Decrunch | retrogaming | demoscene | Wrocław 20-22 maja 2016

About event

Decrunch 2016 is a second edition of Wroclaw event that combines the spirit of retro gaming, retro computing and demoscene.

The party is an opportunity for meeting fellow 8 and 16 bit computer fans that were popular in Poland in 80s and 90s (such as Amiga, Commodore, Atari or ZX Spectrum), and demosceners (those from the past, as well, as those still active).

Video reports

Video montage by Pixel Nation

Video montage by RetroGralnia

Photo report

fot. kosma.moczek

This is how we were partying at Decrunch 2015.

Video montage by RetroGralnia

When and Where?


Event will take place from May 20th till 22nd in ToTu club at Hubska Street 6 in Wroclaw (just around 600 meters away from main railway station).

This year’s edition consists of three parts:

  • Decrunch Intro - live acts
  • Decrunch Files - widely opened part oriented on retro gaming and computing in convention of unique Polish computer flea markets
  • Decrunch Party - closed Demoscene Party
Tickets

Main attractions

Decrunch Intro
  • Live music acts
  • Music played with the original retro hardware and instruments
  • more info
Decrunch Files
  • Retro hardware exposition
  • Gaming competitions, played on original hardware (no emulation)
  • more info
Decrunch Party
  • Amiga Tracked Msx
  • Executable Msx
  • Amiga Pixel Gfx
  • Amiga 500 Raytrace
  • Executable Gfx
  • Wild Demo
  • Old Demo
  • Intro
  • Amiga Demo
  • more info

Sponsors

amigowiec.pl

Support

Retrogralnia
Dawne Komputery i Gry
Muzeum Historii Komputerów i Informatyki w Katowicach

Media patronage

PPA.pl
AdMonkey
Radio Luz

Tickets

Following ticket options are available at Decrunch 2016:
  • 30PLN - single day ticket for socializing and live act oriented Friday
  • 30PLN - single day ticket for Saturday Decrunch Files event (retro computing and gaming part), valid through Saturday until the Decrunch Party starts (scheduled at 20:00).
  • 65PLN - actual Decrunch 2016 whole-in-one package. Allows you to participate in both Decrunch Files and Decrunch Party parts. Gives you right to vote in competitions and is the only option to enter the Saturday Demoscene part (it is not required for Friday Demoscene oriented events).
  • ...and more - supporter ticket at free to declare price (more than usual one) for all-in-one package. All donations will be invested in next editions of Decrunch.
There are no pre-orders available, all ticket are available on the spot.

Timetable

Decrunch Intro

Friday, May 20th

  • 13:00 Doors Open
  • 16:00 Opening ceremony
  • 20:00 Live acts

Music played with the original retro hardware and electronic musical instruments.

Performers:
  • AceMan
  • DJ Mario
  • Katod
  • Skipp

Decrunch Files

Saturday, May 21

  • 11:30 Game tournaments start

In the retro-gaming events block, you will be able to participate in following tournaments:

  • Dyna Blaster (Amiga)
  • Lotus 2 (Amiga)
  • SWOS (Amiga)
  • Mortal Kombat 2 (Amiga)
  • Slam Tilt (Amiga)
  • Tanks Furry (Amiga)
  • International Karate (C64)
  • River Raid (Atari)

Depending on demand and time available, we will also be able to organize Worms, Stunt Car Racer and Speedball 2 tournaments.

Games and platforms lists are not fixed and are subjects to possible changes if required.


Decrunch Party

Saturday, May 21

  • 18:00 Deadline for all entries
  • 20:00 First compo batch
    • Amiga Tracked Msx
    • Executable Msx
  • 22:00 Second compo batch
    • Amiga Pixel Gfx
    • Amiga 500 3D Graphics
    • Executable Gfx
    • Wild Demo
    • Old Demo
    • Intro
    • Amiga Demo

Organizers reserve the righs to adjust compo list and rules (no gamechangers though).


Decrunch Endpart

Sunday, May 22nd

  • 10:30 - prizegiving and party closing ceremony

Competitions

Compo machines

Main theme of the event are heydays (golden ages of our beloved computers). Entries should be dedicated to stock configurations.

Amiga
  • A500
  • 1MB (0,5+0,5)
  • Kickstart 1.3
  • Agnus 8372A
  • Denise 8362
C64
  • 1541, 1541-II, 1541U, UK1541
  • New VIC 8565
  • Single SID
  • 6581 or 8580 - please mark accordingly
Atari 16-bit
  • 1040STF
ATARI 8-bit
  • Atari 800XL
  • 64K RAM
  • Single POKEY
ZX Spectrum
  • ZX Spectrum+
  • 48K
  • AY
Amstrad / Schneider
  • CPC 6128
  • 3,5"

By 16-bit we understand external CPU data bus and specialized chipsets' of the platform bit size (i.e. MC68000 equipped Amiga 500 or Atari ST are still 16-bit).

You are free to deliver demo for different stock 8 and 16-bit platform configurations, however you are supposed to let us know in advance and deliver proper hardware, if we are not able to do it.


Data

Floppy disk is a basic data carrier. All non-executable entries should fit into one 3.5" floppy disk, or one side of 5.25" one, depending of popularity of the floppy type on the platform. Executable entries can fit into more then one floppy disk, if rules don't state otherwise.


Rules

Following competitions are scheduled to take place at Decrunch 2016

Amiga Tracked Music

  • Platform: Amiga 500 1MiB (0,5+0,5 Chip/Fast)
  • Format: Amiga tracker (MOD, DB1.7, OctaMED, AHX etc, for less popular formats, please contact us)
  • Play time: 5 mins max

Executable Music

  • Platform: any 8-16 bit
  • Format: executable file (Amiga executable, PRG etc.)
  • Size limit: 32 KiB (32768 bytes)
  • Max precalc time: 30 sec.
  • Play time: 5 mins max

Amiga Pixel Graphics

  • Original art only (nocopy)
  • Created Pixel Art
  • GFX Chipset: OCS/ECS
  • Format: IFF
  • Entries will be presented in Personal Paint

Executable Graphics

  • Platform: any 8-16 bit
  • Format: executable file (Amiga executable, PRG etc.)
  • Size limit: 4 KiB (4096 bytes)
  • Max precalc time: 30 sec.

3D Graphics

  • Platform: Amiga 500 1MiB (0,5+0,5 Chip/Fast)
  • Format: IFF
  • project files from software used (must be working on A500 1MB)

Wild Demo

  • Platform: any
  • Any demo that does not fit given categories. If you're using any unusual hardware, you have to deliver it to present your entry.

Old Demo

Compo that had it's debut at Xperience Party. If you have any underappretiated demo in your portfolio, that's the category for you. You can resubmit it as an entry in this competition, however following conditions must be met:

  • At least one member of the group that released the demo must be present at party (no remote entries for this one)
  • Before your demo will be shown, you should give it a short introduction (some brief story, anecdote, fun fact, etc. regarding the demo or its creation process)
  • Demo must be one of those that were already released on some party, but*did not* win a compo
  • One entry per group limit
  • Most welcomed are demos for stock configurations

If possible, please deliver the entries in video format. It will make presenting the demo way easier, and give us backup plan

Intro

  • Platform: any 8-16 bit
  • Format: executable file (Amiga executable, PRG etc.)
  • Size limit: 16 KiB (16384 bytes)
  • Play time: 8 mins max

Amiga Demo

  • Platform: Amiga 500 1MiB (0,5+0,5 Chip/Fast)
  • Format: 3.5" floppy(ies) or equivalent ADF images
  • If an entry is AmigaDOS executable file, make sure the floppy is bootable
  • Play time: 8 mins max

Organizers reserve the rights to join compo categories together in case of insufficient entry number are delivered for any.

In case there are more thean one entry for certain platform it is possible that a dedicated competition will be held.

Laptops are allowed only for cross-development purposes.

Remote entries should be sent to [email protected].

Deadline for remote entries is 18.05.2016 (Wednesday before party).

Preferred data carriers at the party are floppy disks adequate to the platforms.

We have following hardware available to improve entries' delivery and testing process:

  • 1541U2
  • UK1541
  • GOTEK Cortex or HxC
  • PC2SIO
  • Mega Everdrive

Digitally delivered entries (no data carrier) should be submitted in ZIP archive with filename in the following template Compo_GroupOrNickname_EntryTitle.zip. Archive should contain info.txt file, with the same information.

All entries must be created by delivering people or the group they represent. Except for the Old Demo competition, entries that have already been presented at other parties are forbidden and will be disqualified.

Please deliver screenshot from your demo or 30 sec. mp3 sample of your music entry (mp3 format). It's not obligatory, but will make your entry easier to identify in the voting system.

Q&A

What’s the difference between Decrunch and other retro gaming oriented events?

Decrunch is a party, which aims to integrate retro computing enthusiasts and promote creativity and entertainment that those, once popular machines still stimulate and deliver. The difference lies in convention of the event, which in two thirds is a regular demoscene party.

Where did the name come from?

It a bit accidental result of brainstorming in a hurry in a search for the name that would represent the idea of the event. Name comes from “Decrunching” – a process of data decompression that was previously compressed with what we called “crunchers” back in the days. The process allowed for example to fit more data into a floppy disk, but obviously not only that. Usually, during decrunching process there were some color flickering effects or background color switching effects displayed on the screen.

Can my family acommpany me?

Yes, of course. However it is important to not leave kids without proper attention. Just be a responsible parent.
Please remember, that Saturday and Friday evening events are 18+ only, and no children are allowed on the premises.

Is there a prking spot available?

Yes, there are couple of parking spots available on the party premises. The number of spots is limited, so the sooner you arrive, the more likely is for them to be still available.

Is there any sleeping room or sleeping area available?

No, the party place is not fitted with any dedicated room or space for sleeping, however if noise and party activities do not bother you, you can unfold your sleeping bag in the party hall. If you’re planning to do that, beware of the following rules though:

  • No sleeping in places where you might end up blocking emergency exit route
  • No blocking toilet routes either
  • No sleeping in places where there are actual people trying to have fun, not jump over someone sleeping on the floor
  • Be sure to fold your sleeping bag, materace etc. early Saturday morning (you can unfold it back again at night). Summarising, no sleeping facilities should be set up during day.
No showers are available on party premises.

Can I bring my own hardware?

Obviously! It is important to remember though, that we have limited table spots, so please contact us before the party (the sooner the better) so that we can predict the number of tables we need to rent and make reservations for you. Currently, all available spots have been reserved, but try to reach us and you’ll know if any of the spots are back in the pool.

Why are the tickects that expensive? Can’t it be done for free?

We are just trying to break even at the moment. We are not planning to make any income out of the event, however if there is any, it will be used to organize next editions of Decrunch (hence, Supporter Tickets).

Contact

Organizers

Katod
Decrunch Intro

[email protected]
Facebook
SoundCloud

Grzegorz "grxmrx" Murdzek
Decrunch Files

[email protected]
Facebook
@twitter

Kuba "wino" Winnicki
Decrunch Party

[email protected]
Facebook
@twitter

Remaining orga squad

AceMan
Alt_
GumBoy
Jokov
Katod
Tomoya

Social media

Previous edition (Decrunch 2015)

Video

1, 2, 3

Photo

1, 2, 3 (zip archive), 4

Party report

Kaczuś

Archives

Previous edition’s archived website