Invitation to Mekka Symposium 1997

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Symposium'97 / Mekka'97
-----------------------


                           MEKKA '97
                         SYMPOSIUM '97

                    The Official Invitation

                    Invitation: Version 2.1
                    Release date:  02.03.97

                  +------ Easter 1997 ------+

                   Polka Brothers * Phantasm
                      Lego * Smash Designs
                         Amable * Avena
                            Teklords


 +----------+
+  Contents  +
 +----------+

   1.  Introduction
   2.  General Information (Date, Location, Bustrip, Price)
   3.  Features
   4.  Competitions
   5.  Network
   6.  Timetable
   7.  Organizers / Contacts
   8.  History
   9.  Disclaimer


 +---------------+
+ 1. Introduction +
 +---------------+

   Nearly one year ago two great parties took place:

   -> Mekka'96 (29th to 31st of march):

      Mekka was held the first time in 1996 and was a great
      success. Over 300 attenders from different countries
      joined the event. Before Mekka, there was no real
      party for the german pc demo scene in our country.

   -> Symposium'96 (5th to 8th of april):

      Symposium took place the 9th time and about 650
      attenders from all over Europe came to be part of
      this special event. The multi-platform party got
      a good reputation cause it is a scene party organized
      by scene people.

   At eastern 1997 these both parties will be combined -
   not competing like last year - to provide you even more
   fun, entertainment and partyfeeling.

   It does not matter what kind of computers you like - we
   will support all platform and most of them will be
   represented by  well known and famous demo groups for
   sure.

     - PC - Amiga - C64 - Atari Falcon - Acorn RISC PCs -

   This time Symposium/Mekka'97 will be an event not to
   miss - and remember:

            If you don't come... it's your fault!


 +------------------------+
+  2. General Information  +
 +------------------------+

   Date:
   -----

     Join us at Easter 1997

     -> Friday 28th to Monday 31st of March 1997.

     The doors will be opened for you on

     -> Friday at 12:00 CET and closed on Monday at the
        same time (12:00).

   Location:
   ---------

     The party will take place at

     -> "Heidmarkhalle Fallingbostel" between Hamburg and
                                      Hannover
          (approximatly 100km to the south of Hamburg)

     with enough space for all of you (sure!).

     By car:
     -------

       You can reach the partyplace via the highway
       "Autobahn A7", exit "Fallingbostel". You will find
       signs directing you from this exit to the party.

     By train:
     ---------

       You will have to get to station "Fallingbostel" with
       the "Deutsche Bundesbahn". We will setup a
       bus-shuttle service  to the party. YOU MUST contact:

        -> Michael Krause - Mannesallee 24 -
               21107 Hamburg, GERMANY
              rawstyle@blackbox.dame.de,
          ii7349@fh-wedel.de (Raw Style/Lego)

       in advance to make sure that our bus is at the
       train-station when you are arriving.

     Bustrip:
     --------

       Of course you can come by bus too. At the moment we
       have information about at least four bustrips coming
       from

       -> Switzerland and collection attenders from south
          germany too. If you want to join this bustrip or
          you need additional information about this
          bustrip you can contact Furball:
                        "furball@space.ch"

       -> Germany: This trip is organized by PSIONIC/T.C.F.
          and will start in Gaertingen/Stuttgart. The bus
          has space for about 40 persons including their
          hardware equipment. Please contact psionic if you
          need more information or want to register to his
          bustrip:
                     "psionic@osg.bb.bawue.de"

       -> Sweden: This trip is organized by Excel/Balance
          and Newt/Abyss. If enough people come together
          there might even be more than one bus.
          All this is not absolutely sure yet, but if you
          are interested, you can send Excel a mail:
                     "excelblc@freenet.hut.fi"

       -> Hungary / Austria / Czech Republic: This bustrip
          will start in Budapest and  maybe make
          intermediate stops in Austria and the Czech
          Republic. This trip is organized by
          Tomcat/Controlled Dreams and will cost around
          100 DM (from Budapest). You can contact
          "Polgar Tamas, 1139 Budapest, Kartacs utca 7"
          by phone (english spoken of course)
          "(+36-1) 140-0598" or via email:
                   "tomcat2@ursus.bke.hu"

       If you have information about any other bustrips or
       you want to organize one please contact:

               -> Malte Kanebley - Im Dorfe 3 -
                  21629 Neu Wulmstorf, GERMANY
                amable@aol.com (Hardball/amable),
                      voice: +49-4168-8611

   Table Reservation:
   ------------------

     In the last weeks we got a great response on our
     invitationtext we released only a few days ago. We
     decided to let you reserve your table even if you do
     not want to pay in advance. Please send your
     reservation to

               -> Malte Kanebley - Im Dorfe 3 -
                  21629 Neu Wulmstorf, GERMANY
                amable@aol.com (Hardball/amable)

     Your registration should include the following
     information for each person you want to reserve
     a table:

     -> Realname

     -> Handle/Group (if you don't have one...leave it out)

     -> Platform (PC, Amiga, C64, Atari, Acorn, etc.)

     You will receive a confirmation as soon as possible.

     ! But please don't panic, there really is enough space
       for everybody !

   Online Table Reservation:
   -------------------------

     You can also register online at

     -> The "Digital Nightmare BBS" (Login Name=Mekka,
                                     Password=Mekka):

                       X75 V110 
                         | |
     NUMBER      SPEED   | |        TYPE           ONLiNE
+49-5121- 39236 | 16.8 | O O | ZyX16.8 V32.b    | 00-24 CET
+49-5121-157635 | 19.2 | X X | ZyX19.2 V32.b    | 00-24 CET
+49-5121-157636 | 64.0 | X X | iSDN ONLY        | 00-24 CET
+49-5121-157107 | 36.2 | X O | USR V.everything | 08-24 CET
+49-5121-157108 | 28.8 | X X | V.34 V.FC        | 00-24 CET
+49-5121-157109 |128.0 | X X | iSDN ONLY        | 00-24 CET

   Price:
   ------

     The entrance fee amounts 40 DM / person (about 25
     US-Dollars). We are not able to change foreign
     currencies.

     The organisation is !NON-COMMERCIAL! As usual the
     entrance-fee will be distributed among the winners
     of the competitions.

     Pay in advance (possible until 10.03.97):
     -----------------------------------------

       If you decide to pay in advance you can save
       5 DM / person. Please transfer the entrance-fee
       (35 DM / person) to the  following  bank-account:

       -> Name of the Bank : Kreissparkasse Harburg
          Bank-Nr (BLZ)    : 207 500 00
          Account-Nr (Kto) : 211 00 888
          Name             : "Malte Kanebley"

       You will have to choose a password to protect your
       money. Please attach this line [german:
       "Verwendungszweck"] to your money order:

       -> "97"-HANDLE-PASSWORD-REALNAME

       Additionally you have to send an email or snail-mail
       to

                   -> Malte Kanebley - Im Dorfe 3 -
                      21629 Neu Wulmstorf, GERMANY
                    amable@aol.com (Hardball/amable),
                         voice: +49-4168-8611.

       This is important because we need this to verify
       your money reached us properly. You will get a
       confirmation and an entrance-ticket. Of course, we
       will reserve a table for you.


 +-------------+
+  3. Features  +
 +-------------+

   -> Everyone talks about *Internet* and so do we. We will
      have a Internet cafe installed for you with lots of
      terminals for IRC (17) and Web (5) access.

   -> Visit our IRC channel #sym97 to get the latest news
      and information.

   -> An ethernet network running with a big fileserver
      and party chat connected to the IRC. Our equipment
      will hopefully provide a fast and save party network
      all 72 hours. See chapter 5 for more details.

   -> Network: we are selling network equipment like NE2000
      network cards or ethernet cables and connectors for a
      fair price.

   -> We will present all compos on a big screen of 6 * 4
      squaremeters and a powerfull Dolby Surround music
      system.

   -> 100% public voting on all compos for everybody at the
      partyplace.

   -> There will be a quiet place for you to sleep if you
      decide not to do this in front of your computer or
      under the table ;)

   -> Food: We will sell drinks (Coke,Water) and cold
      snacks like (Snickers, Chips, etc.) for a cheap
      price. We can not provide warm food (sorry) and the
      shops in the city have only opened on Saturday from
      09:00am to 04:00pm (that's only 7 hours during the
      hole party!) but you will find McDonald's and some
      nice restaurants in the city. Of course you can bring
      your own food with you.

   -> Every night there will be a mind blasting laser show.

   -> Live performances on the stage by Noisedrift,
      Ronny/Teklords and the FX Performer and
      Noodles/Phantasm.

   -> Flake/TRSI, the author of the well known Amiga
      anti-virus program VirusWorkshop will hold a small
      conference giving details on the latest virus
      techniques which are becoming more evil and
      destructive than ever before.

   -> The German BeBox Users Group (DeBUG) will also meet
      with us. We try to make room for a presentation in
      the Be Demo Tour series which took place also on The
      Party VI last X-Mas.

   -> Many other features of which we are not able or not
      willing to tell you yet.

   Now that we're organizing this party, you might think
   that all you can do is visiting it. This is wrong: We
   give you the one and only chance to produce yourself.
   If you want to give a lecture on something or if you
   have another idea of enriching the event, you're very
   welcome to do so. We would like you to contact someone
   of us as soon as possible, though.


 +-----------------+
+  4. Competitions  +
 +-----------------+

   First of all we must send a big THANX to our sponsors
   that support this event with hardware-, software- and
   cashprizes (alphabetical order):

   -> Amiga Plus Magazin

   -> Creative Labs

   -> I.S.M./beTON

   -> Kuester Datensysteme

   -> Mecomp GmbH

   -> Oberland Computer

   General competition rules:
   --------------------------

     -> The Rules may change until the party starts.

     -> At least one of the competitors must be present.

     -> We must have all entries until deadline.

     -> We will have a preselection for the music compos.
        Only 15 entries will be presented. The preselection
        will be done by a jury of known scene people.

     -> The entry must be released at the party - not at
        any time before and not on other parties taking
        place at the same time (we will exchange us with
        the organizers of all other parties).

     -> You must release a "final"-version of your
        productions at the party.

     -> You have to license us to put your production on
        any digital media.

     -> The entry must be one archive with description
        (FILE_ID.DIZ). The name of the archive MUST be
        compatible with ISO 9660: only the characters
        "A"-"Z","0"-"9" and the underscore "_" are allowed!

   System configuration:
   ---------------------

     PC:
     ---

       -> The production must support a GUS or SB and

       -> your production MUST support NOSOUND too.

       -> The program must NOT use the commandline to
          select the soundcard.
          (use a soundcard-selection-menu or use a
          autodetect-function).

       -> 1oo% VGA-Register compatible videomode MUST BE
          SUPPORTED.

       -> Additionally you can use VESA 2.0-videomodes,
          too!

       -> Chipset specific code (ET4000, S3, 3D-Chips etc.)
          is not allowed.

       -> Your can test your production up to 3 times on
          our PC to fix the latest hardware-problems.

       -> The Competition-PC will have following
          configuration:

    Prozessor       : Pentium 166
    RAM             : 16 MByte (minimum)
    L2-Cache        : 512 KByte
    Videocard       : fast PCI-Videoboard with 2 MByte RAM
    Soundboard      : - Gravis Ultrasound with 1 MByte RAM
                      - Creative SoundBlaster AWE32
    Operating System: DOS 6.2
    Max. Base-Mem   : 600 KByte (= 614400 Bytes)
    Memory Configs. : HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE;
                      no FlatRealMode!

     Amiga:
     ------

       -> Processor: 68030 running at 50MHz, AGA.
                     68060 is optional.

       -> RAM      : 2 + 16 MByte

     Atari:
     ------

       -> Standard Falcon configuration

     C64:
     ----

       -> New SID

       -> Action Replay MK6

       -> 1541-II disk drive.

     Acorn:
     ------

       -> Bring your own ;)

   Competitions:
   -------------

     Demo (PC, Amiga, Atari, Acorn, C64):
     ------------------------------------

       -> Maximum size PC, Amiga, Atari, Acorn: 6 MByte
          (= 6291456 Bytes).

       -> Maximum size C64: standard 5,25" DD disk.

       -> Must not require installation (Assigns, Libs,
          Drivers, etc.).

       -> Write access to the disk is NOT allowed.

       -> For PC: It must be possible to interrupt the
          Demo with ESC.

       -> Only the first 15 min. of the Demo will be shown
          on the screen.

     Intro (PC, Amiga, Atari):
     -------------------------

       -> Maximum size PC: 64 KByte (= 65536 Bytes).

       -> Maximum size Amiga: 40 KByte (= 40960 Bytes).

       -> Maximum size Atari: 96 KByte (= 98304 Bytes).

       -> Must not require installation (Assigns, Libs,
          Drivers, etc.).

       -> Write access to the disk is NOT allowed.

       -> For PC: It must be possible to interrupt the
          Intro with ESC.

       -> Only the first 10 min. of the Intro will be shown
          on the screen.

     Intro 4KB (PC, Amiga, C64):
     ---------------------------

       -> Maximum size: 4 KByte (= 4096 Bytes).

       -> Sound (MIDI, AdLib, PC-Speaker or whatever you
          want) is possible.
          [Please include nessesary drivers]

       -> Write access to the disk is NOT allowed.

       -> Only the first 5 min. of the Intro will be shown
          on the screen.

     Game 32KB (platform indepentant):
     ----------------------------------

       -> Maximum size: 32 KByte (= 32768 Bytes).

       -> Just code a little, funny game, e.g. jump'n'run
          or shoot`em`up or whatever you want (KLF: what
          about magic carpet 32KB? ;).

       -> The coder of the game will play it on the
          big-screen.

       -> Write access to the disk is allowed (hiscore,
          playerinfo, etc.). If these files are *not
          needed* to run the game they can increse size
          by 8KB (so 40KB possible). We will delete these
          files before running the game on the compo-pc.

     Java 32KB (mostly platform indepentant :)
     ------------------------------------------

       -> Maximum codesize: 32 KByte (= 32768 Bytes).

       -> Only compiled client side Java code (.class
          files). No Javascript.

       -> Must be callable over the network and from the
          local disk.

       -> Must run on the latest Internet Explorer AND
          Netscape Navigator.

       -> We will run your applet on the compo PC under
          Windows NT 4.0 and a desktop size of 640x480.
          The browser will run with maximized window size.

       -> Code whatever you want (Demo, Game, Paintprogram,
          ...).

       -> Sound possible (MIDI, Wave, Calculated, ...).

       -> Maybe controlled by keyboard or mouse. If the
          program needs interaction by the coder will
          play/use it on the big screen.

       -> Up to 32 KB of extra files (HTML file with
          -tag that calls your java code,
          additional gfx or sound files (GIF, JPG, WAV,
          MID, AVI, ...) that are included with the
          -tag, ...).

 Protracker Module:
 -------------------
 (4 channel, platform indepentant, except C64)

     -> Maximum size: 1 MByte (= 1048576 Bytes) unpacked.

     -> Only the first 3 min. will be played during the
        competition.

 Music (multichannel, platform indepentant, except C64):
 --------------------------------------------------------

     -> Maximum size: 1.4 MByte (= 1457664 Bytes).

     -> For PC: must be playable with Cubic-Player 1.7.

     -> For other platforms: must be executable.

     -> MIDI is not allowed.

     -> Only the first 3 min. will be played during the
        competition.

     Music (C64):
     ------------

     -> All formats allowed, executable file.

     -> The C64 screen will not be shown during the compo.

     Graphics (platform indepentant, except C64):
     ---------------------------------------------

     -> Allowed formats: max. 800x600 24bit, IFF, GIF, PNG,
        JPEG, LBM.

     -> Raytracing is possible. We need at least three
        significant steps of the picure.

     -> Scanned pictures are not allowed.

     Graphics (C64):
     ---------------

     -> All formats/modes allowed.

     -> Must be an executable file.

     ANSi (all platforms):
     ----------------------

     -> Amiga und PC charset possible.

     -> Will be shown with 14400 bps.

     -> Not more than 200 Lines!

     Wild/Video:
     -----------

     -> Anything possible.

     -> Use any hardware you want.

     -> You must bring your hardware with you (we need
        F-BAS, Composite, VGA or RGB-output) or give us
        a VHS or S-VHS tape.

     Surprise:
     ---------

     -> We will have some surprise-competitions at the
        party, too.

     -> You really think we would tell you those compos
        yet?

     -> ...of course not. But there will be FAST and
        FUN-COMPOS!


 +------------+
+  5. Network  +
 +------------+

   A LAN (Local Area Network) with several servers will be
   on the Party. The Party Server will be used to publish
   all entries after the competitions.

   Every table gets an own network cable with a terminator
   (BNC 10-BASE-2 Thin-Ethernet). We will support the
   following frames:

   -> Ethernet IEEE 802.2 with iPX
 
   -> Ethernet IEEE 802.3 with iPX

   -> Ethernet Type II with iPX & TCP/iP

   Please note, that we DO NOT SUPPORT NeuBEUI, DLC or
   DEC-NET!

   That's what you need to connect yourself to the party
   network and its party server:

   -> An ethernet cable and a T-Connector (we do NOT
      support Twisted Pair, unless you bring your own
      hub with you ;)

   -> A Novell NDS (Netware Directory Services) client OR
      you can get an instant client from the net-crew.

   -> For the instant client you will need the ODI Driver
      for your Network adapter. This client does NOT run
      with Windows 95 even if Windows 95 includes it's own
      ODI Driver.

   We are selling network equipment like NE2000 network
   cards, ethernet cables and connectors for a fair price.

   If you want to spread your releases over the network
   you can share the files with Windows 95/NT/WfW or get a
   permission by the net-crew to put them on the
   Party-Server.

   Our network is supported by (alphabetical order):

   -> Novell

   -> Proteon

   -> Silicon Graphics


 +-------------+
+  6. Timetable +
 +-------------+

   Friday:
   -------

     12:00   The party will start

     24:00   Liveact "Noisedrift"

   Saturday:
   ---------

     01:00   Lasershow

     15:00   DEADLINE for Wild/Video, Grafix, Music, Ansi,
                          4KB Intro and for all Acorn-,
                          Falcon- and C64-compos

     20:00   COMPOS   Wild, Grafix, ANSI, 4 Channel Music

   Sunday:
   -------

     00:30   Liveact "Ronny/Teklords"

     01:30   Lasershow with Liveact "Noodles/Phantasm"

     10:00   DEADLINE all other compos (Demo, Intro, Game)

     10:30   COMPO    Intro 4k

     15:30   COMPOS   Musik, Intro

     19:00   COMPOS   Game 32k, Fast Intro, C64 Demo,
                      Atari Demo

   Monday:
   -------

     00:00   COMPOS   Acorn Demo, Amiga Demo, PC Demo

     05:00   DEADLINE Voting

     09:00   Prize ceremony

     12:00   We will close the doors

   Additionally the video beam and sound system will go
   down every night for at least 4 hours so you can have a
   rest or do whatever else you need the silence for.


 +--------------------------+
+  7. Organizers / Contacts  +
 +--------------------------+

 The groups involved in organizing the MeKKa/Symposium '97
 are

   -> Amable (for PC),

   -> Avena (for Atari),

   -> Lego (for Amiga),

   -> Phantasm (for Amiga),

   -> Polka Brothers (Amiga),

   -> Smash Designs (for C64) and

   -> Teklords (for Amiga and PC).

   But what do names mean? It's the experience that
   matters. And that's what we can *boast* with: ten
   Symposiums, the Mekka'96, the 680xx Convention 1993
   and an in-depth knowledge of the scene provide us with
   the power necessary for organizing such an event.

   More information:
   -----------------

   -> On our extensive World Wide Web pages:

        http://134.28.37.10/~frank/Sym97/

      You can find the invitation intro (Amiga) and demo
      (C64) here.

   -> On the Black Box BBS:

        +49-4105-84619  (v34)
        +49-4105-669011 (ISDN)

   -> On the Digital Nightmare BBS: 

        You will find the numbers in Chapter 2 "General
        Information".

   -> Directly from the organizers:

      PC:
      ---

        Malte Kanebley - Im Dorfe 3 - 21629 Neu Wulmstorf,
        GERMANY
        amable@aol.com (Hardball/amable),
        voice: +49-4168-8611

        Jan Tegtmeier - Reinckeweg 9 - 22399 Hamburg,
        GERMANY
        tegtmeier@tu-harburg.de (Starcode/amable)

      Amiga:
      ------

        Frank Schliefer - Am Musterplatz 27 -
        21220 Seevetal, GERMANY
        gandalf@blackbox.dame.de (Gandalf/Phantasm)

        Michael Krause - Mannesallee 24 - 21107 Hamburg,
        GERMANY
        rawstyle@blackbox.dame.de,
        ii7349@fh-wedel.de (Raw Style/Lego)

      C64:
      ----

        chaotic@blackbox.dame.de (Chaotic/Smash Designs)

      Atari:
      ------

        michael_wiegers@hh3.maus.de (Jet/Avena)


 +-----------+
+  8. History +
 +-----------+

   Version 1.0 (09.12.96):
   -----------------------

     -> First invitation text released.

   Version 1.1 (19.12.96):
   -----------------------

     -> Bustrip from sweden added.

     -> Timetable added (deadlines only).

     -> Pay in advance only possible until end of february.

     -> Compo rulez changed a little bit.

   Version 1.2 (27.12.96):
   -----------------------

     -> Table reservation added.

     -> Rulez for Ansi-Compo specified.

   Version 2.0 (25.02.97):
   -----------------------

     -> Bustrips added.

     -> Online Table reservation site added (Digital
        Nightmare BBS).

     -> Pay in advance now possible until the middle of
        march.

     -> Features added (liveacts, conferences) and updated
        (food support)

     -> Added a list of our sponsors in chapter 4
        (competitions).

     -> No anonymous compos anymore.

     -> No gfx-chipset specifiy code for pc.

     -> Compo pc updated.

     -> 4k Intro for C64 added.

     -> Game 32k now for all platforms.

     -> Gfx compo rulez changed (max. resolution).

     -> Wild and Video compo combined.

     -> Timetable updated (deadlines) and added (compos,
        liveacts).

     -> Chapter about the party network added.

   Version 2.1 (02.03.97):
   -----------------------

     -> Java Compo added.

     -> New bustrip from Hungary added.


 +---------------+
+  9. Disclaimer  +
 +---------------+

   -> We are not responsible for your equipment you bring
      to the party: keep an eye on it.

   -> We are not responsible for possible accidents during
      the party.

   -> We are not interested in troublemaking people and
      will throw them out.

   -> You have to pay for everything you damage.

   -> You have to bring your own wires with you. There is
      only one powerconnection for each table/computer.

   -> Of course hacked, cracked or illegal programs are not
      allowed.

   -> Racism is not allowed.

   -> You are under German law and everything that's
      forbidden outside the party-place will be forbidden
      inside, too!


                         +----------------------+
                        +                        +
                       +  END OF INVITATION-FILE  +
                        +                        +
                         +----------------------+