Competitions

Last updated: 15/05/2025.

Remote submissions are NOT YET OPEN! Watch this space for updates.

General Competition Rules:

# Only one entry per person in each category
# Minimum of 3 entries per competition required for it to happen, else it may be combined / cancelled
# You, your group and your entry must not be registered with a copyright society (GEMA, BIEM etc)
# Fees charged by a copyright society caused due to ignoring above rule will be passed on to the artist
# Only original works which you hold all rights to are allowed, NO unlicensed / protected material!
# Racism, child pornography, any kind of content that violates German law will be disqualified
# Your entry must not have been released at another party or anywhere else previously
# There is no filesize limit for your entry unless stated otherwise, please use common sense here
# Please .zip or .rar your entry and include an info file in your archive, this helps us identify your prod
# Optionally, provide a message / greetings for us to show on the bigscreen during compos
# Only visitors at the party can win compo prizes, they will not be posted in the mail afterwards
# We reserve the right to disqualify any submission that we deem inappropriate for any reason
# All released entries will be made available on scene.org after the party

You’re free to use assistive AI tools, you must state which ones you used and how! Entries must show your own creative input; simple prompt-only work isn’t allowed! Organizers may disqualify entries on their behalf. In the end, the audience will judge fair AI use with their votes.

512 Byte Competition:

# All platforms allowed
# Your entry must consist of a single file with a hard limit of 512 bytes
# Please check our hardware section if we can show your entry “out of the box”

# You are free to supply:

  • 1. The hardware itself (please contact us beforehand so we can ensure it can be connected properly)
  • 2. A hopefully preconf’d emulator. If your prod runs on standard DosBox 0.74 just pack the .config file
  • 3. A video capture of the hardware running your production (binary must be included)

# Smaller-than-512b files go into this category, too!
# Remote entries accepted for this category

GFX Competition (Oldschool):

# Entry must run on oldschool hardware (C64, OCS Amiga, NES, SNES, Genesis etc.)
# Entries for platforms without standardized image formats (Atari XL, C64 etc.) must be submitted as executable programs, otherwise standard formats such as .IFF for Amiga are fine
# Include at least 4 “plausible” work stages for your submission and some background information about how it was created e.g. which system and tools used
# Remote entries accepted for this category

GFX Competition (Newschool):

# Use any graphics tool you want, rendered or drawn images
# Hand-drawn pictures must be scanned with at least 300dpi, NO photographs!
# Include at least 4 work stages for your submission and some background information about how it was created e.g. which system and tools used
# Remote entries accepted for this category

Photo Competition:

# Up to 1920×1080 pixels in 32-bit color, larger photos will be scaled down
# Slight retouching allowed (color correction, brightness etc.)
# Adding new effects or elements not present in the original photo is NOT allowed
# Please provide the original photo too!
# Remote entries accepted for this category

ASCII / ANSI Competition:

# Maximum size: 80 x 1000
# PC ASCII’s will use 80×25 VGA Mode for displaying
# Amiga ASCII’s will use the built-in topaz font for displaying
# Animations are not allowed
# Remote entries accepted for this category
# You are very welcome to use Nordlicht’s ANSIshader tool (MAC/PC) which should be one of the faster methods to generate decent content

Gravedigger Competition:

# Dig out one of your century-old, unfinished works from the past
# Pictures, music, animations, games … surprise us!
# Provide some background information about your entry, e.g. how and when
# If can’t be run on standard platforms, please provide a video for us to show
# Maximum showing time: 5:00 minutes
# Since we had a ton of entries before, remote entries are NOT accepted for this category

Executable Music Competition:

# Maximum filesize: 32 kilobytes
# Please also include a pre-recorded audio file for your track (.ogg / .mp3 or .flac)
# Music only, a static infoslide will be shown on the big screen
# Maximum precalc time: 60 seconds, music must end in silence (no looping)
# Maximum song length: 4:00 minutes
# Must provide own hardware if not running on Windows PC, Amiga or C64 (.sid)
# Remote entries accepted for this category

Tracked Music Competition (Oldschool):

# Submit your entry as .ahx .mod .it .xm or .s3m
# Maximum file size: 2 MB (2048 kilobytes)
# Maximum song length: 4:00 minutes
# Songs will be played back in XMPlay, Deliplayer or “ProTracker on real hardware”
# XMPlay set to “sinc” and “sensitive” by default, tell us if you need different settings
# Remote entries accepted for this category

Streaming Music Competition (Newschool):

# Submit your entry as .flac .wav .ogg or .mp3
# .mp3 or .ogg files must be at least 192 kbps (lossless formats preferred!)
# Maximum song length: 5:00 minutes
# Songs will be played back in WinAmp 5 (it’s alive!!)
# Remote entries accepted for this category

Realtime Demo Competition (Oldschool):

# No maximum filesize, but please use common sense here
# C64, Amiga, Atari, GP2X, GameBoy, DTV and others, if in doubt – ask!
# Use our C64, Amiga and PC-DOS compo machines or bring your own hardware!
# RCA, VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs supported, if unsure provide a video for your entry!
# Maximum showing time: 8:00 minutes
# Don’t forget to include any custom libraries your production may require!
# Remote entries accepted for this category

Realtime Demo Competition (Newschool):

# No maximum filesize, but please use common sense here
# PC-Win 32/64 or PC-Linux 32/64 (for others, get in touch!)
# RCA, VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs supported, if unsure provide a video for your entry!
# Maximum showing time: 8:00 minutes
# Don’t forget to include any custom libraries your production may require!
# Remote entries accepted for this category

Wild Competition:

# Anything that doesn’t fit in any of the other categories goes here
# Maximum showing time: 5 minutes
# Live performances accepted (They better be good!)
# Material should somehow fit with the demoscene spirit (here’s a good example)
# Remote entries allowed, make sure we can easily play it back on our hardware!

Fun Competition:

# This competition does not have any prizes to be won, it is just for fun
# It might or might not happen, depending on if there is spare time available
# Remote entries NOT accepted for this category

Remote Submissions:

Remote submissions are NOT YET OPEN! Watch this space for updates.

Competitions may be combined / cancelled if there are not enough entries in one of the categories.
If there are too many entries in a category, preselection will apply (remote entries to be preselected first).

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