{{Short description|PC demo by Future Crew (1993)}} {{Multiple issues|{{original research|date=August 2014}}}} [[File:Future Crew - Second Reality (1993) (60fps) (iw17c70uJes).webm|thumb|thumbtime=7:05|A [[screencast]] of Second Reality (60fps)]] '''Second Reality''' (originally titled '''Unreal ][ - The 2nd Reality''') is an [[IBM PC compatible]] [[Demo (computer programming)|demo]] created by the Finnish group [[Future Crew]]. It debuted at the [[Assembly (demo party)|Assembly]] 1993 [[demoparty]] on 30 July 1993,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://demozoo.org/parties/101/|title = Assembly 1993}}</ref> where it was entered into the PC [[Demoscene compo|demo competition]], and finished in first place with its demonstration of 2D and 3D [[rendering (computer graphics)|computer graphics rendering]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pouet.net/party_results.php?which=7&when=1993 |title=Assembly 93 results |publisher=pouet.net |date=2011-01-02 |accessdate=2011-01-02 }}</ref> The demo was released to the public in October 1993.
It is considered to be one of the best demos created during the early 1990s on the PC; in 1999 [[Slashdot]] voted it one of the "Top 10 Hacks of All Time".<ref name="top10hacks">{{cite web | url=http://slashdot.org/features/99/12/13/0943241.shtml | title=Slashdot's "Top 10 Hacks of All Time" |accessdate=2010-12-25 |date=1999-12-13 |publisher=[[slashdot.org]] }}</ref> Its [[source code]] was released in a [[GitHub]] repository as [[public domain software]] using the [[Unlicense]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/mtuomi/SecondReality|title=SecondReality: Source code and data of Second Reality by Future Crew in 1993|first=Mika|last=Tuomi|date=3 August 2017|publisher=|via=GitHub}}</ref> on the 20th anniversary of the release in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/7196/happy-20th-birthday-second-reality |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803144940/http://www.anandtech.com/show/7196/happy-20th-birthday-second-reality |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 3, 2013 |title=Happy 20th Birthday Second Reality |first=Ryan |last=Smith |date=2013-08-01 |accessdate=2013-08-21 |publisher=[[Anandtech]] }}</ref>
== Description == Second Reality consists of many effects that were popular in demos at the time, such as real time [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]], scaling and warping of images, and [[Moiré pattern|Moiré patterns]]. Notably, it is also synced to the background music, which was uncommon at the time of its release.
The demo can be started with command line arguments 2-5 to start from different parts of the demo. Furthermore, starting the demo with argument "u" will show an effect with stars moving towards the screen.
== Technical characteristics == Analysis of the source code also disproved speculation that Second Reality uses its own [[Memory management|memory manager]] that accesses the [[Memory management unit|MMU]] directly; it uses standard DOS memory management functions.<ref name="FabienSanglardSREngine">{{cite web |url=http://fabiensanglard.net/second_reality/second_reality_engine.php |title=Second Reality Code Review: Part 2 (Engine) |first=Fabien |last=Sanglard |date=2013-08-16 |accessdate=2013-08-31 |quote=''There were many legends about Second Reality using an elaborated memory manager via the MMU but there is no trace of this in the engine. Memory management is actually delegated to DOS : The engine starts by deallocating all the RAM and then distribute it on demand. The only fancy trick is the ability to allocated RAM from the end of the heap: This is done using the return value of DOS malloc when too much RAM is requested.''}}</ref>
Second Reality was designed to run on an [[Intel 80486]] (although it can run on [[80386]] machines) PC with a [[Gravis Ultrasound]] or a [[Sound Blaster|Sound Blaster Pro]] (or register-compatible clone). In the original version which was released, the demo had a [[Bug (software)|bug]] which caused a slow down. A [[Patch (software)|patch]] was later released to rectify this problem.<ref>[https://www.scene.org/file.php?file=%2Fdemos%2Fgroups%2Ffuture_crew%2Fdemos%2F2ndpatch.zip&fileinfo 2ndpatch.zip] on scene.org</ref>
==Remakes== * '''Second Reality C64''' ([http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=1216 pouët.net]) by Smash Designs – An adaptation of the original demo for the [[Commodore 64]]. * '''Flash Reality''' ([http://pouet.net/prod.php?which=25494 pouët.net]) by The Scampers – A [[Adobe Flash|Macromedia Flash]] remix, with many scenes recreated using the [[Actionscript]] programming language. * '''Second Reality 2013''' ([http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=62119 pouët.net]) by Checkpoint – remake for [[Atari ST]] * '''8K Reality''' ([http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=65412 pouët.net]) by Fulcrum – a remix done in 8 kibibytes of executable PC code. Released at Revision 2015 demoparty where it was ranked second. The two-dimension drawings were modelled using [[metaballs]]. * '''Rocky Reality''' ([http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=67961 pouët.net]) by Bedrock Bros. - a port done for the [[Pebble (watch)|Pebble Smartwatch]]. Released at Evoke 2016 demoparty where it was ranked second in the alternative platform category. * '''Holo Reality''' ([http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=78756 pouët.net]) by Bedrock Bros. - a demake for the [https://lookingglassfactory.com Looking Glass] holographic display. Released at Demosplash 2018 demoparty where it ranked first in the modern category. *'''First Reality''' ([https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=89052 pouët.net]) by Holo Sapiens - a 3D augmented reality remake. *'''Second Reality X16''' ([https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=97731 pouët.net]) by Team FX - an adaptation of the original demo for the Commander X16.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Second Reality}} * [http://www.scene.org/file.php?file=/mirrors/hornet/demos/1993/0-9/2ndreal.zip&fileinfo Second Reality download] on scene.org * [http://www.scene.org/file.php?file=/demos/compilations/demodulate/secondreality.zip Second Reality soundtrack] in [[ScreamTracker|ScreamTracker 3]] format * [https://github.com/mtuomi/SecondReality Second Reality source code] on [[GitHub]] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIIBRr31DIU Video footage taken during the making of Second Reality] * [https://archive.org/details/msdos_2ND_REAL_shareware In-browser MSDOS emulation] by the [[Internet Archive]] * {{YouTube|iw17c70uJes|Video capture of ''Second Reality''}}
[[Category:1993 software]] [[Category:Software programmed in assembly language]] [[Category:Demos]] [[Category:Formerly proprietary software]] [[Category:Public-domain software with source code]] [[Category:Software using the Unlicense]] [[Category:Software developed in Finland]]