Prank flash
Also called a scare flash, shock flash, scream flash, screamer, or ambush flash, a prank flash is a Macromedia Flash movie created specifically designed to scare the viewer, often perpetuated by direct URL links to *.swf (flash) files by unknown users without clear information about the content; many Internet users make effort not to follow even safe links for this reason. Hence a prank flash is a type of shock site.
The quality of any shock flash may vary, although most have basic similarities. The most infamous prank flashes are designed to scare viewers, and the term usually does not include flash that is simply humorous in a surprising way or expected from the indicated url.
Some recent movies begin innocuously, sometimes with a mundane image ("What's wrong with this picture?") or even a simple game or quiz ("Can you spot the hidden message?") designed to keep the viewer's attention to the screen. Sometimes there is little sound in the image or it is very low, prompting the user to turn up the volume on their computer. The image itself may be small to force the user to maximize their browser window. Another technique is to play a song, prompting the user to turn up the volume, with the lyrics of the song scrolling up the screen. These can be quite easily identified if the lyric scrolling speed doesn't synch exactly with the audio. In some of those that are disguised as games, there is sometimes a recommendation on the page itself to turn up the volume, saying that there is a clue (of course, there isn't).
After getting the user's attention, the movie is abruptly interrupted by an unexpected (and thus shocking) image, ranging from a crude altered or real picture to an explicitly gruesome image. It is usually accompanied by loud, shocking audio, such as a scream or fart.
Prank flash movies themselves sometimes finish with a suggestion not to follow mysterious links from strangers. Some sites containing flash movies will not host them or will put them in other sections of the site with explicit warnings.
Another popular prank using Flash involves flashing black and white smiley faces and a choir repeatedly "You are an idiot, ha ha ha ha ha." When the user closes the browser window, the page uses Javascript to open a flurry of small popups which bounce around the screen and play the same Flash movie. Attempting to close these windows results in even more popups, sometimes causing the computer to crash or stop responding. These pranks are usually not functional in browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer and are impaired by the presence of a popup blocker.
The intent of these sites is obviously to make the viewer "jump", giving them a shock. Hence, they are classed as shock sites. On many large, corporate-run message boards (like GameFAQs), it is against the rules to post links to a screamer without saying that it is a screamer - which rather defeats the purpose of the person posting the link.
Examples in other forms besides Flash exist: there is an example of an animated GIF showing a picture of an empty corridor in some sort of market, and a ghostly lady walking through the corridor every 40 seconds, and there is an example of a prank video that pretends to be a Lexus commercial.
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Examples
- WARNING: The following Flash animations are intended to shock and surprise and are not recommended for those with heart disorders or who are otherwise sensitive to sudden and unpleasant surprises. It is recommended that you keep your volume down while viewing these.
Kikia
Link: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/kikia.php
Notes: This is the first prank flash to be widely spread and thus provide inspiration for other similar nasty creations. It originated on Taiwan's Kimo webhosting service from a person with the online username "Netspooky".
Summary
- Frame 1 (4 sec): In a cartoon, a boy sits on a lawn gazing at the sky. Two lines of Chinese text appear. A rough translation is "Hasn't it been a long time... / Haven't looked at the sky closely..."
- Frame 2 (4 sec): Shows the boy walking down a city street lined with buildings. A rough translation of the Chinese text is "Walking on the street... / You see..."
- Frame 3 (2 sec): Shows a screenshot of the game Fatal Frame after a piercing scream. It is a scary greyscale drawing of a demonic woman.
- Frame 4: The yellow text "Kikia" appears. The animation does not loop.
- Notes: On the first two frames, the introduction of "First Love" by Utada Hikaru is used as the background music. Its genre can be classified as soft rock. (Obviously, the intention was to calm viewers down so that the "shock" would come as a surprise.)
There is actually a fanlisting devoted to this prank flash, titled simply "Scream".
Others
- Inkblot test — shows inkblots and then Michael Jackson.
- Sajjad Ali — uses soothing music from Pakistani pop singer Sajjad Ali.
- Where's Waldo — shows a real-looking Where's Waldo comic, then a flurry of images, including harlequin fetus pictures.
- http://www.raus.de/crashme opens up a window with smileys. When this is opened, a flurry of moving popups attack, making it very frustrating to close. (Note: This site is now offline.)
- The "What's wrong with this picture?" prank flash, as linked above. Details in the linked article.
- http://www.solidsharkey.com/polybius.html is a page about Polybius, the arcade game of urban legend. The picture that says "Polybius" near the top of the article is actually a Flash animation that occasionally will suddenly show yet another Fatal Frame screenshot, accompanied by a loud scream.
- http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley/4358/red_room1.swf a video about an urban legend called "the Red Room". The protagonist in the video searches on the internet for proof of its existence, only for the results to go horribly awry.
- http://vision.badgerville.org/ — Another prank disguised as a "Persistence of Vision Tester." The viewer is prompted via audio instructions to stare into a small black dot within a white background. Within 30 seconds, the dot transforms into a skull, and a scream is heard.
Collections
Sabotage: The Liquid Generation website carries many prank flashes, all ending with a picture of a bloodied face, and the caption "You have been sabotaged". See them all here (click on Sabotage).
Albino Black Sheep: Many of the pranks linked here are from Albino Black Sheep, which features a whole section devoted to pranks (one of which is even titled "Not Scary"). See them all here.
See also
- Shock site
- Symphony No. 94 (Haydn) - Haydn's "Surprise Symphony"
External Links
- http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/youare.swf — one of the many sites hosting the "you are an idiot" prank. (Beware, this is the prank itself!)
- http://www.starterupsteve.com/swf/steadyhand.html — The game's objective is to go to the "goal" without touching the black space. However, on the second level and in the course of the game, an image of a deformed person and some scary music will pop up.