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Assembly '03

An anonymous reader writes "The world's biggest festival for computer enthusiasts, Assembly '03 starts off today. Four days of coding, compos, music, games and other geeky stuff. See press release (rtf) for more..."

48 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Where do I sign up?!? by mao+che+minh · · Score: 5, Funny

    WOW! I bet there's gonna be tons of hot chicks at the nerd fest! I better get some push-ups in, it's gonna be a hot night at the Hartwall arena!

    1. Re:Where do I sign up?!? by hachete · · Score: 4, Funny

      !** laptop dancing **! woo-hoo. I'll have some of that...

      --
      Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious
    2. Re:Where do I sign up?!? by Jugalator · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yeah, I heard the Linux chicks are going to be there!

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  2. asm by damballah · · Score: 3, Funny

    When I first saw the title, I thought this was a new version of the assembly language...

  3. alright already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    See press release (rtf) for more...
    i'll rtf press release!

    1. Re:alright already by Lord+Kholdan · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just wait until rtf manuals become commonplace.

  4. Oooh the memories... by ComaVN · · Score: 2, Insightful

    of seeing Second Reality for the first time, on a 486. It inspired me to... well it didn't really amount to much, but for a moment there, I wished I was that good.

    --
    Be wary of any facts that confirm your opinion.
    1. Re:Oooh the memories... by Firehawke · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Ten years since Second Reality, and it still sets the benchmark for what could be accomplished on a 486. Ironically, the Future Crew members pretty much got what they wanted, a shot at games programming. I seem to recall Epic Pinball being one of their works, and Max Payne sports a number of ex-FC members in the credits list.

    2. Re:Oooh the memories... by BetterThanCaesar · · Score: 5, Informative

      The original and the soundtrack: download away

      Here it is in divx, in case you've thrown away your old computer: misc_fc-2ndreality-divx.avi

      --
      "Stop failing the Turing test!" -- Dilbert
    3. Re:Oooh the memories... by CausticWindow · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Agreed.. still the Amiga demos with lot's of 3d is very impressive considering the relative amount of processing power. People like Offa, Rubberduck and Kalms of TBL, Juliet&Case of CNCD, Antibyte of Scoopex etc. really pushed those poor m68k's for every last cycle.

      But still, the most enjoyable demos today are those golden oldies like Enigma by Phenomena (Azatoth was my hero), Mental Hangover by Scoopex, Voyage by Razor 1911 and Hardwired by The Silents DK and Crionics.

      Oh, the memories :)

      Check out Back to the roots for some nice Amiga demoscene nostalgia. Pouet.net is also a nice resource for demoscene information.

      --
      How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life
    4. Re:Oooh the memories... by Mairsil · · Score: 3, Informative
      Ten years since Second Reality, and it still sets the benchmark for what could be accomplished on a 486.

      Actually, second reality ran on a 386SX/25. Pretty amazing stuff. It was pretty much the breaktrough into the demoscene for the PC.
    5. Re:Oooh the memories... by eddy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's odd how back then the demos on the C64 and Amiga pushed the hardware and often had very interesting designs (personally I was very sorry to see the scroll text all but disappear), and today when they have such incredible raw hardware that they don't need to push it (yes, I understand that that's some of the point, but go with me here), they seem to spend much less time on design! Really, newer demos should be more interesting than older, but that's not how I find it. At least not in the full demo, the 64KB'ers are more interesting.

      Disclaimer: I haven't really been following the PC scene or any scene since I gave up on the amiga in the mid 90s. I downloaded demos, pictures and mods from TG03 a couple of days ago and while one of the demos was kind of okay (mostly funny because of the music and the fat "diss"), the pictures really was a letdown. No Arancia or Peachy (check those out if you're reading this and you've never seen a "pixeled" pic) there...

      --
      Belief is the currency of delusion.
    6. Re:Oooh the memories... by ultrapenguin · · Score: 2, Informative

      some of futurecrew members formed remedy entertainment, (and did titles such as Death Rally and Max Payne - and now working on Max Payne 2), and they are also related to 3DMark 2001 (MadOnion) and 3DMark 2003 (Now under the name of FutureMark).

      So yeah, they went right back to writing cool demos that push the limits of current hardware :)

  5. Unfortunately... by bloggins02 · · Score: 3, Funny

    We appear to have disassembled their webserver :)

    1. Re:Unfortunately... by ticklemeozmo · · Score: 3, Funny

      No disassemble Johnny 5!!

      --
      When modding "Informative", please make sure it both has a source and IS actually informative.
    2. Re:Unfortunately... by bytesmythe · · Score: 2, Funny
      We appear to have disassembled their webserver :)

      Uhoh! I hope they don't sue /. for reverse engineering!

      --
      bytesmythe
      Hypocrisy is the resin that holds the plywood of society together.
      -- Scott Meyer
  6. They claim to be a gathering of geeks... by double-oh+three · · Score: 5, Funny

    They claim to be a gathering of geeks, yet they are /.'ed before 8 comments are posted.

    --
    "For years, I struggled with reality... but I'm happy to say I finally won out over it." -- Elwood P. Dowd
  7. here in partyplace by latroM · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am currently ircing on grand stand with WLAN equipment. The view is awesome, thousands of computers filling the partyplace. Assembly is awesome party and I recommend it to everyone.

    1. Re:here in partyplace by msgmonkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hold on, you're at a venue with thousands of people yet using IRC? :-P

  8. Back in the days of the C64/Amiga - Asm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Assembly is a great party, there are alot of talented demo people there back in the day - m68k to the max! I just hope that it hasn't turned into "yer next lan party" with untalented fraggers filling the rooms!

  9. World's largest? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well - last time I checked, The Gathering in Norway is bigger - over 5000 visitors, while the Assembly had a measly 4500 visitors. Oh well. ;) -- File not found. Fake it? (Y/N) _

  10. First C64 LAN party by GridPoint · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Bah, Assembly'03 is nothing compared to what the real old-school people are up to: The world's first C64 LAN party! At the LCP2003 party arranged in Sweden this summer, Adam Dunkels showcased his Commodore 64 Contiki OS on a bunch of C64s connected in a LAN using specially built Ethernet cards. The three C64:s connected to a LAN made this event the world's first C64-only LAN party!

  11. How can they call this a Party! by sbowles · · Score: 5, Funny
    The Party Rules say:

    You are NOT allowed to bring with you

    - weapons of any kind
    - edged weapons such as knives, pocket knives Leathermans or similar tools with knives
    - explosives or fireworks
    - alcohol or any illegal drugs
    - laser pointers, laser pens etc
    - smoke machines

    It goes on to say you can't: get drunk, sleep in cars, play loud music or (and here's the kicker!) "connect any kitchen equipment to the electricity plugs " ... Oh yeah, there is no public viewing of porn allowed.

    --
    You sly dog: you got me monologuing! - Syndrome
  12. One thing by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Having recently visited Skaven of FutureCrew's site, which linked to assembly.org - Is there a place to find the results of previous years' compos? assembly.org seems to have nothing but info on this years' event. :(

    --
    retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    1. Re:One thing by Bostik · · Score: 4, Informative

      Is there a place to find the results of previous years' compos?

      You could try scene.org, as it has lots of stuff archived by category, then by year. I'm looking at last year results: ->files->parties->2002->assembly02->results.txt .

      --
      There is no such thing as good luck. There is only misfortune and its occasional absence.
  13. Quakembly by Kegetys · · Score: 2, Troll

    It should be called Quakembly these days, most people are there to play quake/cs and not watch the demo compos which is what the whole thing was originally about.

  14. 10 years ago.. by naelurec · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Second Realty by Future Crew was entered at this event (Assembly'93). I always thought it would be cool to have a 10 year anniversary redo of that classic demo. Keep all the same routines, just beef them up to todays capabilities. :)

  15. Geekfest by A+Swing+Dancing+Dork · · Score: 5, Funny

    I once went to a festival of geekdom that lasted 4 years. We sat around and did nothing but play games, code, and blow shit up.

    I miss college.

  16. The World's biggest? I think not. by Norwolf · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, it is far from the world's largest. It is surpassed by The Gathering in Norway with 5100 people (plus guests, of course) and Dreamhack in Sweden with about 5000 people (including guests, if I remember correctly). If I remember correctly, Assembly has about 4000 people, but it sure is amongst the world's largest :-)



    Note that all three events I listed are Computer Parties, not to mistaken as Lan (Parties). What's the difference? At computer parties, the organizers try to encourage lots of other events other than gaming like creative competitions - coding of demos, graphics, music, etc. There are often also lectures/conferences on development, linux/unix, security, etc. For more information: The Gathering Tech:Server Crew - Why TG is not a LAN page.



    To conclude, check out this way cool panorama picture of The Gathering 99 (only with about 4200 people then, but.. yeah, cool): Panorama of TG99



    Note: I'm not neutral in my writing in this case since I'm the leader of the Tech:Server (former Tech:Linux) crew at The Gathering since 1999. And yes, it's without pay.. just loads of fun and experience :-)

    --
    Linux IS user friendly, it's just choosy of who it's friends are.
    1. Re:The World's biggest? I think not. by Kallahar · · Score: 2, Informative

      Assembly isn't a lan party, it's a demo's and programming party.

    2. Re:The World's biggest? I think not. by Norwolf · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah, and that was indeed what I said. "All three..". It's not strictly a demo or programming party anymore, none of the four largest parties (The Gathering Norway, Dreamhack Sweden, Assembly Finland, The Party Denmark) are pure demo events anymore, unfortunately.

      That time has passed, they are now a mix of demos/coding/computer art, game and general geek. Some people think it's sad, other people think it's good. I think it's kinda nice though - you have everyone represented at one area.

      Typical scene from The Gathering: an area is marked with barricade tape ("DEMOSCENE AREA\n NO GAMERS"), there's some hostility between gamers and sceneres.. but in the end, some sceneres play a bit of games, and some gamers begin doing something useful with their time at the party - making graphics, watching demos, learning to code, etc.

      You know - at these computer parties, people actually learn from eachother. If you want, you can sit in a corner and watch demos made in 1987 drinking beer (well, not according to the rules, but.. who cares? there's still a beer drinking competition at The Gathering at least, and in from of the entrance of The Party, there's always loads of finns constantly drunk :-), you can sit in front of your computer eating chips and drunking litres after litres of coke.. or you can actually mix, learn new things, get to know new people, attend a lecture/conference.. something.

      It's sad if the creative (computer art) part of computer parties crumbles... haven't we heard "the demoscene is dead" a long time? bullshit. As I've noticed, there's new people taking an interest. Most of the hardcore old-school demogroups have departed from The Viking Ship (TG) a long time ago, but new people, young people are learning together.. it started in 2000/2001.. crappy demos.. better in 2002, and 2003? Well, awesome :-)

      If you haven't already, log in to ftp.scene.org and download some demos.. it's worth it :-)

      --
      Linux IS user friendly, it's just choosy of who it's friends are.
  17. Pictures and stuff by Fulkkari · · Score: 4, Informative

    Mikrobitti (A Finnish computer magazine) has it's own Assembly 2003 site partly translated to English.

    Pictures from the party can be seen here (Finnish only). There is not very much stuff yet, but there should be more soon. :)

    --
    I demand the Cone of Silence!
  18. Biggest? by Awptimus+Prime · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I hate to be the proverbial terd in the punch bowl, but Assembly has been going on for more than 10 years. If it is the "The world's biggest festival for computer enthusiasts", then why has Slashdot neglected to post notification of it in previous years?

    Assembly used to be very cutting edge. Back when a 386 could barely run Windows 3.11, coding groups such as Future Crew were making beautiful, fullscreen graphics demos by combining 2D media playback with 3D rendering. The results were of much greater caliber than the graphics of games in that era.

    Nowadays, you have DirectX9 and multi-billion dollar companies pushing the envelope of what can be done with current hardware. So the thrill of Assembly demonstrations are not quite what they used to be. Especially since many of the demos were written for very specific hardware configurations.

    On a side note, I made the local Best Buy stop playing Future Crew demos a long time ago by informing them that the copyright restricts public display for commercial purposes (ie, product demonstration) without permission.

  19. Re:How can they call this a Party! by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're right, I'm going to start my own Geek gathering, with blackjack, and hookers! In fact, forget the geek gathering!

  20. Re:Hartwall? by laa · · Score: 2, Informative

    Jump off at the Pasila railway station. There's a pedestrian bridge going to the arena, you can't miss it...

    Ah, and the answer is Helsinki, Finland, Europe, in case you didn't ask for directions. Hartwall is a brewery that sponsored the ice hockey stadium, therefore the name.

    --
    Why does the kernel go through stable and then unstable forks? Can't it always be a stable build, like with Windows?
  21. Asm03 by MakaveliFIN · · Score: 2, Informative

    AssemblyTV: http://www.assemblytv.net/

    Some pics: Mbnet.fi

  22. Me too! by Codex+The+Sloth · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was hoping they would announce Microsofts replacement for MASM -- A#!

    --
    I am not a number! I am a man! And don't you ... oh wait, I'm #93427. Ha ha! In your face #93428!
  23. the far-reaching culture of demos by rexguo · · Score: 5, Interesting
    For those of you who thought that the demo scene is only in the EU and US, this is to let you know that it spread as far as to Singapore (far-eastern island) way back in 1995, where we held our own demo parties in 1995 and 1996. My group, WaterLogic, has the winning entry for 1996 online at www.waterlogic.com.sg/demoscene/.

    Getting into the demo scene has had profound effects on my online life and it is always a fond memory thinking back how I discovered the demo scene through a Waite Group Press's book+CD where they had Future Crew's Unreal and 2nd Reality in it back in 1994. I simply fell off my chair after the unreal experience.

    --
    www.rexguo.com - Technologist + Designer
  24. Pictures by termos · · Score: 3, Informative

    For those interested, slengpung will be updated with pictures later.

    --
    Note to self: get smarter troll to guard door.
  25. Re:How can they call this a Party! by Gongo · · Score: 2, Informative

    maybe you should know a bit more about demoparties

    the average scener (not some gamer) usually
    either doesn't sleep during the whole event, or in between compos. (and even then not a whole lot :-)) When they do sleep, it can be almost anywhere (on their keyboard, under the tables, in the isles, in the dorm, next to hifi-speaker systems, ...).

    as for the kitchen equipment. 4 days without food is not such an option (as if 4 days without sleep is ;-)), and there are those who bring their entire refrigerators and electric stoves.

    the whole issue with this is that such kitchen appliances take a lot more power than your average PC (or even hi-fi equipment). To lower the risk of power shortages, these appliances are banned from the party electric grid.

  26. Assembly's for wimps! by bennomatic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Real programmers use punch cards!

    --
    The CB App. What's your 20?
  27. Re:How can they call this a Party! by CausticWindow · · Score: 2, Informative

    The real party is traditionally just outside the convention hall, and is called the Boozembly (greets to the hardcore elite, you know who you are).

    --
    How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life
  28. If you're into the demo scene by dan+dan+the+dna+man · · Score: 2, Informative

    you might be interested in this retrospective double sided DVD

    mindcandy

    which has demo's from both oldschool (early 90's) and newschool 2001/2002 demo scenes. Well worth it.

    --
    I don't read your sig, why do you read mine?
  29. Assembly by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 3, Informative


    The Assembly convo may not be the biggest LAN party, or the best, but it's certainly one of the most historically significant. The IBM demoscene didn't really reach maturity until Future Crew released "Unreal" at ASM'92.

    Has it really been ten years since Second Reality? Oy, I got old somehow.

    And then there's this C64 port of Second Reality. Wow.

  30. Future Crew members by genner · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Anyone know what happend to the future crew team? I've seen Skavens work sitting on mp3.com but I haven't heard from Purple Motion since I quit voyagernet (where we both worked tech support)

    1. Re:Future Crew members by jth1234567 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      During early 90's Purple Motion played keyboards in a band called 'Decoryah', who managed to release two full length albums. Some information can be found here : Unofficial Decoryah page. There seems to be his more recent work at mp3.com too : Jonne Valtonen

      Some other FC members are/were working at Remedy Entertainment, creating Max Payne among other things. Some others were involved with Bitboys, a small company designing 3d-hardware, and topic of a couple of articles here in Slashdot too over the past few years :)

      Google also helpfully provided a semi-outdated History of Future Crew page.

  31. Still using assembly? by bismarck2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I remember doing 100% assembly like 10-15 years ago. Since then I've faced reality and admitted it's simply inefficient. Now I feel rapidly becoming obsolete sticking to C++ and STL or sticking to career programming as a whole.

    I'm amazed that people still try to write real software apps using assembly.

    I just ran across someone who sent me a networking app written in x86. It was actually very will organized and commented. But why?!??!

  32. Pilgrimage - Salt Lake City - Saturday by ecote · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you're looking for something similar a little closer to home, make sure to check out the Pilgrimage demo party this weekend in Salt Lake City Utah. It'll be more or less the same, more scene spirit, less (no) gamers, more conferences and all kinds of demos and compos. Info @ http://pilgrimage.scene.org