I want to learn making demos
category: general [glöplog]
+1 for going to a demoparty. That's where things happen. Function will be a good place to start. Talk to people, make friends.
Don't try to do this all by yourself. There are a few people in the demoscene who can make a demo all by themselves and get away with it, but they are the exception. Find people you work well with and have fun together.
And remember that there is no single best way to approach demomaking. Find out what works for you. Maybe you are the top-down type, and you have a vision in your head of what you want to achieve and then work towards that; maybe you are more comfortable working bottom-up: starting from technical experiments and then building something out of those. Try a bit of this and that.
Don't try to do this all by yourself. There are a few people in the demoscene who can make a demo all by themselves and get away with it, but they are the exception. Find people you work well with and have fun together.
And remember that there is no single best way to approach demomaking. Find out what works for you. Maybe you are the top-down type, and you have a vision in your head of what you want to achieve and then work towards that; maybe you are more comfortable working bottom-up: starting from technical experiments and then building something out of those. Try a bit of this and that.
Well, since my name has been invoked... :-) My advice is the rather obvious "do what you love". If you love 3D modelling, make an OpenGL demo full of epic 3D models. If you love taking code and optimising the hell out of it, make a 4K. If you love hardware hacking, make a demo that runs on a toaster. If the things you love are not obviously demoscenish, find a way to make them demoscenish. (In my case, I have extended periods where I'm more excited by database schemas and user interface design than demo coding, so I make websites instead. Who knows, for you it could be writing diskmags, or organising a party...)
The reason I've never done GPU code is nothing to do with trying to be more hardcore, or anything like that. It's simply that I've not yet found a way into it that lets me combine the learning process with the kind of challenges that appeal to me: doing anything "interesting" (to me) in OpenGL involves either advanced maths or art direction, neither of which are my strong points. It's never been a deliberate decision - and as it happens, the Raspberry Pi has finally motivated me to read part 1 of an OpenGL tutorial, so that might well be the missing link that gets me interested in GPU coding.
The reason I've never done GPU code is nothing to do with trying to be more hardcore, or anything like that. It's simply that I've not yet found a way into it that lets me combine the learning process with the kind of challenges that appeal to me: doing anything "interesting" (to me) in OpenGL involves either advanced maths or art direction, neither of which are my strong points. It's never been a deliberate decision - and as it happens, the Raspberry Pi has finally motivated me to read part 1 of an OpenGL tutorial, so that might well be the missing link that gets me interested in GPU coding.
+1 for parties.
+1 for make what you want to make, and maybe you want to make music, or gfx, code is NOT the only option.. of course it's one of the main thing but you know, there's a big tradition in the scene and it's tied, bound, to music and design too.
+1 for make what you want to make, and maybe you want to make music, or gfx, code is NOT the only option.. of course it's one of the main thing but you know, there's a big tradition in the scene and it's tied, bound, to music and design too.
Creative coding all the way and go to a party.
I made my first production at a party as well. That's the place to learn this kind of stuff!
Come over to Function, it's not that far :) I'm also learning democoding atm and it's always good to have other ppl around for a n00bs' brainstorming.
for opengl/d3d democoding you almost always go right into 3d with first set of code, and have to get familiar with the glVertex-viewport, glVertex or glVertexBuffer/Index or renderfunctions and alot more 3d-specific functions etc. (atleast that was back when i tried opengl for the first time, im not sure how it is nowadays, if there is 2d-code available for easy access on the web), its much easier if you just have direct access to the pixelbuffer to experiment with simple code or some shaderlanguage that does that for you. i dont have anything against starting out coding with these functions api's the first time, but be alarmed that you most probably have to get right into 3d-math. i recommend that you choose what you feel is right to do.
OK guys. Thank you for all the feedback. I started reading tutorials from opengl-tutorial.org just to get the feel of it, and for now it seems pretty cool, although I'm not too familiar with C++.
I'll come to Function if I have enough time and gain enough knowledge by then. If not this year, then next year for sure!
@martin & pista Awesome! I thought there were no sceners in Serbia, but now I hear about you guys and Kosmoplovci. How can I contact you? Via e-mail on your webpage?
Also what are parties like? What do people do there exactly?
I'll come to Function if I have enough time and gain enough knowledge by then. If not this year, then next year for sure!
@martin & pista Awesome! I thought there were no sceners in Serbia, but now I hear about you guys and Kosmoplovci. How can I contact you? Via e-mail on your webpage?
Also what are parties like? What do people do there exactly?
hmmm, some code, some swap, most of them drink a lot and have fun :)
ps: they also release.
ps: they also release.
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Also what are parties like? What do people do there exactly?
according to kite & tracker we eat, bbq and drink some beer.
Gasman:
As it so happens, even *I* am now reading learningwebgl.com , because, well, I wasn't ending up making anything WITHOUT a 3D API. So I may be the most hypocritical bastard ever, giving advice like this.... :)
But it's still hard going, my brain just doesn't want to *accept* a re-worked version of what I learnt from the Abrash book 15 years ago. What I keep focusing on is how they've *architected* the API, instead of just trying to make something graphic-y. But anyway, ..... hopefully THIS time, I should end up Making Something!
What a co-incidence that you got into 3D APIs same time as me.... :)
As it so happens, even *I* am now reading learningwebgl.com , because, well, I wasn't ending up making anything WITHOUT a 3D API. So I may be the most hypocritical bastard ever, giving advice like this.... :)
But it's still hard going, my brain just doesn't want to *accept* a re-worked version of what I learnt from the Abrash book 15 years ago. What I keep focusing on is how they've *architected* the API, instead of just trying to make something graphic-y. But anyway, ..... hopefully THIS time, I should end up Making Something!
What a co-incidence that you got into 3D APIs same time as me.... :)
OpenGL is 20 years old now. Welcome to the past!
There's nothing like a good old motivational remark! :)
read the "Changes.txt" everytime ?
its third-time-past :p learn english!
its third-time-past :p learn english!
hintage: read - read - read
Hint: Copy from NEHE, lean what every function does, rewrite everything! (worked for me)
Just make something, go to a party, have fun, don't be an annoying twat and you'll have a good time.
Not everyone can be the most amazing coder/graphician/musician. And you don't have to be. It's much more important that you have fun.
A lot of things are pointless and a "waste of time". The things you enjoy doing don't belong in those catagories.
Not everyone can be the most amazing coder/graphician/musician. And you don't have to be. It's much more important that you have fun.
A lot of things are pointless and a "waste of time". The things you enjoy doing don't belong in those catagories.
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@martin & pista Awesome! I thought there were no sceners in Serbia, but now I hear about you guys and Kosmoplovci. How can I contact you? Via e-mail on your webpage?
My mail address is extrait--at--gmail--dot--com, feel free to ask for help, advices...
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Also what are parties like? What do people do there exactly?
Most people release demos, music, graphics and videos at parties.
But parties aren't only about competition. I'ts about making friends, meeting new people, drinking beer with other sceners and so on...
This is how a big demoparty looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZFzsyAU-6E
I recommend you to watch the moleman demoscene documentary (dunno if people are mentioned it before)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRkZcTg1JWU
@enthralled: Just do something that you are are curious about, interested in or fascinated by, After all you will do it mostly for Yourself and People will hate your First Production. And your Second One. And many others thät follow. But if you Keep on trying Hard Enough you'll find People to team up with and may at some Point experience Extreme Satisfaction from what you are Doing. But beware, this thing you want to do is Art a.k.a. A bread-less way to Spend your Time. But if you feel that Way, welcome to the Scene :) (that bloody iPad autocorrection is Diving me Nuts, does anyone know how to Turn Off that crap ? Fucking User Platform)
