Reduced Resolution Challenge!

[Shockwave]

Welcome to the Reduced Res challenge!

A fresh idea for this challenge, unfortunately we are delaying the remakes challenge until retro-remakes.net is finished, it will be worth it though to get the site as we want it! So in the meantime we have come up with this idea for you!

You are free to create any demo-scene like effect / intro using a very reduced colour set or resolution or both!

You may use any of the usual acceptable platforms for your entries, the rules are;

Maximum resolution of 160 * 120
Maximum number of colours on screen at once (including background colour) of 4.

Your entry must either have a maximum res of 160 * 120 or a maximum amount of unique colours on screen at once of 4! Or even better do both things.

If you decide to reduce the screen resolution to a maximum of 160 * 120, please do not give everyone a free eye test and render everything in a tiny window, you should render the screen at something more acceptable like 640 * 480 in blocks of 4 * 4 pixels.

If you are going to use bitmap graphics, it would probably be a good idea to get permission from the artist before you downgrade thier images

  Here's the challenge then: 

Please make an intro / demo / effect that either has;

A maximum of 4 colours on screen at once.
A maximum resolution of 160 * 120 pixels.

Or better still, do both things!

  Here are the rules! 

• You may include graphics, please get permission if possible and at least credit the artist.
• Your entry must either be in a maximum resolution of 160 * 120 or have a maximum of 4 colours on screen at once or both.
• If you are using limited palette You MAY change your colour pallette throughout the demo as long as you don't display more than 4 at once (includes background colour)
• If you are using limited resolution You MAY change your resolution throughout the demo as long as you don't exceed 160 * 120
• Previously released works are not allowed.
• You may submit entries in the following formats:
• win32exe - dos - Browsers (flash, Java, alambik etc.) - yabasic - amiga (as long as it runs on winuae) - atari st (as long as it runs on saint) - any format that runs on vice.
• You may enter as many times as you like.
• You may include sound in your entries. Please get permission from musician and/or at least credit them.
• You MUST include a screenshot in your entry!
• This competition is only open to members of this forum.
• Please post your entries with the word [REDUCED RES] in the title.
• Entries may be posted between NOW and Midnight of [30th AUGUST 2008] GMT
• The winner [S?] will be decided by a poll of forum users
• You may NOT use other peoples code, except things like dlls, fmod, gl setup and other utilities.. You must list the tools/utility code you used.
• Comments in entries are restricted to constructive criticism and general help.
• ANY disputes with ANY entry should be raised via PM with an Admin in private.
• In the event of a tie for first place there will be a poll to decide who gets the cash.
• DO NOT post a thread as a place-holder without an entry attached to it.

Here are the prizes!   

• 1st Place - Amazon voucher for £30 - Sig - 35 Karma
• 2nd Place - Sig - 25 Karma
• 3rd Place -  Sig - 15 Karma
• All entries get 3 Karma

Good luck!

[hellfire]

160x120 *and* a maximum of 4 colours is *really* tough; but tempting.
(you realize that's much less than we had on c64?)

[ninogenio]

at shockwave wouldn't the standard dos 15 color palette be better as thats ever so slightly easyer to work with.

that brings me to the question is ascii allowed. im tempted to do some ascii on the nintendo gamecube that runs in an emulator. and this gives me an excuse.

[Shockwave]

at shockwave wouldn't the standard dos 15 color palette be better as thats ever so slightly easyer to work with.

that brings me to the question is ascii allowed. im tempted to do some ascii on the nintendo gamecube that runs in an emulator. and this gives me an excuse.

160x120 *and* a maximum of 4 colours is *really* tough; but tempting.
(you realize that's much less as we had on c64?)

Yes it's a tough challenge.

But if 4 colours is too limiting for you you could just use the decreased resolution, that's why you can use either / or or both.

For instance, if you want to use 16 colours, do it, but make a low res display.

As long as the ascii uses less than or equal to 160 * 120 characters, it's fine

Rules are final though, not all challenges are going to be easy, use your creativity and come up with something amazing good luck.

[Shockwave]

I am hoping that this challenge will result in some things that look really unique

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Don't forget that you can use dithering in your work. This will give you the impression many more colors.

[Xalthorn]

Oh this could be fun, and I'm having a few mad ideas....

[Shockwave]

I started mine last night, I wont have a lot of time to spend on it, but the thing I made to test my render method looks pretty c64-ish!

This could be a good opportunity to test out Stormbringers tinysid library

[Naptha]

Well, I really want to join in with one of these compos, but this one looks a bit beyond my ability.. 

[gooner]

@Naptha
I'm new to all this but i'm gonna have a go you might even surprise yourself.I'm not expecting to win an oscar but it will be a good learning experiance
 

[Shockwave]

Well, I really want to join in with one of these compos, but this one looks a bit beyond my ability.. 

Ignore the res bit if thats too hard and just make something in 4 colours

[stormbringer]

Well, I really want to join in with one of these compos, but this one looks a bit beyond my ability.. 

Ignore the res bit if thats too hard and just make something in 4 colours

it's not that hard... have you had a look at the original GameBoy? it only had a resolution of 160x144 pixels and only 4 shades of gray/green (sort of)

that was more than enough to have a very entertaining device

[Shockwave]

12 days left guys!

We had an unusual rush of entries at first, some of the usual suspects haven't entered yet, but there's still time even if you haven't started.

Just a heads up, the next comp will be the much delayed remakes comp so I am guessing that it won't suit everyone so this might be the last comp for some of you for a few months. If you're thinking of entering one, this is a good one!

[Xalthorn]

Yeah, I was wondering how much longer we had to go.  Life has been hectic recently but I should still be able to get my next one finished in time (hopefully...)

[Shockwave]

Looking forward to it Xalthorn!

If it's as good as the first two it will be a real treat!

[Shockwave]

19 Entries

That's way cool! Thanks to everyone who entered, maybe an 11th hour one will come along to bring us up to 20?

Voting on these is going to be a really difficult choice, they all have their merits, but some are exceptinally good.

[Rbz]

20, yes, it's a cool number 

[Xalthorn]

Ooh tempting... I wonder if I can get one done in time...

[Shockwave]

Thank you to everybody who entered the comp! This one has been truely wonderful!

Now I will compile the poll for the voting! It will be a real pleasure