Slashdot Mirror
The Alternative Party 2003
mkoskimi writes "The fourth consecutive Alternative Party is arranged this weekend (Friday to Sunday) in Helsinki, Finland. As before, we expect up to 300 people joining this round-the-clock event, bringing along all kinds of weird machines (previous times have seen a
Magnavox Odyssey,
a M6800 Evaluation Kit II and the Vectrex). It's not yet another retro computer show though; there will be Competitions, artists and our guest of honour, Jeff Minter! There be llamas here..."
A good ole geek party... maybe the name should be "The alternative *sausage* party" ??
I'm always amazed at the skill displayed in all those demos. I used to try my hand at some assembler programming back in the days, but boy, those people have genius. Recently I even went to a small rave and they had lots of big plasma screens in the club with what was clearly demo stuff running... it was really, really cool :-) .
I wonder how they do it now, anyone know? Do they still run DOS to have access to all the intricacies of the hardware?
Respects to them, in any case.
Daniel
Carpe Diem
Will Linus attend to that party?
Bloody amazing...
Will there be a return of the mutant camels?
This seems like a traditional finnish party. You better not go if you can't drink booze ;)
Think I'm kidding? No, I'm not. Check out these pictures from finnish geek parties!
---
I was imagining some kind of retro computer programming contest, but along with "Most Obscure Computer Competition" the events include:
- Photography Competition
- Short Story Competition
- Live Vocal Music Competition ("You do not necessarily have to sing, you can also make other sounds/noise with your mouth(s).")
- Love Music Competition
- Black and White Video Competition ("Shades of gray are not allowed.")
I love it. It's a shame I'm nowhere near Finland or I'd stop by just to see the spectacle of 300 retro computer geeks in a love song competition...
It's Slashdot's evil twin... SlashNOT
No, I'm not connected with these guys.
But this is just such an obviously cool product I had to flag it. A load of guys have done a 4 hour plus DVD-Video of Demos running on the machines that ran them best. Everything from 1990-2001, including (of course) 2nd reality.
I got it on release day and it's superb, even with easter eggs and original music from demo artists for the menu.
http://www.mindcandydvd.com
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".
--
Party Schedule
Note that (almost) all times are estimates.
Mission Statement
The demo scene has almost been a stifling force against creativity. It seems to be content to operate within its own secure borders, defended by angry troops and barbed wire. Almost afraid to explore new grounds and afraid of the world outside. Anything that is different is scorned at. It's not technically challenging. It's silly. There's no *wow bang*.
Demo coders end up becoming game coders and tracker musicians become game musicians. They become anonymous. Why can we not look at the world beyond? With the fourth incarnation of the semi-legendary Alternative Party that is what we are trying to do. Trying to make sceners realize there's more to life than having simply technically superb results, with no personality, style, originality or attitude. We want people to look at new solutions -- both for their hardware and, more importantly than ever, for their productions.
Please do contact us if you have ideas how best to do this. We are always looking for comments.
I'd just like to throw an extra greet to Antti Silvast for making me realize why the Alternative Party is important again.
--Kristoffer Lawson (Setok / Aggression)
The Facts
What: A new kind of computer party.
When: 10th-12th January 2003.
Where: Kulttuuriareena Gloria, Helsinki, Finland.
How much: 20/25 EUR. Ticket info
Background
The last Alternative Party was the most successful event, and the most challenging event we have ever organised. It was a truly memorable weekend in many respects. The music, the contributions, the people and the unbeatable spirit. Everyone combining together to prove to the world that change can take place. We honestly believe you cannot experience anything like that at any other scene event. In January 2002 we passed the 200 mark. Can we now reach 300?
The event is organised by Alternative Party ry, a non-profit organisation, in co-operatin with tAAt ry.
Contribute
If you wish to take part in discussions and hear the newest announcements, join the Alternative Party mailing list:
mailto:majordomo@fishpool.com
Body: subscribe altparty [address]
If you are only interested in announcements, use subscribe altparty-announce [address] instead. Note that all announcements will be posted to the altparty list as well.
Contact
For more information about the party, contact Setok or visit the Contact page.
Competitions
Note that the deadline is over -- this competition has been closed.
10th-12th January 2003
Gloria Helsinki Finland
http://www.altparty.org/
Prizes
Common Misconceptions
We keep hearing things from people about our party, or the people involved, which simply are not true. Here are some of them.
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
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.
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.
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.
--
The company I work for ordered a demo from one of the demogroups. It was displayed on a wide screen plasma-tv with hifi speakers at popular trade show. It was like a magnet for the customers. Most of the customers had never seen anything like it before and they stood there for minutes just staring and blinking their eyes.
The demo cost only few hundred euros because it was made by teenagers. But the quality was way above anything what we would've got from a design office for thousands of euros. I sincerely recommend everyone in a management position to use the skills of these democoders.
Party: Good music, dancing, drugs (some maybe legal in different countries, some maybe not, careful in your choices, you wouldn't want alcohol in Saudi, you wouldn't want tobacco in California..), girls, boys, mixing it up and some people getting very friendly, lots of laughter...
Alternative Party: ... ok guys, you really sunk this article with this headline, you want to tell me why I want to come to an Alternative Party which presumably has none of the above ? :-))
And he's Baaaack!
Seriously, the only reason why we aren't all playing games filled with mutated goats, sheep, and llamas is because the guy had such loyalty to Atari. Now he's free and back in the business, watch out for a shift in the content of games of the future. Ok BMX XXX 2 isn't going to flash you sheared sheep, but you get the idea.
Apparently there will be a big announcement before the end of January. Something wonderful is happening in casa Llamasoft. Remember, you heard it here first.
though my hardware that i'm taking isn't exactly computer related, i'm just taking my(i'm supposed to be fixing it, which i guess i did already but i can't know for sure since i don't have tapes for it) grundig tape player(NOT c tape player, this one has tubes and all, and jury rigged line in, for hooking up to c64/lpt-dac whatever). pics are at here
:P.
and then i'm taking my camera, 'canon still video camera', that saves the stills on a video floppy disk(kinda hard to find them, the video is afaik saved in straight analog form on the disks too.). 50 bad or 25 better(interlaced) pics per disc.
a piece of totally pointless technology
one irc-friend is bringing an alpha..
still, the more important thing is the people.. as this doesn't lure 14y cs 'vets'... too bad it's a little too cold for the right style scene bonfire outside(i don't know though if theres even proper forest near enough for it, no sense making it somewhere where you can drive because coppers are sure to come and put it out.)
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
it made these beautiful strata of sparkling colored lines, and everythime you're do *something* on the screen they'd shift and turn...
it was REALLY cool (if somewhat annoying when trying to actually USE your pc...)
someone should make a home for defective hardware with artsy side-effects...
Machine9dotNet
With temperature of between -5 degrees (Celsius) and -30, you'll sure need to heat the room ! :)
Trolling using another account since 2005.
billwg - 04:30pm Jan 3, 2002 EST (#8186 of 8202)
The point to me here is that MS has the means to survive AND be ethical, and chooses not to.
"Microsoft seems interested enough in protecting their systems from encroachment by the hackers. Why would you encourage hacking? It seems somewhat akin to mindless vandalism if not a form of terrorism. My own view is that it is necessary to deal harshly with any perpetrators to an almost unconstitutional extreme. If a few are so punished in a very public way, it should give the rest a strong pause and send a clear message that this kind of thing is not going to be tolerated."(NYT)
FUDgePacker.controllI think the party is called that because it's "an alternative" for the (world's largest?) geek party Assembly that has gone too commercial nowadays gathering thousands of teens to play fps' and swap files.
Just had images pop into my head of my first job back in 1984, and how I programmed demos into some IBM compatibles by, I think, Sanyo. Not sure.
Before that, I really wanted to do some before that, but all I had to work with was a Tandy Model I. Anyone remember the graphics capabilities of that one? Anyway, just staring at hex code for like hours seemed to be fun at that age. I wouldn't last three minutes now...
Put identity in the browser.
Jeff Minter used to live just around the corner from me(when I was about 5!), I still at the same place, I don't think he does any more (haven't seen him down the pub?)
Talley is a small town right, out in the countryside , next to the Aldermaston Nuclear establishment (The reactors probably less than a mile from my house, he says radiantly). I should imagine the radiation contributed to the llama fetish.
well that's my claim to fame.
thank God the internet isn't a human right.
A shame that the relaunch of Llamasoft doesn't seem to have taken off. Anyone else remember Psychedelia? I was into that long before I even *saw* a spliff...
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Goethe
I live in Sweden, so it wouldn't be too hard to get there. But now I've already promised my girl friend to go to her parents this weekend!
Why couldn't you guys have posted this earlier!!?
I think this party seems really cool. A mixture of all and all platforms and ways of artistic expression, even "analouge"...
Seems a lot more fun then the demo/swap parties I've ever attended...
The demo cost only few hundred euros because it was made by teenagers.
That sounds like child labour.
My friends are welcome to use these pictures without any obligations.
Clearly he's not a lawyer.
SpamNet - a spam blocker that really works
...Ok, I'm a square...can somebody please define the "demo scene"? I gather it has something to do with indie music and computer graphics...
It's 10 PM. Do you know if you're un-American?
The prizes are quite alternative also:
* Silicon Graphics Challenge M
Does it run Linux?
* Cray T3E supercomputer system (not all of it!)
Wonder how complete is it (plumbing?).. Thinking about the operating costs and the price for the infrastructure I think I'd rather take the kilt.
AltParty is not always the most popular of the demoparties - usually there is Mekka, but this year they have cancelled it. Speaking from the perspective of an 8-bit GameBoy scener, I can only hope that this doesn't have a negative impact on the scene - luckily there's Breakpoint this year. 8-bits still rock!
--j
P.S. if any of you langaymers are trying to get into Breakpoint, good luck. we DON'T allow gamers in, you'll be deemed 'non-creative' and possible ejected.
The DemoScene database site: http://www.pouet.net
The DemoScene DVD is out: http://www.mindcandydvd.com
DemoScene community sites: http://www.ojuice.org and http://www.scene.org
Mekka was a German boozing party, all about boozing and only a little to do with demos or scene or anything. Now it seems that Breakpoint is just another party designed to ruin demoscenes reputation.
I'm not a coder, but I've been following the demoscene since the days of the Amiga. I've always loved it.
Back then, and before 3D hardware and Windows became mainstream, demos were a lot about the programming skills and pushing the hardware, and less about the artistic side. (Although much of the music has always been fantastic.)
If you go to scene.org and start downloading the demos from Assembly '02, you'll see that the scene has changed quite a bit. The demos are amazing. Since most use 3D hardware now, demos are changing into a display of art; coding, music and design meshed together very effectively.
The demo scene is also changing into something bigger then demos; it's about all things creative on computers. Everything from post-rendered computer animations, freeform music (use any tool), computer art and drawings, to making a playable game.
I totally dig it.
- It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
Apparently Mr. Tempest 2000 has been working on PocketPC games. (We need 'em ported to Zaurus. Eon Games, where are you!?) :^)
-bill!
offtopic? heyhey, after all TP USED TO HAVE something to do with the demoscene..