Neon 360: Synesthesia at it's finest

version 1.0

Written by Leo Loikkanen

Copyleft 2006

Disclaimer:

You are free to edit this document, as long as it is done with taste. I would like the results being emailed to me, or in case you have edited the whole document, the edited document, so that i may post it on my website.

Authors of comments and additions are encouraged to add their name on the credits, however, the authors must promise, that their writing is also allowed to be edited, to point errors and so on.

Part 1: What IS Neon?

Neon, in all it's simplicity, is an interactive light synthesizer, created by Jeff Minter and Ivan Zorzin (a.k.a. Yak and Gilesgoat) for the Xbox 360 home entertainment system. When compared to the visualisations on Winamp, or maybe in iTunes, it is clear that Neon is far superior to it's counter parts in the terms of responsiveness and interactivity. What makes Neon so fabulous, is the fact, that it's intended for many people to use at once. up to four people can control Neon at the same time, controlling different aspects of it, and create lightshows unseen before in Computer entertainment today.

HOwever, Neon is not first of it's kind. Mr. Minter started to work on light synthesizers on the Commodore 64. In Fact, it was Mr.Minter who first coined the phrase "Light synthesizer". It all began with Psychedelia, a simple Lightsynthesizer done for commodore 64, and also ported for the ZX Spectrum and some other home computers of that era. The legend goes, that the algorithm, which was used to create the light patterns, came to Minter while he was Jogging. The legend also goes, that once he wrote the algorithm to the computer and tried it out, it did exactly what he had had in his head.

Of course, Psychedelia was just the first part of the future Light synthesizers that were to came after. After Psychedelia, there was Colourspace. A 16-bit Light synthesizer done for the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST synthesizers. Improvements made since Psychedelia, were mouse control, updated(?) algorithm, more colours (16-bit computer, duh) and some nice strobe effects and background images. After Psychedelia came Trip-A-Tron. A Light synthesizer made for the Atari ST. This was actually a sequel of some sorts to the Colourspace. This time, you could even make your own effects with Key Macro Language (or KML for short). ALso, there were built in Special Effects, such as effect reproduction, mirror images and psuedo Cube image. All these effects could be activated with the function buttons. Also, new to Trip-A-Tron, it could be linked with MIDI interface to a dummy MIDI keyboard, which could then be usedto control TaT better. Alternativelly, it could be used to Link the Atari to another Atari, thus layering the effects and creating more complex lightshows. Of course, this is were it all properly (IN MY OPINION) began.

After TaT, came VLM. Virtual Light Machine, the forerunner of Neon. The First Virtual Light machine was created to the Atari Jaguar CD deck add on, which could be activated Simply by inserting an audio CD to the CD deck. Rumour Has it, that Jack Tramiel even tried VLM to Bethoven, and loved the images it was able to produce.(REQUEST: CAn someone confirm this?) After VLM-1, came VLM-2, this time for the ill fated Nuon DVD console. This wa a major improvement to the pervious VLM, with polygon graphics and even more complex effects (REQUEST: could someone with more experience with VLM-2 write more about it, please?). After VLM-2, came...VLM-3. This time, it wa meant for the Gamecube, to be built in to a new Game Yak (Minter) was making, called Unity.(REQUEST: Can someone write here what was added for the VLM-3 and how far it actually got before UNITY was cancelled?) Sadly, the project was cancelled before it could be completed. But the GUI of Unity lives on.

After VLM-3, Neon.

Part 2: HOLY SHIT that's awesome.

Neon is a work of art. It was created by talented programmers and it can create art. What is so special ABOUT Neon, is that FINALLY, there is a powerful light synthesizer, which can respond to human Emotions. By "responding to human emotions" i mean, that the person(s) using Neon, can control the effects the way they see fit to the current state of the music. Unlike Visualisizers, which only react to the beats in the music, not allowing any input from a human being, Neon is also able to react to the more subtle notes inside the music, although it is to be noted, that music with fast tracks and "assaulting" instruments, make it go on overdrive in the terms of the brightness of the colours.

All the parts, and aspects of a certain effect, as i have noted, do not just react to the beat. Some parts ACTUALLY manage to react to guitars, flutes, record scratching and so on (even hi hats played backwards cause soem unseen effects! srsly!) Soem tracks, like Laika & The Cosmonauts' "Surf's you right" cause a fantastic fireworks to appear on the background (Depending of course of the effect in use). SOme effects don't tend to reacts the same way to a certain song, which i feel only adds to the multiple ways of how Neon reacts to the music. Thsi gives the Xbox owners a whole new world to Explore.

Part 3: Share the fun! Influcence people

(REQUEST: as i only own 1 controller, i am not qualified to write this part, can someone who has had a 4 member crew to fly Neon write anbout their experiences about it here?I'll write Part 4 when this has been added.)

For Now, happy tripping! STay ON Digital Narcotics, avoid halutiogenics!