Commodore VIC-20 demos
Encyclopedia
Commodore VIC-20 demos are demos
written for the Commodore VIC-20
home computer
.
On many classic 8-bit platforms, such as the Commodore 64
and the ZX Spectrum
, the organized activity of democoding was started by crack intro
s, a side product of software cracking
. This was not the case with VIC-20, whose userbase shifted to other platforms before the software pirates developed a crack intro culture of any kind. The VIC-20 demoscene
was born at a much later time as an offshoot of existing scenes, particularly that of the Commodore 64.
Pu-239 and Andreas Dietmair. Although both produced several demos, the activity of VIC-20 demomaking retained a curiosity status rather than evolving into a larger-scale demoscene.
An influential demo Veni vidi vic! was created in 1996 by an international group of mostly non-demoscene-affiliated volunteers led by Marko Mäkelä, a Finnish Commodore enthusiast. This demo pioneered many techniques on the VIC-20, such as stable raster routines and track-loading techniques, thus becoming a major source of inspiration for a new wave of VIC-20 demos.
. Many VIC-20 productions even took first places in major competitions such as at Alternative Party
or the "oldskool" demo compo at the Assembly demo party, while competing against demos written for more advanced machines such as the Commodore 64 or the Amiga
.
Unlike most of the earlier VIC-20 demos, the demos of the 2000s were usually written for the plain machine without RAM expansions, although some of them required a disk drive. This presented a clearly defined and challenging restriction to the demomakers. Also, many enthusiasts considered VIC-20 expansion cartridges quite difficult to obtain.
In 2002, Aleksi Eeben of CNCD compiled a single-sided floppy disk containing all demos written for the unexpanded VIC-20 ever since. The demos on the disk were from CNCD, Creators, Dekadence, PWP
and Pu-239, and it also contained parts of Veni vidi vic! compatible with the unexpanded machine. Many of the demos on the disk were specifically written in order to fill up the leftover space.
As of 2006, there are three floppy disk compilations of unexpanded VIC-20 demos.
Demo (computer programming)
A demo is a non-interactive multimedia presentation made within the computer subculture known as the demoscene. Demogroups create demos to demonstrate their abilities in programming, music, drawing, and 3D modeling...
written for the Commodore VIC-20
Commodore VIC-20
The VIC-20 is an 8-bit home computer which was sold by Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PET...
home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
.
On many classic 8-bit platforms, such as the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, the organized activity of democoding was started by crack intro
Crack intro
A crack intro, also known as a cracktro, loader, or just intro, is a small introduction sequence added to cracked software, designed to inform the user of which "cracking crew" or individual cracker was responsible for removing the software's copy protection and distributing the crack...
s, a side product of software cracking
Software cracking
Software cracking is the modification of software to remove or disable features which are considered undesirable by the person cracking the software, usually related to protection methods: copy protection, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, date checks, CD check or software annoyances...
. This was not the case with VIC-20, whose userbase shifted to other platforms before the software pirates developed a crack intro culture of any kind. The VIC-20 demoscene
Demoscene
The demoscene is a computer art subculture that specializes in producing demos, which are non-interactive audio-visual presentations that run in real-time on a computer...
was born at a much later time as an offshoot of existing scenes, particularly that of the Commodore 64.
Early efforts
Arguably the first actual VIC-20 demos (within the demoscene context) were created in 1989 by the Commodore 64 demogroupDemogroup
Demogroups are teams of demosceners, who make computer based audio-visual works of art known as demos. Demogroups form a subculture collectively known as the demoscene....
Pu-239 and Andreas Dietmair. Although both produced several demos, the activity of VIC-20 demomaking retained a curiosity status rather than evolving into a larger-scale demoscene.
An influential demo Veni vidi vic! was created in 1996 by an international group of mostly non-demoscene-affiliated volunteers led by Marko Mäkelä, a Finnish Commodore enthusiast. This demo pioneered many techniques on the VIC-20, such as stable raster routines and track-loading techniques, thus becoming a major source of inspiration for a new wave of VIC-20 demos.
The unexpanded demoscene
The early 2000s saw a boom of VIC-20 demos competing in various competitions at several demo parties, particularly in FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Many VIC-20 productions even took first places in major competitions such as at Alternative Party
Alternative Party
Alternative Party is a demoscene and art event in Finland. It was first organized in 1998 in Turku and since 2000 in Helsinki. The event is organized by Alternative Party ry, a non-profit association....
or the "oldskool" demo compo at the Assembly demo party, while competing against demos written for more advanced machines such as the Commodore 64 or the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
.
Unlike most of the earlier VIC-20 demos, the demos of the 2000s were usually written for the plain machine without RAM expansions, although some of them required a disk drive. This presented a clearly defined and challenging restriction to the demomakers. Also, many enthusiasts considered VIC-20 expansion cartridges quite difficult to obtain.
In 2002, Aleksi Eeben of CNCD compiled a single-sided floppy disk containing all demos written for the unexpanded VIC-20 ever since. The demos on the disk were from CNCD, Creators, Dekadence, PWP
PWP
PWP is a Finnish demogroup founded in 1994. Having originally concentrated on humorous games and storyline-based text mode demos on the low-end PC's, PWP is now one of the leading demogroups on the Commodore VIC-20....
and Pu-239, and it also contained parts of Veni vidi vic! compatible with the unexpanded machine. Many of the demos on the disk were specifically written in order to fill up the leftover space.
As of 2006, there are three floppy disk compilations of unexpanded VIC-20 demos.