The demo scene is a subculture that combines art and computer science to create high-quality audio-visual presentations called demos. Demogroups work together to design and code demos, which can be standalone or attached to cracked software. Members meet at demoparties and contests, and credit is important.
A demo scene is a subculture that blends elements of art and computer science. People who belong to a demo scene make or enjoy demos, audio-visual presentations designed to be viewed in real time on a computer system. Demos are not animations, but a form of multimedia presentation that is usually designed to be of very high quality. Like other subcultures, the demo scene can be a tight knit one and people who are new to the scene may have trouble breaking in until they prove their skills.
The origins of the demo scene date back to the 1980s, when software crackers began violating the copy protection on games and re-releasing them with short demos that served as signatures. When the games loaded, the demo started and then the game itself was activated. Demos typically credited the members of the group involved and could tell stories, show off flashy graphics to push the system to the limit, and make internal references.
Over time, the demo scene began to be less closely related to the hacking and cracking scenes. While some people who create demos engage in piracy, not all are, and demos can be developed as standalone rather than signatures attached to cracked software. A typical demo is made by a demogroup, a collective of individuals who work together to design and code it, and some groups have become known for the quality of their work and its innovation.
Members of the demo scene can meet at demoparties, social events where people code together, show demos, and interact with people who have similar interests. Many parties have contests. Demoparty and other events in the demo scene are tracked on numerous websites and forums, some of which can be blocked or hidden to restrict access to certain scene members.
Getting involved in the demo scene requires knowledge of coding and the craft, although different members of a demogroup may have different skills. Some may focus on developing the music, some on the storyboard art, and some on the actual coding needed to produce the demo. Demos are formatted as executable files with code and all necessary support materials embedded within.
Each demo includes detailed credits. Many demogroups have a distinctive style that is recognizable to fans. Taking credit for the work of others is frowned upon, and people with a history of not being offered credit may be excluded from the community.
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