Atari ST demo scene
The reason for the demo scene of the Atari ST can be traced back to the group The Exceptions (known under the short form TEX), which published a series of music demos from 1987 onwards, which were spiced up with graphic effects and text scrolling. Jochen Hippel was responsible for the music, and he adapted mostly C64 compositions by Rob Hubbard .
The home computer demo scene was initially created during the heyday of 8-bit computers, primarily on the C64 . Crackers began to include small opening credits (so-called intros) as business cards in the programs they had cracked. With the expansion of the intros, the first demos were created. Groups of computer enthusiasts formed who tried to exhaust the possibilities of their respective computer systems. The results were shown in appropriate computer programs, the demos. Due to the diversification in the computer world with the arrival of 16- and 32-bit technology in private households, there was also a certain platform competition, such as between Atari ST and Amiga , a motivation, the perceived superiority of one's own system through cleverly programmed demos to highlight.
After TEX published the demo milestone BIG (Best in Galaxy) in 1988, more and more groups formed and the scene became larger and more diverse. The 1989 Union Demo was the first ST demo in which several demo groups were involved. Skillful programming and the use of undocumented hardware capabilities made it possible to get a lot out of the Atari ST: e.g. scrolling (although the ST does not support hardware scrolling ), simultaneous display of the entire color palette (hardware provided a maximum of 16 colors at the same time), pre-calculated sprites and graphics in the actually "dead" edges of the screen.
Some groups soon got involved in programming commercial games. This is how the Thalion Software company came into being .
Due to the progressive establishment of the PC in the private sector, the demo scene on the Atari ST was reduced in size from 1993. But even today groups and individuals are active all over Europe who meet regularly for scene parties and publish demos for the ST.
Atari Demos (selection)
- 1987: README.PRG (TEX)
- 1987: LSD (Little Sound Demo) (TEX)
- 1987: LCD (Little Color Demo) (TEX)
- 1988: BIG Demo (TEX)
- 1988: The Amiga Demo (TEX)
- 1988: Full Screen Demo (Level 16)
- 1989: The Union Demo (The Union)
- 1989: The Cuddly Demos (The Carebears)
- 1990: The Decade Demo (Inner Circle)
- 1990: Live is a bitch (The Lost Boys)
- 1990: Syntax Terror Demo (Delta Force)
- 1991: Vodka demo (Equinox)
- 1991: European Demos (The Overlanders)
- 1991: Ooh Crikey wot a Scorcher (The Lost Boys)
- 1991: Skid Row (The Alliance)
- 1991: Punish your Machine (Delta Force)
- 1991: The Dark Side of the Spoon 1991 (Unlimited Matricks)
- 1992: Eat my Bollocks (Equinox)
- 1992: Just Buggin ( ACF )
- 1992: The Phaleon Demo (Next)
- 1992: My Socks are Weapons (Legacy)
- 1993: Froggies over the Fence (The French Wizfrogs)
- 1993: Synergy Demo (Synergy)
- 1999: Nostalgic-O-Demo (Oxygene)
- 1999: Virtual Escape (Equinox)
- 1999: Sure Trip 49% (checkpoint)
- 2001: Odd Stuff (Dune & Sector One)
- 2003: Moving Into Darkness (DHS)
- 2003: Posh (checkpoint)
- 2005: Pacemaker (Paradox)
- 2005: 20 years (co-production of the Atari scene)
- 2008: More Or Less Zero (DHS)
- 2009: Suretrip II - Dopecode
Many of these demos can also be run on the PC with an emulator .