The Computer Scene, what is that ??
The computer scene is more wellknown as the demo scene. The scene started a long time ago... I think in the beginning of the eighties. Which computer is the first one, good question, some people say the zx81; maybe, but it got its real development on the Commodore 64. And, for all the sceners (a scener is a member of the computer scene), the Commodore 64 is considered as the ancestor. We respect it. The computer scene was/is active on nearly all the computers... ZX81, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Falcon, Archimede, Amiga, Macintosh, PC... and also on different consoles. "Demos started, at the beginning, as loaders for cracked games (a loader is a small program that was used to identify who had cracked the game you were currently (illegally) playing.) This gradually expanded into being programmed just for fun, or as a way for the programmer to show." (from PC Demos FAQ)
Which countries... ??
"The computer scene is worldwide, but mainly based in Europe. Scandinavia is one of the biggest sources of demos, but Germany, France and Holland also produced a lot of demos. Eastern Europe (Hungary, and especially Poland) are an increasing source of demos, and other european countries such as Austria, Switzerland, England, Italy, Spain, Belgium... also have a demo-'scene'. Outside Europe, countries like Australia and Turkey have some kind of scene (...)" (from Amiga Demos FAQ). There are/were some active sceners in countries such as Canada, USA (no real demo scene, mainly a BBS scene), Middle-East countries (Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, ...), Malta, Greece, Russia, and so on...
Demos... demOs... ??
From the PC Demos FAQ
"A demo is a program that displays a sound, music, and light show, usually in 3d. Demos are very fun to watch, because they seemingly do things that aren't possible on the machine they were programmed on.
Essentially, demos "show off". They do so in usually one, two, or all three of three following methods:
- They show off the computer's hardware abilities (3d objects, multi-channel sound, etc.)
- They show off the creative abilities of the demo group (artists, musicians)
- They show off the programmer's abilities (fast 3d shaded polygons, complex motion, etc.)
Demos are an art form. They blend mathematics, programming skill, and creativity into something incredible to watch and listen to."
From the Amiga Demos FAQ
"Demos, (short for 'demonstrations'), are executable programs created (...) on the amiga computer), purely for art's sake, featuring impressive or spectacular audiovisuals. Demos are not actually functional or interactive, in the main, but then nor are portraits, or cds. Perhaps you can think of a demo as a music video on a computer, but with equal emphasis on the visuals, the music, and the code. It's something to watch, enjoy, and marvel at the creativity of. Demos can be beautiful.
(...)
Demos are made because people want to construct something that looks good. There's no financial reward (except the prize if your demo wins at a demo party), so the profit motive isn't really an issue. People make demos because they want to make something that will be spread worldwide, seen by a lot of people, and appreciated by them for being skilfully designed. Demos are made for art's sake, and for prestige."
Who... ??
Demos are the result of the work of various sceners, "generally organised into groups. (...) These groups have names (...) and comprise a number of (more or less) talented members." Members who "credit themselves under a pseudonym, rather than their real name."
In a group, each member has his own work to complete.
- Coder, he is the one who program the different effects of the demos. To make a demo, they have to work a long time on it, just to prepare the different parts that they want to perform in their next demo.
- Graphist, he is usually the designer of the demo. He draws the pictures, logos, fonts, backgrounds, etc.
- Musician, he is the one who make the soundtrack from the demo... Musics started on 3 channels and, now, are available on 12/16 channels. A good music is a music which is synchronized with the demo... (a funky tune can't be put with a 'space demo' !!)
The coder, graphician and musician are the most important members of a group. Without them, a group can't reach a good level and, of course, can't produce a single demo. Then, you can have some other members in a group....
- Ray-tracer, he is a kind of graphist but he is generally using rendering softwares, instead. He is mainly used to create animations or to define 3d objects.
- Swapper, a swapper is usually working by mail. His work is to be in touch with members from other groups in order to spread his own productions and to get the other one... just to know 'what's new !!'. The 'swapper' starts to disappear... on PC, the demos are so big, that nothing can be done by mail.
- Trader, usually, a trader is someone who is swapping demos via bbs and now more and more via Internet too. Except this difference, it is the same thing as a swapper.
- Sysop, a sysop (SYStem OPerator) is somebody who is ruling a BBS (Bulletin Board System). On this BBS, we are able to get all the latest demos... But, be carefull, it's not really like the internet... There are 'ratios' and to download something, you must before upload something else!!! The new function of 'Webmaster' is more and more added to the one of sysop.
This document is © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 by CHRis of gOds