RC2017/10 -- RetroChallenge Eve!

It's almost time for RC2017/10 -- the "official" start is at midnight UTC, on 1 October 2017. As I write this, that's only a few hours away. Alternatively, I'm happy to let anyone have until midnight in their local time as a "grace" period. I will extend the same sort of grace period to the end of the contest, so feel free to enjoy your Halloween later in the month! :-)

Latecomers Welcome

We usually see a number of entrants show-up after the start of the contest. I expect that will happen again this time. No problem -- send me the info about your entry and I'll get you on the list. Just keep in mind that starting later only cheats yourself of that extra time for your project. Then again, entering costs you nothing but your dignity...

Prizes Available

As usual, we have a few meager prizes to offer for what we deem to be the best entries. Niels Moseley (@trc_wm) has offered-up a "dead tree" copy of Racing the Beam by Nick Montfort and Ian Bogost. Similarly, I will provide a "dead tree" copy of Interfacing Microcomputers to the Real World by Murray Sargent III and Richard L. Shoemaker. I also reserve the right to dig something out of my stash if I deem it as an appropriate prize for an especially good project. And, of course, I am still open to hear from anyone else that would like to donate another prize.

Guide, Teach, Entertain

So, now is the time to execute your projects and share them with the world. Projects that provide regular and timely updates, produced for the "common man" but with a "skilled hobbyist" in mind will be the most favored. Thorough and lengthy writing is not particularly encouraged unless it is required for explaining some portion of the project, but clear, entertaining, and insightful writing will be highly esteemed. Similarly, video content can be a big plus, but keep your videos short enough to be consumed by a father of three teenagers... :-)

So, that's it for now -- do your best, and good luck in your endeavours! Have fun, stay retro, and show us what you've got! I'm sure the rest of us will stay tuned...

RC2017/10 -- Open for Entrants!

OK...I reckon it's about that time again -- who is ready for another round of RetroChallenge?!?!?!

Enter Now

If you plan to join us in the RC2017/10 competition, now is the time to make yourself known. Feel free to refer to our "RetroChallenge Rules" page for reminders, but the basics are "do something interesting with an old computer, and blog about it for month". Whatever you are going to do, please send me an email describing:

1. Your name (or alias);
2. Your picture (or I'll find something online);
3. Your Twitter handle (if applicable);
4. Your blog location (for project updates); and
5. A brief synopsis of your project.

I likely will produce an entrants list that looks a bit like the one from RC2017/04, so use that as a guide for the level of information needed. Please send the information requested above to me via email to linville at tuxdriver dot com -- figuring-out how to decode that address is your first test...

Go, Go, Go!

Well, then, that's all for now -- a little more than three weeks until the start of the competition! Currently I do not have any prize donations lined-up, but I am hopeful as always that some of our retro-oriented friends will come through with some great prize offerings. Or I probably can dig-up a thing or two around here. There should be some Tandy Assembly left-overs, if nothing else. Don't worry! Remember, the competition is it's own reward... :-)

Anyway, get your entry to me, order your parts, and make any necessary preparations. October will soon be here!