Wired (demoparty)
Encyclopedia
Wired was a Belgian annual demoparty
which ran from 1994 to 1998. Typical competitions included PC
and Amiga
demos and intros, hand-made and ray traced graphics, music and surprise competitions (where theme and rules are announced around two hours prior the deadline).
from 29 to 31 October 1994. It was organized by Antares and Babylon 5. Ten demos entered the PC
competition but only two Amiga
productions were presented. Necronomicon by Imagine won the PC competition. Unusually for a demoparty
, a Doom tournament was held at Wired '94.
One year later, Wired '95 was held from 3–5 November 1995 at the same place and organized by Antares, Imphobia and TFL-TDV. This time, no more Amiga competitions were held, Wired became a PC only party, but additional categories were introduced: 4k intro (which previously occurred as a surprise competition only) and ANSI
. The PC demo section saw 17 entries and the victory of Valhalla with Soltice. Another remarkable production was the 64k intro winner: Magic Carpet by Keen Like Frogs. This group
managed to code an engine similar to the one used Magic Carpet
in 64 kilobytes only, complete with textures and music. A French TV channel also chose this event to record a report on demoscene
.
For its '96 edition, which took place from 1–3 November 1996, the place changed to a sport-hall in Wasmes
, a little town near Mons
. Organizers were Imphobia and Antares
.
In this new location, the event gathered about 600 demosceners from all over Europe. Again, the 64k intro competition revealed a ground breaking production: Paper by Psychic Link & ACME; this prefigured an effect that would become known as cellshading. This edition introduced the Coca-Cola
drinking contest, where each contestant would have to drink a 1.5 L bottle as fast as possible.
In 1997, the place stayed the same but the party date moved from winter to summer (being held on 18–20 July). Imphobia was joined by Bomb
, Pulpe, Smash Designs and W.O.W. in its organizing efforts. This edition marked the return of Amiga and even C-64
competitions. The winning PC 64k intro stand out again. This time, it was Jizz by The Black Lotus introducing the generated objects and textures system to the PC world. The Magic Carpet engine was coded in 4k this time by Dawn of a New Age. For the first time, a 100kb PC game competition was held.
Wired '98 took place on 17–19 July 1998 and attracted 800 attenders. Organizing team was composed of Imphobia, Melting Pot, Pulpe, W.O.W. and Role. Since it was announced as the final edition, a very strange atmosphere overwhelmed the party mood. Only a few Amiga productions showed up. The PC demo competition was won by Cocoon with the heavy Syndrome demo, and the PC 64K intro competition was won by Quad with Theta.
in 2000, but the idea was eventually dropped.
A demoparty
called Rewired
is planned for 2008 in Belgium
, but there is no link with the original Wired (a different place, different organizers and a much smaller capacity of 250 people).
Demoparty
A demoparty is an event that gathers demosceners and other computer enthusiasts to compete in competitions. A typical demoparty is a non-stop event lasting over a weekend, providing the visitors a lot of time to socialize. The competing works, at least those in the most important competitions, are...
which ran from 1994 to 1998. Typical competitions included PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
and Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
demos and intros, hand-made and ray traced graphics, music and surprise competitions (where theme and rules are announced around two hours prior the deadline).
History
The first edition took place at the Université de Mons-Hainaut in MonsMons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
from 29 to 31 October 1994. It was organized by Antares and Babylon 5. Ten demos entered the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
competition but only two Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
productions were presented. Necronomicon by Imagine won the PC competition. Unusually for a demoparty
Demoparty
A demoparty is an event that gathers demosceners and other computer enthusiasts to compete in competitions. A typical demoparty is a non-stop event lasting over a weekend, providing the visitors a lot of time to socialize. The competing works, at least those in the most important competitions, are...
, a Doom tournament was held at Wired '94.
One year later, Wired '95 was held from 3–5 November 1995 at the same place and organized by Antares, Imphobia and TFL-TDV. This time, no more Amiga competitions were held, Wired became a PC only party, but additional categories were introduced: 4k intro (which previously occurred as a surprise competition only) and ANSI
ANSI art
ANSI art is a computer art form that was widely used at one time on BBSes. It is similar to ASCII art, but constructed from a larger set of 256 letters, numbers, and symbols — all codes found in IBM code page 437, often referred to as extended ASCII and used in MS-DOS and Unix environments...
. The PC demo section saw 17 entries and the victory of Valhalla with Soltice. Another remarkable production was the 64k intro winner: Magic Carpet by Keen Like Frogs. This group
Demogroup
Demogroups are teams of demosceners, who make computer based audio-visual works of art known as demos. Demogroups form a subculture collectively known as the demoscene....
managed to code an engine similar to the one used Magic Carpet
Magic Carpet (video game)
Magic Carpet is a video game released by Bullfrog Productions in 1994. A revised edition, Magic Carpet Plus, included the Hidden Worlds expansion pack which added 25 levels and a winter-themed tileset...
in 64 kilobytes only, complete with textures and music. A French TV channel also chose this event to record a report on demoscene
Demoscene
The demoscene is a computer art subculture that specializes in producing demos, which are non-interactive audio-visual presentations that run in real-time on a computer...
.
For its '96 edition, which took place from 1–3 November 1996, the place changed to a sport-hall in Wasmes
Wasmes
Wasmes is a village in the municipality of Colfontaine in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.Vincent van Gogh lived there for a while in 1880....
, a little town near Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
. Organizers were Imphobia and Antares
Antares
Antares is a red supergiant star in the Milky Way galaxy and the sixteenth brightest star in the nighttime sky . Along with Aldebaran, Spica, and Regulus it is one of the four brightest stars near the ecliptic...
.
In this new location, the event gathered about 600 demosceners from all over Europe. Again, the 64k intro competition revealed a ground breaking production: Paper by Psychic Link & ACME; this prefigured an effect that would become known as cellshading. This edition introduced the Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
drinking contest, where each contestant would have to drink a 1.5 L bottle as fast as possible.
In 1997, the place stayed the same but the party date moved from winter to summer (being held on 18–20 July). Imphobia was joined by Bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
, Pulpe, Smash Designs and W.O.W. in its organizing efforts. This edition marked the return of Amiga and even C-64
Commodore 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...
competitions. The winning PC 64k intro stand out again. This time, it was Jizz by The Black Lotus introducing the generated objects and textures system to the PC world. The Magic Carpet engine was coded in 4k this time by Dawn of a New Age. For the first time, a 100kb PC game competition was held.
Wired '98 took place on 17–19 July 1998 and attracted 800 attenders. Organizing team was composed of Imphobia, Melting Pot, Pulpe, W.O.W. and Role. Since it was announced as the final edition, a very strange atmosphere overwhelmed the party mood. Only a few Amiga productions showed up. The PC demo competition was won by Cocoon with the heavy Syndrome demo, and the PC 64K intro competition was won by Quad with Theta.
Future
A Wired was to be held in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 2000, but the idea was eventually dropped.
A demoparty
Demoparty
A demoparty is an event that gathers demosceners and other computer enthusiasts to compete in competitions. A typical demoparty is a non-stop event lasting over a weekend, providing the visitors a lot of time to socialize. The competing works, at least those in the most important competitions, are...
called Rewired
Rewired
Rewired is the sixth studio album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 2004. This was the first album released by the band following the death of co-lead singer Paul Young. Partially because of this, the album was credited to "Mike + The Mechanics" + "Paul Carrack".The album was released in the UK...
is planned for 2008 in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, but there is no link with the original Wired (a different place, different organizers and a much smaller capacity of 250 people).