Breakpoint 2005
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Music

  • Only one entry per composer and competition allowed.
  • The composer has to be present at the party! (we repeat this here because this rule is the most often broken in music compos)
  • We will have a jury preselection before the compos. Entries that didn't make it through the preselection can't be voted for and won't be spread.
  • Maximum playing time is 4 minutes. Tunes exceeding this limit will be disqualified without further notice!

If you have questions or suggestions about these rules, contact the organizers at .

Streaming music

  • The entry has to be delivered as single .MP3 or .OGG file at a bitrate of 160kbps or higher. If you really have no access to any encoder, please contact us early enough before the deadline on the party.
  • Please fill in the ID3 tag or OGG file info as thoroughly as you can.
  • While you're at it, Maxx/Kolabore has written a nice article on getting the best possible result out of your mp3/ogg encoder.

Tracked music

  • The entry has to be delivered in .MOD, .S3M, .XM, .IT, .MT2, .DBM, .DMF or .RNS format in a .zip or .lzh archive.
  • Maximum file size: 1.5MB compressed (=1572864 bytes).
  • No external plugins allowed. We will use the respective Trackers in their Standard distribution to play the modules. You may use neither VST nor any other kind of plugins, even if your tracker supports it.
  • .MOD and .XM files will be played using FT2.
  • .S3M and .IT files will be played using IT2.
  • .MT2 will be played with the (then) current version of in_mt2.dll in Winamp.
  • .DBM will be played with the (then) current version of Modplug Player.
  • .DMF will be played with the (then) current version of scamp's xt32amp plugin.
  • .RNS will be played with a registered version of Renoise.
  • Amiga musicians: Please submit your entries via Network or on PC formatted disks, multiple ones if necessary. This Compo is prepared completely on PCs, so having to convert Amiga disks means a lot of effort we'd rather spend on the compo itself.

Executable Music (oldschool)

  • This is a cross-platform competition. Submit entries for any platform that is able to make noise! Please contact us beforehand for anything that requires non-standard plugs or similar hardware to record properly.
  • Supported platforms in the oldschool variant are anything with a <32bit-CPU (C64, Amiga OCS/ECS, VIC20, Atari XL, NES,...)
  • The entry has to be delivered as executable program, in a format suitable for the target platform.
  • Maximum size of the executable: 32768 bytes (129 blocks and 2 bytes on C64). Noters, info files, and readmes don't count into this limit.
  • No screen contents will be shown (so don't waste your time on fancy graphics or demo effects)
  • The maximum allowed pre-calculation time (in case your player needs it) is 30 seconds.
  • You must deliver proof that your entry works on real hardware (i.e. bring the hardware with you and show the organizers).
  • For C64 entries, please specify clearly if you require a specific SID chip version on the submission form!
  • If possible, bring a MP3/OGG encoded version of your tune with you.

Executable Music (newschool)

  • This is a cross-platform competition. Submit entries for any platform that is able to make noise! Please contact us beforehand for anything that requires non-standard plugs or similar hardware to record properly.
  • Supported platforms in the newschool variant are anything with a >=32bit-CPU (PC, Mac, Amiga AGA/PPC, XBOX...).
  • The entry has to be delivered as executable program, in a format suitable for the target platform.
  • Maximum size of the executable: 32768 bytes. Noters, info files, and readmes don't count into this limit.
  • No screen contents will be shown (so don't waste your time on fancy graphics or demo effects)
  • The maximum allowed pre-calculation time (in case your player needs it) is 30 seconds.
  • You must deliver proof that your entry works on real hardware (i.e. bring the hardware with you and show the organizers).
  • Please include a .WAV writer if possible.