»CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL8:»BIG:Pondering our motivation »SML: - why do we do it? »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL4:by Alvin/Nah-Kolor »CL0:It is two in the morning. The darkness is total. The rays of the moon try to pierce the darkness and shine through windows of dark houses. Everyone is asleep, resting, gaining strength for a new day. But wait! Maybe not everyone. A young man, in his early twenties, still awake. With tired eyes he looks at the monitor of his computer, swiftly moving his hand with orders for the point on the screen. His other hand quickly dances over the keys like elves at night. The screen beholds a picture in the making. Anyone could see this young man is an artist. His hand controls the »CL1:mouse» with elegance while his other hand controls the shortkeys for different functions. With endless motivation he draws »CL1:pixel» after »CL1:pixel», copying a »CL1:mental image» to the screen in front of him. »CL0:This scene makes me think of many scenefreaks; graphicians, coders, musicians, so devoted to what they are doing that they do not care about late hours or a body that desperately cries for sleep. Does this scenario sound familiar? It is to me. The scene used to be a lot bigger. The scene used to be full of talent, all wanting to see their name at the chart. They sure had to work for it too. Reaching the top was not easy then and it is not easy now. I can remember »CL1:nights» just like the one described above, of which the latest one was last night. Nights, when the desire to see a picture grow from faint outlines to perfection made me sit in front of »CL1:Deluxepaint» from the time I came home from school until two, three in the morning. The motivation, the desire, to see that picture, the creation of my mind, come into existence by the very works of my fingers made me go on and on. One day while I was pondering why I kept on drawing and being more or less active in the Scene, a question found its way into my mind. »CL1:Obviously», there had to be something that made all you guys our there continue doing what you are doing. Just as in my own activities, I figured that there had »CL0:to be something that motivated you to sit in front of that computer year in and year out. To find the answer to this very unexpected question of my own, I looked into my own life to see why I continued to watch demos and read diskmags. »CL1:Why» in the »CL1:world» was it so fun to pixel a picture I sometimes only had in my mind? The reason why I kept going had to be the same as for at least some of you out there. If we all look back to our first contact and entrance into the scene, I am quite sure there is a key somewhere around there. The reason we once were attracted to the Scene might not be the same reason we keep going today, but it might give us a hint, can it not? »PIC:Revi112x64x16» »CL8:Why it all began »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:I first got in contact with the Scene through close friends (since long gone from the Scene by now). Somehow, there was an attraction in it. It was different, it was cool. It was using the computer for something different than playing games (which had been my main interest). I found the whole thing to be...fun. When I finally got my own Amiga, it did not take long before I had joined the Scene, starting to swap and draw. It all became a hobby that I enjoyed. »CL8:Then what? »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:To start doing something is not always too hard. I am sure you agree. To keep going is the hard part. Starting to read a book is not always hard. To get by the first two boring chapters (assuming they are boring of course) to get to the action takes effort on your part. Same thing with pixeling a pixture. Getting to the stage where your picture actually looks like the picture you have in your mind takes time and patience. What is it that kept me going then? What keeps you going? I found through a study of my own time in the scene some factors that actually might be true for you as well. »CL8:Creativity »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:Ever felt like you just have to get home and get a pen and paper, transfering a mental picture to the paper? Maybe you figured out how to code a certain routine during a boring English class and could not wait to try it out. I am sure I am not the only one that has experienced similar outbursts of creativity. It is also something I think is an important part of every sceners activity. »CL1:Creativity» means a lot of things. Originality, boldness, daring, unorthodoxy and innovation are just a few synonyms that well describe the word creativity. Innovation is what lies behind new ideas in a demo. Boldness can be found where people are not scared of trying something new in their attempts to conquer the Scene. »CL1:Creativity» is a major source of inspiration in everything that is produced in the Scene. Without creativity, productions easily conform to certain patterns, giving viewers of the brainchild no thrill or satisfaction. Without creativity, the Scene would, in my opinion, slowly die. »PIC:Budgie240x29x128» »CL8:Patience »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:It is a virtue, the wise men say. It sure is important too. Drawing a picture pixel by pixel demands a lot of picture. Composing a picture in other ways requires patience too, I am sure. Coding is another area where I can imagine a great deal of patience is required. Especially assembler can be timeconsuming. »CL8:Satisfaction »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL1:Creativity »CL0:and »CL1:inspiration» is the source of most of the products out there. Together with patience, the musician can achieve satisfaction and accomplisment with what he is doing. Satisfaction brings the desire to succeed again (at least it does for me), which in turn produce new ideas. »CL8:The challenge »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:Does anyone remember the days when everyone said that Doom-clones were impossible to make on the Amiga. It was just too slow. Yet, look at what we have today. Genetic Species and Quake, two great games along with many others like Alien Breed 3D II, Breathless etc. Just lately Doom itself has been converted to the Amiga. Impossible they said. Sure, some coder said sarcasticly and proved otherwise. »CL1:Sceneproductions are also a lot about challenge. Can this demo go beyond that demo? Can this unknown group become better than this famous group? Is it possible to draw an even better picture than the picture all considers to be the best? It seems like wherever there is a challenge, there is also someone who is ready to take on the challenge. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not part of the core of the Scene-mentality; to do something better than others, "showing off" our abilities? Without the challenge, new ideas would never form in the minds of guys dreaming for fame. »CL8:Fame »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:Anyone ever looked at a chart and wished they had the first spot? I have, occasionally. I am sure everyone at least once have had the desire to enter the charts, in one way or another, some more than others. It seems, in fact, as some live for the charts while others do not care as much. One cannot deny that the desire for fame is a major driving force for some Sceners and that it does produce amazing results in what they do as well. »CL8:Money »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:Maybe you are a part of the greedy bunch? Only coding for the money? I am sure this is a major force in our minds as well, even though we might not want to admit it. Years ago, articles about the commercialized Scene appeared in diskmag after diskmag. People complained about those that just did it for the money, not for the fun of it. Easy to complain, it sure is. When you have a price of hundreds of dollars within reach, would you not go for it? I probably would, especially if I knew I had a chance to get it. It seems like the prizemoney has become a way to pay expenses for trips to parties as well. In any case, whatever the reason is, money is, as with almost everything else, a part of the Scene, so why try to deny it. »PIC:Revi128x60x16» »CL8:Conclusion »CL9:-------------------------------------- »CL0:Even though all these factors (or at least some) affect us and our thinking, we must not forget that if we do not enjoy what we are doing (that is, are satisfied), we will not do something for too long. There are of course other factors involved as well, such as time, our age, jobs etc. A job can steal time and our age also affects us in different ways. Someone might wonder if it matters at all. Does anybody really care why graphicians continue to draw pictures? Perhaps not. This is merely an attempt to analyze the question "why?" Maybe this article does not show you anything you really care about. It might also show you why you spend hours coding or maybe why you are not. Hopefully, if the motivation is lacking, you will realize why and then do something about it. One thing I know: I enjoy what I am doing. Do you?