Where is the demoscene ? Where do we make friends ?
category: general [glöplog]
Where do we connect ? Where do we meet ? Where is the demoscene ?
This is an other last "glass of wine before chilling on my sofa and going to bed" kinda post.
But I am genuinely wondering, where do we make friends online in the demoscene nowadays?
Before you answer with a classic "just go to a demoparty" : Yes I know ! I actually go to a couple every year and maybe more if I have got money and time. And yes I met great people there !
But beside the IRL stuff where do we make friends online in the demoscene and...
is the demoscene still a community ?
So there is "pouet" obviously; and not so long ago we had IRC. Honestly I don't know if it is still a thing today, is it ? Last time I really connected on IRC it was like 6 or 7 years ago !
Now we have discord with its few scattered channels dedicated to the demoscene (I am on "Demoscene" and "demoscene.fr", I suppose there might be others ? Maybe a German demoscene channel ? I don't know).
I am asking this question because it is good to know people and to have friends. I remember my first demoparty about 8/9 years ago now. I went there alone. All the people there seemed to know each other and I was alone (not lonely though i loved the ambiance and had fun).
But I wondered how did they connect ?
This is an other last "glass of wine before chilling on my sofa and going to bed" kinda post.
But I am genuinely wondering, where do we make friends online in the demoscene nowadays?
Before you answer with a classic "just go to a demoparty" : Yes I know ! I actually go to a couple every year and maybe more if I have got money and time. And yes I met great people there !
But beside the IRL stuff where do we make friends online in the demoscene and...
is the demoscene still a community ?
So there is "pouet" obviously; and not so long ago we had IRC. Honestly I don't know if it is still a thing today, is it ? Last time I really connected on IRC it was like 6 or 7 years ago !
Now we have discord with its few scattered channels dedicated to the demoscene (I am on "Demoscene" and "demoscene.fr", I suppose there might be others ? Maybe a German demoscene channel ? I don't know).
I am asking this question because it is good to know people and to have friends. I remember my first demoparty about 8/9 years ago now. I went there alone. All the people there seemed to know each other and I was alone (not lonely though i loved the ambiance and had fun).
But I wondered how did they connect ?
You could try working on releases together with someone :) or join a demogroup, or a demoparty orga team. Creating something awesome together is a really good way to make friends.
i know atleast 20 demoscene discords and half a dozen telegram groups. maybe start with those? heard irc is also still a thing and there was a matrix group created at some point, truck should know how to join, i'm not there.
facebook still has demoscene groups active
and so does mastodon and bsky if you search for demoscene well enough.
people are around, but you need to find those who resonate with your tastes and try to engage with them.
and so does mastodon and bsky if you search for demoscene well enough.
people are around, but you need to find those who resonate with your tastes and try to engage with them.
Demoscene is dead. Thus you may find it on a graveyard. And if you follow the smell you might even end up at some random demoparty.
looking for someone with whom to squeal like a dolphin?
For me everything changed when I started to be part of a demoparty orgateam (at the infodesk). Then I got to know a lot of awesome people (hi messy!) and felt the first time trulybto be part of the scene.
Maybe we're looking for the demoscene in the wrong place?
In a previous thread, I asked about Laxity. Is the C64 and Amiga Laxity the same person? A story full of scene references — music, code, Funcom, AI in games — was ignored. As if none of that mattered anymore. The sense of incompleteness remained.
Then I came across your post, Shantee. And I feel like these two threads, though seemingly different, are speaking about the same thing. About how the scene once was a place of collective memory. That we had a need to discover, to delve deeper, to remember. And now? Short replies, broken conversations, emotions hidden behind ironic avatars.
Where is the demoscene? Maybe exactly where someone asks a question that seems unnecessary. And where someone else answers, because they simply can't remain silent.
I don’t know if Laxity from the C64 and Laxity from the Amiga are the same person. But I know that once, we would’ve searched for the answer together. I wish we could return to that.
In a previous thread, I asked about Laxity. Is the C64 and Amiga Laxity the same person? A story full of scene references — music, code, Funcom, AI in games — was ignored. As if none of that mattered anymore. The sense of incompleteness remained.
Then I came across your post, Shantee. And I feel like these two threads, though seemingly different, are speaking about the same thing. About how the scene once was a place of collective memory. That we had a need to discover, to delve deeper, to remember. And now? Short replies, broken conversations, emotions hidden behind ironic avatars.
Where is the demoscene? Maybe exactly where someone asks a question that seems unnecessary. And where someone else answers, because they simply can't remain silent.
I don’t know if Laxity from the C64 and Laxity from the Amiga are the same person. But I know that once, we would’ve searched for the answer together. I wish we could return to that.
Aha. So, the scene is (half)dead because kapsel doesn’t believe people when they tell him/her that no, it’s not the same person. Mostly because they say it in too short a form instead of playing cyber sleuth roleplay with him/her. OK.
kapsel, not to be mean/rude/etc, but when clicking your profile, I don't see contributions. Neither on demozoo. Are you sure you know what the scene once was about if you didn't bother experiencing the integral part of the scene that is making a release?
(I mean, sounding like a chatbot on the internets is kinda fun, I get it, but maybe you could invest the time you use now for necro-redigesting super-ancient troll users into making something cool and new? I would thumb it up if you did :)
(I mean, sounding like a chatbot on the internets is kinda fun, I get it, but maybe you could invest the time you use now for necro-redigesting super-ancient troll users into making something cool and new? I would thumb it up if you did :)
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Demoscene is dead. Thus you may find it on a graveyard. And if you follow the smell you might even end up at some random demoparty.
Yeah we've been saying that for 20+ years (https://www.pouet.net/topic.php?which=644&page=1) so... ¯\(ツ)/¯
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For me everything changed when I started to be part of a demoparty orgateam (at the infodesk). Then I got to know a lot of awesome people (hi messy!) and felt the first time trulybto be part of the scene.
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or join a demogroup
These are great ideas ! For some reasons I don't feel confident enough to do it yet (joining a demogroup)...But hopefully someday!
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kapsel, not to be mean/rude/etc, but when clicking your profile, I don't see contributions. Neither on demozoo. Are you sure you know what the scene once was about if you didn't bother experiencing the integral part of the scene that is making a release?
I understand what you mean to Kaspel. I’m not trying to defend them, especially since I’m not entirely sure what they meant either but I get your point: You're proud of your productions and your noticeable contributions to the demoscene... As you should be !! Cause they are awesome !
But making a demo, or anything demoscene related is not easy. It is hard ! And it takes a lot of time and energy.
(I mean if you are a little serious about it and put a minimum amount of passion and love into the stuff you're making)
I can personally understand that some people are not ready or even willing to take the leap .
you don't need to be a writer to be part of say a sci-fi literature club, you don't need to be a film maker to be a cinephile and you obviously don't need to be an athlete to be a football supporter.
So why would someone need to be into code, tech, or even know how to do anything with a computer to enjoy and appreciate the beauty, creativity, or cultural value of the demoscene?
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What makes it so hard for you? If you put passion and love into the stuff you're making, that should make it easy, no?But making a demo, or anything demoscene related is not easy. It is hard ! And it takes a lot of time and energy.
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So why would someone need to be into code, tech, or even know how to do anything with a computer to enjoy and appreciate the beauty, creativity, or cultural value of the demoscene?
Absolutely correct; not necessary to participate in any of these things to enjoy them.
IMHO it really becomes necessary tho if you want to start complaining about prod quality or skill level related things :) like "it used to be way better". Well then make it better again. :D
I'd say, as a reasonably young scener it feels kinda bad to get a constant influx of "Y2K coders were so much better than you at age 15!", esp. when it's not even true (compare math skill level), and your motivations to do any of this is not even "being better than some 15 yo dude back in 1995", whatever that even means with the wildly different environment that x86 has become today - I for example write intros to "feel useful", which I can't seem to manage in my real life.
Anyways, I don't want to sound bitter, I'm only kinda not into the whole "scene is dead" meme.
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I don't feel confident enough to do it yet (joining a demogroup)
Don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask them to work together! I checked one of your prods and it made me happy. You're clearly passionate about making happy things :)
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So why would someone need to be into code, tech, or even know how to do anything with a computer to enjoy and appreciate the beauty, creativity, or cultural value of the demoscene?
Absolutely.
However. I have a feeling it’s a little bit like it is with poetry. Almost everyone who really enjoys poetry also writes poems (whether they admit it or not). Not everyone. But almost.
I was thinking to suggest something non-technical like amiga ascii art. It is still fun and doesn't take one year of struggle to make, but I see you already made a few prods with code-graphics-music. Just keep it up and level up as you go in anime style!
I remember my first amos demo, Kugalskap, got booed at by 3000 people at The Gathering after someone screamed "It's an ANIMATIOOON!". I was close to 15 in 1995 for that experience. That was pretty horrible, but it made me hungry for revenge so I'm still here waiting for that day of blood raining from the skies and .... oh .. but I did get some lifelong friends in the scene from continuing to make more demos.
I remember my first amos demo, Kugalskap, got booed at by 3000 people at The Gathering after someone screamed "It's an ANIMATIOOON!". I was close to 15 in 1995 for that experience. That was pretty horrible, but it made me hungry for revenge so I'm still here waiting for that day of blood raining from the skies and .... oh .. but I did get some lifelong friends in the scene from continuing to make more demos.
Start swapping
loady: and you still use animations too! win-win situation! ;)
HAHHHAHA! touche!
Finns join #suomiscene on IRCNet for random & demo chat
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What makes it so hard for you? If you put passion and love into the stuff you're making, that should make it easy, no?
imagine you’re a huge football fan. You're passionate ; you love the game, you watch every match, you dream tactics at nigh etc...
But you’re also a 110kg dude with a solid beer belly, and your diet revolves around burgers, fries and liters of beer.
No matter how much passion you have, chasing the ball on the field isn’t exactly going to be easy; let alone playing a real match. So, sure you can still have fun in your garden with your kid and a foot ball but that'd be all :)
I guess that's where I am at ^^
So what's hard to me ? Well, for starters: lack of skills. (ADHD doesn’t really help either). Now it's not because something is hard that it can't be an enjoyable endeavor nor something you'd want to avoid doing.
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Don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask them to work together! I checked one of your prods and it made me happy. You're clearly passionate about making happy things :)
Hey ! Thanks NR4 ! It touched me ! Really ! I'll make a couple more stuff and experiemnt and really try to follow your advice
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I remember my first amos demo, Kugalskap, got booed at by 3000 people at The Gathering after someone screamed "It's an ANIMATIOOON!". I was close to 15 in 1995 for that experience. That was pretty horrible, but it made me hungry for revenge so I'm still here waiting for that day of blood raining from the skies and .... oh .. but I did get some lifelong friends in the scene from continuing to make more demos.
It really turned into a motivational thread at least to me! Well you sure did get your revenge ! congrats!
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So, sure you can still have fun in your garden with your kid and a foot ball but that'd be all :)
That’s all it takes. Have fun in your garden with your kid. That’s it. Just have fun.
You have something inside yourself, something you want to communicate to others. That’s nearly all that’s needed. The way it comes out of you is just a simple matter of technique. Just be genuine and steer clear of AI “shortcuts” and such crap.
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That’s all it takes. Have fun in your garden with your kid. That’s it. Just have fun.
Damn ! I realize you're actually right. I have been a bit harsh with myself, it's probably the heat. But yes ! 100% one of the main goals should be to have fun !
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imagine you’re a huge football fan. You're passionate ; you love the game, you watch every match, you dream tactics at nigh etc...
But you’re also a 110kg dude with a solid beer belly, and your diet revolves around burgers, fries and liters of beer.
No matter how much passion you have, chasing the ball on the field isn’t exactly going to be easy; let alone playing a real match. So, sure you can still have fun in your garden with your kid and a foot ball but that'd be all :)
what a load of crap, i know like at least 11 people in my tiny village who (mostly) fit this description and play competitive football
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I was close to 15 in 1995 for that experience. That was pretty horrible, but it made me hungry for revenge
The truest words right there!
Why is it that our culture is all about showing off and/or proving others they heavily underestimate you.
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I have been a bit harsh with myself
There is a subtle difference between give a f.. and just being lazy.
If you give a f...you do what you truly want to do, but you do it with passion. Make an interactive demo, AI-based demo, a demo with different music style etc... And don't care how many likes you get from elitist demoscene gurus.
