Atari Party in Davis, CA, March 29 (fwd)

[RobertB]

--------------------Forwarded message--------------------------

From: Bill Kendrick    
Date: Mar 7, 2009

We're on a roll with planning for Atari Party 2009 here in Davis!

http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/atariparty/

We've got a 2600, 7800, 800, 800XL, Jaguar, 3 Lynxes and a 520ST (as well as an Atari Flashback II and TV Paddle Games), which will all be
running simultaneously! Expect to see Tempest 2000 and Star Raiders up on a video projector. We'll also have some educational displays (specs on the systems, "how do sprites work?", etc.), as well as some guest speakers!

* Paul Cubbage, manager of Atari Program Exchange back in 1982-1984, will be doing a short presentation on APX and Atari (before 'the fall').
* Lx Rudis, creator of music on countless Atari Lynx titles, will talk about his work on Lynx games.  (Still waiting to confirm whether he can make it)
* Yours truly, creator of the homebrew Atari XL game "Gem Drop", will talk about "Super IRG" graphics mode used in the game, and other software-driven graphics modes.

I'm also happy to welcome other speakers, so if you want to come talk for a few minutes at this event (or know someone who might be able
to make it), please let me know!

This event is free and open to the public.  Children are welcome (but please keep an eye on them!)

When:
  Saturday, March 28th, 2009
  6pm to 9pm

Where:
  Davis Public Library
  315 East 14th St
  Davis, California USA 95616

--

-bill!
"Tux Paint" - free children's drawing software for Windows / Mac OS X / Linux!
Download it today!  http://www.tuxpaint.org/

[RobertB]

     I'll be attending the the Atari Party that Saturday.  It gives me a chance to see what our computer cousins are doing.  I might even videotape it and have BIOS post the video up on Blip.tv

               Also it gives me a chance to hang out
               in my university town,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug
               Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
               http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[RobertB]

     Back from the TOGA meeting in San Jose.  Duncan M., TOGA repair tech/gamer/multi-platform aficionado, picked up an Atari disk drive that he's willing to give me, if I get an Atari computer.  He advises me that if they have equipment for sale at the Atari party, I should get an 800XL, a 65XE, or a 130XE.  We also talked about how the C64 wins in sound because of its SID chip, but the Ataris win out in graphics.

                      No knowledge of Atari 8-bits,
                      Robert Bernardo
                      Fresno Commodore User Group
                      http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                      The Other Group of Amigoids
                      http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                      Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
                      http://www.sccaners.org/

[RobertB]

When:
  Saturday, March 28th, 2009
  6pm to 9pm

Where:
  Davis Public Library
  315 East 14th St
  Davis, California USA 95616

Oh-oh, I have another event to attend in downtown Sacramento from 5-8 p.m..  It takes about 30 minutes to drive to north Davis where the show is.  I'd just make it for the last few minutes of the Atari Party.  Perhaps I can leave that Sacramento event a little bit early.

                          Truly,
                          Robert Bernardo
                          Fresno Commodore User Group
                          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                          Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                          http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[RobertB]

...I have another event to attend in downtown Sacramento from 5-8 p.m..

Yay!  I was able to attend the Atari Party for the full time; that other Sacramento event is on Sunday.  Good attendance, good games to play, good presentations.  My only regret was that it only lasted about 3 hours.  I took photographs and video.  Time to edit that video!

                    Truly,
                    Robert Bernardo
                    Fresno Commodore User Group
                    http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                    Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                    http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[Rorshach]

RobertBe,

I am curious to find out if any of the presentations were anything other than games? Games only events are pretty common at Commodore cons/parties/user groups these days. I do look forward to seeing what other things people do with their retro gear.

[RobertB]

I am curious to find out if any of the presentations were anything other than games?

Paul Cubbage (sp?) was the most senior there and gave an interesting talk about APX magazine and how it was in the old days working with Atari, Inc.  Organizer Bill Kendrick had a brief presentation on video modes on Atari 8-bit computers.

Games only events are pretty common at Commodore cons/parties/user groups these days.

Heh, in most of the C= events I go to, gaming is not the emphasis.

                Truly,
                Robert Bernardo
                Fresno Commodore User Group
                http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[Rorshach]

That makes a change from the usual crowd muttering "duuhhh is that a game?" Perhaps some day in the far flung future we can get Andrew Wiskow to come to WoC and do a bbs presentation after the place is cleaned up.

[RobertB]

     Atari Party organizer Bill Kendrick has posted the first photos of the event.  Go to

          http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/atariparty/2009/photos/

                             Truly,
                             Robert Bernardo
                             Fresno Commodore User Group
                             http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                             Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                             http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[Rorshach]

I noticed pictures of "bob's 1200XL's". Reminds me of Bob Wooley who was a famous 1200XL man. Was it the same one? I've not kept up with him for some time.

[RobertB]

I noticed pictures of "bob's 1200XL's". Reminds me of Bob Wooley who was a famous 1200XL man. Was it the same one?

Bulls-eye!  It was the one and the same Bob Wooley.

                    Truly,
                    Robert Bernardo
                    Fresno Commodore User Group
                    http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                    Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                    http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[RobertB]

Atari Party organizer Bill Kendrick has posted the first photos of the event.  Go to

http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/atariparty/2009/photos/

Bill has now posted more photos at the above link.

                  Back in California,
                  Robert Bernardo
                  Fresno Commodore User Group
                  http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                  Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                  http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us