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Date   : Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:06:22 +0100
From   : dllm@... (Dave Moore)
Subject: Acorn World 2009 - Provisional Floor Layout

David Glover wrote:
> The BBC gaming section is a bit small isn't it? Just one desk? For a  
> convention that's ostensibly about games, too. 

Well, if you bear in mind that ...

* on the Retro Software tables just opposite, there will be:
- a BBC B permanently running Zap! <http://www.retrosoftware.co.uk/zap>
- a BBC B permanently running Krystal Connection
<http://www.retrosoftware.co.uk/krystal>
- another BBC (maybe a Compact or a PC128S) running WIP demos of the other
Retro Software
titles
- a BBC Master w/ SID chip running a fully playable version of White Light
<http://www.retrosoftware.co.uk/whitelight>

* the GoMMC Beeb will be fully loaded with games

* RetroClinic will probably set up at least one Beeb to run games

* the PIC/MMC/Chameleon setup will be pre-installed with games 

... I don't think we need to worry about a shortage of terminals upon which
to
play Beeb games! ;)

FYI the two Beebs on the 'gaming table' will both be hooked up to "MM-Beebs"
containing the entire STH Collection.

Incidentally, after having exhibited at the last three shows, from experience
I've found that if you line up 3 x Beebs on a 6ft table, you'll scarcely see
all three in use simultaneously (unless you collar passers-by and physically
sit
them down!!). So that's why I've gone for just the two machines.

Though one thing I am tempted to add as a pemanent setup is a BBC Master w/
Internal 65C02, to run Tube Elite.

> My first thought is,  
> make Econet Island bigger, and combine it with beeb gaming. 

Actually, I've deliberately kept the Econet bit as far away from the
Gaming/Homebrew areas as possible! ;)

At Byte Back, at least one Beeb that was intended for other purposes ended up
being "commandeered" for Econet-use, so I'm keen to avoid any repeats!

> (If you  
> make the island bigger, owners of the machines in question could sit  
> "inside" the island, allowing guests to walk up to the outside.)

Trouble with that, is that I've intentionally kept an [exact] 1.5m gap around
all tables for accessibility (and if chairs are in use, the gap will be
reduced
to around 1m). If I were to increase the amount of space in the
middle of the island, that would mean we'd have to lose a table or two from
elsewhere. 

The current plan is actually extremly precise and I must have experimented
with about five different layouts before settling on this one. I feel that it
really does maximise the amount of tables that we can get in there, whilst
maintaining an open and accessible layout that [hopefully] won't scare off
too
many 'casual' visitors!

Finally, I think 4 x 4ft tables is plenty of space for the Econet stations
...
you'll get at least 8 machines on there including MDFS, and I've a feeling
Rob, Joel and Mark may want to hook some of their machines up too (especially
as I believe the RetroClinic External HDD can function as a Level 3 server!).

> I'd be happy to bring along my GoMMC-Master, and I  
> was also thinking of bringing along my MacBook running BeebEm, just as  
> a demo of what you can do with an emulator.

I don't think I've ever seen MacBeebEm "in the flesh" and it's not as if
we'll struggle to find space for a laptop, so yes - please bring it along.
Ditto for GoMMC-Master!

> Have you considered running a "high score" competition? Pick a beeb  
> game or two, let people play during the show, and award a token prize  
> at the end. Perhaps "Zap"!

Yes - we'll be running high score competitions on both Zap (like we did at
Byte Back) and also Krystal Connection (which will be "launched" at the
event).

> (As an aside, I will definitely be attending Retrovision next year,  
> since it's in my home town. :)

That's good to know - some of the RV guys will be at Console Combat/The
Homebrew Coding Geekend next month 
<http://www.consolecombat.co.uk/geekend.html> so I'll pick up a ticket for
RetroVision-Oxford then.

--Dave

[David's reply has been posted with permission]
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