Compo rules

Traditionally we'll have a graphic, music, demo, intro and wild compos for the Atari XL/XE, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC.

Entries can be sent to vasco@atari8.info, the deadline is the 11th of July, 2020, at 12:00 PM but it'd be easier for us if you could send it earlier. You'll get an e-mail to confirm we got your entry.

We accept remote entries.

Visitors and people with supporter tickets can vote.

We expect prizes for the winners!

  • General rules:
    • entries may not have been released or made public before,
    • at least three entries from at least two authors are required for the compo to go ahead,
    • if that's not the case, we reserve the right to merge the compos (however we'll let people know what compo particular entry was originally submitted to),
    • only original entries can be submitted to the music and graphic compos, no covers, no remixes, no mash-ups,
    • music and graphics entries should be submitted in one of the popular formats (or as an executable file, but only if you really need to!), more details below,
    • whenever it's possible, the compos will be anonymized, so should be your graphic/music entry,
    • playback time: up to 3 minutes,
    • entries should come with a .txt file including at least a name of the entry, compo this entry is submitted to and the author(s),
    • entries that don't meet the above-mentioned criteria may end up in a wild compo,
    • by submitting your entry you declare its freeware status.
  • Not so general rules:
    • Atari XL/XE:
      • entries using the extended memory should allow to choose the bank - it can be done by using a bank selector, additional config file or even by an extra block containing bank numbers (this block wont count against the file size in any size limited compos),
      • illegal 6502 instructions are... illegal,
      • Atari has a brilliant architecture that allows all sort of different expansions and extensions - submitting entries that won't work with them is against the rule.
      • Demo Compo:
        • memory limit: 1056 KB (64+992, 62 PortB banks).
      • VBXE Demo Compo:
        • memory limit: 1056 KB (64+992, 62 PortB banks).
      • 16 KB Intro Compo:
        • filesize limit: 16 KB,
        • memory limit: 320 KB.
      • 256 B Intro Compo:
        • filesize limit: yes, you guessed it! 256 B,
        • memory limit: 320 KB.
      • Music Compo
      • Covox Compo
        • .MOD files either supported by Protracker 1.5 from MadTeam or supported by Neotracker, max 62 samples,
        • .NEO files, max 62 samples.
      • Graphics Compo
      • VBXE Graphics Compo:
        • resolution up to 336x240 px, 256 colours,
        • we'll use the FX 1.26 core (if your entry requires a different one, it needs to be submit along with your entry as an .XBF file)
    • Commodore 64:
      • original config, unmodified C-64, 1541-II, Action Replay, new/old SID,
      • if your entry needs non-standard config, let the orgas know before the 4th of July 2020,
      • all entries should be submitted as the .prg.
      • Demo Compo
        • .d64 files are allowed.
      • 16 KB Intro Compo:
        • you got it right, 16 KB!
      • Music Compo:
        • old/new SID.
      • Multi SID Music Compo:
        • up to three new SIDs - 8580 (additional SIDs should be addressed at $D420 i $D440).
      • Graphics Compo
        • an author needs to submit at least 3 different stages on the entry on top of the final one.
    • ZX Spectrum:
      • config: ZX Spectrum 48 + AY, ZX Spectrum 128, DivIDE,
      • entries need to be provided as .tap files,
      • intros and demos need to start automatically; they can use both AY and the speaker,
      • size limit DOES NOT include Basic loader: 10 CLEAR stack: LOAD ""CODE: RANDOMIZE USR address,
      • size limit only includes the actual binary block.
      • Demo Compo
      • 16 KB Intro Compo:
        • filesize limit: 16 KB.
      • 1 KB Intro Compo:
        • filesize limit: 1 KB.
      • 256 B Intro Compo:
        • filesize limit: 256 B.
      • AY Music Compo
      • Beeper Music Compo
      • Graphics Compo
        • .scr files (6912 B) or executable files.
    • Amstrad CPC:
      • Config: Amstrad CPC 6128, Gotek, Parados 1.1,
      • submit entries as disk images (.DSK or .HFC).
    • Wild Compo - will include entries from all platforms:
      • surprise us! :)