Overview
Before the internet, there was the post office. Mail traders copied software onto floppy disks and mailed them across continents. Contact lists circulated in magazines and on disks. A package from Germany might take two weeks but contained treasures unavailable locally. This postal network distributed the demoscene, spread games, and built global friendships.
Fast facts
- Era: 1980s through mid-1990s.
- Medium: Floppy disks by post.
- Decline: Internet connectivity.
- Legacy: Global scene communities.
How it worked
| Step |
Process |
| 1 |
Find contacts (magazines, disks) |
| 2 |
Write introduction letter |
| 3 |
Copy software to disk |
| 4 |
Package and mail internationally |
| 5 |
Wait 1-4 weeks for response |
| 6 |
Receive new software, repeat |
| Source |
Content |
| Diskmag contact sections |
Addresses seeking traders |
| Magazine small ads |
Classified listings |
| Demo scroll texts |
“Contact us at…” |
| Existing contacts |
Network expansion |
Trading etiquette
| Rule |
Reason |
| Reply promptly |
Maintain relationships |
| Quality copies |
Reliable transfers |
| Original content |
Scene productions, not just copied games |
| International stamps |
Facilitate responses |
Package contents
| Item |
Purpose |
| Floppy disks |
Software medium |
| Letter |
Personal communication |
| Disk labels |
Organisation |
| Contact lists |
Network sharing |
Geographic patterns
| Region |
Characteristics |
| Scandinavia |
Strong demo scene |
| Germany |
Large community |
| UK |
Active but insular |
| USA |
Slower postal times |
| Australia |
Isolation challenges |
Postal challenges
| Issue |
Impact |
| Customs |
Occasional seizures |
| Delays |
Weeks of waiting |
| Costs |
International postage expensive |
| Damage |
Disks sometimes corrupted |
Decline
| Factor |
Effect |
| BBSes |
Faster local access |
| Internet |
Instant global access |
| CD-ROM |
Too large to mail cheaply |
| Email |
Free communication |
See also