ZX Spectrum demos
Encyclopedia
ZX Spectrum demos are demos
made for the ZX Spectrum
and compatible computers. The demo scene on the Spectrum can probably be traced back to Castor Cracking Group
, The Lords
and a few other groups and individuals back in 1986. The ZX Spectrum demo scene was slow to start, but it started to rise in the late 1980s, most noticeably in Eastern Europe
.
of RAM and the AY-3-8912 sound chip. Also, many demos have been designed to run from a floppy disk
rather than a cassette tape
.
In many eastern European countries, the various Spectrum clones used to be more common than the original models, a fact that also reflects in the choices of hardware among the demoscene. For example, on most Russian demoscene events, the standard "compo Spectrum" is the Pentagon 128
with a floppy disk drive. Since there are considerable technical differences between the Pentagon and the original Spectrum, particularly in the video timing, there are also many demos that require a Pentagon to run properly.
in the Western Europe: it was the most popular 8-bit homecomputer and also the first computer for many computer and demoscene enthusiasts. Therefore, whereas many major Western European demo parties organize demo, music and graphics competitions for the Commodore 64, the parties in the east often have the corresponding ZX Spectrum competitions instead.
. The largest party today featuring ZX Spectrum regularly is Chaos Constructions in Saint Petersburg
. Outside of Russia is very famous Forever demoparty.
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...
made for 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...
and compatible computers. The demo scene on the Spectrum can probably be traced back to Castor Cracking Group
Castor Cracking Group
Castor Cracking Group was a demo group from Sweden, and were active on the ZX Spectrum during 1986-88. They were one of the first groups for the ZX Spectrum with their release of Castor Intro early in 1986....
, The Lords
The Lords (demogroup)
The Lords was a Dutch ZX Spectrum group from Roosendaal known as one of the earliest dedicated demogroups. The Lords released several demos for the ZX Spectrum home computer between the years 1986 - 1990...
and a few other groups and individuals back in 1986. The ZX Spectrum demo scene was slow to start, but it started to rise in the late 1980s, most noticeably in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
.
Hardware
Although there are many demos made for the 48K Spectrums, most current Spectrum demos require the additional features found in the Spectrum 128K, that is, 128 KiBKibibyte
The kibibyte is a multiple of the unit byte for quantities of digital information. The binary prefix kibi means 1024; therefore, 1 kibibyte is . The unit symbol for the kibibyte is KiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1999 and has been accepted for use...
of RAM and the AY-3-8912 sound chip. Also, many demos have been designed to run from a floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
rather than a cassette tape
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
.
In many eastern European countries, the various Spectrum clones used to be more common than the original models, a fact that also reflects in the choices of hardware among the demoscene. For example, on most Russian demoscene events, the standard "compo Spectrum" is the Pentagon 128
Pentagon (computer)
The Pentagon home computer was a clone of the British-made Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128. It was manufactured by amateurs in the former Soviet Union. Its PCB was copied all over the USSR, which made it the most widespread Soviet ZX Spectrum clone...
with a floppy disk drive. Since there are considerable technical differences between the Pentagon and the original Spectrum, particularly in the video timing, there are also many demos that require a Pentagon to run properly.
Status
In the former Soviet Union and Eastern/Central Europe, the ZX Spectrum often has a cult status similar to the Commodore 64Commodore 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...
in the Western Europe: it was the most popular 8-bit homecomputer and also the first computer for many computer and demoscene enthusiasts. Therefore, whereas many major Western European demo parties organize demo, music and graphics competitions for the Commodore 64, the parties in the east often have the corresponding ZX Spectrum competitions instead.
Design
The earliest demos were simple music players with music ripped from games and perhaps simple effects or text scrollers. Many later demos feature so-called 'multicolor' effects (changing the color attributes of the ZX Spectrum's display configuration of 768 character blocks), which have to be fixed to a specific ZX Spectrum model. Megademos, demos with more content, usually split into several parts, appeared in the beginning of 90's, with the advent of the The Lyra II by ESI. Most of the demos since 1996 have been "trackmos" (effects fixed to music), often featuring 3D objects, sometimes in low resolutions, to achieve more colours.Demoparties
ZX Spectrum have been shown in multi-platform parties, such as Assembly and there used to be a lot of ZX Spectrum only parties, such as Funtop in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The largest party today featuring ZX Spectrum regularly is Chaos Constructions in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Outside of Russia is very famous Forever demoparty.
Groups
- 4th Dimension
- Code Busters
- CoolguysLimited
- Cyberpunks Unity
- Digital Reality
- Excess Team
- Eternity Industry
- Extreme
- HOOY-PROGRAM
- R.U.S.H.
- Phantasy
- Zero
- The Mad Guys