What About the SCENE?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been involved/interested in the demo scene since 1986/1987 when I was
using the mighty C-128 to code and view demos.  I've seen the scene spread
a lot since then.  I think the internet has greatly helped in bringing demos
to the masses or at least made it easier for those of us that enjoy this
form of entertainment to get these productions.

I was the one who created the first internet demo site but if it was not
me then it would have been someone else, perhaps a little bit later in time
though.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best when he spoke to the 
crowd--I have a dream...  I also had a dream when I created that demo site
and it was to create an easily accessable demo distribution site.  Through
a lot of hard work that dream is a reality I am happy to say.  Doing a CD
(aka Escape and now Freedom) was also a dream that became reality.  And
for what?  Well, for the scene, that's what.  It is my way of giving back
a little something--just like musicians, coders, and artists give.  It is my
way of being an active participant.  Like any activity (i.e. sports), it
is cool to watch but more fun to participate.

I'm not sure what the future will bring to the scene but I do hope it
remains in the hands of the people that are a part of it rather than those 
who step in from the outside and exploit it.  I would also like everyone
to realize that success can make you a better person but it can also spoil
you (i.e. check out the music industry).

In the ending process of the ESCAPE CD and throughout the FREEDOM CD process
I saw--too many times--demos "requiring" permission for distribution.  Seeing
this, after all these years, hit me the hardest.  I kind of see the scene
going like this...give, give, give, give, give me, give me, me, me...and
I wonder if it is a generation thing.  Has the decade of greed caught up
to the demo scene?  I don't know folks, this is just one persons perspective.
The scene is still great but it has been tainted a little bit...a little
bit of mold is on the bread.

I would like to add that we should support the scene.  CDs like those by
LizardKing, Kosmic, Purple Motion, and the PARTY CDs are in some way or
another related/created scene CDs.  There is amazing talent lurking out
there in the demo scene--musicians, coders, artists, etc.  If you show
support more CDs will be created.  Hey, it doesn't have to be a major
label to be good, nor does it have to have great distribution.  And by
all means, work together, not against one another.

Finally, I'd like to leave you with some E-mail Pehu (Assembly Organizing)
and I exchanged regarding CDs and commercialism.  I did do a little editing
but the idea remains intacked between our letter exchanging.  Derive your
own conclusions as it is best to think for yourself and question the answers!

Game Over,

-Dan Wright-

From: Pekka Aakko <aakko@cc.helsinki.fi>
Subject: Re: SB in ASM'95 (was Re: CDROM.COM LUTH.SE , etc)
To: dmw@gate.net
Date: Wed, 24 May 1995 09:39:10 +0300 (EET DST)

dmw@gate.net wrote:
> 
> It is of my opinion/belief that the COMMERCIAL ism comes in to play
> with the "CD" more than anything else.  WE (myself and others) accept
> sponsors such as GRAVIS to make a contest better and increase the PRIZES
> and don't necessarly call this commercialism.  BUT, when a  CD is
> produced and "EXCLUSIVE" rights are in a sense DEMANDED ....making a 
> FREEWARE product a commercial one.  I see this as Commercialism.

	Ok, let me explain some of the things.

	Exclusive rights are there because of two reasons: to protect the
	product and to protect the rights of the demo coders. The exclusives
	are NOT mandatory. The team doesn't have to give the exclusives.

	Why protect? Big companies use the demos in their cds and make
	huge bucks without paying the coders one single dollar. That is
	VERY wrong. When we have exclusive CDrom rights they cannot put
	the stuff to CDs without our permission. Thus they can't make
	these ripoff products.

	When the product is protected it of course makes a bit more money.
	WE pay royalties from the cdrom (25% roughly) and thus support the
	demo scene! (I just hope asm cd will bring us that money so that
	we can show you guys!) Also, the money that comes from the CD 
	are used to organize ASM95, and without the cd asm95 wouldnt be
	possible in such a fantastic place as it is going to be this year.

	I would like to note that the demo is still "freeware" as 
	we only want exclusives on CDROM media. People can still spread
	the demos like hell. The exlusives are there to PROTECT the rights
	of demo coders. Trust me, this has been taken very well in among
	the bigger teams, like EMF, as there are companies that have
	broken the law directly, by using their product causing them huge
	losses so to speak. No wonder they want to take actions and we
	are ready to do it.

> I see this as oversteping the "bounds" of the demo community.
> What about producing a CD for 2/3rds the price and sixthing the
> exclusive rights and royalities...  Hey, isn't winning some prize money
> enough.  Paying royalities to justify a profit on a CD with EXCLUSIVE
> demos.

	Well, make a demo, and think if the prize money really is enough
	of some product that takes weeks of work from many different
	people. And I see demos as ARTFORM... why can't we also pay the
	guys??

> Something smells wrong...

	I only smell envy in some of the letters that I see in the usenet.

	It is ok to have criticism but frankly, if someone says its not
	good to give these people money, that has nothing more behind
	but basic envy (not referring to you, you had points behind your
	posting)

> -dan
> wright-


--
::::::::  Pekka.Aakko@Helsinki.FI                    University of Helsinki
::::::::  "I can resist anything but temptation"     ::::::::::::::::::::::

From: Pekka Aakko <aakko@cc.helsinki.fi>
Subject: Re: SB in ASM'95 (was Re: CDROM.COM LUTH.SE , etc)
To: dmw@gate.net
Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 03:00:09 +0300 (EET DST)

dmw@gate.net wrote:
> 
> You are a very articulate and convincing person.  Everything you say comes
> across smooth to me.  Making me a believer.  Good/Bad?  Ah, I'm too easily
> convinced that's bad.

	Why so? Isn't it bad if you try to see all things in bad light all the
	time. Why don't you let the facts speak for themselves. 

> Over the yeasrs I have noticed MORE and MORE demo groups requesting 
> permission
> to use their "production" on CD's and etcettra.  I do not recall seeing
> any of those CD's that actually use peoples demos to make HUGE bucks but

	When the demo is said to be freeware it has nothing to do with
	the requests. That's the sad part.

	Almost all the commercial CDs are such that they make money a lot. 
	People just regard them as normal CDs but the sale figures tell 
	different story. They cost little bit less but after all, they
	don't pay royalties.

> maybe that is because I live in the US or because I do not explore the
> WHOLE CDROM scene.  Though I do recall some mentioning "demos" (or at least
> one) from "parties in Europe."  But it was too lame and the demos were too
> old.  But I definitly agree with you that companies should not be making
> PROFITS off demos as we known them in the PC/AMIGA/C64 scene.  The coders
> don't make money thus the archivers shouldn't.

	But the most of the archivers do.

> Royalites are good...great in fact cause the demo creaters have more 
> incentive.  Course you have to be able to not price yourself out of the
> market.  $40 (one distro tells me in the US) is the ASM94 price.  Yes,

	$40 isn't bad price for such product as ASM cdrom. The rom supports
	the scene and the rom has lots to give. Normal CDrom prices are
	around $60 if you talk about CDROM games etc (at least the new ones
	are here). But asm95 cdrom won't be even $40 if we have anything
	to say to it (and we surely want to do that!).

> Then, as the ASM95/TP94 CD organizer I must pose a question for you.
> Certainly you have heard of the "FREEDOM" CD.  Right?  Would allowing

	Sorry I haven't.

> me to include some of those demos "deemed" exclusive on the FREEDOM
> CD be too much to ask....  So long as I get permission where and
> when applicable (i.e. where requested, where i-net addresses posted,
> and such).  We can discuss the aspects of this in further detail if
> you wish to do so.  I do not need an instant no or yes.

	I cannot make the decision by myself at all, but you might want to
	send info and request to "assembly@icon.fi" as all the organizing
	people read the mails that arrive there.

> Thanks for taking time to write your long response...

	To me, explaining our goals is important, as the scene itself lives
	off rumors and rumors are usually always bad. ANd we need to straighten
	the info as what we do is what hasn't been done before (things that
	with 100% sure would be done by someone sooner or later). 

> -dan wright-

	Regards,

	Pehu
--
::::::::  Pekka.Aakko@Helsinki.FI                    University of Helsinki
::::::::  "I can resist anything but temptation"     ::::::::::::::::::::::
