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you speak of the scene as if it was past tense ... i think you'll find that you are wrong!!

the scene is still going quite strong! :D

Jeff visited us last year at Alternative Party in Helsinki. He shared his stories on game development, animal fetishes and other Minter oddities. Then he accompanied a large group of visitors for a pint of Guinness at the nearest Irish pub, then partied like a Finn in the sauna after eating reindeer meat (thanks Nosfe!). Too bad he couldn't make it this year...

was at the alternative party in finland last winter and he was a very cool guy all around. he was forced to give a little speech too, this was some time before he could announce the lionhead arrangement and seemed really sorry he couldn't tell us about it(except that he had something coming up).

also he 'gave' the special version of gridrunner to the people there(through internet, so it was _Very_ cool of him to do it). also tempest 3k was showm.. too bad he hasn't had much luck in choosing platforms :\

info about alternative party at on the event's homepage., for the ignorant it's basically a smallish demoscene-nerd-art-fest, quote from jeff:**** 'As people set their machines up and I wandered around looking at what they were up to, it became evident just how amazing some of these guys were at coding the hell out of just about any machine that ever existed. There were many times when you had to look again to make sure that the machine that was displaying the demos was actually what it purported to be. This was summed up nicely when a passing fellow Brit glanced over at the smaller of the two projectors and asked if that was displaying an ST demo. The answer was "that's not an ST. That's an unexpanded Vic-20!"

I could really get to like those guys a lot, and I hope I'll encounter them at another party one day. I was really quite warmed by the enthusiasm, creativity and good humour that flourishes in the Finnish demo scene. Great guys, and great fun.
- Jeff "YaK" Minter'***

what? demo parties are dead?

But hey, despite the fact that the "mainstream" is coding PC demos these days, the oldskool is still here even if it's not so visible anymore. Just look at Alternative Party, for example.

Friday 10th January
12:00 Doors open
18:00 Opening ceremony
18:30 Live music performances
CPU stage:
19:00 Folio
20:00 Juhani
21:00 Kris Kylven
22:00 Bass Cadet
FPU stage:
18:30 Die Rebels
19:30 Morlokkiarmeija
20:30 Grey Park
21:30 dA JoRMaS
22:30 Merryrastila Hardcorps
23:00 Invitation Competition
00:00 Non-/disqualified Demo Competition

Saturday 11th January
12:00 Deadline for all competitions
14:00 Guage Competition
16:00 Realtime Drawn Gfx Competition
17:00 Ludicrous Speed Gfx Competition
19:00 Live Vocal Music Competition
20:00 Love Music Competition
21:30 Photography Competition
22:00 Black and White Video Competition
00:00 Alternative Demo Competition

Sunday 12th January
12:00 Voting ends
13:00 TMDC5 Prize ceremony and showing of entries
14:00 Alternative Party 2003 prize ceremony
18:00 Doors close

• Photography Competition
  
  • You can submit either a JPEG or TIFF image or a paper photo (which will then be scanned by the organisers).
  • Visible marks of editing and other kinds of "improving" the picture will cause the picture to be disqualified.
  • The pictures will be shown on the big screen.
  
  
• Non-/disqualified Demo Competition
  
  • You can participate with any machine or operating system - make sure that someone can show your demo or you must take your computer with you.
  • Only one entry per group.
  • The demo (or intro) must have been non- or disqualified at some party. You must state which party it was.
  • If the demo was disqualified because of some content that is not, for some reason, suitable for showing on the big screen, it will be disqualified again. ;-)
  
  
• Short Story Competition
  
  • You must submit a text file containing your story.
  • The file may contain no more than 70 lines of text with no more than 72 characters per line.
  • Character encoding should be US ASCII or ISO Latin 1.
  • Any language is allowed.
  • The stories will be printed and shown on the wall.
  
  
• Realtime Drawn Gfx Competition
  
  • You have exactly 30 minutes to draw your picture and submit it to the infodesk.
  • You can use a computer (and return the picture on a disk as GIF/PNG/JPEG/TIFF) or just paper (max. A4) and pens. In the latter case, the picture will be scanned in order to show it on the big screen.
  • Your picture must follow a topic given just before the competition starts.
  
  
• Ludicrous Speed Gfx Competition
  
  • You have exactly 30 seconds to draw your picture.
  • You must use A4 paper and any tools you wish.
  • The entries will be scanned and shown on the big screen.
  
  
• Live Vocal Music Competition
  
  • Only vox humana (human voice) may be used - no instruments, filters, vocoders etc.
  • There can be a single singer or a whole chord - we have many microphones.
  • You do not necessarily have to sing, you can also make other sounds/noise with your mouth(s).
  • Maximum length of your performance is 3 minutes.
  
  
• Love Music Competition
  
  • Allowed file formats are MOD, XM, IT, S3M, MP3 and OGG.
  • Maximum playtime of the song is 3 minutes.
  • The song must be about love. The style is not limited, though.
  
  
• Alternative Demo Competition
  
  • Any platform is allowed, but remember to make sure that someone at the party place has a machine that your production runs on - perhaps by bringing your own machine to the party place.
  • Maximum showing time of the demo is 8 minutes.
  • The demo must be somehow alternative, not ordinary.
  
  
• Black and White Video Competition
  
  • The contribution must be delivered as MPEG video and/or VHS tape.
  • Maximum showing time of the video is 5 minutes.
  • Audio is of course allowed.
  • Only two colors, black and white, are allowed. Shades of gray are not allowed.
  
  
• Invitation Competition
  
  Note that the deadline is over -- this competition has been closed.
  
  • Any platform is allowed.
  • The invitation can be a demo/intro, music, video or something completely different.
  • The invitation must be submitted (emailed to setok@fishpool.fi) before December 1st.
  • You don't have to be present at Alternative Party to participate.
  • You can submit an MPEG video to be shown and spread on the site. You can't expect to win the compo if people can't see your work!
  • The invitation can (and should!) be shown at other parties and events and spread like hell. It also must be spreadable somehow...
  • Feel free to use text and pictures from this site.
  • The production must really be an invitation, so it must contain at least the following information in some form: Alternative Party 2003
    10th-12th January 2003
    Gloria Helsinki Finland
    http://www.altparty.org/
    
  • The contributions are downloadable on the Archive Page.
  
  
• Guage Competition
  
  • GUAGE RULES!!!
  • This year we will organise a "traditional" Quake tournament.
  • The game will be played in text console (80x50).
  • More details will be announced at the party.
  
  
• Most Obscure Computer Competition
  
  • As usual we will pick the most obscure, strange or rare machine we can find.
  
  

• Silicon Graphics Challenge M computer from Damicon Kraa Oy
• Custom made kilt from AmeriKilt Co.
• Cray T3E supercomputer system (not all of it!)
• Computer games from Atari and Llamasoft Co.
• Some other, more or less ordinary prizes

• The Alternative Party is for old computers
  
  This has never been true, although it is by far the most common misconception we run into. So much so that it is potentially damaging. The Alternative Party has always been about doing and thinking things differently. Right from the very beginning we have allowed a wide range of computers to take part in the compos, from Vic 20s to Macintoshes. In fact we would very much like to see a modern supercomputer or UNIX workstation taking part. So just to emphasise this:
  
  The Alternative Party is not only for old computers
  
  
• I cannot enter the party with a modern PC
  
  This is simply not true. We do not turn anyone away because of the machine they bring with them and welcome anyone and everyone who has paid the entrance fee. Specific compos might have rules which limit the machines or technology that can be used, but they do not apply to the party on the whole.
  
  
• The compos are jokes
  
  While some people might think that, we put a lot of serious effort into working out new ideas for compos. This is indicated by the fact that a certain large computer event has used some of the ideas for their own compos. ;-) There have been many good entries in the past and we applaud the people who have gone to the effort. We would very much like to see more people do so. A bad joke entry just is not funny.
  
  
• Alternative Party organisers hate Assembly or Assembly organisers
  
  Not true. In fact many participate at Assembly every year. While it could be said that we do not consider Assembly to be the best party in the world --- that would naturally be our own --- we are on good terms with several Assembly organisers and would like to keep it that way.

Friday 10th January
12:00 Doors open
18:00 Opening ceremony
18:30 Live music performances
CPU stage:
19:00 Folio
20:00 Juhani
21:00 Kris Kylven
22:00 Bass Cadet
FPU stage:
18:30 Die Rebels
19:30 Morlokkiarmeija
20:30 Grey Park
21:30 dA JoRMaS
22:30 Merryrastila Hardcorps
23:00 Invitation Competition
00:00 Non-/disqualified Demo Competition

Saturday 11th January
12:00 Deadline for all competitions
14:00 Guage Competition
16:00 Realtime Drawn Gfx Competition
17:00 Ludicrous Speed Gfx Competition
19:00 Live Vocal Music Competition
20:00 Love Music Competition
21:30 Photography Competition
22:00 Black and White Video Competition
00:00 Alternative Demo Competition

Sunday 12th January
12:00 Voting ends
13:00 TMDC5 Prize ceremony and showing of entries
14:00 Alternative Party 2003 prize ceremony
18:00 Doors close

• Photography Competition
  
  • You can submit either a JPEG or TIFF image or a paper photo (which will then be scanned by the organisers).
  • Visible marks of editing and other kinds of "improving" the picture will cause the picture to be disqualified.
  • The pictures will be shown on the big screen.
  
  
• Non-/disqualified Demo Competition
  
  • You can participate with any machine or operating system - make sure that someone can show your demo or you must take your computer with you.
  • Only one entry per group.
  • The demo (or intro) must have been non- or disqualified at some party. You must state which party it was.
  • If the demo was disqualified because of some content that is not, for some reason, suitable for showing on the big screen, it will be disqualified again. ;-)
  
  
• Short Story Competition
  
  • You must submit a text file containing your story.
  • The file may contain no more than 70 lines of text with no more than 72 characters per line.
  • Character encoding should be US ASCII or ISO Latin 1.
  • Any language is allowed.
  • The stories will be printed and shown on the wall.
  
  
• Realtime Drawn Gfx Competition
  
  • You have exactly 30 minutes to draw your picture and submit it to the infodesk.
  • You can use a computer (and return the picture on a disk as GIF/PNG/JPEG/TIFF) or just paper (max. A4) and pens. In the latter case, the picture will be scanned in order to show it on the big screen.
  • Your picture must follow a topic given just before the competition starts.
  
  
• Ludicrous Speed Gfx Competition
  
  • You have exactly 30 seconds to draw your picture.
  • You must use A4 paper and any tools you wish.
  • The entries will be scanned and shown on the big screen.
  
  
• Live Vocal Music Competition
  
  • Only vox humana (human voice) may be used - no instruments, filters, vocoders etc.
  • There can be a single singer or a whole chord - we have many microphones.
  • You do not necessarily have to sing, you can also make other sounds/noise with your mouth(s).
  • Maximum length of your performance is 3 minutes.
  
  
• Love Music Competition
  
  • Allowed file formats are MOD, XM, IT, S3M, MP3 and OGG.
  • Maximum playtime of the song is 3 minutes.
  • The song must be about love. The style is not limited, though.
  
  
• Alternative Demo Competition
  
  • Any platform is allowed, but remember to make sure that someone at the party place has a machine that your production runs on - perhaps by bringing your own machine to the party place.
  • Maximum showing time of the demo is 8 minutes.
  • The demo must be somehow alternative, not ordinary.
  
  
• Black and White Video Competition
  
  • The contribution must be delivered as MPEG video and/or VHS tape.
  • Maximum showing time of the video is 5 minutes.
  • Audio is of course allowed.
  • Only two colors, black and white, are allowed. Shades of gray are not allowed.
  
  
• Invitation Competition
  
  Note that the deadline is over -- this competition has been closed.
  
  • Any platform is allowed.
  • The invitation can be a demo/intro, music, video or something completely different.
  • The invitation must be submitted (emailed to setok@fishpool.fi) before December 1st.
  • You don't have to be present at Alternative Party to participate.
  • You can submit an MPEG video to be shown and spread on the site. You can't expect to win the compo if people can't see your work!
  • The invitation can (and should!) be shown at other parties and events and spread like hell. It also must be spreadable somehow...
  • Feel free to use text and pictures from this site.
  • The production must really be an invitation, so it must contain at least the following information in some form: Alternative Party 2003
    10th-12th January 2003
    Gloria Helsinki Finland
    http://www.altparty.org/
    
  • The contributions are downloadable on the Archive Page.
  
  
• Guage Competition
  
  • GUAGE RULES!!!
  • This year we will organise a "traditional" Quake tournament.
  • The game will be played in text console (80x50).
  • More details will be announced at the party.
  
  
• Most Obscure Computer Competition
  
  • As usual we will pick the most obscure, strange or rare machine we can find.
  
  

• Silicon Graphics Challenge M computer from Damicon Kraa Oy
• Custom made kilt from AmeriKilt Co.
• Cray T3E supercomputer system (not all of it!)
• Computer games from Atari and Llamasoft Co.
• Some other, more or less ordinary prizes

• The Alternative Party is for old computers
  
  This has never been true, although it is by far the most common misconception we run into. So much so that it is potentially damaging. The Alternative Party has always been about doing and thinking things differently. Right from the very beginning we have allowed a wide range of computers to take part in the compos, from Vic 20s to Macintoshes. In fact we would very much like to see a modern supercomputer or UNIX workstation taking part. So just to emphasise this:
  
  The Alternative Party is not only for old computers
  
  
• I cannot enter the party with a modern PC
  
  This is simply not true. We do not turn anyone away because of the machine they bring with them and welcome anyone and everyone who has paid the entrance fee. Specific compos might have rules which limit the machines or technology that can be used, but they do not apply to the party on the whole.
  
  
• The compos are jokes
  
  While some people might think that, we put a lot of serious effort into working out new ideas for compos. This is indicated by the fact that a certain large computer event has used some of the ideas for their own compos. ;-) There have been many good entries in the past and we applaud the people who have gone to the effort. We would very much like to see more people do so. A bad joke entry just is not funny.
  
  
• Alternative Party organisers hate Assembly or Assembly organisers
  
  Not true. In fact many participate at Assembly every year. While it could be said that we do not consider Assembly to be the best party in the world --- that would naturally be our own --- we are on good terms with several Assembly organisers and would like to keep it that way.

Entries for the invitation competition are already available, featuring intros/videos, music/posters/flyers/pictures, text files and even a feast recipe invitation!

The intros have wide variety of entries, some working on Win32, some made with Perl, a 4k intro, invitation for GBA and Vic-20 and more.

Some stuff from Alternative Party III held in January 2002 is also archived and available.

Here is a pouet-link to one demo from the party, "Partaitiö" by tAAt (Platform: 386SX, works in Win2k box with VDMsound). (tAAt ry is also helping in organizing the party this year)
Check out also pictures from the overhead projector compo called "Valoköysiviljelijä".

Entries for the invitation competition are already available, featuring intros/videos, music/posters/flyers/pictures, text files and even a feast recipe invitation!

The intros have wide variety of entries, some working on Win32, some made with Perl, a 4k intro, invitation for GBA and Vic-20 and more.

Some stuff from Alternative Party III held in January 2002 is also archived and available.

Here is a pouet-link to one demo from the party, "Partaitiö" by tAAt (Platform: 386SX, works in Win2k box with VDMsound). (tAAt ry is also helping in organizing the party this year)
Check out also pictures from the overhead projector compo called "Valoköysiviljelijä".

Entries for the invitation competition are already available, featuring intros/videos, music/posters/flyers/pictures, text files and even a feast recipe invitation!

The intros have wide variety of entries, some working on Win32, some made with Perl, a 4k intro, invitation for GBA and Vic-20 and more.

Some stuff from Alternative Party III held in January 2002 is also archived and available.

Here is a pouet-link to one demo from the party, "Partaitiö" by tAAt (Platform: 386SX, works in Win2k box with VDMsound). (tAAt ry is also helping in organizing the party this year)
Check out also pictures from the overhead projector compo called "Valoköysiviljelijä".

Well, how about Finland? Or a real computer party, not a Quake-tournament?

Try Alternative Party in Helsinki on 11th-13th January 2002.

UNIX machines, Amigas, Ataris etc. allowed.

Oldskool competitions at Assembly but participated and organized some competitions of their own (that includes Analogue Graphics Competition (a pencil and paper), Realtime Music Competition and a Demo Competition). Results are available at AltWiki (the Community section at altparty.org).

You can find some pictures from our AltZone at this url: http://www.belymt.org/pictures/altzone/

Yes, we are going to organize our own Alternative Party in Helsinki, Finland in the first weeks of 2002. When the date is set, it will be mentioned on http://www.altparty.org/. There have been a lot of visitors from abroad and we expect about 20 % of visitors to be foreigners this time, too.

Btw, I got RJ's autograph on my Amiga 500! :-D

The people who hosted the old school competitions have a web site of their own and regularly hold their Alternative Party, where the odd (mc6800 evaluation board), rare (Vectrex video console) and retro (anything 8-bit and early 16-bit!) computers fans produce demos with real originality and raw talent in exploiting the hidden resources of their admitedly limited hardware. Check them out!