Interviews
Interview with Ricky
Published in Vandalism News #32
Performed by Jazzcat
J)
Welcome to the Vandalism News magazine! Please introduce yourself to the readers.
R)
My real name is Henrik Jørgensen, and I was born in the western part of Denmark back in 1973. I spend my days trying to acquire a master’s degree in science at the University of Aarhus, and I work part time in an Internet company, with THA, Knox and QED/Triangle.
J)
Could you tell us a bit about your C-64 history. When did you start in the scene? What groups have you been in? What are the main events and highlights of your scene career?
R)
I got my first c64 for Christmas 1985, and basically played games until winter 1989/90, when I started coding for real. The demo that really got me started was "The Larch III" by Bones. Inspired by this demo, Knox and I formed the demo group Spirit, and quickly released two miserable demos. Then at the Daniax party in Middelfart 1990 we met Rex/Laser, Kwon/Flash, Walt/Bonzai, Crush/Bonzai and Fox/Bonzai and released our third demo. Knox and I shortly after joined Laser, and produced absolutely nothing for three months. Then we applied for a Bonzai membership, and this was granted shortly after. Since then I actually left Bonzai for a few months or so, while I did some Conic demos with Knox and Drax. But I missed the Bonzai days, and rejoined the gang. We then moved on to Starion, and in early 1993 we left the c64 scene after releasing our last c64 demo, Taagekammeret. Since then I've done some Amiga demos with Crush, Scortia and Dize for both Starion and The Silents. The main party events must be Daniax (1990), Dexion (1990) and The Party (1991), those were great fun. Highlights are difficult to pinpoint, I really enjoyed all of it.
J)
I was speaking to THA/BONZAI (The Human Autofire) and he was telling me the new Bonzai demo is very close to completion. Could you tell us more about it and your involvement with the demo?
R)
Well, until about a week ago THA was absolutely right. Originally Walt and I linked the demo in mid December, and planned to release it at The Party. The only thing missing was the music, but when Christmas came along the music still wasn't done, so we decided to release it before Easter 2000. Obviously we failed again, but about a week ago THA hosted a Bonzai meeting, and we decided to redesign the entire demo. Current contributors to the new demo are: Walt, Jeff, Dize, THA and I. Hopefully Scortia will pull himself together, and do the main theme.
Bonzai - More than just a tree. A famous slogan of your group over the years. Being part of Bonzai must have been exciting in the old glory days on the C64 scene. What was your most time being in the group and why?
It was very exciting, but I can't remember for how long I was a member. I think the reason for being in Bonzai was the fantastic sense of humour, and the great atmosphere among the members. I worked really well with Walt, Crush and Scortia. Sadly when I joined THA and Dize had started fiddling with the Amiga, and didn't do much c64 stuff anymore.
Ricky's all-time favourites:
Demo Group: Bones
Demo: The Larch III
Programmer: Spike/Bones
Musician: Laxity/Vibrants
Graphician: Fox/Bonzai
Game: IK+
J)
What's your view on the internet and how it has effected the way computer scenes and people communicate and produce?
R)
I firmly believe that without the Internet, the c64 scene would've died half a decade ago. This fortunately didn't happen. The Internet is a great tool while doing productions, in the old days one would have to wait two days for previews from other members, and today all you've got to do is to check your mail. Without the Internet Bonzai never would've done another demo.
J)
In your opinion, what is the most important element of a demo on C64?
R)
I'm a coder, and I believe in CPU squeezing effects, but I'm not so fond of the new 4x4 pixel effect updating once per second. Since most strange side effects of the hardware already have been discovered, the design ought to be the main issue in modern demos.
J)
Should demos be released more often in-between scene parties or only mainly at the parties themselves do you think?
R)
I believe in releasing demos at parties, otherwise you would risk that many scenes would never know or find out about a certain release.
J)
Been to many scene parties? Which ones did you attend?
R)
No, not really. As far as I remember, I attended: Daniax 1990, Dexion 1990, The Party 1991, The Party 1992, The Party 1993, The Party 1994, The Party 1995.
J)
What are your current activities these days? apart from the new Bonzai demo is there any other small or large projects you would like to realize on C64?
R)
I've written a cruncher while working with the demo, and I plan to release it as open source. Apart from that I've still got ideas for effects which I hopefully will find the time to realize.
J)
What’s your opinion on disk magazines and their purpose to the scene?
R)
In the old days I read them all, but these days they seem to be released without me knowing about it, so I rarely got my hands on a copy. But usually they're great fun.
J)
Ever had any wars or disliking towards some group or person in the scene?
R)
I once had a dispute with Glasnost/Camelot, but we quickly sorted out our problems. I think he was the only one.
J)
Who do you think is the biggest lamer to walk the face of the C64 scene?
R)
None seem to pop up in my mind, sorry.
J)
Please feel free to send any greetings to anyone you know...
R)
THA, Knox, Crush, Scortia, Dize, Kwon, Jeff, Trap and QED.
J)
Thanks for your time Henrik, do you have any last comments to leave a final impression on the audience?
R)
I hope that the scene will still be alive many years from now. Lets keep it alive!
Published in Vandalism News #32
Performed by Jazzcat
J)
Welcome to the Vandalism News magazine! Please introduce yourself to the readers.
R)
My real name is Henrik Jørgensen, and I was born in the western part of Denmark back in 1973. I spend my days trying to acquire a master’s degree in science at the University of Aarhus, and I work part time in an Internet company, with THA, Knox and QED/Triangle.
J)
Could you tell us a bit about your C-64 history. When did you start in the scene? What groups have you been in? What are the main events and highlights of your scene career?
R)
I got my first c64 for Christmas 1985, and basically played games until winter 1989/90, when I started coding for real. The demo that really got me started was "The Larch III" by Bones. Inspired by this demo, Knox and I formed the demo group Spirit, and quickly released two miserable demos. Then at the Daniax party in Middelfart 1990 we met Rex/Laser, Kwon/Flash, Walt/Bonzai, Crush/Bonzai and Fox/Bonzai and released our third demo. Knox and I shortly after joined Laser, and produced absolutely nothing for three months. Then we applied for a Bonzai membership, and this was granted shortly after. Since then I actually left Bonzai for a few months or so, while I did some Conic demos with Knox and Drax. But I missed the Bonzai days, and rejoined the gang. We then moved on to Starion, and in early 1993 we left the c64 scene after releasing our last c64 demo, Taagekammeret. Since then I've done some Amiga demos with Crush, Scortia and Dize for both Starion and The Silents. The main party events must be Daniax (1990), Dexion (1990) and The Party (1991), those were great fun. Highlights are difficult to pinpoint, I really enjoyed all of it.
J)
I was speaking to THA/BONZAI (The Human Autofire) and he was telling me the new Bonzai demo is very close to completion. Could you tell us more about it and your involvement with the demo?
R)
Well, until about a week ago THA was absolutely right. Originally Walt and I linked the demo in mid December, and planned to release it at The Party. The only thing missing was the music, but when Christmas came along the music still wasn't done, so we decided to release it before Easter 2000. Obviously we failed again, but about a week ago THA hosted a Bonzai meeting, and we decided to redesign the entire demo. Current contributors to the new demo are: Walt, Jeff, Dize, THA and I. Hopefully Scortia will pull himself together, and do the main theme.
Bonzai - More than just a tree. A famous slogan of your group over the years. Being part of Bonzai must have been exciting in the old glory days on the C64 scene. What was your most time being in the group and why?
It was very exciting, but I can't remember for how long I was a member. I think the reason for being in Bonzai was the fantastic sense of humour, and the great atmosphere among the members. I worked really well with Walt, Crush and Scortia. Sadly when I joined THA and Dize had started fiddling with the Amiga, and didn't do much c64 stuff anymore.
Ricky's all-time favourites:
Demo Group: Bones
Demo: The Larch III
Programmer: Spike/Bones
Musician: Laxity/Vibrants
Graphician: Fox/Bonzai
Game: IK+
J)
What's your view on the internet and how it has effected the way computer scenes and people communicate and produce?
R)
I firmly believe that without the Internet, the c64 scene would've died half a decade ago. This fortunately didn't happen. The Internet is a great tool while doing productions, in the old days one would have to wait two days for previews from other members, and today all you've got to do is to check your mail. Without the Internet Bonzai never would've done another demo.
J)
In your opinion, what is the most important element of a demo on C64?
R)
I'm a coder, and I believe in CPU squeezing effects, but I'm not so fond of the new 4x4 pixel effect updating once per second. Since most strange side effects of the hardware already have been discovered, the design ought to be the main issue in modern demos.
J)
Should demos be released more often in-between scene parties or only mainly at the parties themselves do you think?
R)
I believe in releasing demos at parties, otherwise you would risk that many scenes would never know or find out about a certain release.
J)
Been to many scene parties? Which ones did you attend?
R)
No, not really. As far as I remember, I attended: Daniax 1990, Dexion 1990, The Party 1991, The Party 1992, The Party 1993, The Party 1994, The Party 1995.
J)
What are your current activities these days? apart from the new Bonzai demo is there any other small or large projects you would like to realize on C64?
R)
I've written a cruncher while working with the demo, and I plan to release it as open source. Apart from that I've still got ideas for effects which I hopefully will find the time to realize.
J)
What’s your opinion on disk magazines and their purpose to the scene?
R)
In the old days I read them all, but these days they seem to be released without me knowing about it, so I rarely got my hands on a copy. But usually they're great fun.
J)
Ever had any wars or disliking towards some group or person in the scene?
R)
I once had a dispute with Glasnost/Camelot, but we quickly sorted out our problems. I think he was the only one.
J)
Who do you think is the biggest lamer to walk the face of the C64 scene?
R)
None seem to pop up in my mind, sorry.
J)
Please feel free to send any greetings to anyone you know...
R)
THA, Knox, Crush, Scortia, Dize, Kwon, Jeff, Trap and QED.
J)
Thanks for your time Henrik, do you have any last comments to leave a final impression on the audience?
R)
I hope that the scene will still be alive many years from now. Lets keep it alive!