Demo is a term that has its origin in a concept of the Greek language that, in general, is translated as “people”. In this sense, it is a compositional element that allows us to create different words in our language.
It must be established that in ancient times demo was used as a term to refer to each of the administrative districts that existed in Athens. Each of them had a series of essential elements for coexistence and its operation, such as an agora, which was the assembly that was in charge of possessing the necessary power in matters of civil registration, police, worship or even finances..
In the same way, it should be noted that the demos was the basic circumscription, since it was later expanded and shaped to others of higher rank such as tribes, tribes or cities.
With the compositional element demo the noun democracy can be formed.
Some terms formed with the compositional element demo
Democracy, meanwhile, is a political system that contemplates the participation of citizens through voting for decision-making. Democratic states, therefore, are governed according to the will of the majority.
Demography, meanwhile, is the analysis of a human community through statistics. The discipline works with quantitative data to study the characteristics of a society.
The concept linked to software
It is possible to find another use of demo, not as a compositional element within a compound word, but as a noun. A demo, from the English demonstration, is a limited version of a piece of software or a musical disc that is used as a preview or sample of the complete work.
In the case of computer programs, demos usually include fewer features or tools than the final version of the product. The demo of a video game, to cite an example, can include three or four levels, while the full game offers the possibility of overcoming a hundred levels.
The development of a video game demo is much more complex than many think; In general, it is not simply about cutting the content, but rather it requires a specific design, with certain changes that make the experience more coherent and that manage to transmit the soul of the complete product, despite being drastically reduced. This is not so difficult to achieve in action games, but it is in genres such as RPG or adventure.
A demo can be a limited version of software that is distributed to publicize the features of the program in question.
Characteristics of a demo
A demo usually presents the beginning of a game, although this is not always the case; sometimes a portion of the story is offered that does not reveal many secrets, but contains enough elements to give a clear idea of the mechanics and the characteristics of the characters and the worlds they must explore.
Generally, in a demo there are references to all or many of the parts of the full game that have been blocked, to entice players to buy it once they pass the trial. It is worth mentioning that a demo is not the same as a beta version, and the difference is mainly that the former faithfully represents the graphics, sound and gameplay of the final product, while the latter can be released months or even years before it is released. the project is completed.
The notion in music
In the realm of music, the demo is usually a recording that a singer or band records to present to a record company with the intention of getting a contract. In some countries, this demo is also known as a demo.
Precisely in relation to the musical field, we also have to say that in Spain there is a competition that tries to give young talents a new opportunity and that uses the term in question in its title. This is the Demo Project, which is developed by Radio 3 and which basically comes to be a contest in which new artists present their models in order to achieve a professional opportunity.
Thanks to the possibilities offered by the Internet with social networks such as YouTube and Myspace, nowadays not all artists who want to see their names at the top of the international hit lists take the trouble to prepare a demo as was the custom. until the 1990s. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have to work hard to get noticed, but that the demands have changed.
Today, record companies don’t always have to make big bets when it comes to signing new artists, as they can look at those who release their work online and see how successful they have been for themselves.. Musicians who share their creations with the community don’t usually demand money for full versions, even if they sell them through services like iTunes. When they prepare a demo, to present to a production company or for a contest, for example, it is also common for them to ask their followers for all the possible support.
Within the musical sphere, we would also have to establish that “Demo” is the title of a magazine that deals with said cultural field. It is originally from Peru and began its journey in 2005. Its periodicity is bimonthly and it comes to deal with all kinds of interviews, articles and musical reports related to both the latest groups and singers that arrive on the market and those that are already part of the History.
