More After Dark

Last updated: January 16, 2026

Overview

More After Dark, released in 1991, was an expansion package for Berkeley Systems’ revolutionary After Dark screensaver software—“the software that kicked off the screensaver craze of the 1990s.”¹ While primarily a screensaver add-on containing 26 new modules, the package notably included Lunatic Fringe, a fully playable arcade-style space shooter game that elevated it beyond mere screen protection into legitimate entertainment software.² This module was described as “absolutely brilliant… a fully playable game similar to Maelstrom but somewhat even cooler.”³

The package required an existing installation of After Dark 2.0 or another After Dark product to function, and would refuse to install if the base software could not be found.² This add-on approach was part of Berkeley Systems’ strategy of expanding their screensaver ecosystem, which eventually led to numerous themed editions including licensed properties such as Star Trek, The Simpsons, Looney Tunes, Marvel, and Disney characters.⁴ The After Dark series allowed for the development and use of third-party modules, “many hundreds of which were created at the height of its popularity.”⁴

The inclusion of Lunatic Fringe marked Berkeley Systems’ first foray into actual game development within their screensaver framework.⁵ This “exciting new space game from the creator of Solarian II” would later be recognized as one of the most memorable aspects of the After Dark experience, demonstrating that screensaver software could transcend its utilitarian origins to become genuinely entertaining.⁵

Game Info

Developer: Berkeley Systems, Inc.⁵ Designer: Patrick Beard, Jack Eastman⁶ Publisher: Berkeley Systems, Inc.⁵ Engine: After Dark Module System Platforms: Macintosh, Windows 3.x⁷ Release Year: 1991 Series: After Dark Protagonist: Spacecraft pilot Sierra Lineage: Acquired/Published

Story Summary

More After Dark’s gaming content centers on Lunatic Fringe, a top-down space shooter set in a sci-fi/futuristic setting.⁵ The player controls a spacecraft defending against waves of enemies in an arena-style combat environment. The game drew inspiration from classic arcade shooters while adding its own distinctive visual flair that matched the creative aesthetics of other After Dark modules.³

The gameplay experience was designed to be immediately accessible yet challenging, embodying the philosophy that made After Dark products successful. As one contemporary reviewer noted, “the sheer simplicity of these games helped make them as engaging and addictive as the mega-selling 40-hour sagas with souped-up 3-D sound and state-of-the-art computer graphics.”⁸ The game existed within the broader After Dark universe, where various screensaver modules sometimes referenced each other—flying toasters from the famous module might appear in the Fish screensaver, while the cat from Boris could show up in the Bad Dog screensaver.⁹

The Lunatic Fringe module represented a departure from the passive entertainment of screensavers, offering players direct control and genuine challenge. Patrick Beard, the creator of After Dark, understood the potential for these modules to captivate users: “The first time I saw Boris running on top of a field of flowers, I realized I’d come up with something very special.”¹⁰ This same creative vision extended to making Lunatic Fringe an engaging gaming experience hidden within screensaver software.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Lunatic Fringe employed a direct control interface typical of top-down shooters of the era.⁵ Players used keyboard or mouse input to navigate their spacecraft around the screen while engaging enemy targets. The game was designed to be immediately playable without extensive tutorials, fitting the screensaver paradigm where users might stumble upon the game mode unexpectedly.³

The After Dark framework provided a consistent user experience across all modules, with simple configuration options accessible through the main After Dark control panel.² Users could select Lunatic Fringe as their screensaver, allowing the game to launch automatically after a period of system inactivity, or start it manually for dedicated gaming sessions.

Structure and Progression

As an arcade-style shooter, Lunatic Fringe featured wave-based gameplay with increasing difficulty.⁵ The game’s structure followed the conventions established by classic arcade shooters:

• Early Waves: Introduction to basic enemy types and movement patterns
• Mid-Game: Increased enemy variety and aggression
• Late Game: Challenging combinations requiring mastery of controls

The game rewarded skillful play with higher scores, encouraging repeated attempts to improve performance. This addictive quality was noted by contemporaries: “If you intend to do any work whatsoever, DO NOT buy After Dark. It is more addictive than all the Mac games put together.”³

Puzzles and Mechanics

Rather than traditional puzzles, Lunatic Fringe focused on action mechanics—shooting enemies, avoiding projectiles, and managing screen space.⁵ The gameplay perspective was top-down, providing clear visibility of the play field while demanding quick reflexes and spatial awareness.⁵

The game’s mechanics were praised for their polish and execution: “I wish that Mac games had as good graphics as the Fish! module”—a sentiment that extended to the quality of Lunatic Fringe’s visual presentation.³ Computer Gaming World acknowledged that while simple, “if nothing else, it makes for a good time-killer.”⁸

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The After Dark series and its expansions received generally positive coverage in the early 1990s computing press. Computer Gaming World reviewed the products and concluded that while the games were straightforward, they served their purpose well: “If nothing else, it makes for a good time-killer.”⁸ The publication recognized the appeal of these simple diversions alongside more complex software.

J.C. Herz of The New York Times praised the fundamental appeal of such games, noting that “sheer simplicity of these games helped make them as engaging and addictive as the mega-selling 40-hour sagas with souped-up 3-D sound and state-of-the-art computer graphics.”⁸ This observation captured why Lunatic Fringe and similar modules resonated with users who might not consider themselves gamers.

The Apple 2000 publication featured a review by David Tointon that emphasized the addictive nature of the software while praising its graphical quality.³ User reception was similarly enthusiastic, with the Macintosh Repository noting that Lunatic Fringe was “absolutely brilliant” and comparing it favorably to Maelstrom, a well-regarded Mac shooter of the era.³

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospectives recognize More After Dark’s Lunatic Fringe as a notable piece of gaming history, representing an unusual intersection of utility software and entertainment. The game maintains a solid reputation among retro computing enthusiasts.

Aggregate Scores:

• MyAbandonware: 4/5⁷
• MobyGames Critics: 76% (for After Dark Games compilation)¹¹

The After Dark series as a whole is remembered fondly, with Berkeley Systems’ founders going on to significant accomplishments—Joan Blades and Wes Boyd later created MoveOn.org.⁸

Development

Origins

The After Dark project began at Berkeley Systems, a software company that would become synonymous with the screensaver phenomenon of the early 1990s.¹ Patrick Beard, one of the key creators, developed the foundational technology and creative vision that made After Dark distinctive. “We never imagined it would define a new category for entertainment software,” Beard later reflected.¹⁰

The decision to include actual games within screensaver packages represented an evolution of the After Dark concept. Rather than simply providing passive visual entertainment, Berkeley Systems recognized an opportunity to engage users more actively. Lunatic Fringe emerged from this vision, created by the same developer responsible for Solarian II.⁵

Production

More After Dark was developed as an add-on package, requiring coordination with the base After Dark 2.0 software architecture.² The package contained 26 new modules, each developed to meet Berkeley Systems’ standards for visual quality and performance.² The development process built upon the existing After Dark framework, written in assembly language and C.⁶

Patrick Beard described the development experience with characteristic enthusiasm: “I think you go through the rest of your working life looking for that kind of experience. It doesn’t come along every day.”¹⁰ The modules within More After Dark, including Lunatic Fringe, represented the creative peak of the screensaver phenomenon.

Development Credits:⁶

• Designer/Programmer: Patrick Beard
• Co-Designer: Jack Eastman
• Lunatic Fringe Creator: Creator of Solarian II⁵

Technical Achievements

The After Dark system was notable for its modular architecture, allowing third-party developers to create compatible screensaver modules.⁴ This openness contributed to hundreds of additional modules being created at the height of the software’s popularity.⁴ The system had to perform efficiently to serve as a background process while still delivering visually impressive animations and, in the case of Lunatic Fringe, responsive gameplay.

Beard noted the competitive advantage of their modular approach: “Clearly the modules made it stand out. Our competition, Pyro, hastily brought out their own modules after we did, because we quickly eclipsed it.”¹⁰ He attributed success to design philosophy as well: “I also think there was an elegance to the product, a simplicity that was consistent with the philosophy of the Macintosh itself.”¹⁰

Technical Specifications

Macintosh Version:³

• Media: 1 disk (3.5” Floppy Disk)⁵
• Compatibility: 68K + PPC (FAT)³
• Requirements: After Dark 3.0 or 4.0³
• Perspective: Top-down⁵

Windows 3.x Version:⁷

• File Size: Windows 3.x: 1 MB; Mac: 600 KB⁷
• Requirements: Windows 3.0/3.1²
• Prerequisite: Existing After Dark 2.0 installation²

Cut Content

Despite the volume numbering suggesting planned sequels, no “Volume 2” of More After Dark was ever released.⁵ The reasons for this remain unclear, though Berkeley Systems continued developing the main After Dark line through version 4.0 in 1996.⁶

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
1.0	1991	Macintosh	Initial release5
1.0	1991	Windows 3.x	Windows port7
1993	1993	Windows 3.x	Repackaged edition12

After Dark System Versions:⁶

AD Version	Date	Notes
1.0	1989	Initial Macintosh release
2.0	1992	First official Windows release; required for More After Dark
3.0	1994	Major update
3.2	1995	Stability improvements
4.0	1996	Final major version

Technical Issues

The Windows 3.x version required proper installation of the base After Dark software, with the installer checking for its presence before proceeding.² Later compatibility with Windows 95 and beyond required running in compatibility mode.⁴

Easter Eggs and Trivia

The After Dark series was known for intertextual references between modules:

• Flying toasters from the famous module would occasionally appear in the Fish screensaver⁹
• The cat from the Boris screensaver appeared in the Bad Dog screensaver⁹
• The Bad Dog module was later developed into an animated TV series⁶

The “Flying Toasters” screensaver became so iconic that it came to symbolize the entire screensaver phenomenon of the 1990s.¹ Patrick Beard recalled the moment of inspiration: “The first time I saw Boris running on top of a field of flowers, I realized I’d come up with something very special.”¹⁰

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

After Dark and its expansions became defining software products of the early 1990s, establishing the screensaver as a mainstream software category.¹ Berkeley Systems parlayed this success into numerous themed editions and eventually full game compilations. The After Dark brand remained commercially viable enough that Sierra On-Line later published After Dark Games in 1998.¹¹

Collections

More After Dark modules, including Lunatic Fringe, were included in various After Dark compilations over the years:

• After Dark 2.0 with expansions (1990) – Included More After Dark and Art of Darkness¹
• After Dark 4.0 Deluxe – Comprehensive collection⁴
• After Dark Series (2003) – Sierra Entertainment compilation containing After Dark Games and screensaver collection¹³

Fan Projects

The After Dark community created hundreds of third-party modules during the software’s peak popularity, demonstrating significant fan engagement with the platform.⁴ The Macintosh Repository and Internet Archive maintain accessible copies of More After Dark for preservation purposes.³²

Related Publications

The After Dark series was primarily documented through software manuals and packaging rather than dedicated publications:

• After Dark User Guide: Included with software packages²
• Module Configuration Guide: Documentation for individual screensaver settings³

Critical Perspective

More After Dark represents a fascinating moment in software history when the boundaries between utility programs and entertainment software blurred significantly. The inclusion of Lunatic Fringe—a genuine, well-crafted arcade game—within a screensaver package challenged assumptions about what screensavers could be and foreshadowed later developments in casual gaming.

The After Dark series demonstrated that millions of computer users were hungry for low-commitment entertainment experiences, a market that would eventually give rise to the casual gaming revolution of the 2000s. Berkeley Systems’ philosophy of creating “elegant” software with “simplicity consistent with the philosophy of the Macintosh itself” presaged design principles that would become dominant in mobile gaming decades later.¹⁰

While More After Dark never received the critical attention afforded to traditional games, its Lunatic Fringe module earned a dedicated following among users who discovered that their screensaver could actually be fun to play. In an era when Ken Williams of Sierra noted that “product which does not take advantage of the latest technology will not get stocked on retail store shelves,”¹⁴ Berkeley Systems proved that sometimes simplicity and charm could triumph over technical spectacle.

Downloads

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive – After Dark: More After Dark
• Internet Archive – After Dark 2
• Macintosh Repository
• MyAbandonware

Series Continuity

More After Dark was released as an expansion to the After Dark 2.0 screensaver system, adding 26 new modules including the notable Lunatic Fringe game. It existed within a broader ecosystem of After Dark products that included themed editions based on licensed properties and eventually led to the standalone After Dark Games compilation in 1998, published by Sierra On-Line.¹¹ The series demonstrated how utility software could evolve into entertainment products, with the After Dark brand remaining active through various compilations into the 2000s.¹³

• Previous: 1989 - After Dark
• Next: 1998 - After Dark Games

References

Footnotes

1. Internet Archive – After Dark 2 – description of After Dark as software that kicked off screensaver craze, version 2.0 information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

2. Internet Archive – After Dark: More After Dark – installation requirements, 26 modules, Windows 3.x compatibility ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

3. Macintosh Repository – After Dark & More After Dark – Lunatic Fringe description, David Tointon review, technical specifications ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

4. Internet Archive – After Dark 4.0 Deluxe – third-party modules, licensed editions, Windows compatibility ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

5. MobyGames – More After Dark: Volume 1 – release date, developer, genre, technical specs, no Volume 2 released ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵

6. HandWiki – Software: After Dark – designers, programming languages, version history, Bad Dog TV series ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

7. MyAbandonware – More After Dark: Volume 1 – platforms, file sizes, user rating ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

8. Wikipedia – After Dark (software) – J.C. Herz quote, Computer Gaming World review, release dates ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

9. Internet Archive – After Dark (Windows) – intertextual references between modules, licensed editions ↩ ↩² ↩³

10. Low End Mac – On Mighty Toaster Wings: More After Dark History – Patrick Beard quotes on development and creative vision ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

11. MobyGames – After Dark Games – Sierra publication, critics score, composer credit ↩ ↩² ↩³

12. AbandonwareDOS – 1993 release reference ↩

13. MobyGames – After Dark Series – 2003 Sierra compilation information ↩ ↩²

14. Sierra-Dynamix News Magazine (Summer 1991) – Ken Williams quote on technology and retail ↩