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Redneck Rampage
Redneck Rampage
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Redneck Rampage
DeveloperXatrix Entertainment
Publishers
DirectorDrew Markham
ProducersChris Benson
Bill Dugan
Greg Goodrich
DesignerDrew Markham
ProgrammersRafael Paiz
Barry Dempsey
ArtistsMichael Kaufman
Claire Praderie
ComposersMojo Nixon
Reverend Horton Heat
Beat Farmers
Cement Pond
EngineBuild
PlatformsMS-DOS
Mac OS
ReleaseDOS/Windows:
Mac OS:
GenreFirst-person shooter
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Redneck Rampage is a 1997 first-person shooter game developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay. The game has a hillbilly theme, primarily taking place in a fictional Arkansas town. Many of the weapons and power-ups border on the nonsensical, and in some ways the game is a parody of both first-person shooter games and rural American life. It features music by psychobilly and cowpunk artists such as The Beat Farmers and Mojo Nixon.

The game was re-released on GOG.com and Steam with support for Windows and macOS. The game is supported by the BuildGDX, Rednukem and Raze source ports.[4][5]

Gameplay

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Redneck Rampage is a first-person shooter.

The game offers a variety of ways for the character to regenerate health or hit points. These power-ups consist of moon pies, pork rinds, and alcohol. A small supply of each can be carried for future use (the two exceptions being pork rinds and Delicious Googoo Clusters, which are used automatically upon being picked up). Each of these power-ups has distinct disadvantages: The more food the character eats, the more flatulent he becomes (represented by a "gut" meter in the user display), making it difficult to sneak up on enemies as the character moves forward and make a distinct fart sound frequently after eating. However, eating food does decrease the "drunk meter" slightly.

When drinking alcohol, the health gets restored and as an added benefit the character becomes somewhat less affected by enemy fire. This only works to a minor degree, and the more the character drinks, the less coordinated he becomes. Alcohol consumption is measured on a "drunk meter" in the user display. After consuming a large amount of alcohol, the character's movements will become erratic and the user will have difficulty controlling the character as he moves in directions that do not correspond to the input on the keyboard. The in-game video will also become grainy and less viewable. At the maximum drunk level, the character would simply fall down, followed by the sounds of vomiting and the loss of all motor regardless of user input. All of these effects would pass after a few minutes as the character sobered up. During this time, the character cannot use weapons and is essentially defenseless. The side effects of both power-up types forced the user to use them sparingly and gave another reason to avoid damage during gameplay. However, one other power-up, moonshine, gives the player increased speed for a brief amount of time, at the end of which both the "drunk meter" and the "gut meter" will reset to zero.

Plot

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The game's plot revolves around two brothers, Leonard and Bubba, fighting through the fictional town of Hickston, Arkansas to rescue their prized pig Bessie and thwart an alien invasion. The brothers battle through such locales as a meat packing plant and a trailer park, and battle evil clones of their neighbors. There are also male and female alien enemies. The bosses are Assface, and the leader of the alien invasion, the Queen Vixen.

Add-ons and spin-offs

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Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66 is a 12-level expansion pack for Redneck Rampage. It was developed by Sunstorm Interactive and released on December 19, 1997.[6] The add-on contains several new locations and textures, as well as a new ending.

Redneck Deer Huntin' is a hunting game for the PC using the same engine as the previous games in the series. It was developed by Xatrix Entertainment and released in 1998.

Redneck Rampage Rides Again is the sequel to Redneck Rampage, and includes 14 new single player levels, 7 new multiplayer levels, new enemies, weapons, and vehicles, including motorcycles and swamp boats. After Leonard and Bubba crash-land a UFO, they find themselves in the middle of the desert (Area 69). Along the way, they are hunted by aliens and must blast their way through jackalope farms, Disgraceland, a riverboat, a brothel and various other locales. It was developed by Xatrix Entertainment and released in the week following May 13, 1998.[7]

Off-Road Redneck Racing is a spin-off racing game released in 2001 for the PC. Unlike the previous games, it was not developed by Xatrix, but instead by Rage Games; however, Interplay remained the owner of the IP, and thus they published it. Besides the game's namesake, the only relation to the previous games are of Leonard and Bubba on the box art, borrowed voice lines of Leonard from the original games sporadically used during a race, and slightly similar textures being used on some artwork and also in-game. This is the first and only game in the series not to use the Build game engine.

Compilations and demos include:

  • The Cuss Pack is an add-on which added stronger language to the game, was released on July 16, 1997.[8][9] The add-on was available for download on Interplay's online store, but users had to pay $1 with a credit card to ensure that the buyer of the add-on was of adult age. The add-on was included on the CD for the Mac OS version.
  • The Early Years is a limited version of Redneck Rampage put out by SoftKey, which allows players to play the first five levels. It also features eight multiplayer deathmatch levels.
  • Possum Bayou is an alternate limited version of Redneck Rampage released on September 30, 1998, which allows players to play the first seven levels.[10] It does not have any multiplayer options.[11]
  • Redneck Icechest of Value is a compilation that includes Redneck Rampage: Suckin Grits on Route 66.
  • Redneck Rampage/Redneck Rides Again Dual Jewel is a compilation that includes Redneck Rampage Rides Again.
  • Redneck Rampage: Family Reunion is a compilation that includes the original game, the Cuss Pack add-on, Redneck Rampage: Suckin Grits on Route 66 and Redneck Rampage Rides Again. Another edition of the Family Reunion contains only the original game and Rides Again.[12]
  • Gamefest: Redneck Classics includes the original game, Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66, Redneck Rampage Rides Again, Redneck Deer Huntin', Redneck Rampage Theme Windows 95 theme pack, and a Redneck Rampage Screen Saver.[13]
  • Redneck Rampage Collection includes all but Redneck Deer Huntin' and Off-Road Redneck Racing.

Reception

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In the United States, Redneck Rampage debuted at #7 on PC Data's computer game sales chart for May 1997.[14] It claimed 13th place the following month,[15] before falling to positions 17 and 20 in July and August, respectively.[16][17]

Reviews for the title were mixed. Arinn Dembo, writing for Cnet Gamecenter, gave the game three stars, and said it deserved "big points for its psychobilly soundtrack", "big points for being genuinely funny at times", and offered "good fun using a crowbar to beat aliens, 'Old Coots' and 'Billy Rays' to death".[18]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "As creative as much of this game is, its gameplay is same-old, same-old. It's fun, but when it's over, you're more likely to remember the 'Yee-has' and health-replenishing whisky bottles instead of any of the challenge or gameplay."[19] Power Unlimited gave the PC version a score of 91% writing: "Very extensive levels, beautiful levels and very cool slogans in between. Redneck Rampage is Whiiiiooooo!"[20]

Redneck Rampage was nominated for "PC Action Game of the Year" during the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards.[21]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Redneck Rampage is a developed by Xatrix Entertainment and originally published by Interplay Productions in 1997. Set in the fictional rural town of Hickston, , the game satirizes stereotypes through its plot, in which players control the Leonard—alongside his brother Bubba in co-operative mode—as they combat an to rescue their prized pet pig, Bessie, from extraterrestrials who have cloned the local population. The gameplay utilizes the Build engine, the same technology powering Duke Nukem 3D, to deliver pseudo-3D environments across 14 levels depicting settings like trailer parks, chicken processing plants, and swamps. Players wield unconventional weapons such as a chainsaw, voodoo dolls that cause enemies to harm themselves, and chickens loaded with dynamite, while health is restored via humorous items including pork rinds, moonshine, and cigarettes. The game emphasizes fast-paced combat against alien foes and cloned rednecks, accompanied by a soundtrack of country-western tracks that can be played independently on a standard CD player. Redneck Rampage was released for , with later ports to Windows and Macintosh, and supports both single-player campaigns and two-player co-operative multiplayer. It received mixed-to-positive critical reception upon launch, earning an average score of 74% from reviewers who praised its humor and variety but critiqued technical issues and repetitive level design. The title has an Redneck Rampage: Suckin' on Route 66 (1997)—and a sequel, Redneck Rampage Rides Again (1998), which extend the adventure with new levels involving road trips and further alien encounters, often bundled in modern digital collections on platforms like and as of 2025.

Development

Concept and production

Development of Redneck Rampage began in 1996 at Xatrix Entertainment, serving as the studio's first major first-person shooter endeavor and drawing inspiration from the success of Build engine titles like Duke Nukem 3D. The project was directed by Drew Markham, who also handled original concept and design, with lead programming by Rafael Paiz and artistic contributions from Viktor Antonov in map painting; Antonov would later achieve prominence as art director for Half-Life 2. Xatrix selected a humorous redneck stereotype theme to satirize rural American culture, incorporating an alien invasion storyline to merge sci-fi elements with comedy and parody FPS conventions through exaggerated characters, environments, and weaponry. The studio partnered with Interplay Entertainment, which supplied funding and managed distribution. Among production hurdles, the team adapted the Build engine to support custom assets, including high-resolution textures for enhanced visuals and extensive voice acting to amplify the comedic tone.

Technical aspects

Redneck Rampage was developed using the Build engine created by 3D Realms, a pseudo-3D rendering system originally powering Duke Nukem 3D that supported sector-based level design for constructing interconnected rooms and spaces. This architecture facilitated advanced environmental features for the era, including sloped floors for ramps and elevation changes, simulated mirrors via hidden sectors with reverse-facing cameras, and dynamic lighting that applied distance-based shading to walls, floors, and sprites to create depth without full 3D polygons. Xatrix Entertainment customized the engine to integrate redneck-themed assets, such as interactive moonshine barrels functioning as health-restoring pickups that players could consume for temporary buffs, and detailed 2D sprite models of pigs roaming farm levels as non-hostile environmental elements. The game's audio featured a licensed soundtrack of and music played via Red Book CD audio tracks, including contributions from ("UFOs, Big Rigs & BBQ"), ("Nurture My Pig"), and ("Baby's Liquored Up"), with eight such songs enhancing the thematic immersion during gameplay. Voice acting emphasized humorous exaggerated Southern accents, with contributions from Xatrix staff including director Drew Markham who provided multiple character lines, and guest actors such as (as Leonard) and (as Sheriff Lester T. Hobbes). Like other Build engine titles, Redneck Rampage relied exclusively on 2D sprites for enemies, items, and decorations rather than true 3D models, limiting visual fidelity but enabling efficient performance on 1990s hardware.

Release

Initial release

Redneck Rampage was initially released on April 30, 1997, for the MS-DOS platform, with compatibility for Windows 95 systems. Developed using the Build engine, the game was published by Interplay Entertainment for distribution in North America and Europe. Due to the engine's PC-centric design and technical constraints, no versions were produced for consoles. A port for Mac OS became available in 1999, expanding accessibility to Apple users. The title supports single-player and multiplayer deathmatch modes conducted over IPX and LAN networks. Marketing efforts highlighted the game's satirical take on culture, promoting its action-packed gameplay infused with quirky humor and charm.

Re-releases and availability

The Redneck Rampage Collection was digitally re-released on in 2008, bundling the base game with its expansions Redneck Rampage: Suckin' on Route 66 and Redneck Rampage Rides Again: , along with the Cuss Pack add-on, and featuring updated compatibility for modern Windows systems including and later via built-in emulation.
A version of the base game was released on on January 4, 2017.
Support for macOS and was added in 2017 through DOSBox wrappers, enabling gameplay on OS X 10.6.8+ and 16.04 or later without requiring additional configuration.
No official remasters or enhanced editions have been produced, though fan-driven projects such as Rednukem (an EDuke32-based source port released in 2018) provide improvements like higher resolutions, support, and refined controls for the original game files.
The collection is typically priced at $19.99 on , though discounts often reduce it.
As of 2025, availability remains restricted to PC platforms via , , and , with no official ports to consoles, mobile devices, or other systems.

Gameplay

Mechanics and features

Redneck Rampage is a featuring run-and-gun gameplay, where players navigate levels using keyboard controls for movement—typically or WASD in re-releases—and mouse for aiming, with additional actions including jumping via the spacebar and crouching with the . The game consists of 21 single-player levels divided across three episodes, set in rural locales such as trailer parks, farms, junkyards, drive-ins, sewers, and smelting plants, emphasizing exploration and combat in destructible environments. is restored through consumables like cans, whiskey bottles, raw , and rinds scattered throughout levels, with overconsumption leading to a "drunk mode" that impairs vision and movement for humorous effect. Secrets, including extra and power-ups, are hidden behind destructible walls indicated by cracks, encouraging players to shoot or interact with the environment to uncover them. The multiplayer component supports deathmatch and co-operative modes for up to eight players over local networks or the . Humor is woven into core mechanics through taunts activated by key combinations (Alt + F1 to F10), allowing players to shout redneck-themed phrases at foes, and audio cues like burping or sounds triggered after consuming health items. Destructible props, such as exploding trailers and barrels, add interactive chaos to levels, often yielding pickups or environmental kills when shot.

Weapons and enemies

In Redneck Rampage, players wield a diverse arsenal of ten primary weapons that blend rural Americana with absurd sci-fi elements, emphasizing close-quarters brutality and ranged while managing limited to promote tactical switching between tools. The melee-focused serves as the starting equivalent, delivering unlimited bone-crushing strikes ideal for early encounters. Firearms include the accurate pistol for precise long-range shots (up to 198 bullets maximum), the double-barreled scattergun limited to 50 shells for devastating close-range spreads in single or double-barrel modes, and the fully automatic ranch holding 200 rounds, best used in controlled bursts to conserve ammo against groups. Explosive options feature bundles (30 sticks max) that can be thrown or shot for area damage, while the rip saw functions as a chainsaw-like blade launcher (30 blades max) effective in both and ranged modes for dismembering foes. More exotic additions tie into the game's theme, such as the (30 bolts max) for silent long-distance kills, the alien arm gun firing energy bolts (99 max) that incinerate enemies, and the highly volatile power keg (1 max) for massive blasts when detonated remotely. Enemies comprise over 15 variants across the game's episodes, divided into "hicks" (cloned rural locals), aliens, and aggressive , all designed as thematic obstacles in the hillbilly apocalypse setting where extraterrestrials replicate backwoods inhabitants. adversaries include the unkillable Skinny Old Coot who charges trespassers with attacks, thick-skulled Billy Ray Jeeter clones wielding firearms, and the shotgun-toting Hobbes enforcing "justice" aggressively. Alien foes feature tentacled grunts like the Hulk Guards that fire energy blasts or proximity spikes before closing for , Turd Minions hurling fecal projectiles, seductive Alien Vixens with twin guns, and Ass Faces as erratic swarmers. enemies encompass blood-sucking mosquitoes, nuisance chickens, durable cows (often used as cover), biting dogs, provoked pigs interpreted as mutants in the context, and alligators in swamp levels. Boss encounters escalate with vehicle-based threats like rampaging trucks in industrial areas and hulking alien leaders reminiscent of oversized invaders, requiring to dodge attacks and exploit weak points. Power-ups and items reinforce the redneck motif, providing health restoration, temporary buffs, and utility amid ammo scarcity. Health pickups include cow pies, large pork rinds, and Goo Goo Clusters for incremental recovery, while alcoholic beverages like whisky or beer heal but risk inducing drunken staggering. Moonshine grants temporary invincibility through enhanced speed and melee power, allowing players to barrel through crowds. Dynamite bundles double as throwable area-damage tools beyond standard weapons, and utility items such as skeleton keys (up to three for doors), hip waders for mud traversal, and snorkel systems for underwater areas aid navigation. Ammo drops like speedloaders for pistols, shells for shotguns, and energy cells for alien weapons encourage frequent switches, with rare distractions like remote-controlled elements in levels adding chaotic diversions. Enemy AI exhibits basic but flavorful patterns suited to the Build engine's capabilities, with hicks like Jeeters flanking aggressively in packs to overwhelm the player, while aliens such as Hulk Guards employ teleport-like repositioning or projectile barrages before melee rushes. These behaviors, combined with over 15 variants spanning episodes, create varied dynamics without advanced scripting. Thematically, the game's humor shines through enemy drops like possum meat or pork rinds upon death, and overkill animations featuring exaggerated, comedic —such as aliens exploding into or hicks comically ragdolling—underscore the satirical tone of rural versus extraterrestrial mayhem.

Plot and characters

Story summary

Redneck Rampage is set in the fictional town of Hickston, Arkansas, where the protagonist awakens from a drunken stupor to find his home invaded by extraterrestrials who have abducted his prized , Bessie, as part of a larger scheme to clone and replace the local population. Motivated by revenge, embarks on a violent quest through the overrun town, battling alien forces and their cloned duplicates to rescue Bessie and repel the invasion. The game's narrative unfolds across three distinct episodes, each advancing the central conflict. The first episode, "Outskirts," centers on grassroots resistance in the rural outskirts, as navigates familiar local landmarks turned into battlegrounds. This leads into "Downtown," where the pursuit delves underground through contaminated tunnels and hidden facilities in search of clues to the aliens' plans. The arc culminates in "Close Encounters," a high-stakes on ' spaceship, escalating the confrontation to interstellar scales. Story progression is conveyed sparingly through environmental , including humorous billboards with alien and taunts, intermittent radio chatter from survivors and invaders, and brief cutscenes rendered in low-resolution CGI that punctuate episode transitions. These elements underscore themes of rural pride clashing against an otherworldly threat, laced with satire targeting stereotypes, moonshine-fueled bravado, and hints of cover-ups in the alien . The plot resolves in a singular ending where Leonard faces off against the alien queen in a decisive boss encounter aboard the spaceship, with no branching paths or alternate conclusions provided.

Key characters

The of Redneck Rampage is , a brash hog farmer from Hickston, , who serves as the playable character throughout the game. Voiced with a thick Southern accent, delivers humorous, stereotypical quips such as "Yee-haw!" and threats like "I'm gonna have to open up a can of whoop-ass on ya now!" while wielding everyday tools and firearms against the alien invaders. His dim-witted but determined personality drives the action, as he rampages through levels to rescue his prized pig and thwart the invasion. Leonard’s brother, , acts as a non-playable and , often requiring rescue from alien abductions or mishaps in various levels. Portrayed as overweight, slow-witted, and feeble-minded—Bubba wanders off easily and must be "rescued" by being struck with a , a that highlights the game's satirical humor without killing him. Voiced by Drew Markham, Bubba embodies exaggerated tropes, contributing to the lighthearted, absurd tone through his bumbling antics. At the center of the conflict is Bessie, the brothers' mascot-like prize-winning pig, whose abduction by aliens sparks Leonard's rampage. Valued at $250 from a local fair, Bessie represents the rural simplicity disrupted by the invasion, serving as the primary rescue target and a symbol of the game's redneck heritage. Among the antagonists, the Alien Vixen Queen leads the extraterrestrial forces, functioning as the final boss with enhanced abilities like teleportation and fireball attacks, embodying the invasive threat through her seductive yet deadly design. Local hillbilly traitors include clones of Sheriff Lester T. Hobbes, the strict chief law enforcer of Hazard County, who wields dual pistols and enforces "southern justice" against the player, voiced by Mojo Nixon to amplify his authoritative, no-nonsense persona. Minor non-playable characters, such as the Skinny Old Coot, appear as hostile locals with ancient, unkillable traits, spouting folksy warnings or taunts that poke fun at rural stereotypes, often encountered in levels like the drive-in theater. All characters are rendered as 2D sprites in the Build engine, exaggerating physical features and behaviors for comedic effect within the first-person shooter framework.

Expansions

Rides Again and Suckin' Grits

Redneck Rampage Rides Again, developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by , was released on May 13, 1998, as a stand-alone to the original game. It features 14 single-player levels in which protagonists and , having escaped the in a UFO, crash-land in the desert near Area 69 and embark on a cross-country trek back to Hickston, . The journey takes them through diverse locales including farms, Disgraceland, riverboats, brothels, and swamps, where they battle new alien clones and enemies using vehicles such as armed motorcycles and airboats for traversal and combat. Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66, an for the original developed by Sunstorm Interactive and published by Interplay, was released on December 19, 1997. It adds 12 levels extending the narrative with a along Route 66, where Leonard and Bubba hitchhike westward through Americana-themed sites such as gator farms, motels, diners, brothels, and an Alien Oddity Museum to confront remaining alien threats. The expansion introduces new weapons, including chickens launched from a , continuing the series' emphasis on humorous, improvised armaments. Rides Again includes unique enemies like swamp alligators in watery environments and oversized alien bosses integrated into rural settings, along with new weapons such as a sling blade. Both titles extend the soundtrack with additional psychobilly tracks by Mojo Nixon, including originals like "Redneck Rampage" that fit themes of alien pursuits and road adventures. Originally released separately and compatible with the base game where applicable, Rides Again and Suckin' Grits are now bundled in collections like the Redneck Rampage Collection on platforms such as Steam and GOG.com, offering extended campaigns against the alien invaders.

Reception

Critical reviews

Upon its release in 1997, Redneck Rampage received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its humorous take on stereotypes and strong audio elements, but criticism for technical shortcomings and repetitive . GameSpot awarded it a 7.4 out of 10, lauding the game's clever of Southern culture, inventive weapons like the , and crisp sound effects, while noting frustrations with tight controls and hidden keys that could halt progress. The , featuring tracks from acts such as and , was highlighted as a standout, adding to the game's atmospheric charm. Critics also pointed to bugs and compatibility issues, including performance problems in DOS environments, which detracted from the experience on contemporary hardware. Some reviewers found the stereotypical humor offensive, portraying rural in a classist manner that relied on scatological gags and over-the-top tropes, though others appreciated the self-aware . The game's expansions fared similarly but with slight improvements in variety. Redneck Rampage: Rides Again earned a 7.9 out of 10 from in 1998, commended for its diverse levels involving vehicles like armed motorcycles and better enemy voice lines, though it suffered from dark visuals and required a fast CPU for smooth play. Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66, released in 1997, received more lukewarm user feedback, with reviews noting fun levels but criticizing its short length and weaker narrative progression. Overall, the series aggregated around 74 out of 100 on MobyGames based on period magazine scores, reflecting solid sales potential overshadowed by contemporaries like Quake II, yet it garnered a cult following for memorable voice lines such as enemy taunts and hidden Easter eggs.

Legacy and cultural impact

Redneck Rampage stands as a notable entry in the legacy of the Build engine, the same technology powering Duke Nukem 3D, with its development relying on a licensed codebase from 3D Realms that enabled similar interactive environments and sprite-based gameplay. This connection has contributed to its preservation through fan-driven efforts, influencing the broader retro FPS revival. For instance, modern indie titles like DUSK draw echoes of Redneck Rampage's humorous, over-the-top themes in early levels, blending satirical rural settings with fast-paced shooting. The game's exaggerated depiction of rural has sparked , with some critics arguing it reinforces harmful related to class and rural portrayals. While others defend it as intentional poking fun at clichés, the content has been discussed in contexts of problematic representations in 1990s gaming. Fan communities continue to sustain Redneck Rampage's legacy through extensive and source porting projects. The open-source Rednukem , built on EDuke32, allows accurate emulation of the game alongside on modern hardware, supporting features like and higher resolutions while preserving original DOS fidelity. Active discussions persist on forums such as Duke4.net, where enthusiasts share mods, bug fixes, and compatibility tips, and on Reddit's r/boomershooters, with posts as recent as 2025 advocating for remasters and sharing experiences. In contemporary gaming culture, Redneck Rampage enjoys renewed interest via digital re-releases on platforms like and , where the collection has garnered a 4/5 user rating from over 150 reviews, praised for its nostalgic humor and classic shooter mechanics. Retrospectives, such as the 2021 "25 Years Later" video by Friday Night Arcade, highlight it as an underrated comedy FPS, emphasizing its silly charm, soundtrack, and replayability despite technical quirks, further boosted by affordable pricing around $10.

References

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