Assembly 1998 - Results Comments
by Rokdazone/ex-Artwork, ex-Endzeit

The Assembly once was considered to be one of the most important events of the Amiga Scene. The emphasis lays on "was" as from what attenders reported in recent years the Assembly really has gone down the drain and has lost most of its glory. More and more the once so influencive event has turned into a doomed Quakers-paradise and also in 1998 this did not change to huge parts as repordetly only few more Amigas have been spotted in the ocean of PC's. Six demos in the competition might be more than last year, but never does this justify to call the Assembly a major party. Indeed, the mass of smaller parties has sucked away huge parts of the potential attenders; for good reason we presume.

More than reason to have a look at the releases from this event - maybe they have saved the event from turning into a total farce?


Amiga Demo Competition

1.) Nerve Axis "Relic" (2757 p.)
2.) Embassy "dELTA" (1127 p.)
3.) Network "Synthesis" (1087 p.)
4.) Cirion "Aromecolor" (981 p.)
5.) Mystic "Omnirush" (660 p.)
6.) Spedes "Boogienights" (541 p.)




As commented in the Leading Article, Nerve Axis took away the first place for the second time in a row at the Assembly and surely their Lightwave Scenes featured gorgeous gfx and effects. Yet when taken a look at the storyboard, we surely have to admit that even "Odyssee" by Alcatraz from 1991 had a much more dense plot - if that word describes the loosely linked scenes afterall.

Embassy again surely may feel a little spoiled, maybe not for "only" having received the second place, but due the enormous difference in votes. The short distance to Network than again flatters Network who despite having shown a very solid piece of work do not entirely come close to what "dELTA" can provide. Still, no reason to let your heads hang low, pals, "Synthesis" in fact is a stunning piece of demo.

The once so mighty Mystic once underline their downfall with a pittyful fifth place out of six entries, having even been left behind by Cirion - a so far unknown group. Where is the mystic gone afterall? A heartweakening state despite a constant joining of new members in 1998 - maybe time to reconsider if the strategy of simply collecting members really enables a path out of the valley. Qaulity or quantity, the choice you have to make.


Amiga 64k Intro Competition

1.) Haujobb with "edit0.5" (2620 p.)
2.) Scoopex - "System Crime" (1909 p.)
3.) Sonik Clique - "Red-Eye" (1439 p.)
4.) Jormas - "Elektrik Baby" (1365 p.)
5.) Paragon with "Popgun" (960 p.)
6.) Scoopex with "Effu" (758 p.)
7.) DCS with "DcsIntro" (714 p.)
8.) Damones with "Assembly98" (539 p.)

With Haujobb, DCS, Sonik Clique and two times Scoopex one naturally doesn't expect anything but a real hot competition. Sadly, this challenge only to some degrees fulfilled these hopes. Speedo/Haujobb wins the event with a solid intro of quite some length, but which somehow lacks of the same quality then does Antibytes "System Crime": Somehow we already have seen it. In this competition the two best known have one and of this duo, the least known one did. Confused?

Well, it's just quite simple: Latest since the 'Zero Graffity' row we are used to Antibytes special style. He provides high quality, quantity in effects and all this combined with good design and fitting music. Still, although his intros use to improve each time, they turn slowly into a bore of the eye instead of a core.

Sonik Clique again always stuns with a glissing design and so also with "Red-Eye". There is little to say about it: It looks great, it comes with what I would describe with Corporate Identity (cp. refering article in this issue). The effects do not provide nothing new, but the Sonik guys use all modern and requested techniques so this really is worth a look. In fact it's my favourite.

To discuss the second entry from Scoopex does not make much sense as the gap between Antibyte and Karpow as so obvious that "Effu" can't be described any better than a average intro.

Total disappointment when it comes to the entry from DCS. After having set new standards for intros with their "Mono-Hydro-Doctor-Dactylus2b" (or so) this oldschool styled intro surely has its own charme, but somehow I have expected more.

Rokdazone