Hi, guys.

After talking to lots of ppl at Retro Fusion, I got the impression that there might be some interest in future events. Not that I'm planning to organise another one so soon, but I thought this might be a good place to capture what kind of things ppl might be up for.

I basically came to the conclusion that DaveM was keen on attending (maybe even organising!) a big exhibition-type show, like the old Acorn or Micro User shows. So a collection of stands, manned by volunteers, showing or selling off stuff they've pre-prepared, as opposed to the general gaming-event atmosphere of Retro Fusion. This one would require a lot of an organisation and room, plus the need to get lots of other potential exhibitors involved ...

A few of the other guys expressed an interest in a more developer-focussed meet-up. Something like a BarCamp event, I guess. I'm not sure exactly how we might do this or what we'd want to achieve. Perhaps, stay over somewhere, bring along a few beebs and just hack on each other's code for a while? With the idea that some collaboration might be beneficial?

If we do anything at all, I think it would benefit from being arranged much further in advance. That would aid ppl booking it out in their diaries. I also suspect if we did anything at all again, we're looking at no more than one or two days over a weekend, realistically.

Anyway, just thought I'd start a general thread to see what kinds of things people thought they might be interested in ... ? If there's enough interest in any kind of meet-up, we could put a pin in the calendar later this year or next year, so ppl can keep it free in case we do want to do something. That might make it easier for ppl to attend, even if we don't organise the details to shortly before it.

Thoughts?

Sam.

Wow, coincidence. I mailed you literally 30 seconds ago about organising a possible BBC/Electron-orientated meetup!

Have to say you'd be better off posting to STH though, which has more readers.

Hello

I'd be up for a meeting, even if it's only a few of us in a room above a pub. Nice to see what people are doing and discuss things. Before moving onto the bar, of course

Realistically I can only make a day/night type thing like with Fusion but it would be nice to see something targetted more towards homebrew rather than just a bunch of people sat playing games.

I'd be up for a meeting at some point as long as I get plenty of notice.

Things that I would be interested in seeing are the various hardware add-ons that are available (e.g. GoMMC) in action and other peoples' setups in general.

Also seeing some of the tools that people use would be interesting too.

It would also be good to meet you guys face-to-face instead of just talking to you by e-mail or via the forums only.

Kind regards,

Francis.

I would be happy for a meet up.
My main focus would be on programming and gathering tips and knowledge of different ways of doing things, to improve my own capabilities.
I’m happy to bring long some hardware as well.

I would also be happy to play games and have a general chit chat and retire to a pub or club lol.
Probably a day and a night would suit me best.

JamesW

This is a great idea I reckon and well overdue. What about calling it an Acorn meetup if you're talking about games? That would bring in the Archimedes/RISC OS crowd as well.

Would we actually want the Archimedes/RISC OS crowd though?

LOL

Don't know Tom, I've always tried to focus on the games personally.

Hey, guys - where's the love?

The later Arc stuff and beyond, really was ground-breaking too. All the Acorn machines were fab and I don't think we should exclude them, anymore than we should the Atom or the Electron.

I'm all for meeting new Acorn ppl ...

Sam.

MMmm.. do think things were a little hard in some posts. I spoke to Tom W. at the show and how die hard RISC-OS users can be quite intense. However that occurs in all things, look at the mailing list ! We have a friendly community here and on STH. It'd be nice to keep it that way.

I don't really mind who shows up to be honest, so long as we have some BBCs there. The Archimedes was a nice machine but other than conversions I can't remember much of note on it, and as a result it doesn't hold the same interest for me.

Also the Archimedes is a relatively powerful machine, so the challenge of creating something playable on it isn't as great as it is on the humble BBC.

A handful of things contributed to my post above :

1. As Steve said above, the Archimedes/RISC OS crowd can be a bit intense.
2. My sole experience in-person with any, at a show last December, was one of the most unpleasant experiences I've ever had.
3. Most RISC OS users don't like games anyway.
4. The ones that do, tend to rate rubbish like Mad Professor Mariarti, instead of anything that was any good anyway!

DaveM, why do you say that? If you think a BBC meet alone will be viable then fine but all I'm trying to do is find a way to make it even more successful.

I don't see why it would be a problem to bring any Archimedes machines. After all, we had a couple at Retro Fusion.

If people are still programming on them then the more the merrier I say.

If it's in a pub (and I free that weekend) count me in

Hehe like your style

Well Dave you've got your wish (room above a pub, which even has its own bar!).

I just hope the dates are convenient and you're up for it!

To re-quote my post in the Sparse Invaders thread ...

I'm a man of my word Dave, if the dates are OK (need to check with the missus) then I should be able to make it