SMD on Mini Game Compo?

Shiru · Post by **Shiru** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:33 pm

If you interested in developement for retro systems, you probably know about Mini Game Compo. If you don't know, it's a virtual compo for game developers for different retro systems, and it's goal is a making of very small games (1, 2 or 4 KB). Generally this compo is dedicated to 8-bit systems, but there was one year with one Neo Geo CD entry and also some Intellivision entries in other years. Rules of compo does not determine exact list of allowed platforms, except for modern computers and web/flash games which is not allowed.

So, maybe it make sense to try with SMD works on this compo?

Shiru · Post by **Shiru** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:49 am

So, nobody interested?

Actually, I posted that because of my thoughts about SMD scene. I see positive experience from different compos of all sorts on other retro platforms and I think that SMD scene need something similar.

For example, demoparty and virtual compos like demo, intro, music, gfx for retro platforms (Atari, C64, ZX Spectrum, etc) supports interest for those platforms and brings some new music or graphic every year.

Speaking about games, Minigame compo doing good job, bringing many small games for many retro platforms (mostly Atari 2600, C64 and ZX Spectrum) every year.

MSX scene has MSXDev compo, which generates some game releases too, which sometimes is very good.

Russian ZX Spectrum scene has Your Game compo, which is not so successful because specific rules, but supports game developer's interest for platform and some good releases were made.

First two compos has limits for game size - 1..8K and ~32K, YG has no limits. I think, small size has really important pro - it holds developers from making unrealistic projects, which require too much time to be finished. That proved by number of releases from mentioned compos - MGC and MSXDev has much more releases per year than YG.

So, I think, SMD scene needs for own game developing compo. Something with not too hard limits (lets say, 128K); simple rules (MGC and MSXDev has good ones); and some motivation for developers - maybe symbolic prize (money is bad idea, YG really suffers from it). I don't think it can bring many new quality games for platform, but having even few simple games made in BEX will be better than 1-2 releases per year, which we have now.

Fonzie · Post by **Fonzie** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:02 am

Hi shiru

We made one (or two?) compos back in 2004

with some prices

There were about a dozen of entries if I recall correctly.

Also, few people here also made PDroms compos, I remember I won first price with my megacd shooter (glory ^^).

I think we can setup a new compo, yeah, good idea.

Chilly Willy · Post by **Chilly Willy** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:30 am

A SMD/CD/32X competition would be interesting. Not sure how many people would enter, but I'm sure you'd get some. I don't think you'd be able to offer decent prizes, but for systems that old, that's probably not the main goal of someone entering a competition on such systems.

TmEE co.(TM) · Post by **TmEE co.(TM)** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:14 pm

I'd take part if the compo would fit me

TulioAdriano · Post by **TulioAdriano** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:58 pm

Those things can be very productive.

In 2004 I took part with my GennyPong into Metalix's Devega Winter/Summer contest and thanks to it I learned a lot about MD programming.