X (demoparty)

X is a Dutch demoscene party held in Someren, organized by the demoscene groups Success & The Ruling Company (SCS*TRC), Xenon, and Silicon Ltd. With about 250 visitors, it is the world's largest Commodore 64 demoscene party, attracting demosceners from around the world.

The music competition at X'2010

X started in 1995 in Utrecht, initially focusing on both the Commodore 64 and PC demoscenes before switching to focus solely on the Commodore 64 in 1998.

History

X evolved from the three successful parties held by Silicon Ltd between 1991 and 1993. After the third party in 1993, several Silicon Ltd members who helped organize the parties left the group, and a few of these ex-members formed a PC group under the name SuccesS PC in December 1993. At the same time, the groups SuccesS and The Ruling Company formed a co-operation.

In 1995, SCS*TRC, SuccesS PC, and a third group, Focus, decided to organize a combined party for the C64 and the evolving PC demoscenes in Utrecht, where the former Silicon Ltd parties were held. The party, X’95, was a success, and another X party was held in 1996. In 1997, the X organizers combined their efforts with another PC group and expanded to a bigger venue at the Eindhoven University of Technology. With access to a large party hall, an auditorium, professional audio/video equipment, and unlimited internet access, they organized one of the first large LAN parties in The Netherlands.

Although X'97 was an overall success, the increased scale of the party had its downsides. Many C64 demosceners expressed that they missed a cozier atmosphere that was present at the previous smaller X parties. In addition, quarrels with other PC groups led to the dissolution of SuccesS PC. As a result of this, SCS*TRC (in particular, members Burglar, CBA, Moren, and Nightshade) decided to make the next X party in 1998 focus exclusively on the C64 demoscene. The C64 group Xenon was also enlisted to help organize the party. After picking a new location at a farm in Ruurlo, an "all-inclusive" concept was invented that formed the basis for all X parties that followed. X’98 exceeded expectations, with almost 100 people attending.

After two more X parties were held in 2000 and 2001, most of the main organizers started to lose interest in the event, and no parties were held for the next two years. Xenon, still interested in continuing X, teamed up with demosceners Spectator, Oxbow, WVL and CBA to organize another party in 2004. X’2004 ended up being the largest X party to date at the time, partially due to C64 demoscene activity increasing, and got many inactive organizers interested in participating in X again. The SuccesS PC members rejoined the X organizers under their former group name Silicon Ltd, after which the party evolved, becoming more refined and professional while staying non-profit.

Eventually the X party outgrew the location in Ruurlo, and after receiving complaints about noise disturbance, relocated to its current location in Someren which has more space, a basement for musical performances, a professional kitchen, and many beds for guests.

Events

  1. X 1995 A fistfun experience to be seen to be believed! (April 21, 1995 April 22, 1995)
  2. X 1996 (April 5, 1996 April 7, 1996)
  3. X 1997 Takeover (April 4, 1997 April 6, 1997)
  4. X 1998 (September 18, 1998 September 20, 1998)
  5. X 2000 The Reunion (November 17, 2000 November 19, 2000)
  6. X 2001 A C64 Odyssey (November 23, 2001 November 25, 2001)
  7. X 2004 8 Bit Heaven (October 22, 2004 October 24, 2004)
  8. X 2006 Got Cow ? (October 13, 2006 October 15, 2006)
  9. X 2008 Mooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh (October 24, 2008 October 26, 2008)
  10. X 2010 The Year We Make Contact (October 1, 2010 October 3, 2010)
  11. X 2012 (October 26, 2012 October 28, 2012)
  12. X 2014 (October 24, 2014 October 26, 2014)
  13. X 2016 (October 28, 2016 October 30, 2016)
  14. X 2018 (November 2, 2018 November 4, 2018)
  15. X 2023 (June 2, 2023 June 4, 2023)
  16. X 2024 (May 10, 2024 May 12, 2024)

Live performances

  1. X 1995 Toadstool
  2. X 1996 Toadstool
  3. X 1997 Toadstool
  4. X 2004 Goto80
  5. X 2006 Jeroen Tel & a striptease act
  6. X 2008 Reyn Ouwehand, Jeroen Tel
  7. X 2010 6581 Band, Jeroen Tel, DaTucker
  8. X 2012 Reyn Ouwehand, Jeroen Tel
  9. X 2014 Reyn Ouwehand, Bas Bron
  10. X 2016 Reyn Ouwehand, LFT & 64Mula, Jeroen Tel, Wacek
  11. X 2018 Reyn Ouwehand, Goto80 & Wacek, Magnar
  12. X 2023 Reyn Ouwehand, Shogoon & Mibri, Jeroen Tel

Competition winners

X demo/intro compo winners, 1995-2018
YearPlatformDemo64k intro4k intro
1995
C64 Radio Napalm (Reflex) N/A N/A
PC Big Deal (Acme) Spring (Logic Design) N/A
1996
C64 Krestology (Crest) N/A N/A
PC Fashion (Logic Design) Speed (Nostalgia) N/A
1997
C64 Holy Refuge (NoName) N/A N/A
PC 303 (Acme) Brighten The Corners (Valhalla) The Dream (Spirit New Style)
1998
C64 Soul (Booze Design) N/A N/A
2000
C64 Arcanum (Xenon) N/A N/A
2001
C64 Soiled Legacy (Resource) N/A N/A
2004
C64 Dialogue (Focus) N/A N/A
2006
C64 The Wild Bunch (Triad, Horizon, Focus & Instinct) N/A N/A
2008
C64 Edge of Disgrace (Booze Design) N/A N/A
2010
C64 Another Beginning (Offence) N/A N/A
2012
C64 Coma Light 13 (Oxyron) N/A N/A
2014
C64 Comaland (Censor & Oxyron) N/A N/A
2016
C64 The Phoenix Code (Bonzai) N/A N/A
2018
C64 The Star Wars Demo (Censor Design) N/A Screw it! (Triad)
2023
C64 Next Level (Performers) N/A Boo! (Reflex)

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.