Stereo Static

STEREO STATIC


by Svend Jacobsen and Per Nordqvist





The two above-named Swedish gentlemen are probably best known (to


Pitstop readers at least) for their Efil program which appeared


several months ago. Well now they're back, with something shorter and


altogether stranger.





At first glance, all the program does is fill the screen with static,


like there isn't a Spectrum plugged into it at all. However (and I


quote), "the program also causes a 64 by 64 pixel hole to appear in


the centre of the screen - to see this stereo-effect you will have to


focus your eyes in front of the screen, and it might take some time


for it to appear, especially the first time". Erm, right.





To get the program running, and hopefully experience this miraculous


effect first-hand, first type in the short BASIC listing and save it


with SAVE "Static" LINE 42. Then use the Hexloader from a previous YS


and use it to enter the Hex listing, saving that after the BASIC.


Rewind and load, and check out that "hole". There are some control


keys: P to pause, Space to quit and C for the "cheat mode" - "when you


focus your eyes correctly you'll see only one coloured square in the


middle".





Now, to be perfectly honest, I don't know what the dickens Svend and


Per are on about. I've stared at the screen until my eyes pleaded with


me to stop, and at one point I could swear I heard someone crying


"Mummy! Mummy!", but no hole appeared. I even tried playing the music


tape I was supplied with to get me "into the mood", but eventually I


simply gave up. Of course this could be some elaborate practical joke,


but the Swedes aren't exactly renowned for that sort of thing. (Unless


you count Volvos.) So, erm, the first person to write in etc. etc.