8088 MPH by Hornet + CRTC + DESiRE

This would be appallingly bad for an Amiga demo. The demo scene is alive and well, teaching old hardware new tricks decades after it was released. 8088 MPH demoed 1,000 colors on CGA a couple of years ago: [VIDEO]

These kinds of tricks remind me a bit of how the Apple II produced color using the timing of the NTSC signal, or how Thexder tried to produce more colors [LINK] , or how the demo 8088 MPH produces more colors than the CGA composite mode was intended [VIDEO]

Good summary. A bit more generally, demos are often written to run under constrained conditions. They are also often written for competitions that set those conditions. Sometimes, like in this case, the constraints are entirely dictated by the hardware, and the objective is just to make the most impressive demo given the particular device’s limitations, very often pushing the hardware way past what was commonly thought to be possible. Modifying the hardware is usually not allowed, but playing “dirty” in software by using undocumented and maybe even unintended, obscure implementation details of the platform is highly encouraged. No stone is left unturned. 8088MPH (by the same makers as 8088 Domination) is a very good example. For decades, nobody knew it would be possible to display 1024 colors, at the same time, on the original PC (which most nominally supports only 4 colors at the same time, which could be stretched to 8 with a trick). You can watch the demo here: [VIDEO] And read about the methods used and invented here: [LINK] Sometimes, there are also additional constraints like size limits, which is especially popular on more advanced hardware like modern PCs. For example, the objective could be to make the most impressive demo in 1024 bytes.

The most amazing thing I've heard done with a PC speaker is in the last part of this equally amazing demo (starts at 6:37 --- the parts before have more "normal" beeper music): [VIDEO] Explanation here: [LINK]

I think you had a maladjusted TV or something. On a good TV or composite monitor, pixel art should have fairly sharp edges. Most televisions had adjustment controls for various thing (sharpness, contrast, tint, color, etc); so many people didn't know how to properly adjust them, though. My first video game system was a cheapo b/w pong clone knockoff thing from radio shack. My second was an Atari 2600. Later my parents bought me a TRS-80 Color Computer 2 with 16K (which eventually got upgraded to 32, then 64K), and then still later a Color Computer 3. An NES was in there somewhere, and I played on friend's Sega Genesis systems and C=64 computers (plus Apple IIe, PCjr, and others). Pixel art (back then, they were just "sprites" or "tiles" to us - I'm not sure if the term "pixel art" was a thing then - I never heard it, but it doesn't mean it wasn't) wasn't fuzzy or soft, unless things weren't adjusted right. The only other time it might be a little funky was if the machine in question was trying to use artifacting in some manner: [LINK] As you can see - artifacting could introduce a certain level of "fuzziness" to graphics; but scroll to the bottom of that page, to see what the CoCo 2 could do in the hands of someone competent with the effect. The CoCo 2 got 4 colors on an effectively black/white screen mode by interleaving black and white values - spaced close together on the screen, the NTSC system would render alternate colors - red/blue instead, depending on certain other f

To add an example to your arguments, the C64 and PC/XT demo scenes show what can be done with cycle accurate retrocomputing. Especially 8088mph: [VIDEO]

A former boss of mine said that he aspired to build the "Sagrada Família of software", referring to the intricately beautiful basilica whose architect didn't live to see the completion of: [LINK] He meant that he wanted to build something that took time and care, but it would last and amaze all who saw it with its beauty and impressive construction. I showed him 8088MPH, which took seven years to write: [VIDEO] He said "OK, that's the Sagrada Família of software." Thinking on the Matrix sequels which, I know, do not exist, I came to a stunning realization: The Machines have a demoscene. Neo encounters a pair of programs who are trying to smuggle their daughter, Sati, into the Matrix. The Oracle told Neo that every program in the Matrix has a purpose, but Sati does not and that's why she is at risk of deletion. Her parents created her simply to experience the joy of loving her. Sati is a demo. Like any demo she exists simply to delight her creators and anyone who observes her. We even get to see a demoeffect of hers: the colorful sunrise she creates for Neo to enjoy, wherever he may be. This demonstrates that the Machines have developed art, empathy, and love, quite possibly due to Neo's influence.

Love how people are still pushing old hardware. These are also two excellent demo's on the XT: Area 5150 [LINK] 8088 MPH [VIDEO]

PC speaker: - 8088 mph demo: [VIDEO] - Area 5150 demo: [LINK] - Stormlord (game, 1989): [LINK] (unfortunately doesn't keep intro screen around for long) - A nice video explaining PC speaker with examples (also features Chronos from ZX Spectrum): [LINK]