How do you usually come up with demo ideas?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I would like to discuss a bit how people come up with their ideas.

For me, I usually get a visual based idea first then try to produce my artistic thought. That is to say simply that I approach demos as a dynamic art. I'll be the first to say coding is not my strong suit but I feel that art is so I am forced to grow to produce ever more complex ideas. I only have a handful of demos to my name but feel that I am beginning to grasp the art of demo making a bit better.

How do you approach creating a new demo? Do you work from a rough idea or do you simple get the vision of the end result and try to connect start and finish?

[Shockwave]

The last one I made was a spin-off from the procedural comp (the defacto2 one).

The challenges here are always a good starting place for me, mainly because of lack of other coding time, other times artists I work with will draw a nice logo or make a nice song and I'll try and do something that fits.. With varying degrees of success.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I too feel that the contests we have are key to innovation. I don't feel like I'll be dethroning the Germans in my demo making but for the time allotted there have been some very nice results.

[hellfire]

[...] dethroning the Germans in demo making

could you please explain that a bit?

[rain_storm]

We need some more Irish coders in the scene then the Irish would rule:D big time

[Shockwave]

[...] dethroning the Germans in demo making

could you please explain that a bit?

I think that he thinks that Germany has the best Demo coders... I wouldnt argue with that actually.

[hellfire]

I admit there are a lot of talented coders (also outside the demoscene) in germany (but in other countries as well).
Still there is more to "demomaking" than just "coding".
Also different countries seem to spawn different kinds of talents (for example graphic-artists in france) - I've always wondered why...

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Farbrausch anyone?

[rain_storm]

I guess the thing that spurs me on is watching other demos this is the best way to find inspiration for new stuff you may think those are nice colours. Some time later you need some cool colours that work together and you think why not red/blue it worked for him/her/them etc. all these little things that you've seen effect what you want to create in small ways that all add up to yet another prod

[stormbringer]

Funny observation: a successful intro/demo is when it surprises the audience with what it expects.

[Rbz]

Funny observation: a successful intro/demo is when it surprises the audience with what it expects.

I agree, that happened to me when I was watching this prod first time

[Jim]

I usually go out to real ale night on a Friday night, then sitting on the porcelain throne the next morning I get inspired.

Jim

[hellfire]

How do you approach creating a new demo?
Do you work from a rough idea or do you simple get the vision of the end result and try to connect start and finish?

Most of the time I get ideas from cg-animations or -renderings and try to reproduce the effect.
Usually I fail so miserably at it, that something completely different comes out