AFTER DARK GAMES

A common nineties computing myth is that if you don’t protect your monitor with a screensaver that activates after 30 seconds of no computer usage, then you will suffer irreparable damages to your screen. Those damages most likely amounting to a haunting image of your Windows desktop permanently embedded into your display.

Well, this is, in fact, complete nonsense. Unless you have a monitor that’s manufacturing date reaches back into the mid-eighties (and if it’s still functioning, then congratulations because you own a freak of technology), it’s unlikely that your screen would ever have images burnt into the glass without serious, intentional abuse. However, this doesn’t mean screensavers are useless – on the contrary, they can not only be wonderfully stimulating entertainment, but they also serve an even greater purpose. They are an endless distraction to the work you should be doing (always a good thing, no?). At least, some are, anyway.

The After Dark series became known for being a leader in the field of the screensaver ‘art,’ producing many variety of fun and humorous modules, introducing original characters in often zany situations, and generally just being downright more amusing than a bunch of flying Windows logos (damn, I still see those things in my sleep… chasing me… hunting my very soul… oh, ahem, anyway…!). And hey, isn’t that worth the $50-80 price tag that used to accompany them?