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2010-01-04 14:17

Archmage

Registered: Aug 2006
Posts: 185

What does it take to arrange a good party?

I just noticed that there will be no LCP this year. Instead of pestering people who need a deserved break to make me a party, I think it would be interesting to investigate what sort of workload it would take to arrange a small (40-50 people) C64/other 8-bit party myself. Mind you, this is just at the level of throwing ideas about.

So, you experienced party arrangers out there: what are the pitfalls and what does your checklist look like?

There is also one thing that might make this kind of hard to pull off, and that is the fact that I live in Oslo, Norway. So you Swedes, Danes and other EU citizens - hypothetically - if a party in the southern part of Norway seemed well arranged and cosy and not too expensive in itself - would you consider coming?

... 55 posts hidden. Click here to view all posts....

2010-01-05 07:54

Stainless Steel

Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 966

Quote:

If there will be a X10

WHAT DO YOU MEAN *IF* ????

2010-01-05 09:43

Radiant

Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 639

IME (being involved in several unsuccessful endeavors), finding a venue is a big problem. Not being afraid of phoning around a lot probably helps, and get used to hearing "sorry, we don't allow overnight rentals" and "sure thing, that'll be <gazillion moneys> for a weekend rental".

2010-01-05 10:32

DeeKay

Registered: Nov 2002
Posts: 362

Quote: Quoting DeeKay
Argh DLP, my eyes hurt! ;-) Triple LCD is teh rawk!

Let's not start a senseless discussion, right? I mean DLP vs LCD, because it's been done to death ;) Given I am not a graphician, but I know what I see.

But saying that you need a FullHD machine like TW1000 to see 320x200 properly... that's just bull :)

Where exactly did I say that you NEED a FullHD machine? Fact of the matter is that the TW-x000 series hands down delivers the best c64 picture I have ever seen on any device. It's so crisp, you can clearly SEE the square (well - rectangular! 8) pixels, scrollers are almost perfect and colors, too. I do not know how it does this, if maybe there's simply less blending going on due to the high resolution, but I have seen other projectors (and devices in general) before and the picture quality most of the time leaved a lot to be desired. f.ex. with most projectors, you don't see hires pixels on black at all (Mekka and Breakpoint goers might f.ex. remember starfields, 3d-Plotters etc. not being visible at all on the bigscreen!), Another problem is that yellow/lt. green look pretty much white on most projectors. And then there's the problem with lines in Interlace pictures (which you also get when you digitize from a c64 with a DV converter!)

I also know that the guy with the TW-1000 (Dexter/Abyss btw) actually took his c64 and went to Mediamarkt and tried out various projectors to see which has the best picture with the c64. He originally wanted a 720p projector, but got the TW-1000 once he saw the picture, which simply no other projector could match...

And I have yet to see a DLP projector where I don't see rainbows when looking around in the picture! ;-) And believe me: My eyes have seen a LOT of flickering when making these SHIF/UIFLI/NUIFLI/MUIFLI pictures, hehe...

2010-01-05 16:23

wacek

Registered: Nov 2007
Posts: 513

Hmmm :)

First of all you need to calibrate any projector to display colors correctly. I never use anything, being it LCD TV or projector, on factory presets, since light conditions in any given room are different than the other, not to mention if you use it at different times of day :) Even if you use the simplest calibration from any THX DVD disc (Star Wars anyone?) you get much better result than the factory presets.

About the pixels, you mean white/l.grey ones on black screen, right? Believe me, I don't understand what you are writing, I do not have that problem either :))) and I watched intro to "Place In Space" by Taboo like 20 times :)

I'll try to make some pictures, both to show you square pixels, starfields, and some colors. Any suggestions on the interlace picture I could use to test the "lines" you're mentioning? (again a problem I am completely unaware of, tbh).

By the way, the C64 you mentioned... Was it old or new VIC?

2010-01-05 19:34

Malmix

Registered: Jul 2004
Posts: 11

One think I've learned from taking part in organizing a bunch of small parties (read GREP) is that once you've got the location, soundsystem, beamer compomachines etc set make sure you don't promise more than you can hold... It's easy to think that arranging some surprise compos, some demo shows, some bbq session etc doesn't take much time and effort but it sure does. :) Organizing a demo party should be fun and not just alot of work.

2010-01-05 21:13

MagerValp

Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1074

All this projector talk is total overkill. I've been to many awesome parties where the projector was utter crap (yes Floppy, I'm looking at you). The people, the atmosphere, and the location is what matters most.

2010-01-05 21:30

wacek

Registered: Nov 2007
Posts: 513

ok magervalp, i have to admit that back in '97 i was at a great party with a 21" tv instead of a bigscreen :))

now, i know i am a stubborn offtopic bastard ;) yet here are some mediocre quality shots - including my shaking hands due to long exposure times, lens distortion, and a lovely redish camera-noise (especially visible in technocracy shot), but hey, taking pictures in the dark room is not that easy :) use your imagination to substract some of that red, i didn't want to manipulate colors in any way.

single pixels in hires picture by astaroth

color reproduction - my preset, maybe a bit dark for some taste but i like it this way

for starfields it was not possible to take a picture, so here is a video to download ;)
http://arise64.pl/misc/01_starfield.mts

easiest way to play a avchd (.mts) file is using splash lite hd player from mirillis -> http://mirillis.com/splash.html

now that's for under 2k euro (back in 2005) - what do you think? ;)

2010-01-06 09:13

Archmage

Registered: Aug 2006
Posts: 185

Hi guys! Thanks for all the input here! I am afraid that I have to filter out all the projector talk for now. That info will no doubt come in handy later, but first things first.

So, I have done a bit of checking.

This is what I might have:
- I might have a location. Gloom has very kindly offered to book me the partyplace that they use for Solskogen (http://solskogen.demoscene.no/) the weekend after that party. Last time he checked the dates 23-25 July were still open, but this is the kind of place where people hold weddings etc. so I have to act quickly if it is to happen. There are several advantages that come with this place, namely tables and chairs, a power system (for lack of better words) that is able to serve the much bigger Solskogen party without breakdowns, outside barbeque and tent-facilities, a small sleeping area and optional showers in a nearby school (although this is an extra expense). The place is a 25-30 minutes train ride outside Oslo, and it is easily accessible by car or teleportation.

This is what I surely don't have:
- An idea if this is of any interest to people. If only Norwegians from the area show up, I might as well throw a party in my own livingroom (... which I won't). We'll need about 25-30 people to hit break even. More specifically, I'll need some indication as to whether parts of the Swedish horde will dare cross the border. Preferably in the continuation of this thread.
- Too much time on my hands. I just became a father again, so I am pretty pressed on time. Consequently, I will need help from some dedicated people to make this work. I'll need somebody who knows what the heck the projector geeks above are on about, somebody who knows how to put up a PA, and also a couple of guys who are able to function as fairly responsible organizers throughout the party and help tidying up afterwards.

This is what you'll most likely get:
- A small, affordable and friendly offline party in the c64 spirit - with room for other non-32+ bit platforms of course.
- Very low key entertainment in the sense of a big(ish) screen game competition, demo show and perhaps a dj-set if somebody is willing to step up. Adhering to Malmix' advice here, there will be no fracking seminars, live Rob Hubbard-gigs or award shows.
- No food or beer other than the stuff you bring yourself. There is no shop in the immediate surroundings, so you'll have to stock up. I will bring a coffee maker and coals for the barbeque, but that's about it.
- Nice competitions with symbolic prices made of clay and straw.

Mind you, I have no special secret wish to add "party organizer" to my list of traits . If there is another c64 party in the making in Scandinavia this summer, this is a good time to speak up. But if the alternative is to have no c64 party in 2010 I am willing to give it a go. Famous last words there... :P

2010-01-06 12:45

MagerValp

Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1074

Maybe an earlier date would be preferable? That weekend will collide with Assembly, and possibly a Swedish emergency party.

2010-01-06 13:01

SIDWAVE
Account closed

Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 2238

Party also needs:

1. working votesystem
(yellow post it notes to vote, forget it)

2. an electrician
(to handle emergencies)

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