Interviews
Interview with RRR
Published in Vandalism News #20
Performed by Vengeance
Welcome again to another interview, this time we will be giving you a run down, on someone who has had both experience in the LEGAL and ILLEGAL scenes, and not to forget his game making experience. This time its: RRR/OXYRON, we hope he'll share his views with us for the next half an hour or so...
V)
Hello Timo, please introduce yourself to our readers...
R)
As most of them might know I am known as RRR/OXYRON on the cbm64 and Amiga. My real name is TIMO BUSCHMANN, I am 23 years old and celebrated my birthday as usual at the Christmas party in DENMARK., I am 1.91CM tall and my weight is somewhere around 110 kg. my jobs in Oxyron are besides graphics and mail trading nowadays public relations and partly talent scout on the C64, Amiga and PC. While I am actually working at a social institution as a substitute service instead of wasting my time in the (German) army. My general hobbies are besides my various computer systems going clubbing,(visiting discotheques, clubs and pubs) and playing football. More details might not be important here.
V)
You have been in the scene for a long time now. In that time you have been in some of the biggest and BEST groups ever. Please tell us about your scene history from the beginning to the end, include how you got your handle and why you became a graphician?
R)
When all my class mates owned a machine called computer, to be precise the C64, I got the first time in contact with computers and I got fascinated from the technology in 1985. I encouraged my parents to buy one and they did - fortunately! My first configuration was a C64 with a tape and my TV set. My first step was to code in basic v2 and after a few weeks I was more advanced then all my class mates around. Later on I got some games I liked to play and finally I got my first 1541 drive, like most of my class mates, too. That time I have seen some demos and decided starting to do something more creative, too. After some failures while getting a perfect machine language coder within 4 weeks I decided to try my luck with the Sound Monitor written by CHRIS HULSBECK. After spending some time here I skipped those attempts, too. Later on I got Paint Magic from Scratcher who was that time in MADONNA CRACKING GROUP and I am still addicted to that fantastic tool. Here I was successful with my first steps and that is reason for still being an artist today.
The very beginning of my scene career was exactly when I built up DUPLEX together with WAX/AFL, JOHNNY WALKER of CRYPT, and STEVE/ex-PARAMOUNT but since we were not that successful the original DUPLEX crew split up, MAX and me teamed up with AFL, JOHNNY WALKER returned to CRYPT and STEVE preferred PARAMOUNT. After some weeks in AFL I decided to leave them and join my friends in PARAMOUNT. That time, to be more exactly it was around October/November/December 1989 I have spent almost my entire spare time with SCRATCHER, DR.DEATH, STEVE and STING/PARAMOUNT. Everyone owned a lot of plk addresses so it was always quite funny to invade the local post office and getting each day most of the sendings laying around there. We maybe have spent too much time together and after a big misunderstanding we agreed that it is better if I would choose a new group. When I got the upcoming issue of SEX 'N' CRIME I have read there that I am a member of DEPREDATORS now and due to laziness I did not change the situation and worked for DDT. It was very funny as they were very active but later on a rumour came up that I should have stolen an original from PARAMOUNT what I have not done and based on those senseless hassles I took the consequences and left the scene. The decision was lead by the fact that the police started to observe my post-boxes (plk's), too, so the step became easier. In that time I drew some graphics for HOAXERS (read more about it later on) and finally I have been reactivated for a group called ABYSS CONNECTION along with DIABOLO/PADUA, POSDNUGS/TRSI, ANARCHY of TRSI and LEEWAY/AFL only to name a few. The active members of ABYSS decided to eliminate the group and to transform it from a pure demo group and game label into a cracking group named CURVE. I never liked it too much as only DIABOLO and me were still involved with creating demos so we decided to leave CURVE. In June 1992 I teamed up with OXYRON where I will belong for the rest of my scene life. At the end of 1993 I have rejoined AFL as the second group for around 4 months and left them as I did not like the two group business too much and because of not having enough spare time left to work for two groups. I personally prefer to write that my scene career started in ALPHAFLIGHT as I can not accept dudes who like to use the date for entering the scene when they got their computer. This is rather childish and does not reflect the reality.
I got my handle when I spent my time with the PARAMOUNT guys. We always meet at SCRATCHER's apartment and later on, when his parents moved houses, in hi room. Having several computer sets and video recorders to watch the latest wrestling events around. We really were young and fascinated from that kind of sports and BREAKER, who was caught by the police, renamed into DR.DEATH. TOMMY EX-MCG, who got caught as well, decided to have a comeback and took the handle STING. Following the trend I decided to call myself RAVISHING RICK RUDE but when the public started to fool around with that long name I decided to use the short from RRR only and so I am called since 1989 until now.
V)
In issue 18 we interviewed JAZZCAT. you probably read what he wrote about the game "MYSTERY" did you think of this and what is your side to the saga?
R)
A short summary can be given without problems. Here is a short cut out of JON WELLS (visualize development
group) letter in my direction dated December 8th, 1994:
Dear TIMO,
Thank you for you letters of 27th September 1994, submitting your c64 software for sale. Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the long delay. Your business contact, DAVID SIMMONS had been messing me around. He sent me some demo software of which included your work, and promised me other demo software to look at - which seemed to have been deliberately tampered with so as not to work all. Later I heard that he'd a bad reputation for ripping other people’s games and cashing in on their hard work. It was at that point that I decided to have nothing more to do with him, and also any contacts that he passed onto me - thinking that you were all in the same team and league, of which I now find was completely wrong to think! A good friend and contact of mine (name censored by the interviewed person as I do not like to get my friends into trouble), filled me in on the real situation. So here I am, sorry about this whole mix-up, but you can't be too careful these days...
JON WELLS
man. dir/programmer of VISUALIZE
Nothing about a contract and having brought the game from JAZZCAT (David). Do I have to add more? I personally do not care about this story anymore but I think it is important for me to share the truth with the public instead of inventing lies to protect a reputation.
V)
OXYRON are the number one demo group nowadays. What do you think of this and do you think now that OXYRON are the number one things will slow down on your personal part?
R)
OXYRON has been the most active demo group since 1992, holding an absolute top standard code-wise. The persons responsible for that success were our three coders TTS, AXIS and GRAHAM. Who can be found in the top ten/twenty in all current mags. Our musical standard is quite high as well. This success is based on one person only - PRI he is one of the most active composers around and can be found at the top, too. I do not think I have to comment on the graphical side. It is a problem that we still do not have a full screen artist but our standard can be found in the top twenty as well. A well working group can not be built up with the skills of a single person. To have a decent team there is no place for egotistic and selfish persons in my opinion. Lately we removed the negative influences so we are looking forward to a good future, too. It is more important that the group members are friends and respect each other and so is the situation again after the changes we had in the last weeks.
V)
What do you enjoy in real-life, as it would be impossible for only computer to be running your life?
R)
Well I am actually living in cyberspace and no real world exists due to my knowledge :). Okay, let’s become a little more serious. What is keeping me up these days? it is of course a girl called Sylvia. She is working in the social institution, too, and a very nice person I am looking forward to a long relationship (hopefully). Furthermore it is quite funny to go on road visiting all kind of discotheques pubs and clubs and of course playing soccer is quite enjoyable. Sometimes, if there is some spare time left, I use to watch TV (mainly MTV and Viua, the German music cannel playing most of the day dance floor and techno music) or I use to listen to the radio (British forces radio : Steve mason's experience). There are for sure some things letting me relax, too, but actually they are out of mind.
V)
What are you favourite....
cracker groups past: Dynamic Duo, ESI, Paramount. present: Alpha Flight, Avantgarde
demo groups past: Scoop, Black Mail, Bonzai, Contex. present: Focus, Elysium, Agony
coders past: TMC, Lubber, Raistlin. present: TTS, Axis, Graham, Slammer, Unifier
graphicians past: Pegasus, Robin Levy. present: Mirage, Hein, Compyx, Cruise
musicians past: Rob Hubbard, JCH, Tim Follin. present: PRI, Arne
swappers past: Mr. Smart/Contex, Wolf/Vision. present: Derbyshire Ram
crackers past: Snacky/Genesis. present: Jack Alien, Skinhead.
magazines past: Shock, The Pulse, Mamba. present: Relax, Vandalism News
V)
Well nice to see you like the mag still Timo, anyway, now you should make the perfect group, and you can choose anyone in the scene, who will you choose and why?
R)
I am quite satisfied with the current OXYRON member status but we would have to add some full screen artists. My all stars team would look like...
CODERS: TTS, Axis, Graham, Unifer, Slammer (very experienced and the best established coders around) Mr. Sex, Druid, Quiss (the very best newcomers).
GRAPHICIANS: Hein, Mirage, Cruise (for marvellous full screen pictures), Compyx (brilliant logos)
MUSICIANS: PRI, The Syndrom, Jeff (experienced), Arne (unfortunately his music is used in intros only), Fanta (talented newcomer).
CRACKERS: Skinhead, Jack Alien (for their brilliant versions)
SWAPPERS: Derbyshire Ram (good cracker and mail trader), Styx (good illegal trader too).
NTSC FIXER: Peacemaker, Pudwerx(the very best around)
MAG EDITORS: Duke (I am referring to THE PULSE), Gene (Shock)
BOARDS: Holiday Inn Cambodia, The Evil Island (I like both very much).
ORGANISER: Marc (he is a perfect organiser in my opinion).
V)
What do you think of the comments by ENTROPY on your typical RRR styled logo in the TRIBUNE#48. did you think this was a fair comment or not?
R)
At The Party 1994, ANONYM/PADUA told me "Some minutes ago I saw for the first time a magazine called TRIBUNE and they pretended to release the 48th issue - ha ha" Nobody recognised the magazine within the last five years it is said to be released. How to get attention! It is very easy, attacking well reputed magazines and scene personalities in order to see those guys striking back and to get some advertisement I did the fault as well with reactions in the last issue of SKYHIGH and I would like to advise the public not to react, too. To ignore them might be a better revenge as it is always very easy to inverse all arguments and to use them for own propaganda and promotion. Keep that in mind! About the comment: if I would send them one of my logos with a BIZ KID sign they would classify it as brilliant, with my sign as a typical RRR styled logo. No more to add.
V)
In your opinion, who would you class as the true elites in the scene past and present? why is this your answer?
R)
I personally prefer the strict division in three categories : high society (if you prefer elite), middle-class (groups without charisma and success) and the rest (to be more precise newcomers and the mass of lamers). It is comparable with the real world where you have to work for your status. In my opinion nobody is elite who was allowed to join a well reputed group or who owns a modem to call out, it is the person’s character and his deeds that bring the honour to be called elite. I have my very own opinions whom I classify to the three categories but I do not want to influence someone else with my ideas. Some dudes tried to ruin the reputation of the elite but in my opinion it is no shame to belong to the chosen part of the scene. Most try to argue with elite sceners are losers in real life but that is a jealous reaction in my eyes.
V)
You have been noticed as helping out a number of Australians in your time in the scene, first with TSR, and then with BODYCOUNT why? and tell us how this all started?
R)
The answer is very simple. It started when I got my first Australian contact, BLACK WIDOW/GOTHIC. Michelle
delivered me THE LINK and I found it was quite interesting to get all those information about the Australian scene later on UPTONOGOOD/TSR became a good contact of mine and so I decided to draw a logo for the magazine. Finally I got in touch with VENGEANCE and some months later with JAZZCAT, both members of BODYCOUNT I got the magazine VANDALISM NEWS, issue #8 and #9 and thought that this is a lot of potential in the mag and the editors. The 10th issue was well respected in Europe in both categories, text and outfit. When matt' asked me for a logo I drew the graphics for the entire outfit and it became quite successful. Later on I supplied once in a while some graphics for that magazine, too, but when the main editors did not care too much about the magazine anymore I finally lost the interest in doing something for VANDALISM NEWS, mainly lead by comments of a certain guy called INSANE who wanted to draw graphics for the outfit. After the rebirth with the old VANDALISM staff I had a comeback here too, and finally JAZZCAT has been begging me for around 6 months for the graphics of DOMINATION, so I drew them and became the reason for the delayed first issue of his magazine. That is the story how I got involved with the Australian scene. Last but not least I can not forget to mention GOP and GRIZE of DARKSIDE, too (what about the game graphics order you have offered me into you last letter?), order to encourage my friends to continue with their great work.
V)
Well it seems we have been quite successful since the rebirth but now what is your HONEST opinion of this magazine? and why do you hold this opinion?
R)
It used to be much better in the good old days when I got more regular released but since a few issues I was able to detect a progress with coming up again an acceptable quantity and quality of text I am looking forward to see VANDALISM NEWS being once again a worthy competitor for the crown of the best magazines released these days.
V)
Well, we hope the same but this to hold the crown we need more than useless issues... If you had to re-enter the scene again and you could become anything but a graphician what would you be?
R)
To be honest, I would definitely not re-enter the C64 scene again! well I have found some great friends here but actually the scene used to be much better in the past. The only chance of the cbm64 is that the demo groups keep it alive as long as possible but the problem is that the major demo groups are not that active to see a real chance for the (near) future of this machine.
V)
Tell us something about BAD BYTES the game label in Europe and what we can expect from BAD BYTES Europe through the next year, any major releases?
R)
At first there is a nice minesweeper clone called 'COLDIARUS' finished within the next days, followed by the breakout -variant "SWIRL". Unfortunately the preview released did not reflect the real game play and does not work correctly. The next projects will be MYSTERY 2, the jewel version containing only the main idea of the first part. Next projects are DIAMOND QUEST a platform game and a trilogy called OCEAN WARS. Furthermore we might create an uppercase jump and run just to prove our strength. It is very important to point out that we do not cooperate with pirates and would never allow a cracking group to use our logo 'European quality' in their intros. I personally do not care about the Australian section too much as they are working independent but adding their logo into a SCS+TRC intro is not a clear move in my opinion. At least the European section has nothing to do with the ANTI-CROSSFIRE intro as well!! BAD BYTES Europe is independent and does not SUPPORT any ILLEGAL GROUPS, even if some of our members are in cracking groups. We try to keep the standard of our games quite high so there might come some major releases. Who knows? Last but not least I can proudly announce that the RELAX magazine is going to be under the BAD BYTES label starting with issue #8.
V)
Yes I’m sure this is all true, but it is however unfortunate that BAD BYTES in Australia is dead, and SCS +TRC included that picture in their intro to have a 100% percent version with intro graffix from the game and it had nothing to do with BAD BYTE Australia, the ANTI-CROSSFIRE intro was made on asking the coder of MISFORTUNE for use of some of his sprites...Anyway the COPYRIGHT HOLDER of the name BAD BYTES, otherwise known as DWAYNE BAKEWELL has requested that the European section immediately stop using that game production name, with no bad or hard feelings meant, but it is part of an ongoing move to combine with a new label to be known as WILDSTYLED PRODUCTIONS, anyhow... A long time ago you were accused of ripping GRAPHICS, tell us about that?
R)
Yes, it was very interesting and funny. I have learnt out of it never again drawing graffix under a second handle. The situation indeed was that I have drawn during my break some graphics for HOAXERS, used in their fabulous demos "Frantic 2" and "Breathless". I added my initials "TB" and later on I created the handle "Throb" for my graphics label "Golden Graphics" I have used in former times as it was not sure that I am going to return to the scene. Fact is that "Throb/Golden Graphics" got created for my work. The object most of the rumours were referring to was the "1991" logo. At the party 1992 TTS needed a logo for one of the marvellous vector parts and so we have chosen the "1992" logo, the sequel to the "1991" logo. Both logos were originally planned to be a part of a new year demo never released so far. I personally saw no problem is using that logo but later on some unworthy spread the false rumours again. Regarding the entire story with a distance of 18 months it looks quite amusing but 1993 I was very angry because I do not accept people who spread lies about my very own person, and that policy is still actual these days.
V)
What have been the best and the worst times for you in the scene and why?
R)
The best times were for the sure the membership in PARAMOUNT and OXYRON. Working with close friends and being successful, raising the charts with them is one of the things I will never forget even it is with the way I have been living so far. The worst time was when I read the first disk-magazine when I re-entered the cbm64 scene. It was a nearly no text concerning well-known groups which I used to know from the past. Later on, after reading the shock the situation went normal again when I found out there are still groups around I used to know.
V)
What parties have you made your presence felt at?
R)
Next to various Venlo-meetings I have visited The Party1992,1993,1994 in Aars and later on in Herning/Denmark as well as the TCC 1993 in Gothenburg/Sweden and the Radwar V7 in Heinsberg/Germany. Since 1993 I was present at the meetings in combination with the CEbit, too. The next party I am going to visit is the focus and SCS&TRC. party in Utrecht/The Netherlands. I am not sure about visiting the party 1995 in Denmark as I might follow the example of TDJ/Focus and spending the time my actual girlfriend.
Regarding the average age of the audience present at the party 1994 I think I am definitely six years to old for this form of wasting my spare time.
V)
What is next on the table of contents for what can we expect from you personally?
R)
Oxyron is more 16-bit related these days but that does not mean that we are going leave the cbm64. Fact is that our coders are improving their skills on the Amiga in the next weeks and months but we still planned the release of Coma Light 13. Months of the readers have probably read the note "still alive/oxy" where the most important things have been said. TTS, AXIS and GRAHAM will continue to on the cbm64, PRI does not even own another computer system until now, SCRAPPER continues his job as a swapper like he did in 1994 with the single expectation that he does not continue to edit the charts for SKYHIGH, ASMODIS is actually busy with his army service but SLIDE has definitely "left" the C64 for the Amiga where he is a very important member these days or to be more exact some kind of headquarter where you are able to meet most of the OXYRON guys living in the northern area of GERMANY. The actual (01-17-1995) memberstatus looks like: Asmodis, Axis, Graham, PRI, RRR, Scrapper and TTS, of course in alphabetical order. BIZ KID decided to look out for a more active (?)demo group so he got removed from the official member status and it was impossible to ignore the content of SKYHIGH 14 so we were forced to react that way. I am still supporting OXYRON with graphics, guarantee positive public relations (for all magazine editors: contact me to prove your facts instead of printing rumours about OXYRON) and search for talents who are interested to enlarge our team on the C64, Amiga, and PC. I am going to spend most of my (computer) spare time for BAD BYTES Europe and other commercial productions as I found out that cool guys produce demos but even cooler guys develop games! Like most of the other OXYRON members I am trying my luck on the Amiga as well as a swapper and still try to improve my graphical abilities or to be more precise, I am studying the manual for dpaint 4 in order to be able using all the useful functions offered by that fantastic tool. For those who are interested in, I own an Amiga 1200, 68030 processor, 6 mb ram, 28 mhz and 420 hard disk to guarantee an acceptable and enjoyable working.
V)
How could VANDALISM NEWS be improved as a mag?
R)
Personally I think that the editors have in general to be satisfied with their own production, otherwise they should
better trying to do something different. In my opinion the news chapter was very then when keeping in mind that it should cover the most important news from AUGUST to JANUARY 1995 as the release charts covered that big period as well. Furthermore the amount of incoming votesheets should be improved a little bit to guarantee a bigger advertisement chapter and more "fair" charts. It would be nice seeing VANDALISM NEWS returning to their roots, becoming an objective magazine like in former days as - in my opinion - a magazine should be something informative and not a propaganda medium to slag possible enemies down. There is nothing else to complain about, all in all VANDALISM NEWS is a very nice magazine with a cool outfit and quality texts worth to be read what can not be told about an every magazine being spread these days. I would really appreciate it to see a more regular release!
V)
You do freelance editing for many magazines which ones do you work for? which has been your favourite to do work for, either graphically or basic text editing?
R)
In my career I have been working for BITMANIA, ADDYBOOK, SKYHIGH, VANDALISM NEWS, DOMINATION, RELAX and THE PULSE. I biggest fun was creating the graphics for VANDALISM as I was allowed to work without any limits, neither the format nor the size, and I guess most of the results have been quite remarkable. Furthermore it is a pleasure to edit texts for RELAX with a single expectation, I hate to review demos! I really liked to interview UNIFER/SPIRIT for ADDYBOOK as well. Scrapper remarked that it was definitely the best interview ever printed in an OXYRON magazine and he is an experienced magazine editor so that compliment was some kind of honour for me. Actually I am not freelancing anymore as I use to work exclusively for RELAX as some kind word processing maniac.
V)
Well, its now time to go so TIMO I know your quite a busy man so any last words???
R)
Thanks a lot Matt for making this interview possible and to share my unplugged opinion with your readers. All the best for the upcoming issues of this nice magazine. To get in touch with OXYRON on Amiga and C64 try the only active mail trader around...
Published in Vandalism News #20
Performed by Vengeance
Welcome again to another interview, this time we will be giving you a run down, on someone who has had both experience in the LEGAL and ILLEGAL scenes, and not to forget his game making experience. This time its: RRR/OXYRON, we hope he'll share his views with us for the next half an hour or so...
V)
Hello Timo, please introduce yourself to our readers...
R)
As most of them might know I am known as RRR/OXYRON on the cbm64 and Amiga. My real name is TIMO BUSCHMANN, I am 23 years old and celebrated my birthday as usual at the Christmas party in DENMARK., I am 1.91CM tall and my weight is somewhere around 110 kg. my jobs in Oxyron are besides graphics and mail trading nowadays public relations and partly talent scout on the C64, Amiga and PC. While I am actually working at a social institution as a substitute service instead of wasting my time in the (German) army. My general hobbies are besides my various computer systems going clubbing,(visiting discotheques, clubs and pubs) and playing football. More details might not be important here.
V)
You have been in the scene for a long time now. In that time you have been in some of the biggest and BEST groups ever. Please tell us about your scene history from the beginning to the end, include how you got your handle and why you became a graphician?
R)
When all my class mates owned a machine called computer, to be precise the C64, I got the first time in contact with computers and I got fascinated from the technology in 1985. I encouraged my parents to buy one and they did - fortunately! My first configuration was a C64 with a tape and my TV set. My first step was to code in basic v2 and after a few weeks I was more advanced then all my class mates around. Later on I got some games I liked to play and finally I got my first 1541 drive, like most of my class mates, too. That time I have seen some demos and decided starting to do something more creative, too. After some failures while getting a perfect machine language coder within 4 weeks I decided to try my luck with the Sound Monitor written by CHRIS HULSBECK. After spending some time here I skipped those attempts, too. Later on I got Paint Magic from Scratcher who was that time in MADONNA CRACKING GROUP and I am still addicted to that fantastic tool. Here I was successful with my first steps and that is reason for still being an artist today.
The very beginning of my scene career was exactly when I built up DUPLEX together with WAX/AFL, JOHNNY WALKER of CRYPT, and STEVE/ex-PARAMOUNT but since we were not that successful the original DUPLEX crew split up, MAX and me teamed up with AFL, JOHNNY WALKER returned to CRYPT and STEVE preferred PARAMOUNT. After some weeks in AFL I decided to leave them and join my friends in PARAMOUNT. That time, to be more exactly it was around October/November/December 1989 I have spent almost my entire spare time with SCRATCHER, DR.DEATH, STEVE and STING/PARAMOUNT. Everyone owned a lot of plk addresses so it was always quite funny to invade the local post office and getting each day most of the sendings laying around there. We maybe have spent too much time together and after a big misunderstanding we agreed that it is better if I would choose a new group. When I got the upcoming issue of SEX 'N' CRIME I have read there that I am a member of DEPREDATORS now and due to laziness I did not change the situation and worked for DDT. It was very funny as they were very active but later on a rumour came up that I should have stolen an original from PARAMOUNT what I have not done and based on those senseless hassles I took the consequences and left the scene. The decision was lead by the fact that the police started to observe my post-boxes (plk's), too, so the step became easier. In that time I drew some graphics for HOAXERS (read more about it later on) and finally I have been reactivated for a group called ABYSS CONNECTION along with DIABOLO/PADUA, POSDNUGS/TRSI, ANARCHY of TRSI and LEEWAY/AFL only to name a few. The active members of ABYSS decided to eliminate the group and to transform it from a pure demo group and game label into a cracking group named CURVE. I never liked it too much as only DIABOLO and me were still involved with creating demos so we decided to leave CURVE. In June 1992 I teamed up with OXYRON where I will belong for the rest of my scene life. At the end of 1993 I have rejoined AFL as the second group for around 4 months and left them as I did not like the two group business too much and because of not having enough spare time left to work for two groups. I personally prefer to write that my scene career started in ALPHAFLIGHT as I can not accept dudes who like to use the date for entering the scene when they got their computer. This is rather childish and does not reflect the reality.
I got my handle when I spent my time with the PARAMOUNT guys. We always meet at SCRATCHER's apartment and later on, when his parents moved houses, in hi room. Having several computer sets and video recorders to watch the latest wrestling events around. We really were young and fascinated from that kind of sports and BREAKER, who was caught by the police, renamed into DR.DEATH. TOMMY EX-MCG, who got caught as well, decided to have a comeback and took the handle STING. Following the trend I decided to call myself RAVISHING RICK RUDE but when the public started to fool around with that long name I decided to use the short from RRR only and so I am called since 1989 until now.
V)
In issue 18 we interviewed JAZZCAT. you probably read what he wrote about the game "MYSTERY" did you think of this and what is your side to the saga?
R)
A short summary can be given without problems. Here is a short cut out of JON WELLS (visualize development
group) letter in my direction dated December 8th, 1994:
Dear TIMO,
Thank you for you letters of 27th September 1994, submitting your c64 software for sale. Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the long delay. Your business contact, DAVID SIMMONS had been messing me around. He sent me some demo software of which included your work, and promised me other demo software to look at - which seemed to have been deliberately tampered with so as not to work all. Later I heard that he'd a bad reputation for ripping other people’s games and cashing in on their hard work. It was at that point that I decided to have nothing more to do with him, and also any contacts that he passed onto me - thinking that you were all in the same team and league, of which I now find was completely wrong to think! A good friend and contact of mine (name censored by the interviewed person as I do not like to get my friends into trouble), filled me in on the real situation. So here I am, sorry about this whole mix-up, but you can't be too careful these days...
JON WELLS
man. dir/programmer of VISUALIZE
Nothing about a contract and having brought the game from JAZZCAT (David). Do I have to add more? I personally do not care about this story anymore but I think it is important for me to share the truth with the public instead of inventing lies to protect a reputation.
V)
OXYRON are the number one demo group nowadays. What do you think of this and do you think now that OXYRON are the number one things will slow down on your personal part?
R)
OXYRON has been the most active demo group since 1992, holding an absolute top standard code-wise. The persons responsible for that success were our three coders TTS, AXIS and GRAHAM. Who can be found in the top ten/twenty in all current mags. Our musical standard is quite high as well. This success is based on one person only - PRI he is one of the most active composers around and can be found at the top, too. I do not think I have to comment on the graphical side. It is a problem that we still do not have a full screen artist but our standard can be found in the top twenty as well. A well working group can not be built up with the skills of a single person. To have a decent team there is no place for egotistic and selfish persons in my opinion. Lately we removed the negative influences so we are looking forward to a good future, too. It is more important that the group members are friends and respect each other and so is the situation again after the changes we had in the last weeks.
V)
What do you enjoy in real-life, as it would be impossible for only computer to be running your life?
R)
Well I am actually living in cyberspace and no real world exists due to my knowledge :). Okay, let’s become a little more serious. What is keeping me up these days? it is of course a girl called Sylvia. She is working in the social institution, too, and a very nice person I am looking forward to a long relationship (hopefully). Furthermore it is quite funny to go on road visiting all kind of discotheques pubs and clubs and of course playing soccer is quite enjoyable. Sometimes, if there is some spare time left, I use to watch TV (mainly MTV and Viua, the German music cannel playing most of the day dance floor and techno music) or I use to listen to the radio (British forces radio : Steve mason's experience). There are for sure some things letting me relax, too, but actually they are out of mind.
V)
What are you favourite....
cracker groups past: Dynamic Duo, ESI, Paramount. present: Alpha Flight, Avantgarde
demo groups past: Scoop, Black Mail, Bonzai, Contex. present: Focus, Elysium, Agony
coders past: TMC, Lubber, Raistlin. present: TTS, Axis, Graham, Slammer, Unifier
graphicians past: Pegasus, Robin Levy. present: Mirage, Hein, Compyx, Cruise
musicians past: Rob Hubbard, JCH, Tim Follin. present: PRI, Arne
swappers past: Mr. Smart/Contex, Wolf/Vision. present: Derbyshire Ram
crackers past: Snacky/Genesis. present: Jack Alien, Skinhead.
magazines past: Shock, The Pulse, Mamba. present: Relax, Vandalism News
V)
Well nice to see you like the mag still Timo, anyway, now you should make the perfect group, and you can choose anyone in the scene, who will you choose and why?
R)
I am quite satisfied with the current OXYRON member status but we would have to add some full screen artists. My all stars team would look like...
CODERS: TTS, Axis, Graham, Unifer, Slammer (very experienced and the best established coders around) Mr. Sex, Druid, Quiss (the very best newcomers).
GRAPHICIANS: Hein, Mirage, Cruise (for marvellous full screen pictures), Compyx (brilliant logos)
MUSICIANS: PRI, The Syndrom, Jeff (experienced), Arne (unfortunately his music is used in intros only), Fanta (talented newcomer).
CRACKERS: Skinhead, Jack Alien (for their brilliant versions)
SWAPPERS: Derbyshire Ram (good cracker and mail trader), Styx (good illegal trader too).
NTSC FIXER: Peacemaker, Pudwerx(the very best around)
MAG EDITORS: Duke (I am referring to THE PULSE), Gene (Shock)
BOARDS: Holiday Inn Cambodia, The Evil Island (I like both very much).
ORGANISER: Marc (he is a perfect organiser in my opinion).
V)
What do you think of the comments by ENTROPY on your typical RRR styled logo in the TRIBUNE#48. did you think this was a fair comment or not?
R)
At The Party 1994, ANONYM/PADUA told me "Some minutes ago I saw for the first time a magazine called TRIBUNE and they pretended to release the 48th issue - ha ha" Nobody recognised the magazine within the last five years it is said to be released. How to get attention! It is very easy, attacking well reputed magazines and scene personalities in order to see those guys striking back and to get some advertisement I did the fault as well with reactions in the last issue of SKYHIGH and I would like to advise the public not to react, too. To ignore them might be a better revenge as it is always very easy to inverse all arguments and to use them for own propaganda and promotion. Keep that in mind! About the comment: if I would send them one of my logos with a BIZ KID sign they would classify it as brilliant, with my sign as a typical RRR styled logo. No more to add.
V)
In your opinion, who would you class as the true elites in the scene past and present? why is this your answer?
R)
I personally prefer the strict division in three categories : high society (if you prefer elite), middle-class (groups without charisma and success) and the rest (to be more precise newcomers and the mass of lamers). It is comparable with the real world where you have to work for your status. In my opinion nobody is elite who was allowed to join a well reputed group or who owns a modem to call out, it is the person’s character and his deeds that bring the honour to be called elite. I have my very own opinions whom I classify to the three categories but I do not want to influence someone else with my ideas. Some dudes tried to ruin the reputation of the elite but in my opinion it is no shame to belong to the chosen part of the scene. Most try to argue with elite sceners are losers in real life but that is a jealous reaction in my eyes.
V)
You have been noticed as helping out a number of Australians in your time in the scene, first with TSR, and then with BODYCOUNT why? and tell us how this all started?
R)
The answer is very simple. It started when I got my first Australian contact, BLACK WIDOW/GOTHIC. Michelle
delivered me THE LINK and I found it was quite interesting to get all those information about the Australian scene later on UPTONOGOOD/TSR became a good contact of mine and so I decided to draw a logo for the magazine. Finally I got in touch with VENGEANCE and some months later with JAZZCAT, both members of BODYCOUNT I got the magazine VANDALISM NEWS, issue #8 and #9 and thought that this is a lot of potential in the mag and the editors. The 10th issue was well respected in Europe in both categories, text and outfit. When matt' asked me for a logo I drew the graphics for the entire outfit and it became quite successful. Later on I supplied once in a while some graphics for that magazine, too, but when the main editors did not care too much about the magazine anymore I finally lost the interest in doing something for VANDALISM NEWS, mainly lead by comments of a certain guy called INSANE who wanted to draw graphics for the outfit. After the rebirth with the old VANDALISM staff I had a comeback here too, and finally JAZZCAT has been begging me for around 6 months for the graphics of DOMINATION, so I drew them and became the reason for the delayed first issue of his magazine. That is the story how I got involved with the Australian scene. Last but not least I can not forget to mention GOP and GRIZE of DARKSIDE, too (what about the game graphics order you have offered me into you last letter?), order to encourage my friends to continue with their great work.
V)
Well it seems we have been quite successful since the rebirth but now what is your HONEST opinion of this magazine? and why do you hold this opinion?
R)
It used to be much better in the good old days when I got more regular released but since a few issues I was able to detect a progress with coming up again an acceptable quantity and quality of text I am looking forward to see VANDALISM NEWS being once again a worthy competitor for the crown of the best magazines released these days.
V)
Well, we hope the same but this to hold the crown we need more than useless issues... If you had to re-enter the scene again and you could become anything but a graphician what would you be?
R)
To be honest, I would definitely not re-enter the C64 scene again! well I have found some great friends here but actually the scene used to be much better in the past. The only chance of the cbm64 is that the demo groups keep it alive as long as possible but the problem is that the major demo groups are not that active to see a real chance for the (near) future of this machine.
V)
Tell us something about BAD BYTES the game label in Europe and what we can expect from BAD BYTES Europe through the next year, any major releases?
R)
At first there is a nice minesweeper clone called 'COLDIARUS' finished within the next days, followed by the breakout -variant "SWIRL". Unfortunately the preview released did not reflect the real game play and does not work correctly. The next projects will be MYSTERY 2, the jewel version containing only the main idea of the first part. Next projects are DIAMOND QUEST a platform game and a trilogy called OCEAN WARS. Furthermore we might create an uppercase jump and run just to prove our strength. It is very important to point out that we do not cooperate with pirates and would never allow a cracking group to use our logo 'European quality' in their intros. I personally do not care about the Australian section too much as they are working independent but adding their logo into a SCS+TRC intro is not a clear move in my opinion. At least the European section has nothing to do with the ANTI-CROSSFIRE intro as well!! BAD BYTES Europe is independent and does not SUPPORT any ILLEGAL GROUPS, even if some of our members are in cracking groups. We try to keep the standard of our games quite high so there might come some major releases. Who knows? Last but not least I can proudly announce that the RELAX magazine is going to be under the BAD BYTES label starting with issue #8.
V)
Yes I’m sure this is all true, but it is however unfortunate that BAD BYTES in Australia is dead, and SCS +TRC included that picture in their intro to have a 100% percent version with intro graffix from the game and it had nothing to do with BAD BYTE Australia, the ANTI-CROSSFIRE intro was made on asking the coder of MISFORTUNE for use of some of his sprites...Anyway the COPYRIGHT HOLDER of the name BAD BYTES, otherwise known as DWAYNE BAKEWELL has requested that the European section immediately stop using that game production name, with no bad or hard feelings meant, but it is part of an ongoing move to combine with a new label to be known as WILDSTYLED PRODUCTIONS, anyhow... A long time ago you were accused of ripping GRAPHICS, tell us about that?
R)
Yes, it was very interesting and funny. I have learnt out of it never again drawing graffix under a second handle. The situation indeed was that I have drawn during my break some graphics for HOAXERS, used in their fabulous demos "Frantic 2" and "Breathless". I added my initials "TB" and later on I created the handle "Throb" for my graphics label "Golden Graphics" I have used in former times as it was not sure that I am going to return to the scene. Fact is that "Throb/Golden Graphics" got created for my work. The object most of the rumours were referring to was the "1991" logo. At the party 1992 TTS needed a logo for one of the marvellous vector parts and so we have chosen the "1992" logo, the sequel to the "1991" logo. Both logos were originally planned to be a part of a new year demo never released so far. I personally saw no problem is using that logo but later on some unworthy spread the false rumours again. Regarding the entire story with a distance of 18 months it looks quite amusing but 1993 I was very angry because I do not accept people who spread lies about my very own person, and that policy is still actual these days.
V)
What have been the best and the worst times for you in the scene and why?
R)
The best times were for the sure the membership in PARAMOUNT and OXYRON. Working with close friends and being successful, raising the charts with them is one of the things I will never forget even it is with the way I have been living so far. The worst time was when I read the first disk-magazine when I re-entered the cbm64 scene. It was a nearly no text concerning well-known groups which I used to know from the past. Later on, after reading the shock the situation went normal again when I found out there are still groups around I used to know.
V)
What parties have you made your presence felt at?
R)
Next to various Venlo-meetings I have visited The Party1992,1993,1994 in Aars and later on in Herning/Denmark as well as the TCC 1993 in Gothenburg/Sweden and the Radwar V7 in Heinsberg/Germany. Since 1993 I was present at the meetings in combination with the CEbit, too. The next party I am going to visit is the focus and SCS&TRC. party in Utrecht/The Netherlands. I am not sure about visiting the party 1995 in Denmark as I might follow the example of TDJ/Focus and spending the time my actual girlfriend.
Regarding the average age of the audience present at the party 1994 I think I am definitely six years to old for this form of wasting my spare time.
V)
What is next on the table of contents for what can we expect from you personally?
R)
Oxyron is more 16-bit related these days but that does not mean that we are going leave the cbm64. Fact is that our coders are improving their skills on the Amiga in the next weeks and months but we still planned the release of Coma Light 13. Months of the readers have probably read the note "still alive/oxy" where the most important things have been said. TTS, AXIS and GRAHAM will continue to on the cbm64, PRI does not even own another computer system until now, SCRAPPER continues his job as a swapper like he did in 1994 with the single expectation that he does not continue to edit the charts for SKYHIGH, ASMODIS is actually busy with his army service but SLIDE has definitely "left" the C64 for the Amiga where he is a very important member these days or to be more exact some kind of headquarter where you are able to meet most of the OXYRON guys living in the northern area of GERMANY. The actual (01-17-1995) memberstatus looks like: Asmodis, Axis, Graham, PRI, RRR, Scrapper and TTS, of course in alphabetical order. BIZ KID decided to look out for a more active (?)demo group so he got removed from the official member status and it was impossible to ignore the content of SKYHIGH 14 so we were forced to react that way. I am still supporting OXYRON with graphics, guarantee positive public relations (for all magazine editors: contact me to prove your facts instead of printing rumours about OXYRON) and search for talents who are interested to enlarge our team on the C64, Amiga, and PC. I am going to spend most of my (computer) spare time for BAD BYTES Europe and other commercial productions as I found out that cool guys produce demos but even cooler guys develop games! Like most of the other OXYRON members I am trying my luck on the Amiga as well as a swapper and still try to improve my graphical abilities or to be more precise, I am studying the manual for dpaint 4 in order to be able using all the useful functions offered by that fantastic tool. For those who are interested in, I own an Amiga 1200, 68030 processor, 6 mb ram, 28 mhz and 420 hard disk to guarantee an acceptable and enjoyable working.
V)
How could VANDALISM NEWS be improved as a mag?
R)
Personally I think that the editors have in general to be satisfied with their own production, otherwise they should
better trying to do something different. In my opinion the news chapter was very then when keeping in mind that it should cover the most important news from AUGUST to JANUARY 1995 as the release charts covered that big period as well. Furthermore the amount of incoming votesheets should be improved a little bit to guarantee a bigger advertisement chapter and more "fair" charts. It would be nice seeing VANDALISM NEWS returning to their roots, becoming an objective magazine like in former days as - in my opinion - a magazine should be something informative and not a propaganda medium to slag possible enemies down. There is nothing else to complain about, all in all VANDALISM NEWS is a very nice magazine with a cool outfit and quality texts worth to be read what can not be told about an every magazine being spread these days. I would really appreciate it to see a more regular release!
V)
You do freelance editing for many magazines which ones do you work for? which has been your favourite to do work for, either graphically or basic text editing?
R)
In my career I have been working for BITMANIA, ADDYBOOK, SKYHIGH, VANDALISM NEWS, DOMINATION, RELAX and THE PULSE. I biggest fun was creating the graphics for VANDALISM as I was allowed to work without any limits, neither the format nor the size, and I guess most of the results have been quite remarkable. Furthermore it is a pleasure to edit texts for RELAX with a single expectation, I hate to review demos! I really liked to interview UNIFER/SPIRIT for ADDYBOOK as well. Scrapper remarked that it was definitely the best interview ever printed in an OXYRON magazine and he is an experienced magazine editor so that compliment was some kind of honour for me. Actually I am not freelancing anymore as I use to work exclusively for RELAX as some kind word processing maniac.
V)
Well, its now time to go so TIMO I know your quite a busy man so any last words???
R)
Thanks a lot Matt for making this interview possible and to share my unplugged opinion with your readers. All the best for the upcoming issues of this nice magazine. To get in touch with OXYRON on Amiga and C64 try the only active mail trader around...