Party - Funtop: Report by Sergei Novikov - Day one: Compo.

                                          
FunTop-98 - RULEZZZ! REPORT             
                                          
 If E-97 was Must Die Forever, then    
      FT-98 came out amazing!       
                                          
 DAY ONE. COMPO            
------------------------------------------
It was worth a look!  The organizers are not
let us down - everything went without a hitch - without a hitch -
markets, no excesses at all! All working
you have been shown.  All results are announced
Lena All winners were awarded.        
                                          
A total of 190 people gathered
(the hall was full, but there was enough space for everyone).
The entire elite arrived, with the exception of perhaps
that of Slava Mednonogov. Specifically were: Ar-
ty/DR, Flying/DR, Quasar/RUSH, Exploider
(Vav)/XTM, Magic Soft/XTM, Kano, Unbelie-
ver(M.M.A)/XTM, ALK/SOK, Antares, Diamond,
SiR/Bytex, Eternal Industry, "Adventurer",
Excess, Global Corp, Spirit/ATQ, ROM/PGS,
Colver/PGS, Power Group...                
                                          
And, of course, the organizers:            
                                          
 VLADIMIR BALCHUKEY             
              ALEXEY IVANOV              
                ZX-SHADOW                 
                   GPV                    
                   ...                    
                                          
 Honor and praise to them!             
                                          
Unfortunately, Andrey Savichev, who spent
so much effort to accept and register work,
as well as Dmitry Grigoriev and Alexey Letaev
were absent.                            
                                          
The whole party went off without incident, except perhaps
a couple of Amizhniki danced in the center of the hall under
music compo. Upon completion of the special heaps of mu-
no litter was noticed - everything was pretty
clean and decent.  Smoking in the hallway, drinking
There were no beer drinkers, nor were there any tipsy people (for-
clearly); flames and disputes with Kano too.   
                                          
Traded licensed software (including
and new games Monsterland, etc., and magazines
nalami "Deja Vu", #5 and "Adenturer", #8),
DR cassettes about E-97 (all sold).  By the way-
you, several cameras greedily filmed everything
Rug - a film about Fantop is being prepared.  Interview
They took little, and then only on video.       
                                          
It all started at 11 o'clock.  People quickly
let in (ticket fee - 20 rubles for
registered, all the money went to
prizes, about 4 thousand rubles accumulated!); with sa-
work began, to the beginning
the first compo (at about 11.30) they were
collected.  About half an hour before this, demon-
The Sprinter was being tested. Ivan Mak showed the
physical editor, local Norton, demon-
tradition of flowers and, finally, torn from the game
ruski (pissy) cartoon (150 МБ, 4 minutes
of this video).  It differs from the original
began, perhaps, with distorted digitized
in our voices. The price of the miracle is ~$160.           
                                          
The speaker was E.Yu. Buder - Welcome.  He surprised 
everyone by donating a certain amount of money to the fund 
FunTop. An act worthy of respect.   
--------------------------------          
Vyacheslav Mednonogov (26.08.98):         
                                          
Already in courses: NN = 1 million rubles! Not bad, yes-
by St. Petersburg and Moscow standards...    
                                          
I was at Welcome today - I saw all the software
new - so much doesn’t come in a year.     
V A Last Of The Force - two-disc
adventure (3D), a couple of demos have already been played
according to different publications; first disc - immeasurable -
new intro, then - a 3D quest, like a duum.
V Monster Land (there was a demo too) - in style
Laser Squad, but - a quest (its own graphics). Not
their fir trees, mountains, fields of origin were lazy
poke.  With every hero you can bastard.
Overall - above average.           
V Fishing - apparently this game is from Slantsev
FT-98 didn't have time... I played for a long time... Nothing
didn’t catch it - they ate all the worms, then they chalked it up
ko, it’s too deep (I’m not a fisherman :)))   
                                          
What can you say about games - 1998 brought
new trends (starting with "Dune") - voice acting
voice. It's an epidemic.  Two disks per game
ru - becomes the norm (everyone loves money).
                                          
V ADVENTURER #8.  I couldn’t resist, at Velcom
I took a look at this magazine, I really like it
I love it. Especially new!                   
V DEJA VU #5. Didn't have time to look. But everyone
we need to learn (in terms of design),
especially the 5.25" version (even the envelope on
printed on a color laser!) - apparently that-
something cool (so - Lyzhin).                 
V VoYaGeR #1.  For now - a pig in a poke. But, on
firstlook - very good...         
V There was also a parody of Spectrophone - Spectro
Fun, #1-3 - temporarily not distributed -
Copyright issues have not been resolved. 
                                          
V EXCESS SAMPLE EDITOR v1.3 - no explanation
I will - it’s clear and so...                   
                                          
Since (in fact) only Welcome with auto-
Tori agreed, then I’ll remind you where everything is
the above can (and should) be purchased
(in St. Petersburg, of course):                      
                                          
"Welcome"                                 
(812) 584-34-14 Evgeniy Yurievich Buder     
(Evgeny Buder, 2:5030/362.15)             
193318, St. Petersburg, PO Box 11, Welcome     
Narvsky pr., 18, House of Public Service, 3rd floor,   
center "Spectrum" metro station "Leninsky"      
Prospekt", bookstore "Rodina"       
St. Vosstaniya, no. 35, office 31, 4th floor,     
Peters company                            
                                          
Simply call 584-34-14 evening-
com - they will help you...                     
                                          
I can only add that it is on sale;
but the number of copies is not infinite.
Almost everything except A Last Him... - very
limited quantities...                 
                                          
 Warm greetings, Slava!
--------------------------------          
So, the GFX compo began (pictures
elk most - ~70).  All these are shows -
took quite a long time (20-30 s in the picture)
ku).  The level is very high.  There are no lamers
it was. Only 1 picture "not very" (monk-
romaine fish) - at the average level E-97!  But
especially cool screenshots (like X-files) -
there was none at all.  Although Tee-Ray (Tracer)
participated, no one noticed his work, and
he wasn't even among the winners.  Absent
the effect of awesome pictures can be explained
non-participation in the Fil/Antares compo from Moscow.
                                          
During the break they started showing software. Display-
demo version of the graphic editor Art
Works from Bytex (Chisinau). It is unknown why
mu, on the car where it was shown, re-
Daktor often hangs (although under emulators, in
including 100% emulating the Pentagon,
works great).  By the way, it also hung
one game shown.Then they showed some other incredibly cool
old domestic games (2 of them were like
Rebel Star, but cooler in everything).  I spoke
drank "Captain Nemo" (Vyach. Skutin), telling
about your KAU-1024 (286 rubles).              
                                          
Having seen enough of the market's new products, the people sat down
in place:ChK-Intro Compo has begun. It is
it seemed that 4K was the ceiling.  More for
no need for int. What I saw was more like
for individual demos!  Rare work consisted
from 1 effect; 3-4 parts - on average. And ka-
what parts!                                
                                          
By the way, many people managed to put
in 4K (packed) also Mouzon! Has brought down many
shocked by the work of Sergei Kolotov (Serzh Soft),
known for his powerful articles in
"ZX-Review" on the coding theme.  Upon completion
the shocked public demanded work
author.  The author, oddly enough, seems
turned out to be 18-19 years old. Thunderous applause.  
                                          
This was the third job.  Still had to de-
ten.  I would like to note the Kirov ra-
bot Image Crew (Clot) and... Already at the end
show work under unlucky number 13
Shocked everyone! It was VAV, Exploider!
Such effects are neither in 4K, nor in 104K, not yet
who hasn't seen it!The audience rejoiced.  In victory
no one doubted the telecom.           
                                          



                                          
After the intro-compo, the stunned audience was
a long lunch break was provided.
There was music coming.                        
                                          
There was a lot of music (more than 40 compositions).
The quality is amazing, this is not inlight for you.
Professional musical equipment,
provided by EA/ATS, dragged everyone through
those who came.  There is still such a sound on the Spectrum
no one heard!                          
                                          
However, the compositions were not particularly different
originality.  There was no KSA.  There was no
that melody for which the ksash-
new compositions. Most of the work was like
on a pile of various sound effects related
not in the best possible way.
The people were frankly bored.  Many didn't listen
whether.  Nevertheless, every Mouzon got it
three specified minutes.  However, I didn’t
how many works were quite decent -
mi.So, people froze in anticipation of Demo Compo.
The very announcement of it caused a flurry of emotions.
tions.                                      
                                          
All work was carried out in the order of registration. Per-
howl appeared on the screens...               
                                          
The first was the ETS/RUSH demo "Boom".  Since
it was quite at the level of the best works
E-97, the people received the thing favorably.  
                                          
The most terrible thing, which immediately became clear, was
the work of "UFO Group" from Kharkov began
("Garlic Respiration"). The only pre-
founder of the former(?) Spectrum capital
(CBS wasn't there) let us down: other than lame
there was nothing to show plasma.  The people are for
sour...                                    
                                          
The coolest thing, clearly, was ahead. Still waiting-
there is a Digital Reality theme around which
there was excitement from the very beginning. DR this time too
managed to surprise everyone: the demo was being completed
even during FT at MIC/PGS apartment, which
not far from the scene of events - school 91 on
Arbate.  Dema was dropped off just in time for the show, in
end of music-compo.  Flying/DR after this
looked clearly exhausted.                 
                                          
But the deme went tenth.  And beforethis
there was still a lot of interesting things. About the level
not dem: indescribable. Rare of them is not beaten
shafts seen on E-97.  The class has also changed
effects. Like heaven and earth.  Almost plasma
there wasn’t, and even the one that was there caused
irritation.  Many 3d effects appeared.
Ray tracing.                             
                                          
People were amused by the demo Speed Co./XTM and ALK
/SOK "Blame", almost the only co-
that held at least some kind of plot.  The rest
were a set of effects, but what effects!          
                                          
The authors of "Blame" took a cunning route.  Yes, in
At the beginning there were effects.  But they weren't impressive
after what he saw already then (work 6). Yes
that someone immediately found the decoding of the name
nyu of this demo: "Blame"... "B-Lame"... "Big
Lame"...                                  
                                          
This is where it all started!  The authors did
populist move, following the example of Bina-
ry Love: then they made fun of everything
natively unloved Windows, here it got
the head of Microsoft - Uncle Billy (not Clinton)
well)... As soon as they didn’t mock him!
First, they looked for his face in every possible way,
then... In short, to thunderous applause
Gates was slapped with a cake by the audience (fullscreen
video). And then another, and another, and another!  Re-
there were many ditches. The audience rejoiced! Truly, ta-
what policy of the authors brought thema lot
glasses.  While others showed
the wonders of coding.                           
                                          
Other demos looked very playful, but
people were waiting for only one thing: “Forever” - “On-
always" - demos from DR.                     
                                          
The tenth work has been announced. They are looking for Artie,      
                                          
























                                          
He has a floppy disk with a demo.  Found somewhere in
corridor. RUN...                          
                                          
Well what can we say? Many different
interesting effects, high-quality graphics.
Unique effects... Beautiful... Separate
parts are rewarded with applause.        
                                          
Reaches up to 13 work.  VAV again!  Define
Naturally, this number became lucky for him -
out!  After watching the powerful intro, about his participation
ties in Demo Compo were somehow not thought about.
However, they said that he did demo 5 months
Syatsev.  And the intro was half composed
from the effects demo. This turned out to be true.  Dema
was small (3-4 minutes).              
                                          
                BUT WHAT!                 
                                          
Unprecedented quality of effects. This is necessary
children  The hall rejoices.  Now the struggle is obvious
for 1st place: DR vsVAV. Whose deme is greater
did you like it? By the way, the prizes are huge
us. For demos: 1st place - 1053 rubles. + computer-
ter KAU-1024 (a gift from Nemo); 2nd place - 800
with something rubles;  3 - about 500 something
rubles Other components, of course, are less attractive
medicinal from a reward point of view. 
                                          
So, win...                           
                                          
Although the winners have already been determined for themselves
Lily, there was also a 14th demo.  In addition, An-
tares, who again did not meet the deadline (whatever
say, 1 coder is not enough), they wanted to show
put your achievements in the demo genre. Problem
is that the authors lost 2 computers
ra, and before the party they spent a sleepless night,
trying to get the job done.  Not according to
beamed. I had to assemble the source
ki, load files from BASIC...        
                                          
There was an intro and 4 parts.  Separately.  Intro
went well. Fil's graphics in the commentary
yah doesn't need it. Well, and EA music. The parts
demos stubbornly did not want to go, or rather reset-
disappeared after a minute or two of viewing.  K
unfortunately, to fully show the achievements
It didn't work out that way.                      
                                          
Six o'clock in the evening.  All the components are already finished
have arrived, but people are sitting and waiting for the announcementresults. Waiting a long time. 150 people sitting in
hall, chatting among themselves... And here it is!   
                                          
Alex and Wlodek come up to the stage, and
also ZX-Shadow.  As you might guess,
they rise to declare victory
lei and present prizes and diplomas (made
the latter are excellent, thanks to Alex!).  
                                          
Chk-Intro winners will be announced first:  3
place - Eternal Industry;  2nd place - Serzh
Soft (same job #3);  1st place - Ex-
ploider (Vav)!  The audience applauds wildly, ex-
Trimovites are generally in eighth heaven
tya, although the name of the winner was already pre-
apparently.                                  
                                          
Then come the artists.  They are called only
names (not alias/group), so no one
it's clear who they are.  Moreover, no
opportunities to see their work. Light from-
they turned the key on because comrade Chubchais (Mosenergo)
cut off power to Moscow schools for non-payment
light, and had to pull the wire from the neighboring
th house (on the 5th floor)! The world is not without good people
duh...                                    
                                          
So the prizes for graphics were received by...
new peopleone of which (2nd place)
there wasn’t even a representative friend who
who could get the money.             
                                          
Music.  Third place - IMP, some of
his old music, or a remix of it.
Receives the Quasar/RUSH prize (also from Gome-
la).  On this day he took for various people
give almost 3 prizes!                   
                                          
Second place - guess who! Igoval! Honest
but I say, I didn’t expect it. Moreover, in
neither he nor Oleg Bashtenko were there (Uk-
Raina is not a nearby region, it’s far from Moscow
co). I had to take the prize, as it seems
the only one in the hall familiar with the prize-
rum  So I have these on my desk now
120 rubles + diploma.  Money can be sent
by postal transfer (but the post office takes 10% -
12 rub. throw it away, no conscience
allows), and a diploma?  In jpg?  Okay, one-
let's take it... Well, first place - EA/Antares
from Moscow.                                
                                          
Demes.  Blame climbed to third place,
public bullying of the Gates
loves.                                    
                                          
Second and first place.   The lead is 5 points.
Miser. And yet DR - II,Exploider (VAV)
takes the main prize. How embarrassing!  ;)
Thus, he has: 1st place in
intro-compo and 1st place on the main compo
(a lot of money and KAU-1024 are leaving for Vladi-
peace).                                     
                                          
It remains to add that Sunday is called
The next hidden party has started - at one o'clock in the afternoon
among those who came to the Moscow sysopnik
About 100 people from out of town will join...  
                                          
August 22, 1998 Spirit/AntiQue