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                          ''''''  '''''          ''''''''''''''''''' 

-------- ------ ----- ---- --- -- - - -- --- ---- ----- ------ ------- --------

            Null Form demo - a contribution to Speccy.PL Party 2026
                  by Virtual Vision Group & friends.

                   for the ZX Spectrum Next and clones

-------- ------ ----- ---- --- -- - - -- --- ---- ----- ------ ------- --------

  This is the second our full format demo for the ZX Spectrum Next. This time, 
we wanted to make an eye candy demo without a specific idea, and looks like we 
succeeded.

  We're hoping that the demo will be useful to the ZX Spectrum Next community, 
both as a benchmark / test case for the emulators, and also for the coders (as 
its sources will be released, as usual). The demo intentionally loops (Crash 
Complex created a perfectly looping custom version of his soundtrack "Signal"),
so it is suitable for running it at the events as an attraction.

                              Under the hood
                             ================

  The demo only needs 1MB of RAM so it can run on any ZX Spectrum Next in existence
(including clones of course). Full support of both 50Hz and 60Hz is provided, to
make it easier to run in the Americas.

  The demo makes a heavy use of Next's video subsystem. Despite the seemingly
elaborate action, the amount of actually updated memory each frame is usually 
small, and the action-packed look is achieved thanks to combining multiple layers
on which the action happens thanks to the layering abilities of the Next. "Only 
Spectrum Next makes it possible".

  Unlike my previous works, where I (RCL) used AI generated code only for export 
scripts and the like, this time I used AI for some of the code in the demo itself
(usually as the first pass of an effect, although certain bits turned out to be 
of decent enough quality to be shippable as is). All artwork and music however 
is human generated.

  To anyone who thinks that using AI removed my need to be closely involved with 
the code - go try to write another demo for the platform and we'll see how far
you'll get.

  All text in the demo is my actual handwriting. I used an old N900 phone and a
Python program (based on the one I wrote a decade ago, you can see it here
https://rcl-rs-vvg.blogspot.com/2011/08/markov-stroke-generator.html ) to draw
them with a stylus. I used the American school cursive with a flat topped r and
ezh-shaped z, which is different from the Polish cursive I'm more used to.

  This is a party version. There are subtle imperfections ignored in the rush to
beat the clock. They are hopefully hard to notice, but they annoy me, so it is 
very likely that there will be the final version before releasing the source 
code to the general public.

  Full credits:
  - Code - RCL / VVG
  - Music - Crash Complex (https://open.spotify.com/artist/72OE5w1KKrm1Bsway6zJqT)
  - Graphics - Nodeus

   Demo uses ZX0 depacker by Introspec and Einar Saukas. 
   Demo has code generated by Claude Code. I guess it is similar to saying that
it contains ripped code, but I have no idea from where.

  Expect the sources on github shortly after the party (public domain as usual).

 -RCL, 2026-04-29
------------------ ----- ---- --- -- -  
