The official FREAX FAQ<BR>
UPDATED! UPDATED! UPDATED!<BR>
07.01.1999.<BR>
<BR>
CONTACT :  TOMCAT<BR>
           <A HREF="mailto:corporal kukac nospam freemail.c3.hu">corporal kukac nospam freemail.c3.hu</A> (temporary address)<BR>
<BR>
Welcome to the new FREAX FAQ!
<BR>
Sorry for the big delay in the project, it wasn’t my fault. Ask the army why the
fuck did they need me for such a long time. Now I am back, and the project
continues.
<BR>
1. What is FREAX?<BR>
2. What is in FREAX?<BR>
3. When it will be out?<BR>
4. Where can I order it?<BR>
5. How can I help the project?<BR>
6. Is it commercial?<BR>
7. I want it in HTML!<BR>
8. I want to see my demo in FREAX!<BR>
<BR>
<B>1. What is FREAX?</B><BR>
FREAX is the title of a book I am currently working on.<BR>
This book will be about The Scene, with capitals. It documentates every moment
of its history, from the very first crackers to the super wilddemos of the
millenia. Everything.<BR>
This book will come out as a regular, paper book for sceners who think scene as
the meaning of life, and are willing to keep a neat memory of it to show their
children once. Think of it: no electronic media is guaranteed to be readable
after ten years, but paper survives. Even your grandchildren will be able to see
what the grandy did when he was young.<BR>
<BR><BR>
<B>2. What is in FREAX?</B><BR>
FREAX is divided to parts and chapters, as books usually are.<BR>
The first part tells about the history of computer graphics and music from the
40’s to nowadays. It also contains the history of common demoeffects, such as
fractals, 3D techniques, etc. Did you know that, for example, who did the first
metal shade effect or scroller? When did FM synthesis came out, and what is in
Shannon’s sound sampling axiom?
<BR>
The second part is for the Commodore 64. Its first chapter tells about the
hardware’s history, including some never seen models such as the 64 Laptop. The
rest is about the scene.
<BR>
The third part tells the Amiga Herstory, with the same layout: first the
machine’s history, then the scene.
<BR>
The fourth part goes for the PC.
<BR>
The fifth is for the smaller scenes, like the ones on the ZX Spectrum, Atari ST,
Acorn, Macintosh and so on.
<BR>
The sixth part is an anthology of the best scene-related articles ever from
diskmags and paper zines.
<BR>
The book will also have an appendix with a scene dictionary, including almost
all technical terms – e.g. names of effects - and scene slang.
<BR>
All the book will be a narrative history, with interviews, pictures, memories
and great stories.
<BR>
<BR><BR>
<B>3. When it will be out?</B><BR>
Don’t ask. In 1996 I wrote that it will be out late 1997. Seems I was wrong...
Although now it’s almost sure that my beloved homeland will not conscript me
again, so I won’t have to suspend my work for another one year. My current
plans are about a release in late 1999. So FREAX will be a millenia gift. This
plan is about the Hungarian version, of course, but translation of the English
one runs paralelly, so it’s possibly come out the same time.
<BR>
FREAX is planned to be a beautiful book, with full-color layout, hard cover and
artistic design.
<BR><BR>

<BR>
<B>4. Where can I order it?</B>
<BR>
From the Net, of course. News of release will be immediately spread when we are
ready. This book won’t be available at stores. Keep an eye on the demoscene
pages’ news.
<BR><BR>
<B>5. How can I help the project?</B>
<BR>
Many ways.
<BR>
First of all, with information. I am constantly seeking for new info sources and
trying to find old scene people to interview. I am also looking for old scene
stuff, like diskmags and such.
<BR>
Second, with support. I have serious trouble with capturing screenshots from
particular PC demos, like Crystal Dream II., for example. Many coders tried to
code screen capture utilities for me, for which I am helpful, but sometimes
they simply couldn’t do anything. You can help me if you have some good video
I/O card, since the only idea I have is to record the demo on VCR and then
capture it back.
<BR>
I also have problem with the Amiga demos. I don’t have an Amiga. The same stands
for the Acorn, the Atari ST and so on. So if you can help me to grab screenshots
or convert diskmag articles from those platforms to PC, you are can be more than
helpful.
<BR>
If you are Hungarian, speak English quite well and have patience to translate,
you are welcome to help me in translating FREAX to English. This needs no
particular coding or other skills, just a good English and scene slang
knowledge.
<BR>
I am looking for someone experienced in DTP to create the layout. I also need a
good gfx artist to design a cover and a back.<BR>
I need some publisher. Most Hungarian book publisher companies just claim that
there is "no need" for such a book. Others said I should remove parts of my
work, because "those things can be already found on the Internet." Bullshit.
Lamers. What about calling your friend at a book publisher company and tell him
about FREAX?<BR>
Last, but not least, you can apply as a foreign translator. As stated before,
there will be an English version of FREAX. Now, if you think about a version on
your language, just drop me a mail. You will be sent of the English FREAX as
soon as it’s available, in WinWord format. You can then translate it to your
mothertongue and find a publisher for it in your country. No royalties to pay,
nothing to do, FREAX is free and dedicated as a scene project. All you have to
do is to send a piece of your edition to me when printed.<BR>

<BR>
<B>6. Is it commercial?</B><BR>
As stated above, it’s not. FREAX is not to bring any profit. It’s not a
commercial product, it’s a demoscene product, just like those neat demos,
intros, musics, and so on. But of course it will cost money. Hope the publisher
won’t screw up its price.
<BR><BR>
<B>7. I want it in HTML!</B>
<BR>
I will release a HTML version too. But please don’t ignore the paper version
with some lame money-saving crap. Now I have more than a year of research in
this work, and I would feel honored if you buy it.
<BR><BR>
<B>8. I want to see my demo in FREAX!</B><BR>
Many people asks me day by day to put his demo in the book. Please understand
that if your demo or graphics is really good, it will get in FREAX without
asking. As for copyrights, I try to reach everyone whose work I include in the
book, but of course, it can’t always be successful, mostly when the author
disappeared from the scene years ago, or if I can’t get any contact info
about him. But don’t worry. We won’t misuse anything.
<BR><BR>
Thanks for reading this shit, and thanks to Trajic for publishing it on the
Demoscene Page. Ah, don’t forget to check out Jean / Chromance’s Hall of Fame
info among the Advertisements, it’s another great scene history project.
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