CLASSIC DEMOS
Never let it be said that Ferenc Deák has his head in the clouds; more like in the past, as he explains how to recreate classic demo effects.
It all started when this author’s beloved retro PC, used to host nostalgic gaming sessions, I suddenly suffered a nervous breakdown and decided not to boot any more.
Only the noisy hard drive remained whirring away, when plugged into an adaptor, and burrowed in longforgotten backup directories lay an intriguing folder called scene. Once-lost source files from a bygone era appeared that showcased how to create vibrant graphics, smooth scrolls and spirited sprite animations. Heavily influenced by the rediscovery of those files, the author has delved into his demoscene past, with the belief that such insights should not remain confined to the cylinders of a long-lost drive. The decision to share his knowledge with the world has led to the creation of this new tutorial series. So, let’s code some demo effects like it’s the ’90s!
Demo what?
The demoscene is a vibrant subculture that emerged in the realm of computer programming and digital artistry, characterised by the creation of real-time audio-visual demonstrations known as demos, as ‘the kids’ abhor long words. These demos showcase the technical prowess and creative talents of their creators, sometimes within strict size constraints, often pushing the limits of hardware capabilities to produce stunning audio-visual experiences.
Originating in the ’80s Commodore cracking scene and gaining momentum in the ’90s, the demoscene was fuelled by the desire of early computer enthusiasts to demonstrate their programming skills and artistic abilities. The primary motivation was to create impressive visual and auditory content that could run in real time on a variety of computing platforms, ranging from the Commodore 64, Amiga and Atari to, later on, even on contemporary hardware, such as PCs.
The demoscene community thrives on a culture of chivalry and rivalry, collaboration and respect, with individuals or groups, referred to as demo crews, mostly forming around one or more programmers (or coders, using the slang), coming together to produce demos that can compete in various demoscene next issue, subscribe on page 16! competitions. These competitions take place at so-called demoparties, events where demosceners gather to showcase their latest creations, share knowledge, engage in fiery but friendly competition and, last but not least, connect with like-minded individuals. Demoparties range in scale from small local happenings to large international events, such as The Gathering (Norway), Assembly (Finland) and Revision (Germany) – unsurprisingly, with thousan
