statistics will become an utter bore so that you will stop rather soon? f4c09 "About the writing: Yes, in a way. But I guess it's just a matter of keeping the writing on an appropriate level. Normally I do max. three reviews after each other, and often only one. But I plan to increase my activity because of our upcoming CD. Currently I've got about 300 demos just waiting to be 'judged', and I have to do it before c10The Party 7 c09if possible." f1c10(he signs) f1And the statistics? f4c09 "It IS boring doing all those statistics, and that's one of the reasons why c10NoName c09now has coded a little thing that do the sorting and statistic. I hope I'll get used to it." f1c10How often do you plan to release demoguide? Monthly? Bimonthly? Every three months? f4c09 "I really don't know. Between four and six issues a year. But normally when I've made between 30 and 50 new reviews, sometimes a bit more." f2c08 OLD DEMOS HAVE PERSONALITY f1c10Is Demoguide more or less and attempt to promote your coming Demo CD? f4c09 "No, not at all!" f1c10(laughs) f4c09"The Demo CD is a result of c10NoName's c09eager wish to make a CD containing only the best demos instead of all those CD's with mostly crap on them. [The Guide will be] an "easy-to-launch"-interface on the CD, so that you could get information on the demos you were watching, he thought. So he contacted me, and after a lot of writing I travelled to Germany to visit him, and to work on the CD, mainly sorting of demos. By then I didn't know him at all, but he showed up to be a nice fellow like the rest of c10Sector 7c09! We hope to release the CD at c10Symposium c09next year." f1c10Will this CD feature all reviewed demos? How expensive will it be? Will you ask for permission? f4c09 "Only the best of the reviewed demos are included. We plan to include a special CD-version of c10The Guide c09for the interface, and of course the full version will also be included. The intention is not to make money, but to release a no-crap Scene CD (the pay would be a joke, anyway, considering the time used producing it). We don't really know about the permissions yet. On one side it would be fair to ask of people's permission, but on the other hand the demos are freely distributed on the net. Furthermore I guess/hope that Sceners appreciate their work being released like this." f1c10The demos are signed as freeware and this means as long as no reselling is in the game! f4c09 "We need to think about this, but would appreciate to have your agreement as soon as possible, so that we won't have to waste time contacting all those never replied E-mail-addresses. However, I fear that someone sue us or something like that, the only reason for that could be money I guess, since the demos are available anywhere else. And then we'd just have to sell more CD's to cover our expenses. To the readers: If you have made a demo please contact me and give me your permission to include on the CD. f2c08 I THINK I'LL SAVE THE MONEY FOR THE A\BOX f1c10What are your future plans on demoguide? f4c09 "As mentioned above it will become it's own interface, instead of the Guide- interface, but besides from that I'll just continue my work. And hopefully some co-editors will join the 'crew', as I really can't keep up with the amount of demos that exist! Hopefully I will also improve the quality of the reviews, both concerning contents and the English. And concerning the Net-version it just have to be optimized and redesigned." f1c10What are you favourite demos from those reviewed? Why? f4c09 "Well, I guess c10Tint c09must be the best demo I've seen. It has it all: Great code, graphic, music and (not least) design! I generally like c10TBL's c09mostly colorful style. Also the new hit from c10Nerve Axis c09and c10Captured dreams c09are candidates for the title as best demo. Other group's demos that I like is Three little Elks (great humour), Depth, c10Juliet + Case c09(innovative), c10Limited Edition c09(fast colorful demos) and c10Mellow Chips c09(especially c10'Divine' c09is magnificient!). Generally, I think design/transistions is very important for a demo. Take for example an c10Artwork c09demo: Great routines, graphic and music, but lacks especially the transistions. It's like watching several small demos in a row." f1c10Don't you fear that comparing old demos with new ones will weaken brilliant demos from the past? f4c09 "Naturally the demos from then can't compete with today's productions. It's a bit like comparing old computers with new ones. Demos that once were brilliant aren't anymore, still they are classics, though. Often they are monotonous, the effects simple, but on the other hand they've often got some kind of design, and some would claim that they've got personality. In c10The Guide c09I've chosen to rate all of the demos using the same system, demos that I find ugly, boring and not entertaining are given a low rating, no matter if it's an old or a new demo. Anyway, the ratings are not that important. The ratings in c10The Guide c09is in some ways my opinion, however, I've tried to be as neutral as possible, for instance c10TBL-demos c09won't get a better rating because it's a c10TBL-democ09, and great demos by unknown groups will get the rating they deserve! But in the end it's a matter of taste! f1c10Do you intend to stay on Amiga? What is your equipment? Do you plan to upgrade to PPC? f4c09 "Yes, I will stay on Amiga. I've got an 1230/40MHz/33MHz FPU with 10 MB RAM, 5.7 GB HD, a lousy 2x CD-ROM, and a ditto Philips monitor. A PPC would surely be nice, but I think I'll save the money for the c10A\Box c09- if it ever comes... And it actually is a PPC, so yes. Would might be a lot more interesting to review demos that run on such creatures. If just half of c10Phase 5's c09specifications are true, one wild demo after the other?!" f1c10You can find the Demo.Guide on AmiNet or online at c08http://generation.www.de/demohtml/main.htm/.