Italo challenge - extended deadline

The deadline of the MRC Italo Challenge has been extended towards December 29th 2006, 23:59 CET. Due to the limited amount of entries finished and announced we decided to give MSX composers some extra time and inspiration. Next week, MRC will release a set of Italo-oriented samples which could be used with Moonsound and MSX-Audio. These size-optimized samples could provide extra motivation and inspiration for those who need it.

The goal of the Italo challenge is to compose a song on MSX using any sound chip of your choice, with the 'Italo' sound. In the 1990s, the Dutch MSX scene group Impact was the first to bring this genre, on which you can find more information over here, to the MSX computer. Since then, many composers joined and brought a large variety of Italo-ish (MSX-Italo, if you like) songs to the MSX computer. With its 16-step tracker and recognizable FM/AM synthesis sounds, the MSX(Audio) and Italo looked like they were made for each other.

For your inspiration, you might want to listen to some genuine Italo acts such as Koto and Laserdance, or at some classic impact music disks and demos which you can find in our MSX downloads database.

The rules of this challenge:

• Any MSX soundchip may be used. In the past, the MSX-Audio has proven to be a great Italo soundchip, the Moonsound should make a composer's life easy as well
• Only original compositions are allowed
• A maximum of 640KB SRAM may be used for the Moonsound
• A maximum of 32KB sampleram may be used for MSX-Audio/Music Module
• You may present your song as part of a trackmo/demo, only the song will be judged however
• You can use any public music software or supply your song with its own player. If the used software doesn't do VDP equalizing while it uses the VDP for its tempo, then state for which frequency your song was made (50hz/60hz). MBWave uses the Moonsound for its tempo, so it always sounds the way it should
• MRC will create MP3's from all the entries for the jury and all of you, which will be recorded from genuine hardware. If you make your song using an emulator where for instance the Moonsound envelopes lack accuracy, then there's nothing we can do about that.

The jury consists out of poke -1,170 and wolf_. Poke being the one to bring his Italo enthusiasm to us and wolf_ being the challenge initiator.

Of course there's no challenge without an award, just like poke's earlier Airwaves challenge the top 3 will be featured on Enschede FM where he is a DJ. In addition, the 1st prize will be awarded with an MSX T-shirt!

So, MSX composers, don't hesitate any longer and get your favorite tracker started again. The deadline now is December 29th, 23:59 CET. You can send your entries to italo@msx.org. Happy composing!