Nova Online 2020

19th - 21st June 2020

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About Nova

Pandemic or not, Nova isn't going anywhere!

It's been 15 straight years of UK Demoparty action - Sundown, Sunrise and Nova creating the great legacy showing the UK knows how to rock a party, and provide a great portion of fish and chips. Sadly, this year the party venue lays dormant due to the pandemic shaped elephant in the room, but that absolutely will not stop us from bringing the party to you in 2020. You might have to call your local takeaway for the Fish and Chips though.

Furthermore, if you've prepaid for the in-person NOVA 2020, your participation ticket is included and your entrance is rolled over for our next in person party, NOVA 2021 (dates to be confirmed).

We're working hard on assembling entertainment for the weekend - DJs, Competitions, Demo Shows, Features, Hangouts and more. If you want to get involved, get in touch!

Are you new to the Demoscene? The Demoscene is an international computer arts subculture that specialises in the creation of Demos - self-contained computer programs for computers old and new showcasing the very best in visual splendour and technical ability. Core to the subculture are Demoparties, the social outlet for like minds to convene, socialise and share knowledge.

We're assembling the weekends proceedings so will have more information for you soon, but for the moment you can start working on your entries and please feel free to register below.

Features

We may not be able to meet in person but the team behind NOVA have been working hard to provide a weekend of entertainment for you.

Competitions

This year we will have competitions in the form of the following:

  • Old School Music: Music made with obsolete computers and console with a maximum 2MB file size.
  • Streaming Music: Modern produced music in mp3, flac or ogg format.
  • Executable Music: Procedurally generated or synthesized music for modern hardware with a maximum 32KB file size (samples allowed).
  • ASCII / ANSI: Artwork created using fixed sized text characters and limited colour pallettes.
  • Photography: Submitted original works photograph, optionally with post-production.
  • Old School Graphics: Graphics on resolution and pallette limited hardware.
  • New School Graphics: Unrestrained graphics created on modern hardware.
  • FanZine256 Graphics: EvilPaul's new z80 based fantasy console (like Pico-8) - 256 colours, 256x256 resolution.
  • Teletext: From the days of CEEFAX, ORACLE and TELETEXT - Single frame Teletext graphics competition.
  • 4k Executable Graphics: Procedurally generated modern graphics competition with a 4KB filesize limit.
  • New School Intro: Music and Graphics realtime productions on modern hardware with a filesize 64KB and under.
  • New School Demo: Music and Graphics realtime productions on modern hardware with no filesize limit.
  • Old School Demo: Music and Graphics realtime productions on old school hardware.

Find out more about our Competitions and rules below.

Shader Showdown

It's the ultimate fight of knowledge, persistence and crowd-pleasing skills: Two coders face off writing a shader from scratch in 25 minutes, live on stream, with a DJ supporting them with pumping beats. The audience gets to watch both shaders evolve in parallel, enjoying the action and cheering on the participants. The objective is simple: At the end of the 25 minutes, whoever gets the most votes from the audience wins.

Our contestants this year are Insomniac/TZT, Evvvvil, Wrighter and LovelyHanibal, supported by DJ Mixes from d0pefish, rc55 and lug00ber.

Best of British

Outline Demoparty's head honcho Havoc has helped curate over seven hours of British Demoscene classics for you to enjoy over the weekend. 66 Demos have been captured and prepared, from 1986 all the way to 2020 including classics like Jesus on E's by LSD, Gaia Machina by Approximate and Way Too Rude by Logicoma and Loonies.

DJ Sets

DJ Sets this year are coming from Lynn, Subi - featuring Shader Visuals from Evvvvil and Wrighter, Kris, Ravi, Lug00ber and Hoffman - featuring laser work from Polynomial!

The Pub

Reality404 and Polynomial will be hanging out with some demoscene buddies in a chaotic and fun Zoom-style session using Jitsi to reflect on the entertainment of the evening and whatever else comes up, from Fish and Chips to homebrew beer and everything in-between!

Jackbox Games

As is the usual tradition, we'll be struggling through the hangover haze with a in-humour laden Jackbox Party Games session where we realise we don't understand the US references and carry on regardless. Almost certain to contain a shed-load of innuendo and silly banter.

Don't forget you can chat to us on Twitch or join the Demoscene Discord.

Competitions

General rules

  • Don't be an idiot.
  • Don't break any UK laws, respect copyright law and don't cheat.
  • Remote entries are allowed in any compo. We are happy to receive them at rc55@rc55.com.
  • Competitions can be consolidated or cancelled at the compo team's discretion.
  • Technical details, formats and platforms for entries will be announced beforehand.
  • You must provide captures for any non-PC entries.
  • If you feel that your entry for any unlisted platform shouldn't be run in the Wild competition, please get in touch with the compo team as soon as possible.
  • The compo team has the final word on things. We are reasonable people though, so we will do our best to be of help!

PC Competitions

  • We officially support entries for Windows and Linux. We also accept Mac entries, but please bring your own hardware.
  • We'll have the latest versions of the .NET (Windows only) and Java runtimes installed. Stay tuned for more precise details of our setup.
  • We also welcome realtime web browser entries. We'll have the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge installed. Please specify the preferred browser to run your entry with.

New School Intro

  • For PC based productions that are 64k (65536 bytes) or smaller.
  • Please ensure your beam slide states the size limitation.
  • If there are less than 3 entries in the competition, it will be merged with New School Demo

New School Demo

  • For PC based productions that are larger than 64k.
  • If there are less than 3 entries in the competition, it will be merged with New School Intro.

4K Executable Graphics

  • Entries will be run on the competition PC and must be delivered as executable in a .ZIP file (or other archive).
  • If your entry is for another platform, it must run on a fresh, standard OS install.
  • Maximum resolution is 1920x1080 pixels.
  • All entries will be shown using the original aspect ratio (i.e. 4:3 or 16:10 images will be letterboxed, not stretched). The stream will be 16:9 aspect ratio.
  • Animation and sound are not allowed! Entries must start with a blank screen (solid colour, typically black) and switch to the final image as soon as it is ready. Fade-in effects or incremental rendering count as animation.
  • Maximum rendering time: 30 seconds (from starting the executable to the final image being displayed).
  • Maximum size is 4096 bytes for the executable. All other files in the archive will be deleted before showing the entry in the competition.
  • It is okay to deliver bigger versions of the 4k along with the compo version (which must be <=4096 bytes) in the same archive. We will not show the bigger version in the compo. If your packer doesn't work on the compo machine, it's your problem. We will be able to provide you with details about the compo machine, though.
  • Please include a full-res PNG screenshot of the entry, it will allow for better display during the compo.

Old School Competitions

  • High Quality Video Captures and binaries must be provided for all entries.
  • Maximum playtime for all entries is 10 minutes.

Old School Demo

  • Productions for any old school platforms, C64, Amiga, BBC, consoles etc.
  • Intros and demos will be mixed, please ensure you’re beam slide states it if is a demo or size restricted production.
  • Please provide a video capture if possible. If this is not possible, please contact the compo team as early as possible.

Music competitions

  • Original works only; remixes, covers, and previously released songs are not allowed.
  • Maximum playtime for all entries is 4 minutes. Longer entries will be faded out.

Old School Music

  • Music made for obsolete machines, this includes computers and consoles from 8 and 16 bit era as well as tracked music formats MOD, IT and XM.
  • The platform will be displayed on the big screen so our party goes know the difference.
  • Maximum file size: 2MB (2097152 bytes).
  • Entries will be video pre-recorded where possible. Please state the tracker / player you want your capture to be taken from and any audio settings required for playback. Ensure your entry is not late to avoid disappointment.

Streaming Music

  • The entry has to be delivered as single MP3, OGG or FLAC file.
  • Maximum running time is 4:00.
  • If less than three entries are submitted, it will be merged with the Mixed Genre Compo

Executable Music

  • Executable file size must be 32kb (32768 bytes) or smaller and runnable from Windows
  • The executable must have a WAV Writer option. If you cannot include an option provide a second executable which produces a WAV file.
  • Maximum running time is 4:00.

Graphics competitions

  • Original works only.

ASCII / ANSI

  • Still images only, no animations
  • The viewer Sahli will be used during the compo, please check your entry looks correct https://github.com/lastebil/Sahli

Photography

  • You have to be the creator of the photo entered.
  • Retouching and collages are allowed but you must state this with your entry.
  • If submitting a collage, please provide a PNG or JPG images of the original unmodified photo(s).
  • Maximum image size 1920 x 1080 pixel.
  • Please deliver your image in PNG or JPG format

Old School Graphics

  • Graphics created on any old school platform (C64, Atari, Amiga, Spectrum etc.).
  • Please include at least 4 work stage images.
  • Please include the tool used on your submission so we can check the working stages. If that is not possible for some reason, contact us on the party.
  • All formats/modes are allowed. Please specify which mode you use, it will be displayed on the beam slide before the entry.

New School Graphics

  • Anything goes, rendering, pixelling etc.
  • Please include at least 4 work stage images.
  • You may include a hi res version of your final picture.
  • Please deliver your image in PNG or JPG format.

FanZine 256 Graphics Compo

  • FanZine 256 is the newest fantasy console on the block. Running a turbo-charged Z80 with custom-designed support hardware, it's a demoscener's dream. Though still a work-in-progress, enough of the console exists to run a graphice compo using it's high-res graphics mode.
  • Follow @FanZine256 on Twitter for more details.
  • No intermediate works stages required.
  • Image resolution is 256x256.
  • Image format is 256 colours - completely assignable. 24bit RGB, 8 bits per element.
  • Please deliver your image in a lossless, indexed colour format.

Teletext Compo

  • Back once again by popular demand!
  • Entries can be made using the fantastic site http://edit.tf
  • Please submit the saved link of your Teletext image and also a PNG

Wild

  • For productions on strange new platforms, videos, animations, poetry, interpretive dance, etc.
  • A video for the production should be provided where possible, obviously poetry is exempt from this.
  • Maximum running time for entries shown on screen is 5:00.

Shader Showdown

  • Competition is no longer open for entry as our participants are confirmed.
  • Friday night knockout heat will consist of two rounds at 20 minutes.
  • The winners of the heats will then go head to head in the Saturday night final for 25 minutes.
  • Participants will be using Bonzomatic - https://github.com/Gargaj/Bonzomatic

Timetable

Friday 19th June 2020

18:00EventStream begins
18:15EventDJ Set: Lynn - twitch.tv/lynndrumm
20:00CompoShader Showdown Semi-Finals: Insomniac, Wrighter, Evvvvil and LovelyHanibal, DJ mixes by d0pefish and rc55
21:00EventDJ Set: Subi feat. visuals by Evvvvil, Wrighter and Blackle Mori
22:30EventThe Pub - Chat and banter with Reality404, Polynomial and Guests until late

Saturday 20th June 2020

10:00EventStream begins
10:15EventThe Best of British Demoshow Part 1
12:00DeadlineALL ENTRIES DEADLINE! SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES TO rc55@rc55.com by this time!
12:00EventDJ Set: Kris
13:00EventDJ Set: Retro Ravi aka The Formula https://www.youtube.com/user/the4mula
14:00EventThe Best of British Demoshow Part 2
16:00CompoMusic Competitions: Old School Music, Streaming Music, Executable Music

Saturday 20th June 2020 - contd.

17:00CompoGraphics Competitions 1: ASCII/ANSI, Teletext, Old School Graphics, New School Graphics
18:00CompoGraphics Competitions 2: Photography, Executable Graphics, Fanzine256.
19:00CompoWild Competition
19:30EventIntermission Break
20:00CompoShader Showdown Final, DJ mix by lug00ber
21:00CompoDemo Competitions: New School Intro, New School Demo, Old School Demo
22:00EventDJ Set: Hoffman featuring laser visuals from Polynomial
23:00EventDJ Set: Lugoober (Drum and Bass)

Sunday 21st June 2020

00:00EventThe Pub - Chat and banter with Reality404, Polynomial and Guests until late
10:00EventBigscreen Games (Jackbox Party Games)
12:00EventCompetition Results
12:30EventParty Over, followed by The Best of British showcase

Tickets

NOVA is free to watch online, however it costs only £20 to participate in competitions.

If you have already prepaid for NOVA 2020, this fee is covered for you and you are welcome to full free entry for Nova 2021 when this takes place. For anyone that pays the £20 entry fee from now, this will automatically entitle you to £20 off of Nova 2021 next year should you decide to visit.

  • Bank Transfer

    Make sure you register, and send a payment by BACS to MR R P FULLAM (Halifax), Sort Code 110298, Account 00148134 clearly marked NOVA in the reference field.

  • PayPal

    Send PayPal money as a gift to rc55@rc55.com to avoid unnecessary fees.

  • Concessions

    If you cannot afford the entry fee, please feel free to contact rc55@rc55.com and we will see if we can accomodate you. Challenging times and that, we'll help if we can!

Ticket Info

Watch, Register or Buy Vote Key?

You can watch the party free on twitch.tv/ukdemoscene and join in the chat on Discord or Twitch chat also.

If you want to enter any productions to the party, you can register. This entitles you to vote so you do not have to buy a separate vote key.

If you would like to vote on the competitions, you can buy a vote key.

Contact us

You can contact us via e-mail, telephone, Facebook, Slack, IRC or Twitter.

  • Email

    Email rc55@rc55.com if you have remote entries or any questions regarding the party.

  • Telephone

    Main organiser Ruairi Fullam (rc55) can be contacted at any point on 07882 450575.

  • Other

    Visit us on Facebook, Slack or Twitter - or you can catch us on Espernet #ukscene if you like.