Survey submitted: Thu 11 Mar 2010

Handle, ex-handle(s):
Raven (Abstract)

Name, birthday, origin:
Harald Wittmaack, 27.11.1972, Germany

Group, ex-group(s):
NUANCE

What was your first group, your role in that group and what did that group produce?:
Started to do gfx for several groups on the C=64...

What motivates you to spend time on the scene?:
I like creating graphics in my job and my freetime. It just gives me recreation and...wel...makes me happy!

What is your favorite color?:
Depends on the day...and my mood.

On what platform(s) did you begin your computing journey, and when was this?:
I began on the ZX Spektrum, then moved on to the C16/C64/C128 and then over to the Amiga1000/500/2000/1200. Can't remember the exact year I began...

What platform(s) do you use now?:
Windows, Amiga, C=64, Vectrex, NintendoDS, etc...and Pencil and Paper.

What is/are your favorite piece(s) of music(s) - from a demo production or a scener (released outside of a demo)?:
My favourite demoscene track is still "Four themes and a masterplan" from Kewler's "A Significant Deformation Near The Cranium".

Which graphician, in and outside the demoscene, inspirated you the most?:
I'm inspired by a lot of things. Pictures I see while walking, surfing and quite a lot inspiration also comes from my photographical activities. Sometimes when shooting with a model I already have an imagination for a whole picture...

What is/are your favorite picture(s) - from a demo production or a scener (released outside of a demo)?:
I still love the old demoscene graphics a lot, nevertheless if they were inspired by Valejo or other artists. I love the kind of pagan picture Golem did as opener for one of the Anarchy demos...but overall I respect and like most demoscene artists...

What's the procedure when you start a new picture?:
I mostly do a sketch on the sofa. Try different things. Arrange...but mostly my pictures become what they finally are during the process. That's why the beginning sketches often differ from the final work and I also often compose different picture parts...

What drawing/3d program are you using the most to express yourself? Why?:
I use Photoshop together with a mouse and tablet the most. It's just everything that is really necessary.

Do you draw on any other platforms beside computers? (Painting, Graffiti etc):
I did Graffiti way back and also got caught and had to do some public working for it. I also tried airbrushing and oil/acrylic painting. But in the end...I just love digital painting.

Which project that you worked on was the most exciting and interesting for you? And why?:
Hmmm...

What is your favorite demo, intro, megademo, retrogame, slideshow, musicdisk, diskmag, wilddemo?:
Demo: "A significant deformation near the cranium"
Intro: "D.O.C. Intro" - The one with the most hilarious scroller there ever was!
Megademo: Iraq Demo, love the graphics.
Retrogame: I have nooooo clue.
Slideshow: Andromeda "Seven Seas"
Musicdisc: Anarchy "Legalize it"
Diskmag: Stolen Data
Wilddemo: Hmmm...

Discuss: minimalistic demos, cracktros, fucktros, joke demos, lamers, compo winners at big parties, demotools, diskmags, chiptunes, glenz vectors, programming languages, photoshop, textmode:
I quite like minimalistic intros...concerning demos I like the ones that also show good 2D skills and not only pure 3D and effects. I love watching cracktros from time to time and I never had good opinions on fucktros, because they're mostly childish'n boring. Joke demos? As long as it is not "Rob is jarig" I can live with it! Lamers? Around me! Every day! Compo winners at big parties are mostly the result of a good first expression and lot's of alcohol.demotools are a nice thing as long as only the groups use them that actually made them. Diskmags? I kind of miss them. Chiptunes still have an influence on my musical taste and I also often listen to chiptunes during work. Glenz vectors still rock, but I'm too chaotic for learning programming languages. Photoshop is just a tool for my imagination and creativity. Textmode? Yeah. For readme's!

What percentage of modern demos are 3d flybys?:
Too much.

What percentage of older demos are the same effects recycled?:
75% of a decade, but they constantly got improved.

What platform(s) needs more demos?:
Classic Xbox, NintendoDS, Vectrex, Car board computers...

Which parties do you intend to go to, and which parties would you like to go to? Please describe your personal experiences with your most favourite or impressive party you have ever been at:
Almost every party has it's nice points. Normally my year is limited to Breakpoint, Buenzli and tUM. Lert's see how this will change in 2011...

How did the scene alter since you are taking an active part in it? Can you explain why?:
The scene is getting older...but overall I don't care too much if I still see new people appear now and then...the whole world changes...

What are your dreams/goals in life, did scene help you and have you achieved them yet?:
I got my jobs at my current company and at my past game companies through the demoscene...my goals in life...they constantly change...

Finally, do you have some special greetings? Feel free to add links to your graphics, screenshots of effects, modules or other pieces of your work:
Well...you can always see my most current demoscene gfx at
http://nuance.untergrund.net/raven/
and read what I do at
http://www.wittmaack.de
Regards go to all my groupmates in NUANCE.

.o0o. RAVEN .o0o.