Competitions

Rules

General rules

• The rules are subject to change and may be updated before the party. Please check back later for any updates.
• Alternative Party has the right to use the contributions in its future marketing, events and media productions whether commercial or non-commercial. Alternative Party has the right to use the entries or parts thereof modified or unmodified and to sublicense other entities to produce any such productions. The contributor waives the right to have any compensation from any such use.
• Purely AI generated content is only allowed in AI-compos as specified.
• To resolve any problems with the interpretation of these rules, and to provide final judgement of any other issues or results, there is a dispute jury which consists of Spiikki, Ravel, and Jaroneko.
• Creative content in all entries must be previously unreleased and produced by the group(s) / individuals listed as creators for the entry, or be in the public domain.
• To place an entry to the competitions, you must purchase a party ticket.
• You can enter as many competitions as you like, with a maximum of 3 entries per competition.

• Remote entries are accepted unless otherwise noted.
• All entries must be submitted through the competition system before the deadline for each competition.
• Use descriptive filenames.
• All qualified entries will be released and distributed after the competitions are over.
• Winners are decided through audience voting, unless otherwise noted.

Non- and disqualifications

• There may be pre-screenings during the party. 
• Entries may be disqualified because of their content, or a violation of the general or competition rules.
• Entries may also be not qualified for the compo due to compo time limits or other constraints, like a lack of available hardware to run the entry on. This is different from disqualification and is usually the result of a pre-screening jury.
• Non- and disqualified entries will not be spread and can not be voted for.
• Disputes may be brought to the dispute jury, but the organisers have the final say. Disqualifications are final.

Realtime entry general rules

• Entries must produce visuals and/or audio using executed code (i.e. no pure animation or video).
• Network connection is not provided. Entries can’t rely on downloading content from the internet.
• Entries may not require any interaction once started but must exit if Esc (or equivalent) is pressed.
• Entries must run in fullscreen mode (windowed mode is allowed but will not be used during competition).
• If you want to contribute with an entry running on a platform which is not provided by the organisers, you need to be able to provide said platform to the party, and assist the compo organisers in setting it up for viewing. In these cases, contact us by 27.9.2024 (two weeks before the party), so that we can make the necessary arrangements with you. The hardware needs to be available at the party on Friday 11.10.2024, unless otherwise agreed on, so it can be tested in time for viewing and possible pre-screening.

Platforms provided by the organizers

• TBA
• If we dont have what you need, bring your own platform.

Dynamic Demo Competition

• Remote entries are allowed for this competition.
• The demo must be noticeably different every time it is run. It can use randomisation or evolution or any other technique to accomplish this. Your mind is the limit.
• How exactly it should change is left for the participants to decide, though be warned that watching the same demo with only slight randomisation can be boring.
• Unlike traditional demos, dynamic demos may write to the disk for the purpose of evolution.
• Maximum length 3 minutes – if the demo is longer or loops around, it will be interrupted after 3 minutes.
• Entries will be shown twice.
• If you are providing your own hardware to run the entry on, check the Bring Your Own Machine Guidelines, and contact the compo organisers prior to the party!

Tiny Demo Competitions

• Remote entries are allowed to this competition
• Maximum file size (including any headers) for the executable program is 1024 bytes for the 1k compo and 256 bytes for the 256B compo.
• Entry needs to be a stand alone program that can be run on the targeted platform. Additional info files are fine but they will be deleted prior to running the entry.
• Entry may not last longer than 5 minutes.
• If the entry is longer or loops around, it will be interrupted after 5 minutes. Escape key support is appreciated, but not required.
• If you are providing your own hardware to run the entry on, check the Bring Your Own Machine Guidelines, and contact the compo organisers prior to the party!

Graphics Competitions

Freestyle Graphics

• The resolution of the entries shown on the screen is 1920×1080. A higher resolution version may be provided for the release in the submission. Accepted file formats are JPEG, PNG and GIF.
• The screen version of the entry should have no signature.
• The entry may be done with photography, 2D illustration, 3D rendering, code or any of them combined.
• Minimal use of stock imagery for textures or a part of a backdrop is accepted but please cite your sources!
• The submission needs to have at least five different steps of your work in different stages.

AI Graphics

• The image must be fully generated by an AI tool via prompts without any post processing nor resizing.
• No starting image may be used – no white noise, no AI generated pictures, nothing.
• No in- or out-painting on the image.
• Theme: Represent an image of VIC: the AI overlord.
• You must submit clear evidence of the process of creating the image in the form of at least some versions (appropriate amount depending on the process and tool) of the unfinished picture that demonstrate the creation process.
• Submit the final image in the format it comes from the AI tool, do not remove any metadata from the file.
• You must include the prompt,and information about all the models, checkpoints, and the AI tool (e.g. Midjourney, Invoke AI) used.
• The image must be previously unpublished before the competition.

3D Graphics

• Entry must be an un-animated 3D scene.
• Entries must be compatible with Foxotron for displaying
• Maximum file size of your upload archive is 50 megabytes
• Maximum triangle limit is 100 000.
• Only use models you have created yourself.
• You cannot rely on Blender to display the entry.
• Make sure you have a licence for all the textures you are using. They must be allowed for use and redistribution as per the Alternative Party competitions general rules.
• Please add 4 work in progress steps of your entry clearly showing the progression of your model.
• Submit your entry as a .FBX-file and ensure it displays properly in Foxotron – Check the Foxotron documentation if you need any further assistance.

Fast Vector mandala.cafe

• Go to https://mandala.cafe/draw and record a screen capture video of your drawing.
• Time limit for drawing is at maximum one minute. Less is OK but entries exceeding the time limit will be disqualified.
• The submission is a screen capture video of the project being drawn. The accepted video resolution for the entries is between 720p and 1080p. The video file must be supported by VLC for Windows.
• The entry must start with a blank canvas of any colour and end with the final artwork in full view.
• The screen version of the entry should have no signature.
• The video must be previously unpublished before the competition.
• The videos are judged by the entire video content, not just the finished result.

Most Obscure Computer Competition

• The owner of the most rare, obscure or otherwise special computer or other machine will be awarded by the jury (no voting).
• The jury will take note of interesting computers during the event, but if you think your computer deserves a special look, contact the organisers.

Music competition general rules

• There are no restrictions on composing techniques. Just make sure it’s an original piece and in a supported format.
• All entries must be 100% original and unreleased. No covers, no remixes, no copyrighted samples or other copyrighted material.
• If you are using Creative Commons or Public Domain material, state so in your entry form and cite the source! Do not forget to give credit where credit is due!
• Entry must be no longer than 3 minutes. Substantially exceeding this limit will result in disqualification!
• Supported formats are 320kbps MP3, HQ OGG, WAV and FLAC
• A preselection jury will be held to comply with the time limit of each compo. So do your best! If your entry is not shown, it will not be released by the Alternative Party.
• Volume control (ReplayGain or similar) will be applied. It is recommended to normalise the volume of your entry, but making it as loud as possible by excessive compression gives no advantage in the competition.
• During the compo there may be a VJ performing or a visualiser used on the screen. This may take input from the title and description of your entry.

Obscure music competition

• Back due to popular demand! 
• Just like in 2000 and 2007, create a song that is not ordinary. Any techniques are allowed as long as you can submit it in a supported format (and didn’t break any laws while creating the sounds).
• Entry must be no longer than 3 minutes. Substantially exceeding this limit will result in disqualification!
• Please describe used techniques along with your submission! They will be shown while the song is played.

AI music competition

• Entry must be no longer than 3 minutes. Substantially exceeding this limit will result in disqualification!
• The entry must be a direct link to Suno/ Udio.
• The song must contain 3–4 sections.
• The song must be fully generated inside the service via prompts without any post processing or remixing.
• Uploading audio is forbidden. No starting samples/songs may be used – no white noise, no AI generated samples, nothing.
• You must include the prompts of the revisions.
• The audio must be previously unpublished before the competition.
• The rules may change due to tool updates.

Open source meta competition

• Any entry in real time competitions can also participate in this category by specifying that entry is open source and submitting the source code with entry.
• Sources are published only after entries are shown in the competition. Either by participant in e.g. Github/Gitlab or by Alternative Party. If the participant publishes sources the entry should include a link to the repository.

Crafts: Event carpet artefact

• No remote entries.
• Maximum size: 20cm x 20cm x 20cm.
• Materials (carpets) and tools are provided at the event at Hacklab stand.
• Create an artefact which has to contain at least 50% by surface area of carpet material.
• All techniques are allowed but try not to burn anything.
• The final submission is 4 image files of the artefact.
  • Shot from front, back, front three-quarter view and top. 
  • These images will be presented on the gallery screens. 
  • The resolution of the image entries shown on the screen is 1920×1080. 
  • Accepted file formats are JPEG or PNG.
• A photographer and a spot with a suitable background and lights will be provided at the event. Photography time slots will be released later.
• AI assistance can be used, but please document how and where used.