ZX Pilot #34 20 июля 1999

Демопати

Demopati - Photo CHAOS CONSTRUCTIONS'99 demo party.

                 C C 9 9 9



Full version (with photos) to see
http://www.enlight.ru/ib/events/cc99/index
. Htm

(C) PETER SOBOLEV



               Picture story

          CHAOS CONSTRUCTIONS'99

                demo party

              St. Petersburg

                  Russia

              July 3-4, 1999.



                DAY ONE.


   With great interest I went to
Chaos Construction'99 demo party. By interest usually mingled 
with a professional - I myself have participated in over 3 
years organization ENLiGHT demo party (95 .. 97),

I was curious how to do the organizers here. Frankly, even some 
of the month before CC'99 I attended on

invitation of the organizers at one of their
assembly as a "freelance consultant. Since then there were 
still many uncertainties to the placement and technique, my 
predictions (which, incidentally, I do not advertise) were not 
too optimistic. It turned out , My worries were completely in 
vain. 

   So the morning of 3 July, I went out and
half an hour, at about 12.30, approaching the school at 
Bryantseva 10, where it was supposed to go Chaos Construction. 
Already close to the school I observed three personality. 
Personality had a characteristic appearance in each hand was a 
bottle Beer, moreover, one of them carried two plastic bags in 
which something fun zvyakalo. I mentally multiplied the number 
of individuals on the 100 and I have started to spoil mood. 
However, it did not last long. 

   At the entrance to the school wore a sign
"Chaos Constructions", people who smoked at
Porch, confirmed that the party will really be. After rising to 
the second floor, before entering the auditorium I found a 
small place, to which both joined the In the corridor leading 
to the hall, people were getting tickets (they cost 50 p.) and 
questionnaires for the vote on the first day (as far as I know, 
both of them enough for all). Significant, if not the central

role in the process of visitors and
Participants played a laptop from Toshiba
(8088/2MB/3.5FDD, MSDOS2.20, 640x200LCD).
His serve several people, headed by the chief organizer - 
Random'om. Girls' entrance was free, although

number is unlikely to greatly affect -
There were 5 or 6.

   After registering, I went to the assembly
Hall. It was a standard school assembly
Hall, chair of the benches have been added
gym. In front, on stage, among clutter and picturesquely 
scattered glands and Spectrum triumphantly rose screen, which 
projected the image from here nestling video projector (SANYO). 
Hall was not yet complete, however, looking ahead to say that 
seats were on throughout the party. Multiple windows open, in 
addition to the street has become a bit cooler (a few weeks

temperature remained at a mark of 30), so
that was something to breathe.

   Immediately struck a black and white
image on the screen. It turned out that
Due to technical problems (all ultimately boils down to them 
;-) just with Spectrum color picture obtained is not

failed, although all of the duplicate still on
a small color screen on the right. With PC /
Amiga in this regard the problems as stated, is not expected. 
The sound came from the same small size of columns on both 
sides scene. As compo ZX Spectrum acted Scorpion ZS-256 Turbo 
+, GMX, General Sound adapter screw, mice and other things.


   Meanwhile, a significant portion of the people who 
approached form a small dam at the ZX Spectrum - has begun (or 
continued?) Acceptance of entries. This procedure greatly 
delayed, however, no clear timetable and not announced. Yet 
taken the work was tuning glands. Periodically, the screen 
flashed various spouts, splash TRDOS, a couple of times I have 
even noticed the splash screen with the words "Programmer 
FLASH" :-) In the series from time to time Sergei ran Frunze 
with SVHS camera - in Throughout the party, he very carefully

removed all any significant event -
I was told, probably it will be a film
about CC'99. In addition, there were several people with 
amateur cameras and cameras. 

   Finally, the music died down in columns on
stage with the explicit intention to stay there
there were a few of the organizers. Artie
briefly presented Random'a and gave him
microphone. He spoke about an epochal event and announced Chaos 
Construction'99 demo party open. Do it it had two or three 
times as Just at that moment, the operator having

problems with the camera :-)

   Competition starts on ZX Spectrum. The first was to be Wild 
compo, but it turned out that it represented only

one job, which went out of competition
(Ie, was shown without a vote).
In all compo declared number, then displays work. Then back 
room, work, etc. Microphone, alas, disappeared somewhere after 
the opening party and more in the first day I have not seen 
him. On the Graphics compo been exposed to 24 pictures. Because 
of the confusion with the numbers they have shown three times, 
although not I think that this is something affected. Among

graphics were a few, in my opinion, not bad things, but the 
masterpieces they are not pulled. 

   Somewhere around three o'clock in the afternoon started
Music compo. Music was also decently -
21 module. Somewhere in the first half, I listened, and then 
distracted and therefore do not undertake to evaluate the 
competition as a whole, I would mention only that one tune 
frankly blows out Second Reality (PC). In the second part of 
the Music compo been out of competition lost three

General Sound (another standard / piece of iron to
sound on ZX Spectrum, besides the usual AY-3
-8910) Tunes. About an hour later Music
compo ended and was adjourned -
all scattered around the room and the street. By the way,
with regard to the streets - empty field in front
porch was very helpful.

   In the hallway, as usual, there was communication. At least 
I've personally seen people from Moscow, Voronezh, Vladivostok, 
Novgorod, but if you look through the list of reserved and 
actually bought the tickets (organizers gave me access to this 
information), the ex-Soviet Union was represented fairly 
widely. In addition to those mentioned, attended also people 
from the cities of: Stary Oskol, Minsk Arzamas, Krasnodar, 
Russia, Rybinsk, Ulyanovsk, Tula.


   Volodya went Stands (organizer ENLiGHT'96-97 platform 
ZX-Spectrum). We with him in detail discussed what a strange 
and unusual feeling when you sit and look, but something to you 
and do not show have to run several consecutive days with

protruding tongue and a glass eye :-)

   At five o'clock the hall was filled again and the organizers 
announced the nomination Game compo Here is the contest came 
two or three toys, it's over quickly. There were three contest 
intro. The first was 512 bytes intro, was presented more than 
11 papers but none of my memory. Old effects only on the 
Spectrum. 

   4K intro competition brought a surprise.
His first job (C2H5OH by SERZH Soft)
aroused great interest, expressed in
screams and a standing ovation, to
who gladly joined me.
It really was an event - 4k intro
the music is successfully combined with the action.
A couple of mini-trackmo. The act itself was
interesting to watch - rare in our time
happens in the intro to see PLOT or demo,
the more 4K. The remaining three studies looked at the 
background of this rather pale. On 16k intro compo was 
represented by one work, she walked out of the competition. 

   And again, before the demo compo, was declared
break. But I will say a few words about their
impressions ... I think a good comparison would be with 
ENLiGHT'95, with the only difference that there is enough space 
and a projector. In the rest - the same ... romantic 
atmosphere. People watched with interest the work argued, 
filled in the questionnaires. No excesses within the hall was 
not observed. For organizers it was the first time and they 
enthusiastically ran up and down :-) A small Number of visitors 
(and I counted on 130 to 170 people, tickets were sold

120) contributed to a normal environment.
Digress from the discussion and draw attention to the piano in 
the corner. Who is playing on it, 15-20 people gathered around 
and sing something similar on the topic of Titanic'a.

Distorting the words, sheet music, but from the heart. AND
Then along each other clap :-) Now
back to the Demo compo ... Was presented
3 works. One of them is very good - with
original plot, interesting animated scenes and music. Although 
repeat - After the first 4k intro the audience was already

hard to impress.

   At the end of demo compo organizers
announced a big break - for counting
votes and announcing the results. For about two hours, 
particularly resistant people waiting. Organizers periodically 
allowed Amiga demos, which is slightly brightened wait, that's 
true State of Arts is not shown. Not because, if he hangs on 
the A1200? ;-) Finally, it appeared on the stage and Artie 
Random and began to list competitions, places and people who 
took them (the winners of turn up on stage, as a result

then there is gradually formed a crowd).
I will cite here 'fast results' - in the first
three places in each category (in parentheses indicate the 
number of points / points) - I rewrote it with a sheet on which 
declared the winner. Full results should soon be available on 
the official site CC'99 - http://cc999.da.ru



ZX SPECTRUM
===========

ZX Graphics:

1. Dream by Fil / Antares 127
2. Lovekind by Diver/4th Dimension 113
3. HrumHrum by Hero / Discovery Group 1953

ZX Music:

1. Together with me by EA / Antares 86
2. Unreal 2 by DJ. Serzh 60
3. Apocalypse by MMCM / Sage Group 59

ZX 512b intro:

1. 0.5 by Vlab / Real Masters 124
2. Absent by Extreme 116
3. Daingy by Cryss / Razzlers 107

ZX 4k intro:

1. C2H5OH by SerzhSoft 262
2. Beyond by Scorpion in 1978
3. Millenium by Constelation 68

ZX Demo:

1. Anamnesia by Real Masters 267
2. Jam by Digital Reality 163
3. 63 bits 3 by Accept Corporation 110



   That's all - it was announced
that the first day is over. Tomorrow will be
the second day devoted entirely to PC / Amiga.



                DAY TWO.


   Thus, even confident that I know where
I go, I went along with the acceding Wind Dragon'om (ENLiGHT'95 
organizing) now so familiar to the school, where he

was held on the second day of Chaos Construction'99. By the 
beginning we were a bit late (it was about 13 hours), so that 
just ended the first contest - hand-drawn graphics Noted with 
pleasure the presence of flowers on screen, and about the same 
number of viewers, I watched rendering graphics compo.

Nearly all were very simple, like a few pieces obviously made
Bryce in the ... not a very long time. Close
sat L0d, who as a professional in terms of rendering'a, let go 
of caustic comments are about the number of minutes spent on

this or that work. I remember the simple little picture 
depicting the route and it, instead of racing cars - racing 
rink :-) There were presented 12 papers. After a short break, 
close to two hours of the day, began ANSI / ASCII compo. Here 
There were 5 papers, but I do not remember - They were mostly 
pictures faces. Announced a break and came on stage Iron Lung / 
GALLE (ex-organizer HRG). He said a long speech gist of which 
was to the "greater good and different ideas." It is a pity

did not show an example ...

   Organizers, meanwhile preparing for
Music compo. Works played on GUS'e
As far as I know, because some
problems had to distill XM'y in WAV'y and
already play them, because of which the top
Music compo greatly delayed. Finally, in
half of the fourth was announced early Multichannel Music compo 
[traditional music], 15 works. Job numbers now were not 
announced, and posted in the form of large sheets Paper with 
figures (I later took him a for memory, with autographs 
organizers :-) However, after the third or fourth tune sheets 
disappeared and the numbers began to appear on the big screen - 
to draw them in Deluxe Paint (Amiga).


   Excessive traditional music evokes nostalgia, which is 
somewhat dispelled on the next two contests - 4-channel

Music (7 works), and Multichannel Music [Alternative] (19 
works). In the latter there were several notable themes. In a 
break between parts Music compo was repeated yesterday's feat - 
Titanic'a performance under piano. This time, however, knew the 
words, Yes, and the melody sounded more distinctly. Soloed 
already mentioned above, Iron Lung, at piano playing LAV, 
people sang along. In the middle of Alternative music in front 
of the stage can be It was also observed in the performance of 
dance neighbor Iron Lung'a on the bench. Perhaps

operator with the camera danced better than trying to shoot it 
all ;-) 

   After the Music compo was to take a break
minutes at 40, I was caught, and as the organizer ENLiGHT demo 
party, was interviewed on "what I think of Chaos Construction 
demo party". I told him. However, I and now you talk about it.


   Then I began to inquire from the organizers
details of sponsorship and who actually
organizers. Managed to figure out is this:
Main sponsor (mainly discussed here
about renting the hall) - the company METEC (METEK), one of the 
leaders of which - the father of the chief organizer. Name is 
the organizer of Random (Vsevolod Potapov). He comes from St. 
Petersburg, but it worked (or lived?) In Australia and came to 
St. Petersburg less than a month before the party. Here, an 
organization engaged in a few more people, of which separately 
should be noted: 

Monster (Alex Monastyrenko) - St. Petersburg.
Arty / Digital Reality (Artem Kharitonov) -
Novgorod the Great.

And also:

Merlin (Knyazev).
Manwe / Sands (GUS was his).

Music involved:

Manwe, XPEH, Xanax, Lav.

For specific platforms answered:

ZX Spectrum: Mandor (Igor Mandrika), Sergei Zerov, Merlin 
(Spectrum was his), Hurtman Joe. 

Amiga: Hurtman Joe.

PC: Monster. In particular graphics card, the
rumored to have been personally Sergei Zonova.


   And many others whose names I
I do not know.

   Tickets have been sold 122, the proceeds went to 
compensation for the cost of renting a video projector (about $ 
250 for two days).


   Before proceeding to the description of
intro / demo compo, say a few words about the competition cars. 
On the Spectrum was said in the first day.


   PC was so: Celeron 300A 450MHz,
128MB, RivaTNT, mother of Gigabyte. Sound GUS
PnP 8MB and AWE32 2MB (the latter was only used during the 
intro / demo compo). 

   Amiga: Amiga 1200 with 68060 accelerator
66MHz, 48MB. All this was in the body Tower,
that can be seen in the pictures.

   Anyway, getting back to the competitions. In polvosmogo 
break ended and began 256b intro compo (6 works) and 512b intro

compo. Standard set - plasma, flame
etc. Periodically had to reboot the computer and the hall 
entirely emotional (as compared to the actual competitive work) 
respond to emerging Background BIOS, Win95. Shouted - "but why

not announced the number of work!? ":-) 4k intro
compo was a bit strange. Since
the Amiga was the only one 4k intro, the organizers decided to 
combine the Amiga 4k intro compo with the PC 4k intro compo 
(where there were 2 work). In my opinion it was a mistake 
followed by a blank Amiga intro out of the competition (From 
the audience also heard the cries of "y They also [amiga and 
pc] different possibilities! "). However, what is done is done. 
Of the two papers presented at the 64k intro compo

(PC), one was almost interesting. Others do not.

   After a short break began last competition - PC demo, of 
which there were 4. Personally, I liked the work of Paradox 
Invitation intro by T-Rex (it deservedly won first place). And 
another job twice Streak hung near the top. About 20

hours demo compo ended and organizers were asked to surrender 
voting list'y. Was announced that the results and, accordingly,

awarding of diplomas will
about an hour. Part of the audience left the hall, and some got 
out into the street a breath of fresh air. There, in front of 
the building, Random gave interviews and talked about

his impression about the last party and future plans.

   The essence of the above, as far as I remember, was the 
following: 

   1. How was party, Random pleased.

   2. Chaos Construction'2000 necessarily
take place, and it is in St. Petersburg.
Tentatively pointed to the month of August, in the extreme 
case, the range in July-August 

   3. Lack Random'a in the city, as well
as well as the appearance of any party has not
affect the conduct of CC'2000, although the timing
possibly be separated.

   Made by people from the security and said
that serious problems with this order has not been (mostly due 
to small number of people), but five glasses as not

happened. However, some of them broke wind
:-) In the amount of damages assessed Random organizers - $ 
300. It is difficult to say where this amount. Also, I heard 
from one of the organizers of the plans in the future specially 
invited participants / visitors CC, the maximum limit 
advertising - so way to keep the number of visitors to a 
reasonable extent. It was also noted high quality demo / intro 
to the ZX-Spectrum in contrast to the PC. Disaster proposed 
next time also hold competitions for Commodore 64 platform and 
promised that sufficient for this amount of work and 
participants, he personally guaranteed. Random agreed that, in 
this case, the Commodore 64 will also be presented. Supported 
and more Several people, including organizers FunTop (as I 
understand it, FunTop'2000 also planned).


   After that, quite emotional communication, people slowly 
began to migrate back into the hall, waiting for the results 
and awards ceremony. However, the results as usually happens in 
such cases, delayed. Organizers quietly carried away technique, 
someone sat back down at the piano, there was a guitar. 

   Finally, at ten in the evening it was announced that after 5 
minutes to start the procedure rewarding. Indeed, after a few 
minutes under the Soviet national anthem, performed on piano, 
Artie appeared on the scene and Random. Artie called work, 
occupation and place it author / group. The author or his 
representative under the applause of the audience climbed on 
stage where he shook hands and handed a diploma

(They were imprinted by GEFEST from Arkhangelsk (!).

   Awardees were asked to remain near
the scene where a very small crowd quickly formed. Some 
approaches to dvatri times :-) Periodically diploma handed and 
someone from the organizers, who also was no stranger to 
participate in contests. One of the rewarded with difficulty 
(well, without help) was able to remember his real name, What 
caused the approving reaction of the hall ;-) 

   Finally, all the certificates differed in purpose and Random 
announced the completion of Chaos Constructions'99. Room empty, 
but for a long time on the street were the winners with

speeches in front of the camera. Again, I will present
fast results, this time on the second day:


PC / AMIGA
========

Multichannel Music [Alternative]:

1. Stellar Vallex by Dark Force / Flash 76
2. Killer Loop by GDM / LKR 55
3. Blade by EA / Antares 54

4-channel Music:

1. Phunkynstein by Slam / Universal 1997
2. Deadly Motor by XPEH / LKR 96
3. How the night by Manwe / Sands 82

Multichannel Music [Traditional]:

1. Orlando / Sound Flood 1967
2. Change of mood by LAV / Sands 60
3. Woodtales by RU 57

PC 256b intro:

1. Sirograph by Cooler 108
2. 3d Morph by Grax / RK 85
3. RGB by STHS Korovin 1958

PC 512b intro:

1. Benzoids by Serzhsoft 176
2. Fire mess by SubZero / Sands 118
3. Plasma Sunman / PFC 65

PC / AMIGA (mixed) 4k intro:

1. Wish by Exploder / Extreme 183
2. Dazzle by Pyrodex / EI 174
3. 3054 by DJ. Drow 1977

PC 64k intro:

1. Nerve by Proxium 223
2. Noname by PFC 139

PC Demo:

1. Paradox Invitation intro by T-Rex 181
2. CAUSAPRIMA by Sands 141
3. MaxiDemo by Storm Studios 1967

ASCII / ANSI:

1. Target by Crasher / Just-X 129
2. Lovely by Grax / RKB 120
3. Dostoevsky by Grax / RKB 1987

Rendered Graphics:

1. Dee'mon / Looker House - Forest 178
2. Dee'mon / Looker House - Thet. 147
3. Wormtemple of Zodiac / ZXM 29

Hand-drawn Graphics:

1. I wanna eat by Terror / DR 150
2. Hure in red by Demiurge Ash 117
3. BJork 55



   That's the whole story, I hope not too
boring. I want to say a few general
words. It was very interesting to see
on how others have followed in our
footsteps and continued the tradition ENLiGHT demo
party. Few misses the organizers did not
were of a fundamental nature, except perhaps one - too late 
announcement of the party (about one and a half months before) 
because of what some of my friends, and myself, were unable 
submit to the contest. The spirit demo party, who was and who 
ENLiGHT'e me, and not only me so much, and was

saved. We look forward to CC2000
and, of course, to prepare for it is really interesting work. 
Let the lovers of the combinations of the flame tunnel and the 
plasma will shame, shame as it must have been in

a demonstration of their work on CC'99 and replicas of the hall.

   Thank CC'99 organizers for their support in
the process of shooting and for the information provided.

   See you at CC'00, hope Y2K problems will not be there ;-)