made it inevitable that the users of these kinds of computers THE HUNGARIAN DEMOSCENE would run into intros sooner or later. HISTORY The first Hungarian cracks and home-made games date back BY MURPHY OF EXCEED, MD1 AND SCENE.HU STAFF to 1986, on the C64 and the plus/4. In 1987 there were simple intros, some semi-professional games and tools, and the first, very simple demos appeared. As evidence of the popularity The Hungarian demoscene followed a very different path com- ucts appeared suddenly including Gorenje fridges, VHS video of demoscene, it’s very important to note that public thinking pared to the demoscene that existed in Western countries. This recorders, and the Commodore 64. Since officially obtainable was slightly different back then, and it was almost regarded was mostly because of the socialist state that existed in Hun- and expendable money was quite limited, most C64’s were as entirely normal/cool to program at home. Almost the entire gary until the late ‘80s. Wherein the western world’s popular smuggled into the country, hidden in the trunk or under a seat content of Commodore newspapers like “Commodore Újság” computer systems were quite difficult or very expensive for the of the car. It was very funny to see the row of Trabants (a cheap was composed of sources of home-made programs, and Hungarian people to obtain. and popular car produced in the former GDR (East Germany)) there was even a TV-programm, wherein the best program of at the Austrian-Hungarian border. Especially if you consider the month that was sent in was played back in a format which that at this time, a C64 computer with a 1541 drive, was more could be recorded to tape from your TV! THE BEGINNING (1986-1989) expensive than some cars! Besides the locally produced Videoton TVC, Primo or HT 1080Z, The prominent groups of 1988 and 1989 were on plus/4: H.C.S., the systems that ruled the Hungarian market (which failed in THE FIRST HUNGARIAN CRACKS Pigmy who worked solo, and 23 Celsius Team. On the C64 it was the Western countries), were the Commodore plus/4 and lat- AND HOME-MADE GAMES DATE Quality and FBI Crew. The variety of plus/4 games was much er the Enterprise 128. Moreover, the Commodore plus/4 sys- smaller than C64 games, so besides cracking and demo-de- tem enjoyed the role of being an official computer used in BACK TO 1986 velopment the creation and conversion of home-made games schools for years after it had been abandoned elsewhere in reached a very high level. Abroad, new games were not be- the west. As the strictness of the socialism eased, the borders Obtaining programs required some skill. There weren’t any ing developed on the plus/4, but the Hungarian games scene were opened slightly, and then not only could other “friendly companies that specialized in importing software. Officially flourished. It was funny to see the same names in the credits socialist” countries be visited, but people were finally allowed only games produced in Hungary could be purchased, though of Hungarian games, as they could be seen in the intros of im- to go to neighbouring Austria as well. some special shops sold programs that were from Western ported western games. countries, in exchange for hard currency. So it was not a ques- Hungarian customer-tourism started, and the popular prod- tion really whether the games could be bought or copied. This Things were slightly different with the Videoton TVC. exclusively to Hungary at this time and EVS was deemed the os; moreover articles were published about demo-effect pro- Since there were no foreign systems, the users (who best demo team, but the most popular ones at this time were gramming, too. For example Jean of Chromance wrote long were bored of the games) started to develop their TCFS and Muffbusters (which switched articles about the demoscene for the own. The formation of the community was really easy over to Amiga in the middle of 1991) Commodore Világ gamer newspa- because Videoton maintained a club in the capital for because of their games. Generally per. The scene became stronger and the fans of the computer. Some demo-like products speaking, scene-life in 1991 was quite stronger until 1994. There were already were born, but the scene for this platform didn’t reach active: members came and went, around 6-7 smaller and larger parties a very large size. teams formed and vanished. The 23 in existence in Hungary, and the first Celsius Crew, who were formerly ac- regularly recurring party series called The demoscene in general grew slowly, the first par- tive on plus/4, by this time, changed Cache (renamed from Bash and In ties taking place at the weekly club of Csokonai com- to Amiga and started a party series Bloom) also came to existence at this THE HUNGARIAN DEMOSCENE HISTORYmunity centre and “Computer Christmases” became called Bash. For the first time in Hun- time. The diskmag scene was flourish- an important meeting point for sceners. The number gary more than 500 visitors showed up “Show” by Majic 12, winner of the Hammering 1994 pc demo ing too, with at least 5 magazines that of the teams increased, and around 1989 and 1990, at a demoscene event! The group was competition were published for each platform with the Amiga fans became active as well. Teams were formed or active until 1993, when some of them solid regularity. Diskmags at this time shifted from the 8-bit platforms to 16-bit computers. joined the Norwegian team Frogs, and were full of heated discussions and, of later represented the Hungarian sec- course, flame wars. tion of Balance for a short time. They GATHERING MOMENTUM (1990-1995) were also responsible for the first - and On PC, besides many smaller demos, Even though the Hungarian scene didn’t pertain at this time to later legendary - Amiga camp on Majic 12 published “The Show”, which the “real elite”, there were well-known teams on all platforms. Parád. strengthened their position amongst On Amiga: Majic 12, Cerberos, and Soc Brigade and on C64: the international elite, while gRiF (in co- Chromance, Graffity, and Faces, were the biggest names of The demoscene was generally be- operation with Catchup) made one of this era. In 1991 the PC-scene also started to come to life – Soc coming well known at this time in Hun- the best designed demos of the era. Brigade gave the platform a shot, as well as Majic 12, Twin Sec- gary and computer magazines regu- “Revolution” by Chorus, winner of the Fun Factory 1994 c64 On the C64, the former great names tor Inc. gRiF appeared a little later, which had the plus/4 system larly wrote one or two pages about it demo competition didn’t make any new demos, but a as its roots in the scene. The latter scene was limited almost monthly, where they usually introduced the recent best dem- new crew - Chorus, published their legendary first demo Revo- lution, while coders from EVS (who originally worked on minute were another big obstacle. of several teams) called Shock!, introduced itself to the scene plus/4) started to publish their routines for C64 under with a 4k intro and an animation; and it is also notable for Unit- the name Exile. This team later changed its name to It’s also worth noting that Hungarian scene-life was already ed Force’s presence, as they finally made the shift from plus/4 Resource, and they continued to release their demos busy and eventful at this time, so most people didn’t miss out to the PC. Most people also took note of a new C64 team at under that label to this day. on anything, because they could be in touch with many others the party: Profik, which was originally a “just for fun” group. For- locally as well. tunately this was not a real nadir for the demoscene, but the On Amiga the top team was Absolute, only Faculty beginning of a generation change: certainly this was the first could keep up with them. The Hungarian scene, as demoparty of the later determinant faces of the scene. There usual, was quite incestuous. Only a few people from THE BOOM (1995-1998) was another big change at this party. The organizers made the elite were in touch with sceners of foreign coun- In the beginning of 1995, an up to that time unknown team a separate category for the previously emerging and popu- tries. Overseas teams rarely came to Hungarian par- called Astroidea announced Scenest 95, which was intended lar fake demos (mostly parody demos created for fun), called THE HUNGARIAN DEMOSCENE HISTORYties, and before Assembly 94 only 1 or 2 people visited to be the biggest Hungarian party ever. Melan, the main or- “Lamer Demo”. That year nothing overly interesting happened foreign parties at most. Hungarian entries didn’t rank ganizer, wanted to make in this competition, but one highly, except for Petroff/Absolute who came in on 2nd sure that the party would year later it became one place in the 4-channel music competition. Despite the Hungar- become a serious suc- of the most important, and ian demoscene having appeared on many communication cess, so he announced most interesting, categories channels, there were still people in Hungary who didn’t know it the party not only in at Hungarian parties. even existed; e.g. the members of Mandula, who left for Assem- scene communities, but bly where they met several Hungarians to their great surprise.