Invitation to The Gathering 1996

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          THE GATHERING 1996
              by Terrox

(HAMAR-NORWAY/RAW):    The   Gathering
1996  will  be held in Vikingskipet at
Hamar  in  Norway  from  2nd to 6th of
April.   The organizers will this year
be  CRUSADERS,  none  of  the  persons
involved  in  the  flop from Gathering
1995 held in Stavanger.  CRUSADERS are
the  group  that  started  this  known
party  in Norway, and finally they are
back  in business again.  - 'We have a
lot  of surprises', Shady of Crusaders
says.

(This  article  is based on 'TG96.txt'
file,  but  I have been hanging around
with  three  of  the organizers at The
Party  to  get some inside information
aswell)

Crusaders  Productions  are back!  And
through  the  KANDU  organization they
are   quite  determined  to  make  The
Gathering    1996    into    something
different altogether.

Crusaders  have  heard  our  complains
about bad choice of locations, loss of
power,   poor   networking,  expensive
entry  fees, prizes that were not paid
until  many months after the party and
so forth.

They  are  going  to correct them this
time.    This  by  using  professional
companies  instead of doing everything
themselves.   -  'Everything  you need
for  a  great  party  will  be there',
Shady   explains.    Well,   what   is
different  then?  - 'Together with our
connections  in  some  of  the largest
companies  around, we're going to make
the  THE GATHERING 1996 more fun, more
non-stop   action,  more  unrelentless
computer   action   than   any   other
party!', he continue.  These words are
strong, and he know.

LOCATION
'Vikingskipet'   in  Hamar,  north  of
Oslo,  Norway.  The main hall from the
1994  Olympics  in  Norway.   (If  you
don't  know what the Olympics are, you
are  just  the  guy we want at TG, and
believe  us,  the hall is big!!!) They
even  held  an  INDOORS  cross-country
skiing event in this hall.

12.000  square meters of pure pleasure
(the  same  size as 3 soccer fields or
3000  tabletennis  tables.   The total
area  of  the  hall  is  26 000 square
meters and 350 000 cubic meters.  (350
million liters).  Stairsfree entrances
(excellent  for  rolling  those  carts
filled to the brink with equipment).

3000+   seats,   tables  and  SEPARATE
poweroutlets  available.  Every person
gets  a  seat,  every  person  gets  a
tablespace  and  every person gets his
own grounded poweroutlet (1 outlet per
person,   bring   your   own  grounded
multiple  power  outlets  to have more
than one item connected at a time).

10  seperate LARGE wardrobes with 4-10
showers  per  wardrobe.   Of course no
money  will  be charged for this basic
facility.  Don't panic, bring your own
towel!  Sauna is optionally available.

Coin-operated  laundry  to  get  those
clothes refreshened.

Catering  will  be  provided.   In our
next  info,  prices  and  a day-to-day
menu  will  be included.  Junkfood and
not-so-junk  food  will  be  served at
your  leisure.   Silicone  and methane
lifeforms make special arrangments.

Sleeping  area inside the hall.  Also,
for  those  who  need  something  less
'campy',  there's  a  motell next-door
with  56 rooms totalling 224 beds.  Be
warned  that  these  rooms  are  often
filled to the rim with other tourists.
Swimminghall, tennishall and so on are
available  in  the  Hamar area, but at
this  time, opening hours at Easter is
not available.

PARKING
Big   parking   facilities   available
immediately  outside  the  hall  at no
extra  charge.   Will take any kind of
possible  vehicle  you  can arrive in.
Extraterrastials    call   ahead   for
separate        reservations.Limousine
service available.

DATE
Easter'96
System Boot:
Tuesday  2 April 1996 00:01
System Shutdown:
Saturday 6 April 1996 16:00
PRICE
More  than  110  hours  of  party  for
maximum  200  NOK!   (About US$ 30) As
usual, girls and non-Europeans are let
in  for  *FREE*.   ET's also have free
entrance,  but  have  to provide their
own  phones.   Prices MIGHT change for
the lower, but no promises yet.

NETWORK:
1500++  Ethernet connections with high
speed   internal  and  Internet  party
network   from   day  0  at  NO  EXTRA
CHARGE!!

98% COAX connections, bring your HUB's
for TP-connections.

You   just   need   a   PC   with   an
Ethernet-card,  or buy one from us for
250  NOK (US$ 35) (16bits NE2000 cards
for ISA-bus only).  This is non-profit
way for us get YOU onto the network if
you  don't  already  have  a  Ethernet
card.   You get to keep the card after
the party.  No rentals or credit plans
available.      Major    body    parts
acceptable as a shortterm deposit.

POWER
Seperate  poweroutlet  per  person, 20
persons per breaker switch.  3000 Amps
available  instantly,  and our special
TECH task force will be monitoring the
powergrid  at  all  hours.   The  hall
itself is providing this as a courtesy
service,  so  it's not us spending the
week  putting  the  power up.  It's in
place the week BEFORE the party.

COMPOS
PC,  Amiga,  C64,  Demo, intro, music,
gfx  and  wild  competitions  will  be
held, plus a few surprises.

VIDEO
Hot new movies and all the old goodies
will be shown at regular intervals, 24
hours  a  day,  all  week.   A special
auditorium  with 200 quality seats and
superb  audiovisual equipment provides
the  quality experience for all of you
moviebuffs.   If  it's good enough for
Olympic  hot-shots it's certainly good
enough for you.

SLEEPING
Special  arrangements  with  the local
fire  department allow sleeping inside
the  hall (No more sleeping outside in
a  tent, we're computer freaks and not
Grizzly Adam's fans).

CONTACT
For    more    detailed   ad   updated
information,  you  may:  - see our web
pages at http://www.coming.soon
    (it  will probably be crusaders.no
    but search for 'the
    Gathering' or 'Crusaders'
    You  will  in any case find a link
    at these web-pages:
       HTTP://WWW.IFI.UIO.NO/~UWEK
       HTTP://WWW.IU.HIOSLO.NO/~MICHELT
       HTTP://WWW.CRB.OSLO.NO
- call CRUSADERS BBS at
        # +47-22 10 46 46 28.8KBps
        # +47-22 10 08 93 28.8KBps
  Conference name: TG96
- call Infolink BBS at
        # +47-22 57 16 00 or 04
        Conference name: Gathering96
- call Spacebar BBS at
        # +47-64 93 34 99
- contact Vegard Skjefstad
 voice: # +47 90119966 24hrs
 email: vegards@infolink.no
- or      Geir Allsted
 voice: # +47 90086488 24hrs
- or      Trond Michelsen
 voice: # +47 92637891 24hrs
 email: michelt@iu.hioslo.no
- or      Espen Lyngaas
 email: espen@team17.com

Write to:
         Crusaders Productions
         Stasjonsvn. 56
         N-2010 Stroemmen
         Norway
Or  if  you  know Terrox better, write
him,   and   he   give   you   updated
information from us.

Include  complete  name and address to
receive  the OFFICIAL PARTY INVITATION
LEAFLET  in  the  mail early in March.
For    preregistration    and   travel
arrangments    (bus-trip   organizers,
contact   us  well  ahead),  call  the
bulletin boards or drop us a email.


COMPETITIONS
As   this   is   only   a  preliminary
invitation,  most  of the details have
not  been  'nailed  down'  yet.   More
detailed  info  will be made available
as  soon as possible, so keep in touch
(also  contact  me,  Terrox,  to  keep
updated).

GENERAL RULES
All  entries  will be presented in the
best true form available.  To allow us
to  do this, please follow the written
rules   or   provide   us   with   the
hardware/software to show the entry in
it's  best  form.  All entries will be
put  on a (or more) CDROM and run from
here.   Contributions  will be awarded
royalty    from    this   based   upon
contribution.

PC DEMO
- 486 DX2-66 or above (Pentium support
  recommended)
- 8Mb RAM
- SVGA by VESA 2.0 support or similar
- Must run under standard Win-95
  DOS-shell
- Max 550K conventional memory
  requirement
- Standalone executable with or
  without data files
- Max 10 minutes shown
- Max 5 Mbytes packed
- Loopable only by choice (-loop
  parameter)
- Exits demo by pressing ESC-key at
  any time
- Exits demo at end automatically
- Must run from harddisk
- Must run from CD-ROM
- Soundblaster or above supported
- Silent mode supported (-nosound
  parameter)
- Gravis Ultrasound supported
  optionally

AMIGA DEMO
- Amiga 1200/4000
- AGA
- 2Mb Chip
- 4Mb Fast (After discussion with
  Terrox)
- Standalone executable with or
  without data files
- Max 10 minutes
- Max 5 Mbytes packed
- Harddisk, floppydisk and CDROM
  installable/runnable.
- Exits demo at end
- Exits demo by mouseclick
- Loopable only by choice (-loop
  parameter)
- Should pass Enforcer-test (ie. be
  nice to your Amiga)


PC 4K INTRO
- 486 DX2-66 or above (Pentium support
  recommended)
- 8Mb RAM
- SVGA by VESA 2.0 support or similar
- Must run under standard Win-95
  DOS-shell
- Max 550K conventional memory
  requirement
- Standalone executable with or
  without data files
- Max 10 minutes shown
- Max 4096 bytes packed
- Loopable only by choice (-loop
  parameter)
- Exits demo by pressing ESC-key at
  any time
- Exits demo at end automatically
- Must run from harddisk
- Must run from CD-ROM
- Soundblaster or above may be
  supported
- Silent mode supported (-nosound
  parameter)
- Gravis Ultrasound may be supported
  optionally

PC 64K INTRO
- 486 DX2-66 or above (Pentium support
  recommended)
- 8Mb RAM
- SVGA by VESA 2.0 support or similar
- Must run under standard Win-95
  DOS-shell
- Max 550K conventional memory
  requirement
- Standalone executable with or
  without data files
- Max 10 minutes shown
- Max 65536 bytes
- Loopable only by choice (-loop
  parameter)
- Exits demo by pressing ESC-key at
  any time
- Exits demo at end automatically
- Must run from harddisk
- Must run from CD-ROM
- Soundblaster or above supported
- Silent mode supported (-nosound
  parameter)
- Gravis Ultrasound supported
  optionally

AMIGA 40K INTRO
- Amiga 1200/4000
- AGA
- 2Mb Chip
- 4Mb Fast
- Standalone executable with or
  without data files
- Max 10 minutes
- Max 40960 bytes
- Harddisk, floppydisk and CDROM
  installable/runnable.
- Exits demo at end
- Exits demo by mouseclick
- Loopable only by choice (-loop
  parameter)
- Should pass Enforcer-test (ie. be
  nice to your Amiga)

GRAPHICS
- Image will be shown for 60 seconds
- TIFF or IFF formats allowed
- Max 24 bit color depth
  (16.7 M colors)
- Max 1024x768 resolution allowed
- Any technique(s) allowed, must be
  stated
- Machine format unlimited
- No colourcycling effects allowed

ANIMATION
- Max 15 minutes
- Contribution must be provided on
  a harddisk or VHS-tape (Harddisk
  media will be returned)
- IFF, FLI, FLC, MOV, AVI or MPG
  formats allowed! Other formats
  supported by contributors at time of
  entry into the competition
- Max 24 bit color depth
  (16.7M colors)
- Max 800x600 resolution allowed
- Any technique(s) allowed, must be
  stated on competition entry form
- Contributions may be presented with
  a commercially available soundtrack
  chosen by the author(s)

4 CHANNEL MUSIC
- Max 3 minutes
- Max 4 channels
- S3M, MOD, PAC, XM and MID formats
  allowed
- Entries will be played on an AWE32
  using SB Studio 3.0

MULTICHANNEL MUSIC
- Max 3 minutes
- Max 32 channels
- S3M, MOD, PAC, XM and MID formats
  allowed
- Entries will be played on an AWE32
  using SB Studio 3.0

WILD!
- Max 15 minutes
- Bring your own hardware and
  *contact us*
C64
- As this the rules and organisers are
  not quite yet finished, this will be
  aired in the next revision of this
  invitation text.

SCREENSAVE COMPO
- Windows or Windows 95 *.SCR format
- Amiga Garschne blanker or similar
- Macintosh After Dark-format
- Other formats by providing similar
  support

MACHINE DESIGN
- External design (Colours, art,
  features or similar)
- Internal design (Colours, art,
  features or similar)


USELESS UTILTY COMPO
- Well, the name is enuff!!!

CODER-HAT COMPO
- Design
- Features
- Wearability
- Power-consumption

GROUP T-SHIRT COMPO
- Slogan
- Design
- Wearability
- WET T-shirt allowed

If  this  wasn`t  enough,  I talked to
Shady  about  the  compo surprises.  I
have  always  been attracted to the (I
am  sorry to say it) illegal scene.  I
would  like  to  have a hacker/cracker
competition.    Can   you   arrange  a
competition wich involves their skills
aswell?    -   'Yeah,   sure.    After
listening to your idea I think we must
talk  this over before I say something
for sure.  But the idea itself is very
interesting',  Shady  says.   -  'BUT!
Never  think about us to borrow a game
from  Bjorn  Lynne in Team 17 to crack
it',  he  jokes  about his friend from
Crusaders.   -  'We have do it legal',
he finish.

Else  there  might  be  some  new  and
interesting     competitions     like:
Soccer-compo,  Frogger-compo,  C-Robot
AI   Compo  (PC/Amiga/Unix/SGI/HP/SUN)
Poetry/limerick  computer  compo and a
Descent/Doom/Worms/Deadly
Skies/Command    &    Conquer/Netgames
competitions

HOW TO GET THERE
From Oslo:
- Drive E6  north  (towards Trondheim)
  from Oslo for  about 75 minutes, and
  follow  the  signs to  'Vikingskipet
  Olympic Arena'. If you miss it, make
  your  driver  wear  larger  glasses!
  If  you  miss  it  twice, make  your
  driver   wear  dark  sunglasses  and
  white cane.

- Trains  for  Hamar  depart from Oslo
  Central station every hour, the hall
  is located about 500 meters from the
  station.

- Bus  transports  will  be scheduled,
  contact us for  booking information.
- If you  arrive by plane  or boat  in
  Norway, follow  the above directions
  from  Oslo  or call  us for  further
  instructions.

FROM TRONDHEIM OR NORTHERN NORWAY
- Drive E6  South  (towards  Oslo) and
  follow the signs again.

FROM SWEDEN OR FINLAND
- Drive until you hit E6 in Norway and
  turn either South or North depending
  on  your location.  Ask the  nearest
  gas station.

As  several  hundred  thousand  people
made   it  during  the  Olympics,  and
nearly  every  person  in  Norway know
where Hamar/Vikingskipet is, ASK!!!

Map  will be available at a later date
at   WEB-site   and   in  the  written
invitation.

GENERAL  RULES  THAT  REALLY SHOULD BE
OBVIOUS:
Political,    racist   and   religious
activities will not be tolerated.  The
organizers  reserve EXCLUSIVE right to
determine  what  will  be tolerated or
not.

Commercial  activity  or  trading will
not  be  allowed without prior written
permission  from the organizers.  (And
a proper bribe of course).

Alcohol,  drugs,  firearms, projectile
weapons, fireworks and nuclear devices
not  intended  for  transportation are
not   allowed  inside  or  immediately
outside the hall.

We  will  not  be held responsible for
damaged or stolen property.

Software  piracy,  hacking and illegal
swapping   will   not   be  tolerated.
Hacking  the  network is probably fun,
but so is living the rest of your life
without  any  testicles!!   Remember!!
Norwegians  eat Rudolf's testicles for
X-mas.

All   electrical   equipment  must  be
properly put together following normal
electrical regulations.  Equipment not
following  this  easy rule will not be
allowed to hook up to the power grid.

Microwave   ovens,  grills,  toasters,
refridgerators,  electric  chairs  and
other   equipment   that   may   cause
electrical   noise,  power  surges  or
electrocutive  experiences will not be
allowed inside the party hall.

The party network will be based upon a
100  Mbit  backbone.  However, we will
only  be able to connect you to it via
standard  10 Mbit COAX BNC connections
at   each   table.    IPX/SPX  and  IP
protocols   are   the  only  protocols
supported.

ANY    AND    ALL   physical   network
connections  are to be made by TECHNET
crew  personell.   The  only thing you
should do yourself is installling your
own networkclient at your workstation.
The   Tech   Crew   will   be  provide
assistance  for  those  who need it to
get you onto the network.

Tampering  with  the  network or power
system  will  not  be accepted!!  Time
and  technical restrictions makes this
a FRIENDSHIP rule.


WHY  NOT  COMBINE  THE  GATHERING WITH
YOUR NORMAL EASTER HOLIDAY?
About two hours of driving from Hamar,
you  find  HAFJELL  and KVITFJELL, the
arenas    that   hosted   the   alpine
diciplines   during  the  1994  Winter
Olympics.     These    are    two   of
Scandinavia's   most   modern   alpine
centers  today,  well suited for those
family members who don't want to spend
the entire week indoor.

As  well  is  Hamar  a tourist site in
itself.   Olympics  arenas  and scenic
nature  is  just  part  of  what makes
Hamar interesting.

For  those of you above 18, Hamar also
provides a semi-interesting nightlife.
Remember  that  drunken  bastards will
not  be  let  into the hall, so behave
yourself a bit.

KANDU   (Kreativ   Aktiv   Norsk  Data
Ungdom) would translate into 'Creative
Active  Norwegian  Computer Youth' was
formed  by  Crusaders,  Cryptoburners,
ATC and a few other groups in order to
show  people outside the scene what we
are  capable  of,  a vital step in the
process  of getting economical support
for a project of this magnitude.

You  may  join  KANDU  through our web
site, or by contacting us directly.

PS:   If  you are from Northern Norway
and   are   planning   to  attent  The
Gathering, please give me - Terrox - a
ring at 778-61792 (Kent).

Written by Shady / Crusaders
Slightly changed and updated by
Terrox / RAW Staff