Interviews
Interview with Mr. Wax
Published in Vandalism News #27
Performed by Vengeance
V)
Hello, hi and introduce yourself as in most normal mags...
M)
Well, my real name is "Balazs Bernat". My nationality is Hungarian in
case some of you wouldn't know. I'm male as 98% of the sceners and 22 years
old. I have been around since 1984 so you can really call me a scene veteran.
V)
Well, now that’s out of the way, your group CHROMANCE has been around along
time now, and have been on top on
more than one occasion... How has this affected you towards the scene in
general ?
M)
That's pretty true, Matt! CHROMANCE was born in the summer heat of 1990. So it
makes us like 5 and a half years old. Being on the top didn't really change my
mentality, attitude towards the scene. It just motivated me a bit better seeing
the work we had put into CHROMANCE has been appreciated. I'm true to the game,
word!
V)
I remember along time ago, way back when CHROMANCE released ARE WE THE BEST
magazine, you got quite some critics about it because of the gamers guide being
out as well, what was the story there and will we ever see that ARE WE THE BEST
magazine ever again?
M)
Hoho!... Are we the best?!... I recall a few sleepless nights editing that
list! It was hell of a bitch work! and at the end I always looked like a
nervous wreck! :) Critics? for sure we've got some but tell me, which magazine
didn't? I mainly stopped bcoz I had to do the magazine on my very own and since
I had a very serious, steady girlfriend at that time I didn't really find
enough time for putting the magazine together! I'm 100% sure we never ever
gonna bring back A.W.T.B. from the dead!
V)
Being Hungary's
top group for quite some time, what have you seen change in your own scene, and
what have you seen happen through out the world? i.e. what has changed ??
M)
Pretty hard question! Well, looking back I seem to realize that the scene was
quite different back in the day. For example the Hungarian scene was much more
friend oriented. Nowadays small geeks are poppin' out of the dark and they just
wanna be on the top. They don't give a fuck about being in good contact with
the rest. At least this is how I see the things in our little Hungarian scene.
I miss a lot of the old friends we were hangin' out. The international scene is
no exception. It has changed a lot in negative and positive ways. I don't wanna
get into it too deep but the major problem is the vanishing of the software
groups. A sad fact!
V)
In recent times, you got a little criticism over the style of games you have
been throwing out, and then that sort of stopped and you threw out some
full-price titles... Have you changed your opinion about such games, and what
do you wanna say to those people who didn't like those releases?
M)
Criticism has always been a major part of the modem scene. Well, to be honest I
think we never ever released very bad games. See, everybody has got a different
taste so it's almost impossible to please everyfuckenbody! And talking about
releasing lame titles I can't stop thinking about you guys releasing such crap
like "Space Arena 2" and "Ograton 2". Take this as no
offence but I never thought ONSLAUGHT would release such crap! ...Getting back
to the question I just have to tell you that it does not depends on us what we
release but what we do get! Recently we just had the luck to pick up a few
major titles that seemed to please a massive crowd! we'd like to release such
quality software more often but as I said before it doesn't depends on us! Too
fucken' bad, I know!
V)
Have you always been in charge at the CHROMANCE posse? tell us the story behind
the group.
M)
Yeah, I have always been some kinda leader of CHROMANCE. For the ones who
wouldn't know I have to tell you that CHROMANCE was founded by the active,
"cream" part of FBI CREW more than FIVE years ago. At that time our
main aim was to maintain the success of FBI CREW as demo group. After FBI CREW
released the successful SUN 4 FUN mega demo we were topping all demo charts.
And later we started cracking and calling us boards thus we got ourselves a few
first releases. The rest is history! :)
V)
Yourself and JAZZY D have been around since forever and in CHROMANCE do you
ever think you would change group, or change CHROMANCE in anyway? Explain your
answer?
M)
That's true! Peter (JAZZY D) has joined us right after the foundation of
CHROMANCE. Well, I think I can also
speak in his name: We would not join any other group. Peter and me will
maintain the group as long as we still find some fun in any way. We take the
shit not so deadly serious, it's more like for the fun, friendship, you know!
V)
EDGE OF MIDNIGHT was one of the best boards ever, but will it go back online
like people promised and will it be under the CHROMANCE flag if it is?
M)
We gotta admit, we really miss "EOM" and the phat times with RUG RAT.
it's been a year since the system went off-line. RUG RAT keeps on telling
everyone that the BBS will be back online once. If it ever happens we'll be the
first to pick it up as we really loved the board and the atmosphere on it. We
all are just hoping...
V)
Why take a Canadian board as a world HQ? Its quite hard to reach Canada,
so any real reason behind it or does the board rock?
M)
You know we were boardless for quite some time. We were on the lookout for a
C*base board but all of the checked ones were either too lame or slow. And then
we got an offer from DEVIANT (sysop) to check the BBS and take it if we like
it. And we did! I know it's hard to reach Canada for some people but if you
really want it, you can call it! :)
V)
What can we expect from CHROMANCE in the future, any legal projects planned?
M)
You can of course expect a steady flow of cracks for sure. We also plan to fix
a legal side but it's not that easy to find the right people, you know for me a
dream would come true having a productive legal side of CHROMANCE.
V)
Over the years CHROMANCE has given the scene people new quality, surprising the
general public, most of your unheard of members change handle before joining
the fleet, is this group policy? or does it just happen?
M)
I don't think those so called "unheard" people are changing there
handles before joining. Where did you get that shit from? There are no group
policies in CHROMANCE, you are free to act how you want as long as you don't
look like an idiot! :)
V)
What do you think about the games being released today, do you think it will
ever improve?
M)
Today's games? is there any? hehe! well, my humble opinion is that the game
market is at it's downhill. See, also CP VERLAG has stopped buying software for
the c64. Not that if I was a fan of there games but hell, they released a lot
and so they supported the c64. And frankly I don't believe in these lately
formed software groups (cherry software, etc.) let's hope for the best...
V)
The Hungarian market is very strong, what games can we expect to see from
there??
M)
Hmm! don't think that the Hungarian market would be that strong. 576 KBYTE was
dominating the market with there cool releases but as far as I know they are
not working on own project(s) the chief of 576 KBYTE told me they'd be
interested in quality games and recently I’ve got some from my contacts which I’m
trying to sell. So if anyone of the readers has a good game and would like to
sell it in HUNGARY
then let me get it. My address will be in the contact corner. (right, Matt?)
V)
What do you think of this magazine, and honestly how could it be improved?
M)
I have to tell you that VANDALISM NEWS is one of the few I read nowadays I
think the magazine itself is very good, both outfit and text is made with a
touch of class. I think it's cool how it is but if you want to improve it, I
won't stop you! :)
V)
What are your own plans on the C64 in the future...?
M)
Could there be any plan for a star like me? Naah! Seriously, I just want to
maintain the good position we've earned. And maybe a demo section would do
nicely but that's another story!
V)
Thanx for your time, I hope you enjoy the interview... stay cool...
M)
No problem, Matt! Yeah, I quite enjoyed the time making this interview. And
while I am at it I’d like to send mad props and shout outs to a very few people
I can think of: Jinx, Jack alien, Deff, Derbyshire ram, Intruder, Maja,
Homeboy, Splatterhead, Shuze, Ultimate hacker, Code 18, Blockbuster, you and
the rest of the punkmufukuz! Also greets to all CHROMANCE gangstas!
Maintain, niggaz!
Peace out+++
Vengeance