Christophe Boucourt
Commodore filed for bankruptcy in 1994. One year later, ESCOM, a PC manufacturer and a chain of computer stores, acquired what remained of the company. The elegance and efficiency of the Amiga architecture were ultimately surpassed by Moore’s law and the PC. x86 processors, supported by advanced graphics and sound cards, could accomplish much more than even the most powerful Amiga, owing to an abundance of transistors in their components, higher clock speeds, cost-effective storage, and improved communication options. Sceners, gamers, and the general public were transitioning to PCs. In the demoscene, Amiga 4-channel modules were replaced by full scores composed and mixed on PCs, occupying significantly more space than the capacity provided by Amiga floppies. Hand-drawn low-resolution graphics with indexed color were superseded by 24-bit artwork created with Photoshop, or full 3D worlds with texture mapping, coupled with effects achievable only through the raw power that the Amiga could not match.
Those who remained loyal to the Amiga often attempted to create similar 3D graphical spectacles, necessitating increasingly sophisticated hardware. The most powerful (and expensive) processor in Motorola’s 68k family became a requirement, along with substantial disk space for playing back fully sampled soundtracks. Were these still considered Amiga demos?
In 1991, 2266 Amiga demos were released, constituting nearly 50% of all releases. By 2001, that figure dwindled to 170, accounting for just under 10% of releases that year. Demographics naturally played a significant role as the once-young sceners had to prioritize jobs, family, and other commitments over dedicating time to create their unique blend of art and science. For a decade, the Amiga, and indeed the overall demoscene, languished. The 53 Amiga releases in 2010 comprised less than 5% of the total demoscene output. Computers had evolved into mere business tools, and creating demos earned you nothing beyond recognition from a subculture.
It appears that the entire demoscene, much like all of Gaul, is now entirely occupied by Roman PCs. Well, not entirely... One small village community of indomitable Amigans still holds out against the invaders.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
LANGUAGE | BINDING | EDITION | ISBN | YEAR | PAGES |
English | Hardcover | | N/A | 2024 | 450 |
TAGS
Authors: #ChristopheBoucourt
Publishers: #Éditions64k (Éditions 64k)
Languages: #English
Format: #Hardcover
Accessibility: N/A
Year: #Year2024
Companies:
#Commodore (Commodore)
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Games:
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Misc:
#Amiga (Commodore Amiga)