Demo

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Scene of the mega demo MEGA-CO from 19. January 1989. It contains: HiRes Graphics, scrolling text and graphic and also very good music.

A demo (short form of: demonstration) is a piece of software, usually created by skilled programmers, graphic artists and musicians, which showcases not only the skills of its creators but also pushes the limits of the machine it is created on, such as the C64. Typical techniques involve graphical manipulation such as a sprite multiplexing and raster effects, smooth scrolling, and, on the C64, sophisticated use of the SID chip. The subculture focused on such software is known as the demoscene.

In this context, demos differ fundamentally from game demos. A game demo is a playable or viewable preview of a commercial title, whereas a demoscene demo is non‑interactive and exists solely to demonstrate creative and technical skills, often highlighting the machine’s capabilities beyond those found in typical software.

The C64 demoscene, like those on other platforms, is highly competitive, with groups continually striving to surpass one another in technical innovation, artistic presentation, and overall execution. This drive often leads coders to exploit every nuance of the hardware, including precise cycle timing, unconventional VIC‑II behavior, and undocumented 6510 opcodes, all in pursuit of effects far beyond those seen in typical commercial software.

Many original C64 engineers have said that they never imagined the machine would be pushed so far, and they see modern demos as proof that the hardware had far more potential than even they realized at the time.


Screenshots of Demos[edit | edit source]


A scene from one of the first C64 demos "Seasons Greetings from Commodore" (multi file) from the year 1982 programmed by Commodore employees. First released for advertising in the winter and christmas time purposes by Commodore for selling C64 and later SX-64.
It contains: PETSCII graphic image with dancing children and snowman as sprites and nice background music.



Intros[edit | edit source]

This short demos - also called intros - of the c64 scene groups was used for greetings and credits by cracked games.

  • The SCC intro (Swedish Cracking Crew) from 28. January 1986. It contains: sprites, raster lines and moving text.
    The SCC intro (Swedish Cracking Crew) from 28. January 1986.
    It contains: sprites, raster lines and moving text.
  • AFL 1970 intro from 19 January 1989 It contains: sprites, rater lines and moving text.
    AFL 1970 intro from 19 January 1989
    It contains: sprites, rater lines and moving text.
  • FAC intro from the year 1986 It contains: animated text with a new charset, scrolling and changing colours.
    FAC intro from the year 1986
    It contains: animated text with a new charset, scrolling and changing colours.
  • Dynamic Duo intro from 13. September 1986 It contains: Graphic and moving text.
    Dynamic Duo intro from 13. September 1986
    It contains: Graphic and moving text.

One File[edit | edit source]

A demo, which contains only one file, is a one file demo.

The quickly "cut" main part of the one file demo "Justice" (1992).


Multi File[edit | edit source]

A demo, which contains of more than one file, is a mutli file demo.


The loading screen of "Demo of the Year '87" from the group Triangle.
A scene of the the demo "Trail Mix" (1988).




Mega Demos[edit | edit source]

Mega Demos - also very long demos with a lot of screens and with a long run time - needs one or more disk sides.

  • A scene of the MEGA-CO demo from 19. January 1989. It contains: HiRes graphics, scrolling text and graphic and music.
    A scene of the MEGA-CO demo from 19. January 1989.
    It contains: HiRes graphics, scrolling text and graphic and music.
  • A scene of the MEGA-CO demo from 19. January 1989. It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and graphic and music.
    A scene of the MEGA-CO demo from 19. January 1989.
    It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and graphic and music.
  • A scene of the MEGA-CO demo from 19. January 1989. It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and graphic and music.
    A scene of the MEGA-CO demo from 19. January 1989.
    It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and graphic and music.
  • A scene of the demo De Javu. It contains: HiRes graphics and music.
    A scene of the demo De Javu.
    It contains: HiRes graphics and music.
  • Demo from Crest aus 1992. It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and music.
    Demo from Crest aus 1992.
    It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and music.
  • Intro Excalibur 1992. It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and and music.
    Intro Excalibur 1992.
    It contains: moving HiRes graphics, scrolling text and and music.
  • Fairlight demo from the year 2003. It contains: HiRes graphics in very good quality and music.
    Fairlight demo from the year 2003.
    It contains: HiRes graphics in very good quality and music.


Links[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia: Demoscene
Wikipedia: Commodore_64_demos


Videos[edit | edit source]

  • Video at YouTube - One-File-Demo "The Tuneful Eight [ultimate]"; 17.08.2019
  • Video at YouTube - Mega-Demo "The Great Megademo" by the Finland Cracking Service (FCS); 1987
Other Computersystems
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