Interviews
Interview with Freestyle
Published in Vandalism News #17
Performed by Steve
Yo SCS & TRC fanz!
Well here is the first interview written by me Steve of SCS & TRC for Vandalism News!!! I decided to interview the world's most famous Swiss scener - most famous Swiss scener so far, Freestyle of Avantgarde!!!
S)
Okay Thomas give us a brief history of your glittering computer scene so far dude!
F)
Well Steve I first got myself a computer way back in 1985 which was a Commodore+4; but after about one year's use it broke down. So I then decided to get myself a Commodore 64 which was what I wanted in the first place of course! I first started to get some pirated wares by buying them from a group called Zorrosoft Switzerland. Then I got in touch with some local guys who were interested in demos and gradually started to learn how to code for myself! In 1988 I joined a group called Future Vision whose only major demo success was 3rd place in the demo competition at the Crazy and Stardom party in early 1989 here in Switzerland. Then in 1989 I joined a group called Fresh initially as a coder and a cracker. Eventually I became the leader of Fresh and then in 1990 I killed the group off and asked one of my then English contacts Bod if I could join Talent! So I was a Talent member until I told Bod that I wanted to give a first-release to ATC; when Bod kicked me out of Talent! So I was groupless for a short while until Richie and I decided to rebuild Illusion! Illusion kept me going for about 2 years until it died and ever since then I have been of course in Avantgarde!
S)
Okay cool Thomas! Now give us rundown of your board activities and career so far!
F)
Well I first got a modem back in Christmas 1990; which was a Commodore 1670 1200 baud modem. I started calling out soon after and the first board I called was Wares Castle the Ikari/Talent HQ in the States. I also called The Shaolin Temple and Wild Wares. I applied to The Forum after a little while but didn't want to give Pudwerx my number as I was using my parent's phone line at that time; so I wasn't validated! When I applied again a year later I had my own phone line by then and I was validated this time! I also started calling Forplay back in 1990 and I believe I was one of the very first callers there! Nowadays the only boards I call are The Forum, Forplay, Terminal Obsession, Fortress of Doom, Holiday Inn Cambodia and Straylight!
S)
So who would be the first Americans that ever got into contact with you?
F)
Well the first guy who ever called me was Pathfinder of The Survivors. I have also been in contact with some of the Empire guys for a very long time now!
S)
If Avantgarde died is there another group you would like to join or would you possibly just quit the scene?
F)
Well I've already stated to other people that I will most likely when Terminal Obsession and The Forum go down. There is no other group I would like to join as all my friends are in Avantgarde.
S)
Would you ever join the Amiga or PC scene after the C64?
F)
The Amiga scene definitely not! The PC scene is only very slightly possible as there has been some talk of building Illusion on the PC!
S)
Have you ever worried at any time about being busted for calling out?
F)
Of course! It's only a matter of time surely before a major bust comes in Europe. One guy here in Switzerland was busted by Swiss Telecom for hacking the AT&T dialup not so long ago. His home was raided and all his computer equipment was taken away.
S)
What do you think of the Swiss 64 scene these days?
F)
Well the only active Swiss 64 group is Atlantis. As for actual people only Robocop, Skywolf and myself are ever active with Robocop also calling the boards in the States.
S)
Tell us about any cool board wars/rags you've had in the past Thomas!
F)
Well when I first started calling boards I used to war some with The Bit Bandit of Doublecross but we became good friends eventually! The one group I have always loved to hate is Legend and I have warred with Goldfish, Narc (now Westbam!) and mostly Powerplant. Even now I have still ragged on a Legend member; namely Jazzcat. Also I have warred a bit with Radar as have a lot of other 64 sceners!
S)
If you were able to make the ultimate 64 cracking group today who would you choose as its members from past and present?
F)
US section - As coder Dr O. As fixers Pudwerx and Stormbringer. EURO section - As crackers Jack Alien & Rockstar. As coders - Zodiac and Hannes Sommer. As mail trader Derbyshire Ram. Musician - Jeroen Tel. Graphician - The Hobbit. Finally Scandal and Thor for card hacking.
S)
Who do you think are the best at present from these categories on the 64?
F)
Cracking Groups - Avantgarde and SCS*TRC
All Round Sceners - All Avantgarde, Radar & Rich
Musicians - Jeroen Tel and EVS
Crackers - Rockstar and Jack Alien
USA groups - Empire and Demonix
USA fixers - Pudwerx and Booze
S)
Okay Thomas give us your favourites out the following.
F)
Food - Pizza, Pasta, anything Italian.
Drinks - Alcohol, Whisky, Ice Tea.
Games - Microprose Soccer, Great Giana Sisters.
Movies - All the Star Wars movies, Terminator 2.
S)
What do you think of the newish craze of re-cracking and jewel versions of old classic games by Cyberpunx, HOK and Laser?
F)
I like to collect oldies myself so in many ways it's a cool idea! One thing I especially like about oldies though is to see the old intros and read the scroll texts so I prefer to see the 'original' oldies I guess. Sometime re-doing an old game is highly justified because the first-release just sucked so bad or didn't work!
S)
What do you think about the fairly strict and sometimes restricting rules about first-releases?
F)
Ha! Good question that one! Well I was very disappointed about the rule that all first-releases should be level-packed. Simply because Avantgarde didn't get any points for the game Ormus Saga III which after all was a first-release and 100% working ok. That rule was a bit harsh under those circumstances but in other cases the rules are very good. Firstly when I download a game I expect it to work and not have to download a new version some time later. Hopefully the rules will make sure that people try harder to make their first-releases 100% and 100% NTSC fixed also. One day I may want to live in America and take my 64 games with me!
S)
Okay Thomas any last words to everyone out there?
F)
Of course! "Stay away from hard drugs!" and I hope to see you all at the ECTS show in London from 4-6 Sept this year!
Published in Vandalism News #17
Performed by Steve
Yo SCS & TRC fanz!
Well here is the first interview written by me Steve of SCS & TRC for Vandalism News!!! I decided to interview the world's most famous Swiss scener - most famous Swiss scener so far, Freestyle of Avantgarde!!!
S)
Okay Thomas give us a brief history of your glittering computer scene so far dude!
F)
Well Steve I first got myself a computer way back in 1985 which was a Commodore+4; but after about one year's use it broke down. So I then decided to get myself a Commodore 64 which was what I wanted in the first place of course! I first started to get some pirated wares by buying them from a group called Zorrosoft Switzerland. Then I got in touch with some local guys who were interested in demos and gradually started to learn how to code for myself! In 1988 I joined a group called Future Vision whose only major demo success was 3rd place in the demo competition at the Crazy and Stardom party in early 1989 here in Switzerland. Then in 1989 I joined a group called Fresh initially as a coder and a cracker. Eventually I became the leader of Fresh and then in 1990 I killed the group off and asked one of my then English contacts Bod if I could join Talent! So I was a Talent member until I told Bod that I wanted to give a first-release to ATC; when Bod kicked me out of Talent! So I was groupless for a short while until Richie and I decided to rebuild Illusion! Illusion kept me going for about 2 years until it died and ever since then I have been of course in Avantgarde!
S)
Okay cool Thomas! Now give us rundown of your board activities and career so far!
F)
Well I first got a modem back in Christmas 1990; which was a Commodore 1670 1200 baud modem. I started calling out soon after and the first board I called was Wares Castle the Ikari/Talent HQ in the States. I also called The Shaolin Temple and Wild Wares. I applied to The Forum after a little while but didn't want to give Pudwerx my number as I was using my parent's phone line at that time; so I wasn't validated! When I applied again a year later I had my own phone line by then and I was validated this time! I also started calling Forplay back in 1990 and I believe I was one of the very first callers there! Nowadays the only boards I call are The Forum, Forplay, Terminal Obsession, Fortress of Doom, Holiday Inn Cambodia and Straylight!
S)
So who would be the first Americans that ever got into contact with you?
F)
Well the first guy who ever called me was Pathfinder of The Survivors. I have also been in contact with some of the Empire guys for a very long time now!
S)
If Avantgarde died is there another group you would like to join or would you possibly just quit the scene?
F)
Well I've already stated to other people that I will most likely when Terminal Obsession and The Forum go down. There is no other group I would like to join as all my friends are in Avantgarde.
S)
Would you ever join the Amiga or PC scene after the C64?
F)
The Amiga scene definitely not! The PC scene is only very slightly possible as there has been some talk of building Illusion on the PC!
S)
Have you ever worried at any time about being busted for calling out?
F)
Of course! It's only a matter of time surely before a major bust comes in Europe. One guy here in Switzerland was busted by Swiss Telecom for hacking the AT&T dialup not so long ago. His home was raided and all his computer equipment was taken away.
S)
What do you think of the Swiss 64 scene these days?
F)
Well the only active Swiss 64 group is Atlantis. As for actual people only Robocop, Skywolf and myself are ever active with Robocop also calling the boards in the States.
S)
Tell us about any cool board wars/rags you've had in the past Thomas!
F)
Well when I first started calling boards I used to war some with The Bit Bandit of Doublecross but we became good friends eventually! The one group I have always loved to hate is Legend and I have warred with Goldfish, Narc (now Westbam!) and mostly Powerplant. Even now I have still ragged on a Legend member; namely Jazzcat. Also I have warred a bit with Radar as have a lot of other 64 sceners!
S)
If you were able to make the ultimate 64 cracking group today who would you choose as its members from past and present?
F)
US section - As coder Dr O. As fixers Pudwerx and Stormbringer. EURO section - As crackers Jack Alien & Rockstar. As coders - Zodiac and Hannes Sommer. As mail trader Derbyshire Ram. Musician - Jeroen Tel. Graphician - The Hobbit. Finally Scandal and Thor for card hacking.
S)
Who do you think are the best at present from these categories on the 64?
F)
Cracking Groups - Avantgarde and SCS*TRC
All Round Sceners - All Avantgarde, Radar & Rich
Musicians - Jeroen Tel and EVS
Crackers - Rockstar and Jack Alien
USA groups - Empire and Demonix
USA fixers - Pudwerx and Booze
S)
Okay Thomas give us your favourites out the following.
F)
Food - Pizza, Pasta, anything Italian.
Drinks - Alcohol, Whisky, Ice Tea.
Games - Microprose Soccer, Great Giana Sisters.
Movies - All the Star Wars movies, Terminator 2.
S)
What do you think of the newish craze of re-cracking and jewel versions of old classic games by Cyberpunx, HOK and Laser?
F)
I like to collect oldies myself so in many ways it's a cool idea! One thing I especially like about oldies though is to see the old intros and read the scroll texts so I prefer to see the 'original' oldies I guess. Sometime re-doing an old game is highly justified because the first-release just sucked so bad or didn't work!
S)
What do you think about the fairly strict and sometimes restricting rules about first-releases?
F)
Ha! Good question that one! Well I was very disappointed about the rule that all first-releases should be level-packed. Simply because Avantgarde didn't get any points for the game Ormus Saga III which after all was a first-release and 100% working ok. That rule was a bit harsh under those circumstances but in other cases the rules are very good. Firstly when I download a game I expect it to work and not have to download a new version some time later. Hopefully the rules will make sure that people try harder to make their first-releases 100% and 100% NTSC fixed also. One day I may want to live in America and take my 64 games with me!
S)
Okay Thomas any last words to everyone out there?
F)
Of course! "Stay away from hard drugs!" and I hope to see you all at the ECTS show in London from 4-6 Sept this year!