Cybernetics bio

Bio

Cybernetics crew was formed in the year 1988 when Brain Blaster and Metal Ages met at the lyceum, soon joined by Polaris and Bidibule (Chapi') who bought a ST computer.
Then we met Alain, he was the author of a fanzine named "Contact’ST". Quickly "Contact'ST" became an Atari computer users association. It grew quickly : at its apogee, it counted 350 members and edited 6 copies of the fanzine per year.

Early times :

In 1988 nothing special : we are discovering the first ST demos (LCD from TEX, XXX international...). Metal Ages is working on Synthetic Arts 1.0.
In 1989, we produce our real first demo screen. This screen is a challenge for another Atarist at school. Although it is coded in GFA basic 3.0, it features full 50hz animation : horizontal scrolltext and other stuffs... Then we soon produce 3 other screens, a small menu, and a shitty introduction. Everything is coded in GFA Basic 3.0. All the work is "put together" to release our first demo "1st Age" at the end of 1989.
Synthetic Arts 1.0 is also released at this time.
Then we meet a cool guy "Void" who is achiving his studies of computer science : he "gives" us Devpack and the first keys we need to begin working in Asm 68000. But Void soon move to go ont with his studies in another town. So, we begin to make some asm routines called by GFA main code skeletons. Our first production using this technique is the "Remix Compil" which is a remix of three intros compilations by the Black Cats, to which we add a menu.
We also begin to work on a new graphic design tool "90's Arts".
In summer 1990 (end of August), for the first time we go to the Atari messe in Dusseldorf.
In october 1990, Contact'ST stands at the Forum Atari 1990 at the CNIT - Paris La Défense. We quickly produce a small "Contact'ST" demo for the Forum : "Defcon". We are helped for the sampled sound replay routine by a cool guy, "La garde royale" we met at Contact'ST. At the Forum Atari, we decide to cancel the 90's Arts project which is a medium resolution graphic design tool : there, many people tell us it features cool ideas, but it would better if working in low resolution (16 colors). So we launch the new project "Synthetic Arts 2.0".
At the end of 1990 we are joined by two new members Positronic and Storm Light.

Main productions :

End of 1990 -> beginning of 1991, we are working on some screens based on a mix between GFA and asm 68000. We are also working on Synthetic Arts 2.0.
May 1991, we participate to Transbeauce II coding party with our first full asm screen (a flexiscroller).
June 1991, we code a STe GFA screen for the never realised "Ultimate GFA Demo 2" ; finally this screen will be included, far later, in the "Plucked Goose" GFA demo by MJJ Prod.
Positronic codes a main menu and we quickly "put together" the screens we have, to make our second demo "New Stream". We spread "New Stream" and "Synthetic Arts 2.0" for the first time at the Atari messe in Dusseldorf in august 1991.
Metal Ages moves in Paris to go on his studies in a computer science school. There he meets Nucleus from HMD and two Atarists who will become later two new Cybernetics members, Krag (code) and Bip (musik).
December 1991, we are at the Misfits convention II coding party (really great ambiance). There we meet Joker from the Misfits and Delos from Cyclades.
End of 1991 : we develop a screen, "Liquid Osmosis", for a crew I do not remember the name. Finally this screen will be included later in our Relapse demo.
We begin working on a full assembler STe demo "Relapse". The goal is to take advantage of the STe enhancements in particular DMA sound and blitter.
Synthetic Arts v2.02 is reviewed in ST Magazine, and version v2.025 is distributed on the cover disk (the versions released in 1991 & 1992 are v2.0, v2.01, v2.02, v2.025, v2.026, v2.4).
Storm Light works on a graphic tool for kids (Synthy Baby).
We quiclky code Demolist and a Map Editor for Stof : the One Day Coded Map Editor (thanks to a RATP strike).
We are joined by a musician "Sinis". He develops a samples library manager called "ExoModules".
We work on Relapse during the whole 1992 year. We present some previews of the screens at the Atari Messe in Dusseldorf 92. Sadder event : a temporary clash happened between us during the Atari Messe.
June 1992 : we code our STe soundtrack routine that assume 50 khz on a simple 8 mhz STe. We put together a really simple muzik compilation named "Digital".
September 1992 : our STe soundtrack replay routine allows to make a small modules player named Digital II (awfull interface but cool sound).
December 1992 : Metal Ages obtains his developper edition of Falcon 030 (n°104 ;-) ).
One week later in december 1992, Relapse is published at the Sanom convention where we meet ODC from Sector One. We are very proud of this demo which had quite a great success.
In the beginning of 1993, Bip, Krag, Polaris, Positronic, Sinis, Brain Blaster buy a Falcon 030 too.
On april 1993, during holidays, Metal Ages and ODC work on a little true color demo program in asm 68030 for the Falcon : Geotech. This program is distributed on Start Micro cover disk.
May 1993, we co-organise a small convention near Melun named "Code a Day" : Synthetic Arts 3 is released. We make a little compilation disk of the productions made for the "Code a Day" convention (modules, graphics, boot sectors...).
June 1993, ODC and Metal Ages make a demo for "Amie", a computer seller in Paris.
September 1993 : Metal Ages makes some stuffs for Nucleus demo participation at the Crystal II coding convention. Nucleus reaches the first place and wins a Falcon 030 with his really great STe effects.

The end :

As everybody has less and less time for demomaking...

January -> May 1994 : Metal Ages work on two esoteric products (one for Falcon and one for STe) for a video company, but these projects will never be achieved...
1994, we initiate a little engine for a game : this will never be achieved.
1996, Metal Ages codes a nostalgic STe remake of the screen we produced for Transbeauce II : this sequel is named "Flexi Glass ^oo^".
1999, we publish the first version of this Web site...