u19 – freestyle computing

2005

Patrick Derieg-Hütmannsberger (AT)
Christoph Wiesner (AT)
Manuel Eder (AT)
Manuel Fallmann (AT)
David Haslinger (AT)
Franz Haider (AT)

"u19 – freestyle computing" is Austria’s premiere computer competition for young people. Since it was founded in 1998, thousands of kids and young adults up to age 19 have taken part.

The Prix Ars Electronica’s u19 is an open category. Entrants can submit anything they like that has been created with the help of a computer. Examples include Internet applications, websites, graphics, self-programmed software, computer generated sounds and animation, and self-constructed robots. There are no restrictions placed on the tools you’re permitted to use. Just like the name says: FREESTYLE COMPUTING!


Junky Hugs
http://www.patrick.derieg.com
by Patrick Derieg-Hütmannsberger, 12
Awarded an Honorary Mention at the Prix Ars Electronica 2004

"I want to design figures without arms, legs and neck."

Patrick Derieg-Hütmannsberger began to get involved in HTML programming at the age of nine. He then made the move to Flash, and, on his website, created his own personal universe populated by inhabitants ranging from the desperados of the "Forsaken Desert" to the monsters of "Mystery Lake." Animation sequences, games and songs make a visit to "Junky Hugs" a most enjoyable journey of discovery.

Dual Mouse
by Christoph Wiesner, 16
Awarded an Honorary Mention at the Prix Ars Electronica 2004

Amazing what can happen when a computer mouse gives up the ghost! Just such a breakdown inspired Christoph Wiesner to create his game "Dual Mouse." Each player gets a mouse and tries to be the first to click a button (green or blue) 10 times. The player who can best exploit the movements of the mouse cursor by his opponent to his own advantage is the winner!

Complement
by Franz Haider, 16
Awarded an Honorary Mention at the Prix Ars Electronica 2004

Franz Haider did some experimenting with the "old" programming language "Turbo Pascal." Fascinated by its cleanly structured world, he created—during a single evening of programming using a 386 computer and a source text of not more than 100 lines—the simple but nevertheless exciting binary code game "complement."

Fantasy X – Dark Dreams
by Manuel Eder, 15
Awarded an Honorary Mention at Prix Ars Electronica 2004

"What happens when you’re pursued by your worst nightmare ..."

Manuel Eder came up with his darkly beautiful fantasy adventure in only three months. During its 12-minute animation sequence created in Flash, viewers are swept away into a dark world. The narrative, characters, drawings and music were created by Manuel Eder himself.

MINDistortion
http://www.mindistortion.tk
by Manuel Fallmann, 18
Recipient of an Award of Distinction at Prix Ars Electronica 2004

The "MINDistortion" website is the home of Manuel Fallmann’s animated films, games and images. As its name suggests, it transports visitors into a dark, gloomy world full of sadness, desperation and violence.
The "Animotion" game enables users to try their own hand at playing animator, and to utilize a wide variety of objects, backgrounds and music to create their own computer animation sequences.

Es war einmal ein Mann
by David Haslinger, 8
Recipient of an Award of Distinction at Prix Ars Electronica 2004

On the basis of his favorite rhyme "Es war einmal ein Mann" (There once was a man …), David Haslinger used material gathered on the Internet, a digital camera and Windows Moviemaker to produce a very cute short film with its own unique style!