Toshi's Pure QB Demo Contest (Fall 2001)

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Contest Closed

I have received 5 entries. We need judges!

• Biskbart
- Blue
• Antoni Gual
- My First Demo
• Sane
- OSTMACKA
• Qasir
- Frontier
• Plasma357
- Digital Reality
• Toshi
- Solar Rays

Introduction

Once again, it's time to challenge the limits of QuickBASIC, and make a demoscene style demo. If you don't know what a demoscene demo is, read this. Last time, we had a QB intro contest, with a size constraint of 96KB code + 512KB data. Check out the past entries to see what kind of effects have been tried, as well as some recommended demos from the scene.

Entry Instructions

Entries must be received by October 31, 2001 at the following email address: toshi@tekscode.com. The entry should be attached in a .ZIP file with the alias or name of the author, e.g. PLASMA357.ZIP. The entry contain the full QB source code and any additional files needed to build and run the entry. It should also contain a README.TXT describing the entry and how to run it.

Rules

1. Up to and including 512 KB (524288 bytes) compiled standalone .EXE. No .EXE Packers!
2. Up to 512KB of external files for tables, graphics, sound data allowed.
3. Pure QuickBASIC source code
   • SHELL is NOT allowed
     (this means INT21,4B and other indirect ways of executing external programs is NOT allowed.)
   • CALL ABSOLUTE / ABSOLUTE is not allowed
   • CALL INTERRUPT is allowed (that means EMS and other goodies are available).
   • No .LIB or .QLB linking other than the ones needed for reserved QB commands.
   • The internal QB libraries may not be modified.
   • People who find loopholes in the rules to do mixed language programming (using asm, etc.) MUST
     • Report the loophole to toshi@tekscode.com.
     • Wait for a written approval or denial of the usage of the loophole from Toshi.
     • If an approval is given, two versions of the entry must be submitted:
       1. The one using source code consisting of ONLY Pure QuickBASIC commands.
       2. The one using the loophole to allow other languages
     • The two versions will be judged in separate categories for fairness.
4. Your entry must run on the test system.
5. Your entry must also run in VGA-only mode using the -vga command line switch.
6. Your entry must also run without a sound card using the -nosound switch at the command line.

Test system

• Operating system: MS-DOS 7 (Win9x DOS Window).
• 200MHz CPU minimum (you may target the average QB user's CPU speed instead)
• 16MB RAM
• VESA VBE 2.0-compatible SVGA card.
• SoundBlaster 16 compatible sound card.

Judging

For fairness, the judging will be done by members of the QB community that are not entrants and are not active in the IRC channels. If you wish to judge, please contact me at toshi@tekscode.com.

1. Technical (speed, difficulty of effect) (40%)
2. Artistic (music, fluidity, ambience) (30%)
3. Wow and "Coolness" Factor (30%)

Approved Loopholes

1. Using GETed or BLOADed asm interrupt handlers that are executed using CALL INTERRUPT.