I have just finished writing my book on the history of Amstrad CPC demoscene, which is only in French for the moment. An English translation could be done later if there are many requests.
I'm copying an English summary here, and I invite you to support the project by clicking on the link below, for those who speak French. Thanks!
(https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/com.ulule.media/presales/1/8/2/8/4/1/148281/cover.LN7IUm7Zcj.png)
When and how did demomaking appear on Amstrad CPC? Were demo coders more brilliant than game programmers? What did the famous meetings consist of? Why did it all fall apart in 1993?
In this first volume of
Memory Full, Hicks traces the history of the Amstrad CPC demoscene from 1984 to 1997, and immerses us in the atmosphere of the time through the memories and testimonies of the CPCers active during that period.
Over 180 pages richly illustrated by Hwikaa, the book follows the evolution of the scene in a chronological way, looking at the role and importance of fanzines, meetings, swappers and associations, while offering accessible technical analysis to better measure the value of the different demos.
Pre-order your copy of
Memory Full 1 on Ulule now!
https://fr.ulule.com/memory-full-une-histoire-de-la-demoscene-cpc-t1 (https://fr.ulule.com/memory-full-une-histoire-de-la-demoscene-cpc-t1/)
Yeahhh baby yeah !
Oh I'm definitely backing this!
However, regarding the English version... Take a look at the mess with the recent Spanish book, unless you have it on the schedule since the beginning, you're certainly going to lose many backers. Perhaps create a second campaign for the English translation?
An English translations would be certainly interesting regarding those words of gryzor.
The Spanish 'yet another attempt at retro reviews' book example that Gryzor refers to was of no real interest to me as it had absolutely nothing new to say. This one, however, is indeed one of the things missing in the CPC scene. I will certainly back an English edition that I can read, but not one in French only.
The English version will be named "Memoria llena".
:D :D ;D
My French is not good enough to read the entire book. So I would definitely find some euros anywhere for an English version.
The English version is an interesting project, but it would take time to develop as a translator would have to be willing to do the work. It would be possible to do another campaign for this version later, and to start the translation only if the campaign is successful (if only few people are interested, not enough...).
Another obstacle could be the price, because of the rates charged by the French Post Office for rates abroad: 23.55€ for a letter between 500gr-1kg. So a book at about 40€.
So I would like to think about it, but only once the French version is produced and sent (because it doesn't depend on me alone). Anyway, I don't forget my non-French speaking friends, and I'll buy a beer at the Revision to BSC to console him ;)
Hey, printing paper books is bad for the environment. How about making the English version a PDF, so those of us who'd rather pollute the planet by using rechargeable portable devices, can enjoy the book without having to pay the fee for using la post francaise.
I can think of few more worthy reasons to destroy the environment... Give us dead trees!
PDF? Always welcome! :) That way I can translate into German too. ;)
I would definitely be interested in an English version.
Interestingly, for my current personal project - an audio visual history (less testimony and research than this book) of the CPC demoscene - I am making the split at 1988 for the first part too - there really seems to be a shift around that point. It'll be in English if I ever get it finished - editing all the captured video (from emulators mostly) to the right sections to make it all flow is quite an effort.
(By the way, my demo is listed on this CPC wiki as being in the 80s but it was mid nineties. I think I saw one scroll message that might have alluded to another scene member called Interrupt in the 80s?)
I would definitely interested in the English version. Even as a PDF as Rex suggests.
I had a great blast reading books on Amiga/Atari demoscene, and I was always dreaming of an Amstrad CPC book of that kind. I thought nobody would write that one. Hope there is more interest, I would even pay the 40 euros for such if it's up, but let's see and wait.
Eh, I certainly hope it's not like the Atari one. Beautiful book, gorgeous printing and photographs, atrocious writing and layout...
Quote from: Gryzor on 12:00, 27 March 23Eh, I certainly hope it's not like the Atari one. Beautiful book, gorgeous printing and photographs, atrocious writing and layout...
I's not the same authors who produced craps on Atari / Amiga who do this on CPC, but people who are competent in the field.
It looks like a very interesting book. Unfortunately I don't know how to read French, if you publish it in English (even if it's in pdf) I'll buy it.
Quote from: TotO on 12:46, 27 March 23Quote from: Gryzor on 12:00, 27 March 23Eh, I certainly hope it's not like the Atari one. Beautiful book, gorgeous printing and photographs, atrocious writing and layout...
I's not the same authors who produced craps on Atari / Amiga who do this on CPC, but people who are competent in the field.
Yup I'm fully aware of the name of the guy responsible for the Atari crap...
interested in english version +1 8)
Ok, just ordered. It auto completed my address in Greek, hope the label is correctly printed 😂
Quote from: Gryzor on 15:18, 29 March 23Ok, just ordered. It auto completed my address in Greek, hope the label is correctly printed 😂
you can change delivery address anytime on Ulule (or mail hicks to avoid mistakes)
40 hours left: https://fr.ulule.com/memory-full-une-histoire-de-la-demoscene-cpc-t1/
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PRINT "Memory Full 1" !
Nous sommes heureux de vous annoncer que l'ouvrage vient tout juste d'être envoyé à l'imprimeur. Celui-ci annonce un délai de livraison d'environ 10 jours. Ce sera alors à notre tour d'investir le bureau de poste le plus proche pour expédier vos exemplaires.
L'ouvrage sera diffusé sous le label 3 Thumbs Publishing, créé pour l'occasion. D'autres publications pourraient ainsi voir le jour sous cette bannière.
Je ferai une petite présentation du livre à la Benediction Coding Party #3, organisée par Eliot / Benediction, du 27 au 30 octobre 2023 à Gavray sur Sienne (en Normandie). Il s'agit d'un rassemblement de passionnés de CPC, auquel vous êtes tous conviés, quelle que soit votre implication dans le domaine. Vous trouverez plus d'informations sur le site dédié à l'événement : http://bndcodingparty.memoryfull.net (http://bndcodingparty.memoryfull.net/)
On se retrouve donc dans une dizaine de jours, dès la réception des imposants colis contenant les 200 exemplaires imprimés !
Hicks et Hwikaa
Can't wait to get mine😊
Quote from: Titi on 22:04, 03 October 23PRINT "Memory Full 1" !
Nous sommes heureux de vous annoncer que l'ouvrage vient tout juste d'être envoyé à l'imprimeur. Celui-ci annonce un délai de livraison d'environ 10 jours. Ce sera alors à notre tour d'investir le bureau de poste le plus proche pour expédier vos exemplaires.
L'ouvrage sera diffusé sous le label 3 Thumbs Publishing, créé pour l'occasion. D'autres publications pourraient ainsi voir le jour sous cette bannière.
Je ferai une petite présentation du livre à la Benediction Coding Party #3, organisée par Eliot / Benediction, du 27 au 30 octobre 2023 à Gavray sur Sienne (en Normandie). Il s'agit d'un rassemblement de passionnés de CPC, auquel vous êtes tous conviés, quelle que soit votre implication dans le domaine. Vous trouverez plus d'informations sur le site dédié à l'événement : http://bndcodingparty.memoryfull.net (http://bndcodingparty.memoryfull.net/)
On se retrouve donc dans une dizaine de jours, dès la réception des imposants colis contenant les 200 exemplaires imprimés !
Hicks et Hwikaa
Sehr geil, sehr sehr geil!
Is the book still available to order and is an English version still a possibility? If not, maybe a PDF version would work so people unable to read French could run it through a translation program.
Quote from: CrookieMonster on 15:31, 15 October 23Is the book still available to order and is an English version still a possibility? If not, maybe a PDF version would work so people unable to read French could run it through a translation program.
Hello!
Yes, there are still a few copies in French that you can order. To do so, send me a message at my address: hicks.vanity (at) gmail (dot) com
The English version is still planned, yes! You'll have to be patient, but it will come :)
Thanks for your interest!
Hello,
I just received mine today!
A big thank you David (Hicks), Hwikaa, and everyone who was able to participate directly or indirectly. 👍
The book is really, really super complete !
I skimmed over it to look at the format and I see that there is a lot of research and details on this Volume 1.
We see (and we imagine) the enormous in-depth work that went into transcribing this entire first story of the 1984-1997 demo scene...
A great job, well done!
And given the number of pages, texts, and articles, it will take more than a week to devour it because the content is so substantial.
Not to mention that we will definitely come back.
THANKS ! :)
Anyone got a tracking number?
Woo hoo!!!! Got it! Haven't read any yet, but the production is just beautiful!!!
i finished reading the book yesterday
nice illustrations
some anecdotes we all knew, some we didn't know about
i discovered truely innovative productions (games or demos)
great job
I've only read a few dozen pages, and so far it's really great. Very well written, well designed, and very well documented. It's a masterpiece! Well done
@Hicks and
@Hwikaa !
I'd love to order one if there is still a copy left :-\
Quote from: Hicks on 21:30, 23 October 23Quote from: CrookieMonster on 15:31, 15 October 23Is the book still available to order and is an English version still a possibility? If not, maybe a PDF version would work so people unable to read French could run it through a translation program.
Hello!
Yes, there are still a few copies in French that you can order. To do so, send me a message at my address: hicks.vanity (at) gmail (dot) com
The English version is still planned, yes! You'll have to be patient, but it will come :)
Thanks for your interest!
Will wait for a English version (need years to read the French one :))
@Hicks I received mine yesterday. What a nice surprise! The content is really substantial, while being very pleasant to read. It looks like it was a lot of work to put everything together.
I have two questions:
- You mention in the first part specific techniques used by game programmers, prior to the demos. Did you reverse engineer the games? Or is it some kind of common knowledge within the scene?
- You also mention Logon's internal fanzine, that was used to disseminate technical knowledge within the group. Do we have scans or copies of this fanzine?
Thank you for this terrific work!
Sébastien
Hi
@gougoutt!
Thanks for your kind words.
- Yes, except for visual evidences (multimode/rasters), I take a look at the code of each game I mention. It was quite long, but very interesting. I specifically wanted to go beyond the common knowledge.
- At time (2007-2010), Longshot didn't want to make Logon System's internal fanzine public (which is his right). I don't know if he has changed his mind now.