Demo Parties
Where the scene gathers
Demo parties brought programmers, musicians, and artists together for weekend competitions, creating the demo scene's most celebrated works and lifelong friendships.
Overview
Demo parties began as informal gatherings of computer enthusiasts and evolved into structured competitions attracting thousands. For one weekend, coders, musicians, and graphicians compete to create the most impressive demos, intros, and music—judged by peer vote. The party is as much about community as competition.
Format
Typical schedule
| Day | Activities |
|---|---|
| Friday | Arrival, setup, opening |
| Saturday | Competitions, talks, coding |
| Sunday | Finals, prize ceremony, departure |
Competition categories
| Compo | Description |
|---|---|
| Demo | Unlimited size, maximum impact |
| 64K intro | Complete demo in 64 kilobytes |
| 4K intro | Impossibly small |
| Music | Original tracked compositions |
| Graphics | Still images, pixel art |
| Wild | Anything goes (hardware, video) |
Major parties
European
| Party | Location | Peak era |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly | Finland | 1992-present |
| The Party | Denmark | 1991-2002 |
| Revision | Germany | 2011-present |
| Breakpoint | Germany | 2003-2010 |
| X (former Scene Event) | Netherlands | 1990s |
Global
| Party | Location |
|---|---|
| Evoke | Germany |
| Outline | Netherlands |
| Silly Venture | Poland (Atari focus) |
| @party | USA |
The Assembly phenomenon
Finnish Assembly became massive:
- 5,000+ attendees at peak
- Mainstream media coverage
- eSports integration
- Commercial sponsors
Party atmosphere
Elements
- Big screen for competitions
- Sleeping areas (or no sleep)
- 24-hour coding
- Shared equipment
- Food vendors (or pizza delivery)
Social aspects
- Meeting online friends in person
- Group formations and recruitment
- Knowledge sharing
- Multi-day creative immersion
Voting
Peer voting determines winners:
- All attendees can vote
- Multiple criteria (graphics, code, design)
- Results announced at ceremony
- Prestige value significant
Notable releases
Demos premiered at parties:
| Demo | Party | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Second Reality | Assembly | 1993 |
| State of the Art | The Party | 1992 |
| .kkrieger | Breakpoint | 2004 |
| Elevated | Breakpoint | 2009 |
Party coding
The “party version” phenomenon:
- Demos finished during party
- Last-minute bug fixes
- Deadline pressure drives creativity
- Later “final” versions released
Modern evolution
Parties continue adapting:
- Live streaming of compos
- Remote entries accepted
- Hybrid online/physical events
- Documentary coverage