The Exceptions

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The Exceptions (short: TEX) were a demo crew of the 16-bit computer era .

They were the initial spark for the Atari ST demo scene . With the demos README.PRG ( 1987 ), Little Sound Demo (LSD), Little Color Demo (LCD) and the big BIG Demo (Best In Galaxy) they showed the potential of ST hardware for the first time by pushing the limits with technical tricks of the system. Separate drivers were used for the Yamaha YM-2149 SSG (Software-Controlled Sound Generator) sound chip, and raster line interrupts enabled the computer's entire color palette to be displayed on the screen at the same time. Although the ST did not support hardware scrolling, so-called soft scrolling was used in the demos through self-programmed routines. Scrolling refers to moving the screen content in different directions, as is often the case in computer games. TEX later became part of the alliance The Union and contributed to The Union Demo . There was also The Amiga Demo ( 1988 ), in which sample- based pieces of music that were originally produced on the Amiga platform were played on the Atari ST. TEX also contributed to the demo Life is a bitch by the English demo crew The Lost Boys .

Some members later found their first employer in the computer game industry. The role-playing game Dragonflight ( 1990 ) by Thalion Software was created almost exclusively through the collaboration of former TEX members. Jochen Hippel in particular became a sound icon for the Atari ST and participated in numerous games.

Members of the group were:

  • Jochen Hippel , alias Mad Max (music)
  • Erik Simon , alias ES (graphic)
  • Michael Raasch, alias Daryl (programmer)
  • Gunter Bitz, alias 6719 (programmer), named himself after the zip code of his hometown Kirchheimbolanden
  • Udo Fischer, alias -ME- (programmer)

See also

Web links