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The Art of the Tech Demo

Posted by Hemos on from the impressing-the-folks-around-you dept.

Alan writes "A lot of people underestimate the significance of a good technology demo. A good tech demo can be more important for a GPU product launch than even benchmarks. However, this means more than just pretty graphics or complex shaders. In my final article to the industry, I explain what the art of the tech demo is all about. "

8 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Back in the old days... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    The demo scene is still going strong, though the general public doesn't seem to care.

    http://pouet.net for some delicious scene-ry :)

  2. Re:Back in the old days... by White+Shade · · Score: 5, Informative

    you speak of the scene as if it was past tense ... i think you'll find that you are wrong!!

    the scene is still going quite strong! :D

    --
    ìì!
  3. Different situation by AllenChristopher · · Score: 2, Informative
    Right.... but these are downloadable demos to sell cards to individuals and developers, not integrated solutions sold to large companies. You'd need millions of identical skilled salesmen to sell to each GPU customer.

    In the absence of Sludge Vohaul's phone number, developing a good demo is the best choice.

  4. Just in case the server crashes and burns... by mirror_dude · · Score: 2, Informative

    Just in case the server crashes and burns (like they usually do),I have put up a mirror.
    The mirror of http://www.firingsquad.com/features/art_of_tech_de mo/ is at http://mirrorit.demonmoo.com/r_706/www.firingsquad .com/features/art_of_tech_demo/

    --
    Note to Mods: When I post mirrors, it's a best guess. I don't know for certain whether or not the site will go down!
  5. Re:Why don't they just ask the demoscene? by execom · · Score: 2, Informative

    Some tech demos has been already done by some ex-demo makers:
    - 3DMark series have been produced by some guys from Future Crew or Dust
    - One of the latest nVidia demo 'Nalu' has been done by Hubert N'Guyen who is working at nVidia.
    He was from Impact Studios
    - List go on ..

    --
    I need a Sino-Logic 16. Sogo-7 data-gloves, a GPL stealth module...
  6. Re:Animusic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    If you think that's cool, check out this: Complete Animusic DVD with *many* animated scenes....

  7. softimage demo... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    in chapter 6 of proudly serving my corporate masters, Adam Barr explains the details of a tech demo at Softimage

  8. My guess is it was the sales figures... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Note that the DC predates the PS2 by almost a year.

    If you want to impress developers, forget tech demos, show them how many units they're going to sell.

    Any developer who went for the power of the 3DO learned quickly what the real most important stat was.

    The PS1 was the biggest thing in videogaming, it blew away the Saturn and all other comers. It was fresh off whupping the N64 when the DC came out, and my guess is developers felt the safe bet was on Sony's follow-on. They were right.