Zot!

Zot! by Bill Stewart & Jim Stewart.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

So we come to the last module in the original Windows release. There was a DOS version of After Dark but it seems those modules exclusive to the DOS release are currently lost to history.

I think Zot! works best when combined with one of the rain modules. By itself, this module runs too fast on modern systems. I know, that's a weird thing to say about a screensaver that emulates lightening. Adding this to a MultiModule can get it to slow down just enough to feel right.

In the interest of full disclosure, I had to manually recreate the above screen as taking a shot of the actual module running proved impossible on a modern system.


ZOT! (tm)

Realistic lightning designed by Jim Stewart.

During the period when this module was being developed, the skies were filled with thunder and lightning each night. These flashes of reality greatly contributed to the realism of this effect.

Original version by Jack Eastman.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but runs too fast.

Wrap Around

Wrap Around by Richard Lesh.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

To be honest, before starting this web site, I don't believe I spent more than two second thinking about or examining this module. Maybe it was because Wrap Around was near the end of the list alphabetically, maybe it was because this module lacks some of the flash seen in others.

But I've come around now. I really like the designs Wrap Around randomly creates. No, this is not the most entertaining screensaver in the world but for anyone who spent hours trying to get that "make a curve out of straight lines" thing working on paper, this automatic and enhanced version may find a special place in their tainted psyche.


WRAP AROUND (tm) draws closed three
dimensional loops in space.

You can choose how long each drawing
stays on the screen, the number of lines
in each drawing, and how fast the color
in the lines changes.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

Vertigo

Vertigo by J. Eastman & T. Elmore.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

This is an interesting module in that it still runs on modern systems with modern color counts but because the palette cycling of the module, it is much less entertaining on modern systems. Still, some of the palette choices are pretty interesting and the shapes generated can add some psychedelic design to a Randomizer or MultiModule.

I would recommend running this in 256 colors if you get a chance as the effect is very cool. You can do this by finding the ADW30.EXE file in your After Dark folder, right clicking on it, and choose Properties. Under Compatibility, you can force the program to run in 256 colors. Then close After Dark and restart it through the system tray icon. Of course, you probably want to turn off this 256 color option later.


VERTIGO (tm)

"Spiral Pitch" sets the tightness with which the spirals are drawn.

"Palette" sets the colors that are used to draw the shapes.

"Delay" determines how long the color animation continues before a new figure is drawn for those with 256 color machines.

Stingray Palette by Bill Stewart.
Thanks to Jim Stewart for the shapes.


Works under Windows XP & Vista and partly in greater than 256 colors.

Swan Lake

Swan Lake by B. Resner & M. Overlin.
©1992 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

My old roommate once described the Swan Lake module as Flying Toasters for girls. Actually, that never happened but it felt like a good story and I can certainly see him saying something like that. That's just the kind of guy he was.

Swan Lake was a bit of an oddity when it was released as it was one of the first "graphic" based modules along with Flying Toasters and Aquatic Realm but somehow was by itself, separated from the others. The graphics are well drawn and the little cygnets (I learned a new word today!) are a nice touch.

Also, the speed is completely fine on today's systems. So there must be something different about these swans as compared to the toasters and fish of the same era as those run too fast.




SWAN LAKE (tm) Swans and their cygnets swim gracefully across your screen.

Try a "Synchronized" swim to impose a little structure on the proceedings.

Swan artwork by Igor Gasowski.

Windows version by Mike Overlin, SAPIEN Technologies, Inc.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

String Theory

String Theory by Bill Stewart.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Another (but not the last!) module consisting of a line bouncing around the screen. I always liked this one specifically because it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not.

I'm probably thinking too much into it but String Theory was always simple to understand and gave you on screen exactly what you expected.

In addition, though one of the simpler modules ever made, it can still be responsible for some beautiful, unique and ultimately entirely too brief shapes and designs.




STRING THEORY (tm)

Original idea by James J. Eastman.

Colourful moire patterns that follow the edge of your monitor. For more variation, select up to 4 strings at the same time.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

Stained Glass

Stained Glass by J. Tantra and W. Boyd.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

When I first installed After Dark, I didn't like Stained Glass. I felt it looked like a module that was broken and the developers kind of liked it broken and left it that way. Over the years though, it has grown on me and is now one of my favorite random design modules.

Whatever options you choose in the setup, the patterns generated are all beautiful and intricate and it feels like any moment frozen in time would make an excellent tapestry or at least a fairly neat Windows background.

This is also one of the few modules that looks cool in black & white and I will often run this saver in that mode. The detail somehow seems greater and the patterns generated almost feel like some weird reverse Henna pattern.


STAINED GLASS(tm) produces an infinite variety of beautiful quiltlike patterns.

The "Complexity" slider increases the appearance of detail in the image.

The "Duplication" slider controls how often the central image is duplicated in the periphery.

The "Color" slider controls how colorful the image gets. On the low end only a few colors are used.

Dedicated to Anna Benson. Contributions from Ellen Lewis, Kristieanne Jones, Eleanor Allen, Julia Kay, and David Oster.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256.

Spiral Gyra

Spiral Gyra by K. Alphonso & J. Casey.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

This module runs too fast on modern systems to be watchable. Even when it did run at a more normal speed, it wasn't the most entertaining of savers.

Based on the "in-program" text given below, I don't think the makers of this module were that excited about it either.


SPIRAL GYRA(tm) is another line drawing module with an interesting twist or two.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but runs too fast.

Sounder

Shapes by Rob Gale.
©1992 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Oh wave files, with your large size and your .wav extension. Perhaps it's a testament to Windows that this module still works absolutely fine. Granted, many people no longer have a large cache of wave file lying around but Windows still installs a bunch so there's always some to pick through if needed.

Of course, screensavers are all about watching something happen when you 1. just downloaded the saver, 2. are bored, or 3. leave your computer. It can be kind of annoying to just have some random sounds playing during any of these situations especially when the list of sounds is short and repeats a lot.

Then again, when After Dark first came out, if you were crazy enough to rip your favorites songs to .wav files and combine them with a bunch of cool movie quotes also in .wav format, this saver could be used as a neat little jukebox in the days before iTunes.

Not that I've done that.




SOUNDER (tm)

No graphics, just snazzy sound.
Plays sound files from the directory of your choice.

To specify the sequence that sounds are played
use the "sequence" control.

To control the delay between sounds use the "delay" slide bar control.

To select the directory to play sound files from, use the "sounds" button. The default directory is the SOUNDS sub-directory of your After Dark directory.

Note: Sound files must be in the WAVE sound format (with the WAV extension). And last but not least, you can control whether or not the screen is blanked before playing sounds. Don't blank the screen and make people wonder what's making those funny sounds!

Note: Sound files must be in the WAVE sound format (with the WAV extension).


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

Shapes

Shapes by Bill Stewart.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Again, this isn't one of those really exciting modules that makes you laugh and cry or makes you day dream about all the exciting and wondrous things you will see and options you want to try.

What, that's not what you day dream about?

This seems like one of those modules that kind of had to be included because, if it wasn't, people would wonder to themselves "Self, you and I both know After Dark needs a module where random shapes appear on the screen and nothing else happens. Oh, and self, could there be an option for non-color monitors? Thanks!"

Today, the module works but runs too fast. Still, as there's no real animation, if your wanting the screensaver equivalent of squirrels on caffeine, this may work for you.


SHAPES (tm) fills the screen with a rapid succession of geometric shapes.

Original design and concept by Jack Eastman.

If "Clear Screen First" is checked, the screen is blanked before the shapes start appearing.

Use the "Color" check box to select color or black & white shapes.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but runs too fast.

Rainstorm

Rainstorm by P. Beard & T. Elmore.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Not much to say here other than this is a very mundane module with a very exciting name. The lightening effect was cool back in the day but as this module now runs a little too fast the lightening flash is too frequent and annoying.

Okay, I have to say something nice. Well, the module does have a lot of options so there is a nice level of creativity involved in choosing the exact type of storm you want.

I feel better now.


RAINSTORM(tm)

"Lightning" sets the delay between lightning flashes.

"Strength" changes the effect of the storm from drizzle to downpour.

"Drops" will also change the effect. A drizzle will have the effect of mere mist if there are only 10 drops.

"Wind" will change the strength of the wind blowing the storm.

Original design and concept by Patrick Beard.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but runs a little too fast.

Punch Out

Punch Out by Bill Stewart..
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

It's not the most exciting of modules. It does (as they say) what it says on the tin. It does run a little too fast on modern systems but this is less of a detriment for Punch Out than for other modules like Aquatic Realm.

I think this module is best used in conjunction with others in a randomizer as it will punch some holes in whatever graphic it starts with which changes things up a little for the next module.

That all being said, I did enjoy this module when first released. There was something oddly pleasing about watching giant chunks of your desktop float away.




PUNCH OUT (tm) punches holes in your monitor and slides the pieces off the screen in random directions.

Original concept by Bob Schumaker & Chip Morningstar. Sound by Rob Gale.

Cool punch out ideas by José Carlos Colón and Mouse Herrell.

Use the "Shape" drop down list box to select different shapes to be punched.

Use the "Size" slider to vary the size of pieces and the "Speed" slider to vary the speed the punched pieces move.

To hear the sound of each piece being punched out, use the sound control (if sound capability is available).


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but runs a little too fast.

Penrose

Penrose by A. Karn and T DiZoglio..
©1992 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Penrose is capable of generating some really beautiful patterns. This was definitely one of the more professional looking savers included in the original Windows release. With the various color palettes and a nice collection of patterns, although nothing really moved, it was still one of the prettiest modules available.

Unfortunately, Penrose seems to have a problem on modern systems. I tested this on three different systems and in each case, after drawing a couple of patterns, the module would crash with an out of memory error. So I had no problem generating a pattern for the above screenshot but this is no longer a module that I include in my normal cast.


PENROSE

This program fills the plane of the screen with a non-periodic Penrose tiling consisting of kite- and dart-shaped tiles in a five-fold symmetric pattern. The technique of deflation is used to replace successive generations of tilings with increasingly smaller tiles. See "Penrose Tiles and Trapdoor Ciphers" by Martin Gardner, or the January 1977 Scientific American.

Windows Version: Thomas DiZoglio
Original Macintosh Version: Andy Karn
Meddlers: Jack Eastman and Wes Boyd.
Color consultant: Igor Gasowski.


Works under Windows XP & Vista for a moment then errors out.

Nocturnes

Nocturnes by J. Steinmetz & R. Herrell.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

To be honest, I've never thought about Nocturnes much. It's not the most exciting of modules. It does what it does and it does it fine which I guess is saying enough.

The title suggests this is a night scene. This means your screen stays mostly black and the saver only needs to draw eyes. Which I suppose is a night scene in a cartoon. In real life, an animal's eyes will rarely contain multicolored phosphorescent options.

Still, this saver still works great on a modern system and is not bothered by the number of colors you are using. that's something right? Way to go Nocturnes!


NOCTURNES(tm)

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

To hear the crickets, use the sound control (if sound capability is available).

Sound by Rob Gale.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

Mountains

Mountains by B. Haller & T. Elmore.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

I've always like the Mountains module. When first released it was one of my first exposures to the complexity that is possible with a computer. This was like the random baby brother of VistaPro without any of the complexity.

The mountains still look pretty cool today and thankfully, this is one of those modules improved on modern systems as the rendering time is now instant. When After Dark was first released, the mountains would take sometimes take minutes to draw depending on their complexity and the system you were running.


MOUNTAINS(tm) uses fractal mathematics to provide many and varied landscapes for your viewing pleasure.

"View" changes the look of the mountains so that in some cases they don't even look like mountains at all.

"Planet" provides different planet landscapes.

"Complexity" allows you to choose how many iterations the mountains will take to draw. The higher the complexity the longer it takes to draw.

Bring the landscape closer with the "Zoom" slider.

Original design and concept by Ben Haller, Eli Meir and Mouse Herrell.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

Mondrian

Mondrian by Bill Stewart & Wes Boyd.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of this module. It's always seemed to run a bit fast, even on much slower systems but I think that's part of the effect. The effect is kind of cool and a still image seems to look interesting and enough like modern art to qualify as a randomization of modern art done by a computer program written twenty years ago.

In action, I've always found Mondrian a little to hectic even at the slowest speed but I can see where some people might like it for a change of pace now and then. Also, I do wish they had added color to the module to get that classic Mondrian look. This was kind of revisited in a later module but not in the same manner.


MONDRIAN (tm) inverts random parts of your screen, providing screen-saving while still showing the Windows desktop.

The "Speed" slider controls how fast the inversions appear.

Checking "Clear Screen First" will black out the monitor before the inversions appear.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256.

Marbles

Marbles by M. Overlin & K. McLeod
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

One of my favorite modules back in the day, Marbles was a fun module to watch and still holds up (for the most part) today. The physics are a little wonky and it has been replaced by a later version 4.0 module with better graphics, more accurate physics, and customizable options.

This one seems to run on a modern system with the same speed and "accuracy" as it did when first released. Ok, so maybe it's not as realistic a simulation of a ball bouncing through pins as say "Peggle". However, in my opinion, this (along with Flying Toasters) was one of the best modules in the first batch.

Oh, and the smiley face ball was a nice touch.


MARBLES simulates colorful spheres bouncing through an obstacle course of pins and magically stacking at the bottom. As with people, some marbles are more sensitive than others.

Windows version by Mike Overlin, SAPIEN Technologies, Inc.

Concept and Mac version by Kevin McLeod.

Artwork by Igor Gasowski.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256.

Magic

Magic by Bill Stewart and Ian MacDonald.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Perhaps a little mundane and boring for the modern screen saver fan, Magic still works great on a modern computer. However, since the decedent of Magic is built into every version of Windows there is little this module can offer of which most users are not already tired.

Still, it's a good module to throw into your Randomizer and it does seem to work well with others when added in a MultiModule configuration.



MAGIC (tm) creates patterns with soothing and hypnotic rhythms that constantly vary.

We emphatically deny that Magic synchs to music, calms your nerves, or is affected by psychic energy from the user.

Use the "Lines" slider to change the number of lines. The maximum number of lines (below Infinite) is 150.

The Line Speed and the Color Speed can each be varied from 1% to 100%.

The mirroring option reflects the pattern either horizontally, vertically, or both ways at once.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256.

Lasers

Hard Rain by Bill Stewart.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

I know it's just lines on a screen but like the Magic module and other similar savers, there's just something cool about the Lasers module. I do wish it worked a little slower on modern systems so as to approach what feels more like light show speed but the frenetic pace does give an exciting colorful display.

The actual effect of a Laser line being drawn in this way was not something available in a module again until Magic Turtle some years later. Although other modules were able to fill the screen with interesting colored line using a variety of methods, no other modules went for the single origin point like Lasers did.


LASERS (tm)

Mulit-colored lasers that clear your screen and can create interesting patterns.

The number of lasers can be varied from 1-8.

The width of the laser traces can be varied from 1 to 100, as well as Infinite.

To hear the laser sound, use the sound control (if sound capability is available).

Concept by Bill Stewart and Ian MacDonald.
Sound by Rob Gale.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 but can be too fast for some.

Hard Rain

Hard Rain by W. Stewart & T. Elmore.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

One of the original line art modules, Hard Rain has not aged well. It runs too fast on modern systems so the ripple effect is lost. Instead of the almost calming image of growing circles lazily appearing on the screen, you get a rapid flash of circles all over the place.

In addition, there have been a small handful of other "rain" based modules released both as official After Dark savers or by hobbyists creating their own modules. These later releases are more than adequate replacements for this Hard Rain module.


HARD RAIN (tm)

Based on original design by James J. Eastman.
See Scientific American, Dec 1987.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but is too fast on modern systems.

Hall of Mirrors

Hall of Mirrors by Alex Zeltser
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Not a bad module though this one was more impressive in lower resolutions where the mirrors could take up a much larger portion of the screen. Still, Hall of Mirrors works really well on modern systems when set to a slower speed and has no problem with current resolutions.

It is still kind of neat to see the mirrors start reflecting themselves and then fill up the entire screen to the point where the original image is distorted beyond recognition.


HALL OF MIRRORS (tm) reflects pieces of your screen ad infinitum in a dynamic display.

The "Mirrors" slider lets you adjust the number of mirror-tunnels on the screen at once.

"Mirror size" selects the size of the reflected areas.

"Mirror life" adjusts the lifetime of each reflection.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.

Gravity

Gravity by Bill Stewart & Tracy Elmore
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

Though essentially replaced by later "marble" based modules, Gravity still retains some old world charm of the original After Dark release. Though not as flashy as Flying Toasters, gravity perhaps epitomizes what was enjoyable about the After Dark series. Each module was a mini-show of seemingly random events that could be customized to an extent. Not knowing the trajectory of each ball released was part of the fun. See, we were easily pleased and much less jaded back in the early 90's.

I've had some inconsistency with regard to the speed of this module with it sometimes running too fast and other times running about right. I've found some success using the options below.



GRAVITY (tm) demonstrates Newtonian gravity with bouncing balls.

Original idea by Bryce Fowler.
Sound by Rob Gale.

Choose 1-7 balls with the "Number Balls" slider.

Use the "Size" slider to set the size of the balls.

Check "Clear Screen" to clear the screen between each set of balls.

To hear the balls bounce, use the sound control (if sound capability is available)


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors but can be too fast.

GraphStat

GeoBounce by H. Chesley & W. Boyd.
©1990-92 Berkeley Systems Inc.

Part of the After Dark 2.0 collection.

One of the first modules that allowed a user to edit the contents and feel like they were part of the creation process. It was also one of the first to kind of, sort of, almost look a little like work, if you squinted.

You may have some trouble finding the text file associated with this module. This is the text file that stores all the scientific sounding jargon and the file that is modified when you click the Edit button in his module's options. Here is a copy of the one I am using. This file should be placed in your root After Dark folder (usually C:\AFTERDRK).

The module is a little too simple to be very entertaining but does work well in conjunction with other modules in a randomizer for instance. The line art graphics still look as good using a modern resolution as they did running in 640x480.


GRAPHSTAT (tm) draws meaningless but significant looking graphs on your screen.

Use the "Delay" slider to set a time delay between each graph appearing.

Use the "Edit.." button to change the text used in GraphStat labels. The text is divided into 4 sections, each separated by a blank line. You can change the text in each section, but do not remove the empty spaces between the 4 sections. Various phrases from each section will be combined into the label for each graph.

Improvements provided by Tracy Elmore and Bill Stewart.


Works under Windows XP & Vista in greater than 256 colors.