INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
COMPUTER ART - "FUNTOP'98"
Better late than never ...
August 22, 1998, Moscow hosted an international festival of
computer Art - "FUNTOP'98".
History remembers three more similar events, two of which
were directly related to the computer "Spectrum" - it
"ENLIGHT". However, the festival "FUNTOP", was a qualitatively
new stage in the development of Spectrum scene.
I was a member and immediate
witness this event. Pre-bear
apologies to all concerned for
possible inaccuracies and omissions, as these
Notes were written in the car express train "Moscow-Gomel"
under the wheels, and under the influence of experienced
impressions. The official report "from the scene, for sure
already been published in the newspaper "Nicron", or other
electronic media. Also, LOGROS studio and the Moscow group
ANTARES preparing to release the wonderful videos about
"FUNTOP'98".
On my own behalf I would like to say
thank you so much: the group of ANTARES (Konex,
EA) for the warm welcome and hospitality
all members of the Organizing Committee,
particular - Vladimir Bulchukeyu, Alexei
Ivanov, Sergei Novikov, and others, and
Of course all those who came or sent
their work for what they gave us
an unforgettable holiday, whose name -
"FUNTOP".
PROLOGUE ...
At the festival "FUNTOP" I rode the day before
its official opening, as carrying weight
works, which were not declared to the
official application. Among other things, I
hoped to visit Mitinskaya radio market,
hoping to get hold of something which barahlishkom,
such as: voice board for "AONov" and stuff.
Besides, I did not leave hope
that my friend VIATOR from Chernigov, too, goes
in Moscow. AVALON group was supposed to write DeMouy the
contest, but apparently did not have time and VIATOR promised
to bring high quality graphics.
The train arrives at 9.42 in the Kiev railway station. After
standing on the platform about 10 minutes I saw KONEX'a / ATS,
which gleefully stomped in a white shirt, the emblem FUNTOP'a.
Seeing a familiar face, I also delighted, and went to meet him.
In a few minutes we both moved
the direction of the Kiev subway to his home.
As it turned out, the group did not have time to ANTARES
demoy the competition, even though KONEX hoped to write though,
would be 5 parts, releasing a pre-relize demoshki. Even
earlier, arrived in Moscow two representatives of Vitebsk Group
POWER GROUP (SAVAGE and BASARA), who's flat EA / ANTARES
debugged demo, with two buggy computers
who have gradually slipped roof. :-).
All the evening we sat for KONEX'om
it demoy "DEVOTION". Unfortunately, I am particularly
not understand the codes and therefore my role
was reduced to the beta-testing and moral support for Andrew at
capturing the many bugs.
About 8 o'clock in the evening called EA and reported on the
failure of two computers at once. About an hour later came to
EA, and after some time, and SAVAGE BASARA.
Decided not to insert a part with GREETZ, to
manage to do though, would be else. All night
passed behind the screen. Bugs and glitches
We fell like snow on his head. Except
addition, it was necessary to fix a more all the music. In
conclusion, all refused to work svezhenapisanny loader. In the
morning we there is little that reflect, and time is virtually
no choice. In the end KONEX, hastily gathered 4 pieces in a
kind of disk files, takes a desperate solution: to ship all the
components of ALASM'a (!).
Last check: demo there seems to be working ...
At 9.40 am local time, and the opening of the festival is
scheduled for 10.00. A hasty bite, the four of us went to
Povarskaya, to the place event. People in the metro and
the streets looked askance at our white shirts, as
on some sports memorabilia and wondering
probably, what football team she
belongs to ...
FESTIVAL
91-I school that actually took place
"FUNTOP" was a massive five-story building marked off by low
fence. Go to school, we went around
10.30, meeting at an entrance a few individuals is clearly a
computer orientation. Exchanging with a pair of unconvincing
phrases, we could only understand what they say everything is
already in the collection and urgently needs to rise upstairs.
In a dark vestibule, I almost smashed his
forehead, faced in the pitch dark with a massive wooden door.
Proceeded to fifth floor, we were in the lobby before the
assembly hall, where there was a lot of people and heard the
sounds painfully familiar AY.
In the foyer through the registration of participants
and spectators, gathered donations
prize money (20 USD - for pre-registered and 30 rubles for the
savages). At the same time here, there was a brisk trade
branded T-shirts with the logo of the festival, floppy disks,
literature, video tapes with a record of past ENLIGHT'a and
other permanent attributes of this kind.
Filling out a registration form and passing
posited twenty I got a replacement sheet
for a vote. Show your input on it, I
came directly to the assembly hall, which was surprisingly
spacious and bright room with a stage and two
dozens of rows of seats that have already been
occupied by a variegated audience.
Near the stage was placed the entire apparatus
Organizers: several Pentagon, two
monitors: monochrome and color. Another five
color large monitors were placed
across the hall, with columns rather
bizarre.
Above the stage was flying proudly poster: "Welcome
Welcome to FUNTOP! ".
Total planned four different competition-compo: graphics,
music, intro and of course the demo, the beginning of which, in
fact, waiting for the majority of those present.
Meanwhile, KONEX and EA retired
I went to the desk organizers, to register the work, which
brought on the way looking for familiar faces among the
spectators. No one was found, but I near the scene said
Vladimir Bulchukeya (WLODEK BLACK'a) - Chairman of the
organizing committee, who stood with microphone in hand,
conversing with the audience. Several people is the last test
of the equipment: connectors, cables, etc.
WLODEK in his little speech on
behalf of the organizing committee thanked us for
that we have come to the festival, recalled the basic routine
of all the compo, and at the end added that because at school
Electricity was turned off, it had
borrow from a neighboring house, extending
out the cable to the school building. Later, after the
festival, the counting of votes, it has played with all of us
bad joke ... But everything in due time.
In the hall next to the table of the organizing committee,
settled by the representatives of the company, "Peters"
with his famous "sprinter." Individuals with cameras pacing
throughout the room, searching for candidates
for a possible interview and do not lose the case
catch some wire, of which the floor
was a great set.
Slightly to one side quickly moved all
the registration papers.
Here, behind the leading car, sat
GPV - Moscow's infamous personality, which deals with the
registration. Apparently he was difficult.
Half of the disks was malfunctioning and that GPV
and again swearing climbed into the box for the new.
Attach to the end of the queue, I've been through
a couple of minutes recorded in the ballot the names of entries
and information about authors.
Meanwhile WLODEK BLACK announced the GFX-COMPO. And once I
saw how one after another began to show schedule
ELSSLAND. I remember I was still surprised: after all
was the rule: one author - one job. A
here ... I went to the GPV with a question, and he
my answer is: "How to record and
show. "Like, pre-selection
there was no time to spend. This is the number ...
All work and there were over 70 were shown in two passes.
For the first time - quickly, one after another, and the second
is much longer, allowing viewers to appreciate the skill of the
unknown (yet) artists. In the bulk of the work was quite good,
often in the hall resounded round of applause.
Among all the pictures were those who deserved the highest
praise and the work that brought me, looked quite modest. In a
word, select it from what.
After the show about half the work
was adjourned and finally able to look around in search of
familiar faces.
Almost immediately I saw the citizens of Minsk - WOLF'a
and MYTHOS'a of RAGE. WOLF excitedly telling me about his game
"MONSTRLAND", while looking for potential buyers. A little
later, I noticed ulybayuschusya face SIR'a from Chisinau group
BYTEX. Eugene brought to the festival the demo version of
graphic editor ARTWORKS, an order of a superior and ARTSTUDIO
ARTIST-2 together. SIR told me that DeMouy
BYTEX not have time to write, but he was riveted
intrushku "TUNNEL", as I subsequently ascertained, quite steep.
Their editor he said, is almost ready, it remains
just to finish some procedures and overlays, as well as fixed a
few bugs.
Then we were approached by Sergei Novikov - former
correspondent for a certain group of STEP, and now - member
DIGITAL REALITY.
Responding to my question why bent
Project REVIVAL, Sergei complained about the lack of materials
and lack of time. We exchanged email addresses and Sergei
went to another small group sinkleristov.
During a break WLODEK BLACK gave the floor to producers of
iron. At the scene got Vyacheslav Skutin (Captain NEMO) - The
famous St. Petersburg computer manufacturer "KAY". Glory spoke
about his latest development "KAY-1024", at the same time
Touching upon the problems of production and sales of new
versions of the Spectrum-compatible machines. At the end of his
speech, said one of NEMO, a truly landmark phrase, applying the
motto: "No emulator does not replace your living Speccy! ".
After which came out in the lobby, where it quickly
intercepted ZX-SHADOW and Glory for a further
forty minutes was forced to give a fairly
still boring interview.
Representatives of the firm Peters presented
its miracle of technology - computer "Sprinter"
and in addition showed the audience a real video from the
"Battle Bots". Graphics "Sprinter" has caused a flurry of
applause, the sound also rose to the occasion. Peters willingly
answered numerous questions of the audience. In general,
external machine differed little from that PC - the same body
"Tower", CD. It was demonstrated some
a peculiar kind of shell WINDOWS'95,
but easily recognizable by their appearance, Norton Commander
and some image editors such as "PaintBrush".
In the selection menu you can choose various options Speccy:
"Skorpion256," Pentagon-128 "," 512 "," Professional "and they
similar. One only alerted - how much will it cost a
wheelbarrow? However, WOLF nothing daunted immediately
announced that will negotiate with Peters on the delivery of
such a computer to Minsk to write under him soft.
After the end of the break show graphics
resumed. The most interesting thing that works
continue to register even during
compo. Since GPV could not simultaneously
show schedule and take up new work, I offered to help with
registration. All dissipated quite quickly and all were
satisfied, except for some kid, who still could not find
its work on the list for "4K-INTRO".
After another short pause when
the bulk of the people of culturally relaxed on the street,
began a demonstration of work in the category "4K-INTRO". It
was curious watch for ten minutes
No one could solve some of the same commander shipping code
files. Do not think of anything better, we decided to launch
them directly from TR-DOS. : -]
Total work was commissioned a dozen.
His first introshka forced organizers
doubt in good condition of its equipment.
On the screen surprisingly smoothly rotated
textured three-dimensional tetrahedron and all
is in complete silence (!). For a while Hall was expecting, but
when the music will sound, but the figure on the screen has
also continued to slowly rotate silently. The matter was as
follows.
It turns out some of the authors realized
instructed to turn off the output AY introshki
literally. And the intro was kind without Mouzon. The next few
papers in this category is fully confirmed this supposition.
Indeed, as it turned out a little there not half intro was
without sound, but it did not underplayed their beauty. I
especially liked the intro number 13 - "GOA", and performed
VAV'om even though a terrible sound, it looked very cool. In
general, the level of the vast majority of works was quite high.
Formed during a demonstration next introshki very familiar
inscription: "Disk Error, Track 0, Sector 9, has caused
general outburst of laughter and prolonged applause. GPV -
blushing and puffing trying to to convince all present that the
blame for floppy disks, but such a message to the general
delight, appeared more than one again ... :-)
Announced another break and I got
the lobby to stretch my legs and socialize with
people. Prices on diskettes, t-shirts and literature, as
compared with the morning, had considerably reduced. Zatar firm
T-shirt and Videotapes of past
ENLIGHT'a, I saw a plump elderly
man with a traveling bag, which is busily about
something talked with the seller drives. As
it turned out - it was
Representative of St. - Petersburg firm
WELCOME - Eugene Buder, or as he was nicknamed himself the
audience - "Granddaddy" - Chief sponsor the event. Inviting me
buy him a fee GENERAL SOUND "all
$ 30 "and listening to my polite refusal, he
not at all embarrassed opened the bag and taking out a pack of
discs with the magazine "ZXFORMAT-8" invited to become a
regional distributor in Gomel. Having estimated their meager
finances I had to abandon the magazines. "Dead" quickly found a
new sacrifice, and this time it seems that the deal
place.
In the foyer on the wall hung a large sheet of white paper,
where everyone left their autographs. I immediately left his
business card in bold red marker. Nearby ZX-SHADOW SISTER and
took intervyu all comers. Suddenly, the group has attracted
attention amizhnikov headed KANO and LOOKER'om (exMAGIC SOFT).
KANO (in his constant blue (!) Jacket) started a lively debate
on the Amiga and the Speccy. A small incident on the entrance
to the auditorium over the fact that ALEX (R) was forced to
make this company a rather abrupt note.
Finally, in the crowd I could find a group ETERNITY
INDUSTRY. They brought the work in three categories. PARACELS
told about the situation with Spectrum in Kovrov, I in turn
shared their plans for the creation of Gomel modem
network. Photographed with them in memory
and promising to send a new "ZX-ELEMENT", I
noticed in the crowd appeared DEN / DR. I
did not leave the hope to buy from them though, would be
another version of "DOOM", but more advanced ...
As a result of a brief conversation with
ARTY DEN'om and found that from DIGITAL
REALITY first one should expect the full version of Toys
"MEGABALL", and only then, if succeed, they will work on
completing the remaining projects - "DOOM" and "PARADISE LOST".
About the intended purpose of release toys 'Goblin' ARTY no no
no DEN able to say anything definite, but
made it clear that she would soon be out
hope is not necessary.
On the microphone announced a presentation of their works.
People lined up in place at the table of the organizing
committee, which actually held a demonstration. WOLF presented
his "MonsterLand", M.M.A. of Samara - demo shooter
amigopodobnoy "Walker". I decided to show the world toy "TW" -
learn the basics of English vocabulary, written ZNAHAR'om from
the group AVALON. The public generally approved the idea, Screw
the game at the same time offering more abruptly. Of particular
interest was the demonstration SIR'om a new graphical editor
"ARTWORKS". Although it was a demo and looked it
quite cool.
After a while the place got GPV
EA / ANTARES and began MUSIC-compo. Was
put about 40 Mouzon, although when listening revealed that the
vast majority of authors of musical compositions have chosen a
style that could be described as: TECHNO-RAVE-HOUSE. Is it
worth it say that to assess this kind of music was
incredibly difficult, especially because the room felt a clear
excess of low frequency. People sitting in the most speakers,
probably experienced a sharp discomfort from frenzied bass head.
By mid-compo people who are pretty tired. The room had less
than half viewers. Others have moved to the street
in anticipation of the show demos.
Sounded Muzychka IMP'a, which was
greeted very positively by the public,
then they heard a remix known tunes by Natalie "is seen not
destiny", written by a composer from Vitebsk POWER GROUP -
ISHMA. People fairly dragged.
Finally it was the turn of music PAND'y.
And then, right in the hall started a real disco. People are
worn out by heavy rhythm, hear live melodic pop
melody is literally transformed. Several
a man jumped from his chair and made a dance
in the aisle. It had to be seen! From the hall
were heard cries satisfied
type: "It has long be so, but how at the funeral!". Generally,
the end of the compo music is very varied than before.
Is coming in the evening. The windows of school
lay slanting shadows of the setting sun and
Images on monitors are more contrasting.
So, this long awaited moment has arrived.
It was announced early DEMO-compo. All
who was on the street or idly wandered
a school hallway shaft pushed into the assembly hall. After a
couple of minutes nowhere left no free space. People crowded
around monitors, hard peering at screens. And the screen started
skip the demos ...
Yes ... This was something unprecedented. Demos
succeeded one another, and the hall now and then exploded with
a flurry of applause. Level of coding up unusually high. Of
course, met and mediocre work, but they were few.
The very first show DeMouy "BOOM" from the
Groups ETC / RUSH. Especially heaped it
was, however, left a good impression.
Looked pretty good "TV-X" and
"5TH-ELEMENT". However, the steepest on
part of the coding, was "REFRASH!" from the same VAV'a and
again at 13-set tiebreak. Demo "EMERGENCE" struck me unusually
beautiful pixel plasma and music accompaniment.
Quite a surprise for everyone was
the ending is nothing there seems to be no notable
demos "BLAME", from the Samara group Stars of
Keladan. At the end of demos, plenty of poizvraschavshis face
of Bill Gates, the roar of enthusiastic spectators, he relish
stick in a pie in the face, and then again and
again. There is no doubt that this trick demonstrashke added a
lot of points.
Unfortunately, and there has not been without plagiarism.
Some demos are literally mowed down one by one under "S4B",
even to use torn up samples and the same effects. Some works
were clearly failed, partly due to the fact
that many of the demos build upon literally
within hours before the show.
That's right, in my opinion what happened with
demoy "FOREVER" on DIGITAL REALITY, which is to finish the
apartment MIC'a. Despite her busy traditional second place, to
me this work has not produced a proper impression: continuous
video, is pumping continuously from the disk and clean
animation when using a certain number of
code effects. Certainly, the story
part is expressed very strongly - the apocalypse
human civilization, global catastrophe, and then rebirth. Cool
looks and graphics TERROR'a, but still the second largest of
the demos, in my opinion, a bit overstated. ;-)
Toward the end of DEMO-COMPO occurred
all demos "DEVOTION" by ANTARES. KONEX
addressed the audience with a message that
due to time constraints and the refusal of two
Computer deme was not finished and so we see only its first four
part. The whole room froze in suspense.
On the screen appeared ALASM (!)
and a few minutes she began deme. Excellent intro with
full-screen video was greeted with enthusiastic applause. The
subsequent two parts were "Hurrah." AND So, when it would seem
there were no signs trouble, the screen went to bars, climbed
into the attributes and ... it was over a trivial reset. After
all, we then tested at DeMouy ATMTURBO-512K, and the show went
to the Pentagon. Needless to say, how this was perceived by
those present ... WLODEK Requests Hall support group ANTARES.
KONEX making a second attempt to despair: another ship ALASM,
assembles code blocks and DeMouy runs. And all repeated on the
same unfortunate effect. Grim picture.
Completely killed Andrew withdrew. Who would
could assume that all so end.
WLODEK BLACK announces "DEVOTION" non-competitive work ... :-(
Completed DEMO-COMPO. All those present gathered sheets for
voting and Organizers exiting sodednyuyu with an assembly hall
room for the counting of votes. A the lead car is literally
stuck wishing to rewrite his work from the competition. But
then cut electricity, and most Hunting for fresh programs left
empty-handed.
Counting of votes was about half
hours, during which the hall continued to collect interviews,
selling copyrighted software diskettes, and there was an
exchange of views.
Finally there were the organizers and the most interesting
part began - the announcement results and awarding the winners.
The nomination DEMO-COMPO place as follows:
1.REFRASH! by EXTREME 'VAV
2.FOREVER by DIGITAL REALITY
3.BLAME by STARS OF KELADAN 'SPEED CO.
In the competition "4K-INTRO" again the first place remains
for VAV'om and his intro "GOA". In the musical component of the
overall winner turned out to be EA / ANTARES with the original
and masterfully executed composition "MUST WIN". Music IMP'a
finished an honorable third place.
But the most interesting moment came
when they began to announce the results of the competition
graphic works. When the microphone was called that first took
place on schedule ART / ELSSLAND, whose picture - "Polesie" I
represented on the GFX-COMPO, I nearly fell
from the chair. I remember the first thought was - again
organizers that got it wrong. However, I had to go on stage and
get first place on the chart. But it was only the beginning.
Second place again took Homel artist - TSA. And I again, like a
complete idiot, knowing that the TSA could take a picture of
the second place except that from the end, compared with
true masterpieces represented on
competition, slouched over the next degree.
The mood was completely spoiled -
it was clear that these places are absolutely
undeserved. The strangest thing that had not been
announced the names and competitive rates of work-winners.
After the completion of the festival I went to WLODEK'u with
this issue, but he assured me that no error
could be a few votes counted
times. I have nothing else to do but
reconciled with the outcome and return home to inform the
"winner" of such an unexpected finale.
After the awards ceremony
Festival was officially closed, and Alex
invited everyone to tomorrow (Sunday) at sisopnik in Izmailovo
Park ...
What conclusion can we do? Undoubtedly
Festival a success despite the numerous flaws and minor (?)
punctures. People were able to show off, and
their skills and gain for their creativity than some
conventional, and quite the real reward. The event was quite
civilized: drunken little was, the people are mostly behaved
enough cultural - in general it was
real Spectrum parties, deserve to be called international.
Of course, there were disappointing omissions, but
for the first time can be forgiven for organizers
these little blunders, the more they
and because virtually nothing had with this
activities, and to fully support themselves
its success.
Worst of all came at the end of the counting of votes. But
thank goodness, justice triumphed, and now real, legitimate
winners received their prizes graphics. Once I learned about
the present distribution of seats, I like a stone fell from the
soul. Why did it happen with the definition of the winners of
our readers can learn from the column "FUNTOP98: results."
Many now ask the question: "What is
Next? Will FUNTOP'99? ". Alas, the answer to this question can
only organizers. I would like to hope that it will not be the
last such event and in the autumn of next year a new FUNTOP
gather us all under one roof, no matter what
borders, political beliefs or national origin.
Until next time!
