About

Join us in a celebration of the smallest with a dedicated sizecoding demoparty/event, held on the weekend of 9-11th February 2024 on Discord and Twitch

This year we will take it to the next level with intro competitions in different size categories from 16 bytes to 1024 bytes. From our Tiny Executable Graphics and Music competitions to Tiny Pixel Graphics and Bytebeat Music competitions.

Or what about cool size-coded related seminars to get you started, Bytejam, Introshows, DJ Sets and the many other events we have lined up for you.

We welcome everyone from newcomers to veterans and are open to all platforms. From oldschool Atari, Commodore, Amstrad & ZX Spectrum to High-end and Fantasy Console platforms.

This is the one event where size does matter! Don't miss it!

Competitions

1k Intro Competitions

This is our largest size category of 1024 bytes. This is a interesting size category where hand-optimized assembler code and shadercoders will meet.

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

512 Byte/Bootsector intro competitions

Push the limits of your regular tiny intro with a whopping 512 bytes size limit.

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

256 Byte Intro Competitions

This is usually the most popular tiny intro category.

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

128 Byte Intro Competitions

Here is where things start to get interesting in terms of size restrictions - the beloved 128 byte intro competition.
Go all out with an astonishing effect or do something more stylised, the choice is yours!

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

64 Byte Intro Competitions

If you really like a challenge, try our seasoned 64 byte intro competition. Surprise us with your skills and show us your best effect!

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

32 Byte Intro Competitions

From practice we have learned that this category is where things slowly start to get interesting in terms of single effects that can be achieved. Can you create a killer effect in just 32 bytes?

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

16 Byte Intro Competitions

This is the smallest sized competition we have at Lovebyte. While it seems like an impossible task, to get anything done in the size category. Our contestants have surprised us in previous years with their contributions, so that is why it will deserve its own compo at Lovebyte.

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

Nano Game Competitions

Create a playable game in 256 bytes or less. Open to all platforms.

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

Tiny Executable Graphics Competition

Create the best looking executable graphics in 256 bytes or less. Open to all platforms.

  • One competition for Oldschool Platforms, and another for High-End (which includes Fantasy Console).

Tiny Pixels Graphics Competition

We have not forgotten about all those talented graphics/pixel artists out there. But what can you do when you only have 256 bytes to work with?

Tiny Executable Music Competition

Pump your softsynth skills to the max in 256 bytes or less.

  • No MIDI, but otherwise open to all platforms.

Bytebeat Music Competition

Create music with just simple logical formulas in 256 characters or less using this tool

New to the concept of bytebeats? Check out this page for a quick introduction.

New Talent Intro Competition

Our 256 Byte Intro competition that is dedicated to newcomers.

  • Open to anyone that has not qualified in the top 3 of a coding competition at a major party.

Wild Showcase

Got anything sizecoding related you'd like to share with the world, but none of the competitions above really fit?
Then our Out of Compo and 8 Byte intro showcase might just be the right place for your production.

After the event, each of the top 3 individual competition winners will receive a digital certificate by Sensenstahl

Events

The Nano Awards

Join us to find out who wins the award for best tiny intros of 2023 on high-end and oldschool platforms. More info at the Nano Awards website

Seminars

Various seminars about a range of topics related to sizecoding and demoscene.

Best of tiny intros Shows

We'll show you the very best tiny intros around for all platforms MS-DOS, Atari, Spectrum and more.

Bytejam

Join our participants as they livecode using the TIC-80 Fantasy Console. Check out this 30 second video to see what it is all about.

DJ sets

Enjoy fine music sets by various artists.

And much more...

Morning relaxation, Sizecoding tips and tricks and much much more

TimeTable

Friday, February 9th 2024

20.00 (UTC+1) Get Ready For Lovebyte and Countdown
21.00 (UTC+1) Opening Show with ps and guests
22.00 (UTC+1) New Talent Competition
23.00 (UTC+1) Bytejam
00.00 (UTC+1) Night Programme

Saturday, February 10th 2024

10.00 (UTC+1) Morning Relaxation
10.30 (UTC+1) A Year in Sizecoding with ps: Part 1
11.00 (UTC+1) Seminar: JavaScript and Demoscene Sizecoding [with p01]
12.00 (UTC+1) 8 Byte Intro Showcase
13.00 (UTC+1) Intro Shows
14.00 (UTC+1) Competition: Bytebeat Music
14.30 (UTC+1) 256 Second Seminars
15.00 (UTC+1) DJ Set: Goto80 ft. visuals by ps
16.00 (UTC+1) Competition: Tiny Executable Music
17.00 (UTC+1) Competition: Tiny Executable Graphics (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
18.00 (UTC+1) DJ Set: Wacek / Arise - Honey I shrunk the SIDs
19.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 32 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
20.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 64 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
21.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 128 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
22.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 512 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
23.00 (UTC+1) DJ Set: Syntax Error Stockholm Live!
00.00 (UTC+1) Night Programme

Sunday, February 11th 2024

10.00 (UTC+1) Morning Relaxation
10.30 (UTC+1) A Year in Sizecoding with ps: Part 2
11.00 (UTC+1) Seminar: Extreme ZX Spectrum Sizecoding [with Superogue]
12.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 16 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
13.00 (UTC+1) ZX Spectrum livecoding Jam
14.00 (UTC+1) Competition: Nano Game (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
15.00 (UTC+1) DJ Set - Syntax Error Stockholm feat. artist Fastbom
15.30 (UTC+1) 256 Second Seminars
16.00 (UTC+1) Competition: Tiny pixel graphics
17.00 (UTC+1) DJ Set: cTrix
19.00 (UTC+1) Wild Showcase
20.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 1024 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
21.00 (UTC+1) Competition: 256 byte intro (Oldschool & High-End/Fantasy Console)
23.30 (UTC+1) Results Show
00.00 (UTC+1) Closing Segment, and DJ Set: Polynomial

Byte-athlon

For those competing in multiple of the size coding competitions, we will have a special multi-category Byte-athlon event. Where we will determine who is the most skilled across 4 connected size categories between 16 and 1024 bytes.

  • Join the Byte-athlon by submitting a prod in 4 connected categories, e.g. 16/32/64/128 bytes, 32/64/128/256 bytes, 64/128/256/512 bytes or 128/256/512/1024 bytes
  • You can enter with a maximum of 2 entries per competition. The highest ranked intro per size-category will receive points and will count towards total.
  • Points are counted towards a total score depending on competition results (starting at 10 points and decreasing for each author/entry).
  • So for between highest ranked entry in the 4 intro competitions you have submitted to, a maximum of 40 points can be gained.
  • If you'd like to submit to more than 4 connected categories, please let us know which 4 categories you'd like to see counted for the Byte-athlon beforehand via the organizers comments field when uploading to our party system.
  • Nanogame and Tiny Executable Graphics do not count towards the Byte-athlon.
  • In a case of a draw between points. The person with the lowest sized entries will win..
  • We'll be handing out 2 Byte-athlon awards and prize packages.

At the award ceremony the winners of the Byte-athlon will receive a special Byte-athlon award

General Rules

  • You can enter as many competitions as you like, with a maximum of 2 entries per competition
  • Please include a screenshot and video capture of your intro in 1280x720 MP4 format.
  • Our definition of Oldschool platforms is: 8/16 bit home computers, 8/16 bit game consoles and handhelds and 8088/286 PC's (8 mhz/1000 cycles, MDA/CGA/EGA)
  • Our definition of High-End platforms is: X86/DOS (386+, VGA), Linux, Windows, RISCOS, Motorola 68040+, Fantasy Consoles/Processing/VM.
  • Fantasy Consoles: If there is no dedicated Fantasy Console competition mentioned, you are free to submit your production to our high-end competitions.
  • Processing: We will accept processing sketch files (PDE fileformat, Java mode) of the proper target size in our high-end competitions.
  • For executable entries in the 128 byte, 256 byte, 512 byte and 1024 byte categories, we will look at the binary filesize (including any headers).
  • For Amiga and Atari ST entries of 128 byte, we will not count the header size.
  • For executable entries of 64 bytes or less, we will not count the header size.
  • All entries will have a running time of maximum 2 minutes, unless specifically requested by the author.
  • Only original and unreleased works are allowed.
  • Please include a FILE_ID.DIZ with a description of your prod.
  • Obey the code of conduct.
  • The organizers' decisions are final. We want to show off all your work to the standard it deserves, but we are doing this in our spare time and things can go wrong. Getting your entries in before the deadline is a good way to ensure that it gets shown!

Competition Specific Rules

  • Fantasy Console entries need to be delivered as a TIC/P8.ROM/UW8 file of the target size (256b,128b,etc.) or less.
  • Fantasy Console entries of 64 bytes and below are calculated without mandatory header (8 bytes for compressed P8.ROM, 4/5 bytes on TIC-80).
  • DOS intros can be shown in Dosbox or Freedos (with optional SBEMU for sound), But we would appreciate it if you include a MSDOS/Freedos compatible version as well. Escape support is appreciated but not required.
  • ZX Spectrum intros need to be delivered as a TAP/SNA file with minimum basic loader as well as a 256 binary file (to be executed from basic).
  • Atari STe/Amiga entries of 128 byte and below are calculated without mandatory header (32 bytes)
  • Atari 8bit entries of 64 bytes and below are calculated without mandatory header (6 bytes)
  • Commodore 64 entries of 64 bytes and below are calculated without mandatory header (2 bytes) and don't require autorun in any size category (please supply starting address).
  • Amstrad CPC entries need be supplied as raw binary with loading instructions and/or minimal basic loader on disk (MEMORY &startaddress-1 LOAD "myintro.bin",&startaddress CALL &startaddress).
  • Oldschool gameconsole / handheld entries: Rom mirroring (i.e. duplicating exact binary data to sit at required rom-offset) is allowed.
  • Tiny Executable Graphics A maximum of 3 minutes of precalculation and/or onscreen drawing is allowed. Interlacing and rasters are allowed, but no animation or scrolling is allowed.
  • Tiny Executable Music A size limit of 256 bytes (including headers). No MIDI allowed, but otherwise open to all platforms. Maximum duration: 2 minutes. Also supply a WAV or MP3 recording.
  • Bytebeat entries (bytebeat/floatbeat mode, infix/postfix, 8-44khz) will have a playing time of 1 minute and will be played using bytebeat.demozoo.org (greggman). Please provide a bytebeat.demozoo.org URL with your entry.
  • Tiny Pixel Graphics need to be delivered as PNG file.
  • Tiny Pixel Graphics can be in any rectangular dimension that fits within the pixel limit. Please mention the selected resolution in the entry description when submitting.

Getting started

This event is all about sharing the love for small sized demoscene productions. So if this event peeked your interest, but you don't know how to get started, let us help out with a number of starter packs that help to get you off your feet

Fantasy Console Sizecoding - We held a special event in December 2023 called Tiny Code Christmas to help newcomers get started at https://tcc.lovebyte.party

DOS Sizecoding - (soon)

ZX Spectrum sizecoding - ZX Spectrum sizecoding seminar by Gasman and Starters guide

Atari 8bit sizecoding - Atari 8-bit sizecoding seminar by F#READY and Starters guide

Commodore 64 Sizecoding - Starters guide

Bytebeat music - A Bytebeat and RPN starters guide by Ravary (PDF)

We also have a dedicated playlist on our youtube channel called Lovebyte Seminars with all kinds of sizecoding related seminars. During the event we will have and add more seminars and tips to help you out, so stay tuned for those!

And don't forget to visit sizecoding.org for more information on all the above platforms and/or join the Sizecoding discord.

Enter/Vote

Our party system is now live! Click here to register and submit your entries

Watch our video tutorial on how to submit your entry for Lovebyte 2024 if you are new to the entry submission process.

Contact us on the Lovebyte Discord or by mailing to [email protected] to get your votekey needed for registration.

Deadlines

Final deadline is the 8th of February 2024, 23.59 (UTC+1)