If you are a gamer or if you just think that the graphics and music in games are fascinating this is an article you should offer some time to read. I will explain to you how some of the most basic building blocks in computer games are made, and what you can do to learn more about them.
Written by, Tor Ivar Hansen.
This picture is taken from Counterstrike. As with any other 3d-game you may see the environment around you consisting of structures and textures. I guess some of you have tried to make your own scenarios and maps in different games, and if you like that. You might find the following very interesting too.
We wish to bring focus on the demoscene environment here at The Gathering. For those of you remembering the parties of 1996 and 1997, we had talent scouts at the party from Team17 and other game companies, searching for fresh new talents. Several of these have made their careers in the gaming industry later. Sadly the interest for demoscene was steadily decreasing at The Gathering, reaching a low point around 2000.
Our current democrew chief, Balder Mørk, joined the Gathering crew after his loud complaining over this trend on newsgroups and mailing lists.
Vegard Skjefstad, the main organizer of The Gathering, noticed the energetic and motivated young man, and challenged him to try and make an effort to work for a better party. Now, Balder and his crew use all their skills and creativity to engage more people to attend the demoscene part of The Gathering.
The word demoscene may be known to many of you. But do you really know that is stands for?
A Demo can probably best be described as some sort of real-time generated music video. Usually a collaborative effort, a demo represents the combined skills of a demo goup, featuring stunning graphics and amazing visual effects synchronized to a kicking soundtrack. Demos usually display state-of-the art 3D graphics, pushing the boundaries of currently available technology to present a spectacular show of light and sound to
the viewer. Demos usually feature abstract three-dimensional shapes, and visual representations of advanced mathemathics.
To fully understand the nature of demos, the best thing to do is to actually download a demo and watch it. www.scene.org is a hot tip!
Do you remember the sweet intro to Unreal Tournament? ? In fact this whole "movie" as many call it, is a huge demo. Yes, a demo. Some people have underestimated the power of demos. Imagine how huge the movie file would be for this kind of presentations.
Several of the people producing and publishing their work at The Gathering have made their careers based on the skills they have acquired as members of the demoscene. You can read an interview with two demosceners at The Gathering here. Ever been irritated by the low level of realism in games you have played? -Why not take the matter in your own hands; take up programming and be a part of the talented teams developing the features of gaming and digitized graphics and music?
It is not difficult to become good at making contributions to the demoscene. All you have to do is access to a computer, some easily acquired software and some spare time.
Balder Mørk advices people curious to the demoscene to start by watching others and to get experience by "trial and error". Previously, computer owners had to know the structure of their systems to make games and programs work. Now it is more like "plug'n play", which sadly has lead to a lower level of technical knowledge in the average user. However, starting with programming is not as hard as many believe. Tutorials and helpful programmers are often just a mouse-click away. Anyway, whether you have ambitions of becoming a master programmer, or you are more of a music or designer person - you are most welcome to join the IRC channel #scene.no @ EFnet where people with good skills are more than willing to help you improve.
Please read what is published about demoscene at our website, and be sure to watch the contributions shown at the scene shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. If you have any comments or questions to The Gatherings arrangement of this competitions, please mail: demo@gathering.org
Don't just follow the flow in the evolution of computer game, graphics, music programming. Be a part of it! - Just think about what you for an example would like to change in your favorite game!
A Demo can probably best be described as some sort of real-time generated music video. Usually a collaborative effort, a demo represents the combined skills of a demo goup, featuring stunning graphics and amazing visual effects synchronized to a kicking soundtrack. Demos usually display state-of-the art 3D graphics, pushing the boundaries of currently available technology to present a spectacular show of light and sound to 
Do you remember the sweet intro to Unreal Tournament? ? In fact this whole "movie" as many call it, is a huge demo. Yes, a demo. Some people have underestimated the power of demos. Imagine how huge the movie file would be for this kind of presentations. 
Balder Mørk advices people curious to the demoscene to start by watching others and to get experience by "trial and error". Previously, computer owners had to know the structure of their systems to make games and programs work. Now it is more like "plug'n play", which sadly has lead to a lower level of technical knowledge in the average user. However, starting with programming is not as hard as many believe. Tutorials and helpful programmers are often just a mouse-click away. Anyway, whether you have ambitions of becoming a master programmer, or you are more of a music or designer person - you are most welcome to join the IRC channel #scene.no @ EFnet where people with good skills are more than willing to help you improve. 
