Interview
Handle: Darwin
How did you come up with your alias ?
Actually, it was a friend of mine, InsaneTTM, who came up with it. I didn't have a handle, and he thought Darwin and Survival of the fittest sounded good.
City / Country:
Trondheim, Norway
Born year:
1974
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
My first computer was an MSX Sony Hit Bit. I got it when I was 10 years old, must have been in 1984.
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
I knew Doctor No, Sector9 and InsaneTTM very well, and they are the ones that founded Razor 1911. None of them knew much about the PC, so when they found out that I could make intros and stuff, they asked me to join in.
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
Must have been when I cracked an SSI game a long time ago. The guys in Razor called me at 6 in the morning. But my parents picked up the phone and told them to call back later. They called back at 7, and I woke up. We transfered the game while I had breakfast, then I cracked the game. But I didn't have time to transfer the game back to the guys in the US, so I told them which bytes to change in the files. Then I went to school, and when I came home, the game was spread all over the boards. I thought I had done a good job.
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
even know if that many people remember me. Perhaps they remember be because I was one of the first crackers for Razor on the PC.
What would you like to be remembered for ?
Making good intros.
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
I stopped when the phonecompany started logging the calls to AT&T. It became too risky to use calling cards. Some months later a lot of people got busted. This must have been around 1993.
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
I should have started earlier in the scene, because it was so fun. And I got to know a lot of people. But then again, I didn't know much about the scene earlier. I didn't even know it was possible to call for free...
What was your favorite
GAME(S)
SSI's AD&D games. Played a lot of them.
DEMO(S)
Panic, Voyage
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
The guys in Future Crew
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Eldar, for cracking the Sierra games in a beautiful smart sort of way.
COMPOSER(S)
Uncle Tom, Codex
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
I've only been to one party, and it wasn't any good either.
MEMORY(S)
When I took out my old MSX, and programmed a blue box
DRINK ?
Beer!
What are you doing nowadays ?
Studying Computer Science at Soer-Troendelag College in Trondheim.
What are you doing on your spare time?
I work a little with tv-production, and I go out alot.
Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
I have to say that I loved the scene when I was active. It was great fun, and I got to know a lot of people. I have spoken to some of them lately aswell. Perhaps I'll read about some of them in this magazine? (You bet! -Ed)
What is the meaning of life?
42 (according to Douglas Adams' book The Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy)