Preview
Spring Break 1999 Demo Party and Multimedia Convention
DEMO-MUSIC-CODE-SYSTEM-ART-SCENE-PARTY-TRIP-ELECTRONIC
April 2-4, University of California, San Diego
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// What
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A celebration of computer graphics, electronic music, and digital art. It is for the Demoscene, the Music Scene, the Art Scene, creative expression, technical acheivement, underground culture, computer enthusiasts, and curious on-lookers. Come feel digital media.
Presented by Cataclysm, the Computer Multimedia Development Club at UCSD, and co-sponsored by Associated Students of UCSD.
/* Web Pages */
Main page for UCSD students and any non-Demosceners
http://events.ucsd.edu/cmdc/
Main page for Demosceners and experienced Demoparty-goers
http://skaro.scene.org/sb99
/* News */
990107 - Made reservations, preliminary version of info file released.
990210 - All necessary funds for party allocated by ASUCSD. Thank you!
990215 - Web page up, full version of info file released.
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// Who
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The Spring Break 1999 Main Contact Email:
god - whutchin@ucsd.edu
Other places you can direct questions/comments/other:
CMDC general email - cmdc@ucsd.edu
Nemesis - atwise@earthlink.net
RaD Man - radman@acid.org
Silvein - silvein@skaro.scene.org
/* Organizers */
Will Hutchinson (god / Cataclysm) - main organizer
Andy Wise (Nemesis / Cataclysm) - designated ogre
Eric Lai (CMDC) - Will's ex-helper monkey
Jimmy Rimmer (Rimbo / Cataclysm) - studying
Joy Garg (CMDC) - Will's current helper monkey
Matt Chretien (Silvein) - chauffeur
Matt Hohlfeld (Thanos) - b.o.f.h.
/* Puplicity / PR */
Ava Hristova (CMDC), Ben Ashbaugh (CMDC), Christian Radman (RaD Man / ACiD), Dave Menkes (Behemoth), Max Sayles (Fysx / Xi), Paul Bragiel (Pyromaniac / Beyond), Scott Ellis (CMDC, ASUCSD), Tom Carey (Mindbender / Analogue), Wes Middleton (Desperate / Cataclysm)
/* Attendees */
Orange Juice demoparty page list of SB99 attendees:
http://ojuice.citeweb.net/e/frames.htm?/parties_incoming.htm
Don't worry - this list is far from comprehensive. But if you're planning to attend, make sure to add yourself to this list! In general, I'm sure most of the people who attended SB97 or SB98 will be coming back this year, along with many other sceners. Of course, along with Demoscene veterans there will be many other on-lookers, from potenial new sceners and fans, to experienced multimedia developers and professors of related academic fields to share expertise and energy with the Scene. Forget the demos, forget the music, forget the compos, forget the computers, Spring Break rawks because of the people.
/* Rumors */
I really don't want to try and keep track of everyone who tells me they're coming (that's what the Orange Juice page is for!), but I can't help but pass on a few interesting tidbits of attendee info here:
- The genious musician behind Spasm95.s3m and ever impartial, fair, accurate (depending on how many stars he gives you of course ;)) Hornet demo reviewer may be attending...
- Swivel is considering DRIVING from Chicago again... *boggle*
- Sylphin is going for the "most distance traveled" t-shirt prize by flying from Montreal. Not too late for one of you Euro's to steal it away though... ;)
- All of the sceners who attend the ever-diligent sister University of California school in Berkeley have decided that their studies are just too important for them to make a quick hop south for the weekend and attend SB99...
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// When
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/* Friday, April 2 */
Nooon - Party opens in Gallery rooms (location of SB97)
Nooon-6:00pm - Open jam session, carpool trip to Matrix-opening
6:00-10:00pm - Demoshow in Movie Theatre
11:00pm - Party moves to International Center (location of SB98)
Midnight - Sample pack released for 18-hour tracking competition
/* Saturday, April 3 */
All day - Demos, socializing, working on competition entries, networking, partying
6:00pm - Deadline for tracking competition entries
7:00-11:00pm - Demo, music, and art competitions in Movie Theatre
/* Sunday, April 4 */
6:00am - Outdoor competitions
9:00am - Open jam session
2:00pm - End of Spring Break 1999
3:00pm-3:00pm (Monday) - Organizers nap
/* Random things you can expect to occur at uncertain times */
- Big scary looking people (Radman, Thanos, Wes) will wander around with video and still cameras interviewing, demanding handles, zooming in on the ogre (Nemesis) snoring on the floor in the aisle by his computer
- Groups of strangers will band together under a common goal and trek out for caffeine and food, returning as great friends
- Steve (Fineline) will hit the kitchen and bust out some fresh baked Spring Break pizza
- Jimmy (Rimbo) will want revenge for last year's "battle of the stereos" competition :P and the apocolyptic battle that ensues will render everyone legally deaf
- People who only claimed to come for the party will be heading out for the beach, Tijuana, and some birthday party in LA with cast members from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Some demo I (Will, god, party organizer) show on the big screen will so overwhelm me that I am forced to pause for a moment of contemplation before starting another, and some poor uninformed soul will claim that I fell asleep
- At the moment Babylon explodes into its deepest bass, San Deigo and Los Angeles will finaly break free of the California mainland and float off into the Pacific
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// Where
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You can find Directions to UCSD and a Campus Map here:
http://www.ucsd.edu/visit/directions.html
Spring Break 1999 is will take place in three locations at UCSD: the Price Center Gallery Rooms, the International Center, and the Price Center Movie Theatre.
/* Gallery Rooms */
The Price Center Gallery Rooms were the main location of SB97. The Price Center is the main campus student center, which is located in the center of campus right next to the main library. The main library is the big eye-catching building shaped like the Death Star (actually, it's supposed to be shaped like a tree, but who's kidding who here?). Gallery Rooms A and B are located on the side of the Price Center closest to the library, right above the big movie theatre marquee (ie, on the second floor).
We're only using the Gallery Rooms for the first day of the party (from party start at Noon till 11pm on Friday, April 2), because of a scheduling conflict at the International Center. Of course, that means at 11pm we're going to have to move _everything_ into the International Center (which is just down Library Walk), so while there will be power, 10baseT Internet connections, tables, and chairs in the Gallery Rooms we do not recommend that you set up computer equipment there. The plan is instead to have socializing, food, a jam session for anyone who brought music equipment, and other hang-out style activities for Friday afternoon until 6pm, at which time we will be in the Theatre for one of our trademark megademofests.
The deal for handling people's stuff at this point of the party is as follows: just drop off your equipment we'll watch it until 11pm and then move it over to the International Center for you (gotta keep up with my Friday work-out schedule). If you really want to setup in the Gallery Rooms, just keep in mind you'll have to un-setup around 10-10:30pm.
/* International Center */
The International Center was the main location of SB98. It is located south of the Library, straight down Library Walk. To get to the nearest unloading spot, take Gilman Drive until you cross Library Walk (at which point the Library springs into view) and then either your next right (if the Library was to your right) or the left you just passed (if the Library was to your left) is Mandeville Lane. Go up Mandeville Lane and turn right into the first parking lot off it, which is right behind the International Center. Unload here, and look below for parking details.
After Friday at 11pm, the International Center will be the main party location. It has two large open rooms that should each fit 40 or so people with computers, and additionally there is a kitchen and other rooms that are at our disposal. There should be plenty of tables, chairs, and power (at least, we didn't blow a fuse last year...). The kitchen is a large restaurant-style arrangement, with big ovens, stoves, and refrigerators. Make sure to contact us if you want to contribute to the party cuisine! Of course, there will be restrooms in the party place, but no showers. There are outdoor, gym, and swimming pool area showers nearby.
The party area will be setup so that most of the social scene activity is in the main room, and other activity like last-minute demo-making, network gaming, and other things will take place in the second large room. We plan to have a smaller third room sectioned off for sleeping. The party network will be similarly split into two physically separated LAN's served by an IP masquerader. No more netgame broadcast packets interfering with "legitimate" internet usage. ;) However, all static IP's will be reserved for official party servers.
We're planning to have a much larger Internet presence this year. In addition to the IP masquerader (which will be worked out ahead of time this year ;)), we're going to have multiple webcam and/or realvideo servers setup broadcasting the party online, along with a web page that will hopefully be updated various times during the party... We also will have something serving files to the party, making sample pack and competition entry transferring go much smoother. If you have any other ideas for party networking, want to help out with a "realtime" party webpage, aren't going to be attending but have a preference for which streaming format you'd like to see online, or have other related comments don't hesitate to contact us.
/* Theatre */
The Price Center Theatre is directly underneath the Gallery Rooms and is where we will be showing demos on Friday and holding the demo, music, and art competitions on Saturday. 25' screen, 1000+ watt digital sound system, acoustically designed environment, etc.
/* Food */
Do not count on any food or drinks to be provided by us at the party. Some people may share things from their own personal stashes (as I did last year) and at some point Steve (Fineline) will most probably be making a bunch of pizza for anyone who wants some, but for the most part be prepared to take care of your own food needs. During the day and early evening there are many sources of prepared food on campus (mall food court variety stuff and college cafeterias -- I don't recommend the latter ;)), and there is a 24 hour Ralph's grocery store within not too long a walk. Groups of people are likely to be going out together for food at various times and one can usually hook up with other people this way, but I'd advise planning to hit the grocery store either before the party or right after you get to the party to stock up on snacks and drinks to last you through the weekend.
/* What to bring */
Computers, surge suppressors, power strips, heavy duty extension cords, keyboards, mixers, headphones, stereos, caffeinated beverages, simple carbohydrates, 10baseT cables, hubs, competition entries, funny animations, and anything you need to sleep if you're the type of person who engages in such activity.
/* Security */
First I must say that I am sorry but neither myself, Cataclysm, the Computer Multimedia Development Club, the Associated Students, nor UCSD can take any responsibility for any equipment brought to the party that is lost, stolen, or damaged.
However, while we cannot make a legal guarentee, we do take precautions to see that any equipment brought to the party is secure. There will be security personnel on site for the entire duration of the party. Further the party will be small enough that most people there will be aware of whose stuff is whose, and demo sceners are extremely good about looking out for each other and their equipment. I personally will have most all of my valued material possesions present, and I'm confident that the greatest risks to equipment at the party will be heavy keyboard wear-and-tear, audio cord mix-ups, and code rage. ;)
We've had questions before about the general safety of the campus, and in response to that let me say that UCSD is one of the safest colleges around. It's located in one of the lowest-crime areas of San Diego (La Jolla) and further the surrounding communtity tends to ignore the campus anyway. Walking alone at night is almost totally safe, and there will be plenty of people to group together with anyway. Certainly a group of hyperactive computer freaks has nothing to worry about.
And as a final note to concerned parents of potential party-goers, the demoscene is really an incredibly safe activity for North American teenagers. Negative incidents at demo parties anywhere in the world are few and far between, and I personally know many people who have had no trouble traveling to these kind of events all over the globe. Of course guarentees are not possible, but compared to other computer-oriented scenes and other teenage hobbies that I know of the demoscene is always the safest.
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// How
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How to get to Spring Break 1999:
/* Driving */
Directions for driving to the UCSD campus can be found at:
http://www.ucsd.edu/visit/directions.html
Info on carpools coming soon.
/* Flying */
To fly to SB99 use the main San Diego Airport:
http://www.sandiego.com/cic/san/sdiatitlepage.htm
If you need transportation to and from the airport and UCSD, let us know (whutchin@ucsd.edu) your flight arrangements as soon as possible!
/* Train */
A great way to get down to SB99 from the LA area is on Amtrack:
http://www.amtrak.com/
If you want to do this make sure you plan to get off at the Solana Beach station (SOL), NOT the main San Diego station (Solana Beach is closer to UCSD than is downtown San Diego). Also let us know (whutchin@ucsd.edu) when you plan to arrive as soon as possible if you want us to pick you up.
/* Virtual */
For those poor souls who are not able to attend SB99 in person, we would like to be able to further agonize you by providing live video footage of the party over the web. We will have multiple cameras and servers set up using various methods of video streaming (realvideo, web cams, etc), and of course there will likely be people from the party hanging around on irc at various times (most will be on irc.scene.org #trax). The exact details of all of this will be available on the main SB99 page (http://skaro.scene.org/sb99) during the party. Note if you're not attending and have a preferred video format for us to use, let us know ahead of time so that we can make sure and support the stuff that will be used.
/* Other */
Useful link for transportation around UCSD and San Diego:
http://parking.ucsd.edu/ride/ripublic.html
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// Compos
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Your excuse to transcend the plague of laziness in the North American scene. There IS some competition at SB99 that you can enter. Do it.
/* General */
1. Except where noted you must be present at the party to be eligible for competition prizes. However, if you want to enter in a competition remotely anyway, please contact me (whutchin@ucsd.edu) and your entry will be shown and compete with the others, you just can't win a prize other than fame and glory. (Note this is still a great way to release something if you can't attend any competitions in person. Even 10 months later I am still getting requests for me to send people SB98 competition entries.)
2. All competitions involving works of digital art will take place on Saturday, April 3rd, from 7-11pm in the Price Center Movie Theatre, others will take place when specified below.
3. All competition entries must be new, unreleased work that has not previously been entered successfully in other demoscene competitions (entries disqualfied from other competitions and not released in the interim are welcome at SB99).
4. Most competitions will be somewhat loose and informal as in previous years, but due to a substantial increase in the value of prizes in some competitons, rules will be strictly enforced wherever there is a controversy.
5. We reserve the right to change competition rules, prizes, or cancel competitions at any time if we feel it is necessary.
/* Prizes */
For most competitions, prizes will consist of party t-shirts (see below). However, due to generous donations there will also be a pool of cash and other prizes to be distributed to the winners of the more significant competitions. Currently, this pool consists of at least $500, a complete spage-age computer system ;), and a motherboard. If you would like to donate something to the prize pool to encourage better competition entries, please don't hesitate to contact me (whutchin@ucsd.edu).
/* Equipment */
Theatre competitions, of course, will take place on a 25' screen with 1000+ watt digital sound system. The specifications of the computers I would like to run the competition entries from are as follows:
1. p2-504, 128 ram, ATI rage128 (fury) [not definite until they release it of course], Canopus Voodoo2, Turtle Beach Montego A3D, Win98 boot, latest JVM installed
2. p5-292mmx, 64 ram, Diamond Stealth64, Canopus Voodoo1, GUS PnP (SoundBlaster 16 available if absolutely necessary), Win98 or DOS boot, VESA 2.0 support (most 8/15/16/32bpp modes available), latest JVM installed
However, if your entry requires some special equipment to run that you have brought with you we may still allow it. Basically, if it's not a hassle and the equipment does not obviously provide a great advantage over either of the two machines specified above then we'll let you compete. For example, demos written for Linux, BeOS. Nintendo 64's, or a k6-3Dnow chip would be allowed to enter, whereas something written for an SGI Infinite Reality would not. (Don't let that stop you from bringing the Infinite Reality to the party though!) We reserve all judgement on this matter.
/* Demo */
Prizes:
1st - 30% of cash pool, space-age computer system, t-shirts
2nd - 10% of cash pool, t-shirts
- Maximum size in archive (ZIP, self-extracting EXE, etc): 4MB (4194304 bytes)
- Maximum playing time is 15 minutes
- May not be a pure 2D animation file and player
/* Handicapped Demo */
1st Prize: 10% of cash pool, t-shirts
The idea of this competition is to make a demo under some adverse condition. Suggested acceptable handicaps:
- size (may not be over 100K, or 102400 bytes when uncompressed/unarchived)
- processor (code for a 286, we'll have one to verify that it works)
- graphics (textmode, ANSI, EGA, etc)
- language (BASIC, COBOL, etc, bring source for verification)
- other (email whutchin@ucsd.edu to see if your handicap idea is acceptable)
/* Open Music */
1st Prize: 10% of cash pool, t-shirt
- No filesize limit
- Maximum playing time is 8 minutes
- Composition must be original, not any sort of cover or remix
- Any digital format we can find or you can provide a player for (preferably XM, IT, MP3, WAV, or cd-audio)
- A computer must have been used as some part of the production and you may be required to prove it
/* Tracked Music */
1st Prize: 10% of cash pool, t-shirt
- Maximum filesize (with any in-file sample compression): 2MB (2097152 bytes)
- Maximum playing time is 8 minutes
- Composition must be original, not any sort of cover or remix
- Any tracked format we can find or you can proivde a player for (preferably XM or IT)
/* Fast-Tracked Music */
1st Prize: 5% of cash pool, t-shirt
- Maximum playing time is 5 minutes
- All samples will be provided, none may be added or removed (though you do not have to actually use every sample)
- Samples may be modified with tracker-extensions/commands such as looping, sustain, and volume, but not CHANGED in any way
- The sample pack will be released at approximately midnight Friday night, and you will have until 6pm Saturday night (18 hours total) to complete your entry
/* Open Graphics */
1st Prize: 10% of cash pool, t-shirt
- Maximum resolution is 1024x768 (WARNING: the theatre projector allows only 640x480 maximum resolution so any images larger than this must be scaled down to be shown)
- Maximum color depth is 24bit
- Any image format readable by ACDSee32 v2.2 or Photoshop v5 allowed
- Images must be static; no animations or color-cycling effects
- Any rendered 3D objects included must be self-made
- No content may be scanned, ripped, or otherwise not original
- Entries must include 3 "semi-finished" pictures to show the progress of the picture
/* Open Animation */
1st Prize: 10% of cash pool, t-shirt
- Maximum running time is 15 minutes
- Contributions should be delivered on S-VHS or VHS. Tf your entry must be delivered on a computer, you run the risk of whether it will be properly displayable in the theatre. (Best bet is some sort of standard avi/mov/mpg/quick time format running in at most 640x480 and fitting on one standard length cd.)
- All visual art (including 3D objects) must be self-made
- Audio can come from any legal source, but original scores are prefered
- Only comptuer generated animations are allowed (both 2D and 3D)
- Entries must include 3 images on disk that show the development of the animation (eg, screen shots of unfinished models in modeler, unfilled-in sketches in drawing program, etc)
/* Pixel Graphics */
1st Prize: 5% of cash pool, t-shirt
- Maximum resolution is 1024x768 (WARNING: the theatre projector allows only 640x480 maximum resolution so any images larger than this must be scaled down to be shown)
- Maximum color depth is 24bit
- Any image format readable by ACDSee32 v2.2 or Photoshop v5 allowed
- Images must be static; no animations or color-cycling effects
- The entire picture must be pixelled and neither rendered nor raytraced.
- No content may be scanned, ripped, or otherwise not original
- Entries must include 3 "semi-finished" pictures to show the progress of the picture
/* Other */
- Bunny chasing (will take place Easter Sunday, April 4th of course)
- Hard disk throwing (REAL hard drives, not sissy modern 5"x3" things)
- CD throwing
- Keyboard playing
- Ironman (who has the highest caffeine/sleep ratio for duration of party)
- Longest distance traveled to SB99
/* T-Shirts */
There will of course be an official SB99 t-shirt, designed again by Behemoth, and available as the most common competition prize. However, if you aren't able to win one they can also be purchased for $10-15 (exact price still be to be determined). T-Shirt pre-orders may be available sometime in March.
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// QFA
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1. What's up with starting the party in the Gallery rooms and then moving to the International Center?
Someone had already reserved the International Center till 11pm on Friday, April 2 when I went to make initial reservations back in October.
2. Where are pics from SB98?
Where can I read an SB98 party report?
When the hell are you going to update the SB98 page?
Real soon now. Note though that the "god" account at crl.com might be disappearing before then. :( This of course means that the old SB98 page url will become broken and any mail send to god@crl.com will float around in bit-limbo.
3. How many people are you expecting to show up to SB99?
Lots.
While it will probably never be close to comprehensive, you can check out a list of potential attendees on the Orange Juice demoscene/demoparty page (and make sure to add yourself if you plan to attend!): http://ojuice.citeweb.net/e/frames.htm?/parties_incoming.htm
4. Is the party definitely going to happen?
Is it safe to go ahead and make arrangements to attend?
SB99 WILL HAPPEN. I have a pretty good track record with these things (as this will be the THIRD Spring Break party, and I've carried through with all the other scene gatherings I've organized as well). The facility is confirmed, the funding has been allocated, and all my recent presient visions indicate that the party will totally kickass.
5. Why is the party scheduled when it is?
Why isn't the party during the real UC spring break vacation?
What about Easter?
The dates of SB99 were chosen because they made the most logistical sense for the party. While I certainly want as many sceners all over as possible to attend, one of the other major purposes of the party is to expose non-sceners to the demoscene, most especially UCSD students. Last year's scheduling of SB98 during UCSD's spring break vacation resulted in few curious UCSD students dropping by to investigate due to being on vacation. So the primary consideration for this year's party dates are that it is one of the best weekends for curious UCSD students looking for something to do.
Now, that is not to say we have no interest in demosceners outside of UCSD, but the difference in scener attendance is slight compared to the potential difference in UCSD student attendance. Personally, as a die-hard scener I'll go to any scene event I want to badly enough, regardless of the timing. But as a UCSD student I'm certainly not going to stick around on campus during a vacation just to check out some strange club I might find interesting. Of course, anytime an event is scheduled, many people will have conflicts they just can't escape. I understand this, and I'm regretful that many of my close scene friends may not be able to attend SB99. But April 2-4 really are the best dates for the party as a whole.
As for Easter, I'm sorry for anyone for whom this is a conflict. Most of the interesting activities are scheduled for Saturday however, so if you have to miss Sunday you can still enjoy the bulk of the party.
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// Links
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/* Official SB99 Pages */
Main page for UCSD students and any non-Demosceners
http://events.ucsd.edu/cmdc/
Main page for Demosceners and experienced Demoparty-goers
http://skaro.scene.org/sb99
/* Additional sources of useful information */
Orange Juice demoparty page list of SB99 attendees
http://ojuice.citeweb.net/e/frames.htm?/parties_incoming.htm
Virtual Visit to UCSD including Directions
http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/visit/index.html
Almost anything you could want to know about the UCSD campus
http://www.ucsd.edu
/* Old Spring Break pages that may be interesting, informative, or nostalgic */
Spring Break 1998 Pre-party Information
http://www.crl.com./~god/sb98/
Spring Break 1997 Party Report and Pictures
http://www-cse.ucsd.edu/~jrimmer/sb97/
Spring Break 1997 Pre-party Information
http://sdcc13.ucsd.edu/~whutchin/
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// End Of Infofile
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Cya at the party!
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PS - PASS ON THIS FILE TO EVERYONE IN NORTH AMERICA!!
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