- Allowed platforms are Home Computers, Home Consoles and Handhelds up to and including the time period of the 4th generation of Video Game Consoles and Handheld Systems up to and including period of the 5th generation or any device with a CPU that has a 16 bit or smaller data bus. These are for instance C64, VIC20, Atari XL, Atari ST, NES, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive, ZX Spectrum, Game Boy Color, ...
- Please contact us beforehand for any platform that does not produce a HDMI 720p, VGA or PAL signal so we can plan to record your production properly, so ideally bring a recording yourself in this case. Note that in the past we have had some issues recording from MegaDrive, Atari ST and Amstrad (the video signal from these devices can be quite 'dirty') so please try to bring a recording yourself. But do remember that providing your own recording does not mean we don't need to see the real hardware.
- For C64: Please state which SID chip to use (6581/8580). This information will be displayed on the info slides for your production.
- Please state if your entry requires any user interaction (pressing space at the end of parts, etc).
- The entry has to be delivered as a disk- or cartridge file (strongly preferred). Don't have an image ? Physical media are still allowed, don't worry: FIRST create an entry number, THEN deliver your media to the infodesk, WITH (and here is the very important part ) THE ENTRY NUMBER CLEARLY VISIBLE ON THE MEDIA) - it's that easy.
- You must deliver proof that your entry works on real hardware (i.e. bring the hardware with you and show the organizers).
Oldskool Demo
- Maximum size is 1 standard medium for your platform. For example
- 1 disk (both sides on single-side media) on VIC20, C64, Atari ST
- 1 cartridge image for NES
- 1 roll of Paper Tape for your Data General NOVA System.
- Maximum running time: 8 minutes (including loading/precalc, which won't be shown on the big screen).
- No autostart or assembler jumps/SYS on systems with a BASIC interpreter.
Oldskool 4K Intro
- Maximum size is 4096 bytes (16 blocks and 32 bytes on C64). The production must be a single file. If the minimum cartridge image for your platform is larger than 4096 bytes, only the first 4096 bytes of the cart may be used - bring a cartridge image as proof.
- Maximum running time: 8 minutes (including loading/precalc, which won't be shown on the big screen).
- No autostart or assembler jumps/SYS
Oldskool Graphics
- This is a cross-platform competition. Submit entries for any oldskool platform (C64, OCS Amiga, VIC20, Atari XL, Atari ST, NES, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive, ...) that is able to display pixels! Please contact us beforehand for anything that requires non-standard plugs or special hardware to record properly.
- The entry has to be delivered as executable program on platforms that have no 'standardized' image format and/or use code tricks to display the image (such as C64, Atari XL, ...). Otherwise a standard image format for that platform such as IFF on Amiga is fine.
- Again, you must include exactly 4 (four) working stages of your entry, and all entries without plausible working stages will be disqualified. Working stages may be on a different disk side or in a different disk/cartridge-file. When your previews are not executable please provide a proper viewer.
- Please include the tool used on your submission so we can check the working stages. If that is not possible for some reason, contact us on the party.
- All formats/modes are allowed. Please specify which mode you use, it will be displayed on the beam slide before the entry.
- Only the picture will be shown, no sound, no decrunch sequence, no credits screen.
- If your working stages don't look plausible, your entry will be disqualified.
- You must deliver proof that your entry works on real hardware (i.e. bring the hardware with you and show the organizers).
- Scrolling pictures are not allowed.
Oldskool Music
- This is a cross-platform competition. Any platform that is able to generate sound can compete! Please contact us before the party should you need non-standard plugs or hardware in order to record your entry properly.
- Supported platforms have to be accepted as an Oldskool platform (C64, Amiga without FPU, VIC20, Atari XL, Atari ST, NES, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive, ZX Spectrum, ...).
- This competition also supports "oldskool" PC soundcards such as AdLib and SB16.
- The entry has to be delivered as executable program, in a format suitable for the target platform.
- Maximum size of the executable: 32768 bytes (129 blocks and 2 bytes on C64). Noters, info files, and readmes don't count into this limit.
- Screen contents will not be displayed so don't waste your time creating fancy effects.
- The maximum allowed pre-calculation time (in case your player needs it) is 30 seconds.
- Entries may not loop and have to end with silence.
- Always bring an MP3/OGG encoded version of your tune with you. No post-processing, panning, etc. allowed, except maximizing volume to peak level.
- You must deliver proof that your entry works on real hardware (i.e. bring the hardware with you and show the organizers).
- For C64 entries, please specify clearly if you require a specific SID chip version on the submission form!
