This document provides an introduction to the demoscene computer art culture. It discusses that demoscene productions involve real-time generated animations and art created without pre-rendered files. The demoscene culture originated in the 1980s and involves international groups and events where participants showcase their latest creations. Typical demoparties involve various art and music competitions across platforms from older systems like the C64 to modern computers. Collaboration between international artists is also common to produce complex demos. The document encourages readers to get involved by attending parties, watching demos online, and joining demoscene communities.

1. I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T H E
D E M O S C E N E
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

2. C O M P U T E R A R T S ?
• All forms of digitally produced content
• Music, graphics, illustrations
• Video, animation, real-time art

3. R E A L T I M E … WAT ?
• No video file
• Interactive or non interactive animations which are calculated by the
computer during runtime
• Comparable with computer games or algorithmic music visualization

4. C O M P U T E R A R T C U LT U R E “ D E M O S C E N E ”
• Relatively new art form, first appeared in the early 80s
• Production of computer animated productions in “real-time”

5. C O M P U T E R A R T C U LT U R E “ D E M O S C E N E ”
• Formation of groups from different countries
• International community of more than 3.000 actives

6. C O M P U T E R A R T C U LT U R E “ D E M O S C E N E ”
• Not centrally organized
• Several non-profit organizations or projects that aim to advance and
improve the community

7. D E F I N I T I O N “ D E M O ”
• Demonstration of your own skills in friendly competitions
• Non-interactive, real-time animation which is calculated during runtime -
mostly accompanied by synchronized music

8. F U N C T I O N O V E R FA M E
B Y E X C E S S
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT T R S A C 2 0 1 5
D E M O

9. D E M O PA R T I E S
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

10. H I S T O RY O F D E M O PA R T I E S
• Small meetings to show off your newest creations
• Many young computer enthusiasts

11. H I S T O RY O F D E M O PA R T I E S
• Organization of bigger events with prized competitions in many disciplines
• Social aspects and international exchange getting more important

12. H I S T O RY O F D E M O PA R T I E S
• ca. 60-80 non-profit events every year worldwide; between 50 and 1.000
visitors
• World’s biggest event „Revision“ since 2011 in Saarbrücken, Germany and
since 2020 purely online

25. H O W D O D E M O PA R T I E S W O R K ?
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

26. H O W D O D E M O PA R T I E S W O R K ?
• Not centrally organised but some (mostly non-profit) organizations exist
• Organizers invite people to participate

27. H O W D O D E M O PA R T I E S W O R K ?
• Lots of different competitions
• Small and large organiser crews with different areas of expertise
• Previewing contributions and showing them
• Public voting

28. T E C H N O L O G Y A N D A R T
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

29. T E C H N I C A L A S P E C T S
• In the 80s and 90s, technology was more important than content
• Fun at competing led to somehow absurd „records“

30. C O M P U T E R A R T
• Since 2000: shift to more high-quality graphical and artistic content
• Cutting edge technology is still very important

31. S PA C E C U T
B Y C N C D
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT A S S E M B LY 2 0 1 2
D E M O

32. T E C H N I C A L A S P E C T S
• Development of size-coding disciplines (64b / 256b / 4k / 8k / 64k)
• Best effects and content within the smallest possible file size

33. E LY S I A N
B Y L O G I C O M A
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT T R S A C 2 0 1 6
6 4 K I N T R O

34. E I S E N E R Z
B Y L J A N D V I R G I L L
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT E V O K E 2 0 1 9
4 K I N T R O

35. O N E O F T H E S E D AY S
B Y L O O N I E S
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 8
8 K I N T R O

36. A P O L L O 2 1 : N O
S I G N A L
B Y A S T R O I D E A
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 0
2 5 6 B Y T E I N T R O

37. O L D S K O O L V S . N E W S K O O L
• Coexistence of old and new platforms - even after 30 years
• C64, ZX Spectrum, Atari, Amiga, Gameboy, etc.

38. H U M A N T R A F F I C
B Y G H O S T O W N + L O O N I E S
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 1
A M I G A D E M O

39. K N O W H O W T O FA K E
• Pre calculated effects and trickery to achieve your goal - more so on old or
low-spec platforms
• Use of animations and lower resolution

40. C O D A
B Y A B Y S S
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 9
A M I G A I N T R O

41. M E M E N T O M O R I
B Y G E N E S I S P R O J E C T
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT F U N C T I O N 2 0 2 0
C 6 4 D E M O

42. O T H E R A R E A S
G R A P H I C S
• Highly active graphics scene
• Modern and Oldskool graphics
• Paintover and animated gif competitions
• 4k executable graphics
• ASCII / ANSI / PETSCII

51. O T H E R A R E A S
M U S I C P R O D U C T I O N
• Variety of different competitions
• Oldskool, executable, tracked and “normal” music productions

52. P R O F E S S I O N A L T R A C K E R
B Y D AY T R I P P E R &
H 0 F F M A N
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 4
T R A C K E D M U S I C

53. O T H E R A R E A S
A N I M AT I O N A N D V I D E O
• Part of Demoscene competitions for many years
• 3d rendered, stop-motion, short films, etc.

54. L I G H T A N D M A G I C
B Y G A S P O D E
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 4
A N I M AT I O N / V I D E O

55. O T H E R A R E A S
G A M E D E V E L O P M E N T
• Growing interest in the past; decreasing since the existence of game jams
• Sometimes also with a size limit (96k)

56. H O S P I TA L H E R O
B Y H A C K E F U F F E L
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 0
G A M E

57. S U M O T O R I D R E A M S
B Y A R C H E E
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT B R E A K P O I N T 2 0 0 7
G A M E

58. O T H E R A R E A S
W I L D
• Things that don’t fit in the rest of the categories at a given party
• Can basically be anything :)

59. PA R A L L E L O G R A M
B Y L F T
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 2
W I L D

60. P I X E L C U B E
B Y L O K K O L O R I
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT F U N C T I O N 2 0 1 8
W I L D

61. I N T E R N AT I O N A L
C O L L A B O R AT I O N
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

62. T E A M
• Code
• Graphics
• Music
• Direction
• Coordination

63. C O M M U N I C AT I O N
• Skype, discord, IRC
• Code repositories, dropbox-like syncing services
• Direct communication

64. P R O D U C T I O N
• Detailing of the overall concept
• Production of assets
• Production of the soundtrack
• Cut and audio syncing
• Post production and polishing

65. M E G A L A C T I C
B Y S C H E N G E N A L L S TA R S
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT T H E U LT I M AT E M E E T I N G
2 0 1 3
D E M O

66. WA N T T O B E A PA R T O F I T ?
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

67. B E A PA R T O F I T
• Visit demoparties (demoparty.net)
• Download and watch demos (pouet.net / demozoo.org)
• Demoscene discord (discord.gg/tzVjTDVC)
• #revision on IRCNET
• Demoscene webradio (scenesat.com)
• Youtube (various channels, just search for “demoscene”)

68. T H A N K Y O U !
N O W O N W I T H T H E P R O G R A M
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

69. B O N U S C O N T E N T
M O R E A W E S O M E D E M O S F O R Y O U
R E V I S I O N 2 0 2 1

70. D Y I N G S TA R S
B Y O R A N G E
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT A S S E M B LY 2 0 1 8
D E M O

71. A B S T R A C T
B Y T O C H K A
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT E V O K E 2 0 1 7
A N I M AT I O N / V I D E O

72. G A I A M A C H I N A
B Y A P P R O X I M AT E
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT R E V I S I O N 2 0 1 2
6 4 K I N T R O

73. M I N I M
B Y A LTA I R
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT X E N I U M 2 0 1 9
D E M O

74. F R - M I N U S - 0 9 :
H U M A N S O U R C E S
B Y FA R B R A U S C H
F I R S T P R E S E N T E D AT T H E U LT I M AT E M E E T I N G 2 0 0 7
D E M O