Interview
Handle: - DUECO -
How did you come up with your alias ?
The alias derives from my name. Later it was "hip" to put a year sign to one's handle. The year was 2002... By the way DUECO originally was my nickname.
City / Country:
Steinfurt / North-West-Germany
Born year:
MAY 1970
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
I guess this answer can be read in most interviews here. Of course it was this fuzzy little-brown-bread-box-style-something named C-64. I got it together with a disc-drive on X-mas 1984. Later on I enhanced the performance by implanting different standard operating- and speeding systems like Speeddos Plus and Dolphin Dos. The Amiga-Age started in late 1986 with an A1000. It was no discussion to stop on the little Commodore, but the new technology was a brilliant coding platform with a growing fascination. A nice point was the fact, that there were just a few games out in 1986 and only a few groups already worked with the new Amiga. The scene was small and cooperative and there still was time to play.
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
First the thrill of playing exiting new video-games pushed me to build up new contacts. After I had some local contacts the first professional working people came along like The Bitstoppers [BST] and The Newcomers [TNC] who's members later partially formed a project knows as QUARTEX. It continued with formations like Section 8, Flash Cracking Group, 4711, MZP, Ikari (friend Tridos), Fusion, Headbanger, GCS, Electronic Cracking Association [ECA] et altera.. As time went by I joined a C-64 group named STARLINE (Yo! Rubberduck and SPC). I met Rub on a AEK party in Duesseldorf. I recognised his cologne accent and asked him, wether he knows The Speedcracker [SPC]. The rest is history. At this point the number of contacts was uncountable! Later I met a guy who called himself GREMLIN. Together with him the "real" '64 action started. Not many people seem to remember THE PENTACLE but most of my C-64 cracks were released with that brand, among a number of DUECO (solo) cracks. Later I used to work alone. We had some good work together with The Wanderers and on the Amiga I had the luck of QUARTEX living nearby. There were a couple of Amiga formations I was a part of, in the end I formed my own group called Dueco Enterprises (TM).
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
A nice happening was the 1986 RADWAR party inside a discotheque. I was late as usual and moved into the main hall where The Wanderers, Irata, Mr. Zeropage and others sat around the table. We had a drink and RUB was demonstrating the latest TWG and PENTACTLE cooperation crack named "The Great Giana Sisters". This game was spread like hell on that day, although HOTLINE removed the intro and put a trainer in front of it, without mentioning the source! The special thing about it was the "familiar" feeling around.
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
To be honest - I don't know! At least I tried to be fast and always thought that quality is necessary. We did some nice coding-work, which was often stolen by others.
What would you like to be remembered for ?
For being a part of something like a mind-connecting-network involving distance and opening spaces for one's personal imagination and abilities. Many things went wrong and I never thought to leave an inheritance. I guess that the main denominator was having fun. If people had fun with the things I did it may be worth being remembered.
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
The destiny that found me, is shared by many computer people and is called by the institution of police.
Someone at the post-office tattled about my massive mail activities and told it to the frogs. That was back in 1988. I slowed down and restarted short time later. Things were different after that. As well the scene itself changed. Many friends were caught or started carrers etc.. There were too many unknown people around and things were running strange. The real end came with my obligatory 12 month army service.
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
One thing I really regret is that I never had the chance to meet all those people I had a close contact to. Most conversations went by via telephone...so guy's - what about a nice party?
What was your favorite
GAME(S)
Jet Set Willy
DEMO(S)
Sorry, cannot remember
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
Electronic Arts
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
C-64: ECA Amiga: Quartex
BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
the best in music was R. Hubbard
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
The 1986 Radwar party
MEMORY(S)
The face of Jerry (BBS and phone-god), when I knocked on his door in L.A. without anouncing my approach
DRINK ?
I never refuse a good Single Malt whisky (Scotland). No ice, no water, no nothing, just pur. Great stuff!
What are you doing nowadays ?
At the moment I finish my studies to become a teacher, but most of the people who know me, either shake their had or promise never to send their children to the school I work at. HA HA. I have to say that Iïm not happy with a teaching future, if you got a good suggestion or offers - feel free and contact me! (e-mail)
What are you doing on your spare time?
In december I talked to an old pirate-friend about the people who are still busy with computers and what has become of them. The phenomena that people release demos, produce interviews and are still active nowadays, offers the conclusion that most of us NEVER REALLY LEAVE the computer business, the so called "scene".
I still work on PC and consoles! Computers became a special part of ourselfes. A fact we realise nowadays. Beyond computers I like hazardous motor-cycling and I'am a singer/musician in a psychedelic band.
Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
In the 80's it was a common phrase to describe the present generation (us!) as the "no future generation". I felt very comfortable with this, cause most of the things that happened around, were not really nice or rather important at all.
The computers and the waves they created, were the daily need to dive into a certain personal microcosm. When I think back there was no lack in other activities or possibilities like certain narcotics, parties and even sexual activity, but there was something else far more thrilling... When I nowadays meet people and conversation reaches a certain point of exchanging interest-statements or biographical aspects, I sometimes strive to recapitulate parts of the "computer-era" I was a part of. Some of them will never understand what these years ment to me, others are really surprised (most of them cause of the extreme illegal activities).
It was far more than just computer games and the kind of a "Robin-Hood- Attitude" I, and maybe you there reading, represented. Coming home from school, unpacking a certain number of packages and immidiately starting the work while ignoring everything else, was just normal. Beyond, there were struggles for power, the intense wish "be" someone with a name, in a world of capitalistic ignorance and isolation to a certain degree.
As well we faced intrigues and lies on the one hand and the wonderful feeling of friendships without borders or discrimination for any reason on the other hand. To a certain degree a professional attitude linked us together and anticipated a form of life that politicians more or less successfully try to etablish for decades.
I agree with many's nostalgic feeling about our past and the consequences for our individual progress since those times.
Dont't judge me now as an arrogant asswipe for writing this text the way I did - it's emotional! Stay what you are!
What is the meaning of life?
Fun.