Interview
Handle: Mikael Pawlo (Homepage), sometimes (1986-1988) The big bad Bymp, later to be known as "Bympen" in Jerry / T R I A D s scrolltexts .-) I wasn't very active in that part of the scene, though.
How did you come up with your alias ?
It's real simple - BY Mikael Pawlo .-)
City / Country:
Stockholm, Sweden
Born year:
1973
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
I got a VIC20 from my uncle (not very original, but it's true!)
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
I wasn't really a member of the scene. I was rather working as a computer journalist. My talents were more into connecting different parts of the scene together than in coding. design or composing. When I started working for the Swedish computer magazine Svenska Hemdator Hacking (later to be known as Svenska Hemdator Nytt, SHN) I was forced to quit all scene activity, due to ethical reasons. It was a bore, since I always wanted to be a part of T R I A D - my favorite group back then, mainly due to their demos which combined action, skill, talent and design - very unusual!
I founded a small group called Tropical Duo, active during my time with SHN. Tropical Duo was indeed a duo, consisting of myself and Måns Larsson, a very talented graphician. We didn't release much, but earned some credit for excellence in design (mostly thanks to Måns Larsson).
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
Definately when I first hooked on IRC #C-64 and got like 6-7 hallos. I never considered myself to be a player on the C-64 scene, but obvisously people (ofcourse mainly Swedes, since I wrote most of my articles in Swedish magazines) remembered my old column 64 in toto. That is really fun. Still it happen, now and then, that people recognize me on the street from those old magazines (I had my picture published in every issue and still look lika a lame teenager...). It make me proud to think of all those guys reading my simple column .-)
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
For three reasons:
* Writing one of the first published articles on demos recognized by the scene. Jerry / T R I AD was really happy with that one I remember.
* Writing an article with the title Cracking is lame. Many crackers were good friends, and the article was mainly written to protect them, though very few people knew this. Jerry / T R I A D really hated this one .-)
* Keeping the C64 in toto section in Svenska Hemdator Nytt alive, even after the other big Swedish magazine, Datormagazin, gave up main articles on the Commodore 64. Working together with Bogaloo of Horizon and Jerry of T R I A D I think my column in the magazine turned out to be very neat.
What would you like to be remembered for ?
Beeing a nice and co-operative dude. I used to help many young guys with small routines and introduction to coding assembler during those years. Though not beeing a major player I earned lots of friends, people I still have contact with. Nowadays I'm much more of an arse, working as a manager .-)
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
I bought an Amiga, then a Macintosh and grew up.
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
Loads of stuff, but then - if I wouldn't have made the choices I made then - I would probavly not be the same person today. And I'm quite satisfied with myself so... Je ne regrette rien, comme Edith Piaf .-) If I have to name a few events, I regret not meeting Karl XII and Strider earlier.
What was your favorite
GAME(S)
I was totally addicted to Hobbit. Since I during a period worked as a game reviewer for several magazines I "had" to play lots of games, and got a little fed up with them. The games I return to, though, is Tetris (naturally) in the original version, Uridium (great game!), Sanxion and Battle Squadron on the Amiga. All examples of excellent design and gameplay. I'm also really into the moody feeling in Blood Money and Shadow of the Beast on the Amiga - though I never enjoyed those games as much as the C-64 ones.
If I have to pick one favorite game which made me go insane I should say Bruce Lee and Exploding Fist. I spent lots of my youth playing those early karate games.
DEMO(S)
Red Storm by T R I A D.
Everything coded by 801 Designing Crew of T R I A D (rest in peace - you were the best!).
Afternoon II by Shade and Oinni of The Troopers - really kewl music and design, not usual at that time.
One part of the Wonderland Series by Censor Design was niffy - don't remember which one, though .-(
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
BOB of Censor always impressed me. His new Playstation code is really somehting. Exilon of Horizon was a real coder, too. 1001 Crew was always impressive so were Mahony and Kaktus. However, I consider David Braben to be the best coder of them all.
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Strider of Fairlight. The most famous slogan and second to none .-) Injun was also great, and of course Mr Z!
COMPOSER(S)
Undoubtly Martin Galway. I expect very much from the new tune from Karl XII, tough. It's called Kravallstaket and is very different .-) There were many talented guys though: Knatter, Laxity, Skyline Technologies / Horizon, 20th century composers, Danko, Daw of T R I A D, Soedesoft and more...
BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
Ocean loader tune is still jazzing in my speakers now and then.
Commando by Rob Hubbard is also a favorite.
No sleep II by Knatter of Xakk.
Trailmix by Soedesoft.
Last Ninja II by Matt Gray - who believed Matt Gray could do something like that?
..and no monsieur Danko - I'm not a friend of Complications any longer. I'm really tired of that one - I guess anybody beeing a closer friend of Thomas' is .-) But of course I will buy the re-mix, Complications 96 on audio CD, soon to be released (end of commercial message) .-)
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
Everything arranged by Horizon was great.
Best of all, though, was the movie premiere of Sneakers, a happening arranged by Natas / Horizon. That was really something - every damn Swedish hacker was present and the rumour that the Swedish security police was present circulated! A touch of class .-) Other funny memories is competing with the Datormagazin (DMZ) computer magazine, and trying to produce better material than Bacchus of Fairlight who used to be a really brilliant computer journalist (you really should read some of his work!), although most famous for the line "Bacchus sketna musikrippar". Well, if you were around you know all about it .-)
Or what about when Goblin / Light wanted me to interview him and Jenny (anyone remembering Jenny?) for Svenska Hemdator Nytt. Tough luck .-) But I ended up doing a story on Light.
DRINK ?
Evian, natural water.
What are you doing nowadays ?
I work as a project manager and business developer for IDG\Interactive (Sweden). IDG is the leading publisher of computer related press.
Maybe you've heard of magazines like PC World, MacWorld and CIO? As a project manager I'm responsible for the electronic publishing of entire IDG\Sweden. The editors to most of the publishing and coding on their own, so I function as a motivator and organizer. I also run the leading online service in the Nordic Countries. Take a look at http://www.idg.se for our website and http://www.idg.se/online/ for more information on the online service. Famous C-64 hackers will get free accounts on the online service (promise!) - just mail me when logged in (Mikael Pawlo).
As a business developer I try to broaden IDGs product line. The magazines Internetworld (SW not INTL) and IT-branschen (not yet released) are products of my deranged brain .-) I'm also studying, trying to finish law school. I will then continue studying for some year - maybe abroad and maybe business - time will show!
What are you doing on your spare time?
I haven't got so much spare time, since I both work and study. When I get some spare time I spend it with friends, watching movies, listening to trip hop, working out (yes - I finally became member of a gym - can you believe it?), training karate. I also read and write a lot. I guess I'm stimulated by doing different things.
Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)

    "Knowing is not enough, you must apply.
     Willing is not enough, you must do."
                                         -Bruce Lee

What is the meaning of life?
Getting smarter, enjoying yourself and just kick *ss .-) Life is too short to be taken seriously. You've got to have some fun. Hint: Programming computers is not fun. it used to be - but it *is* not .-)