Interview
Name:
Tony B.
Handle:
Splatt! of FairLight
Age:22 Where do you live?
In a small village somewhere in the county of Hertfordshire (England).
Where do you work?
For a well known software company in London.
How Did you come up with your alias?
I searched many magazines for inspiration including Zzap and Crash (Old C64 and spectrum mags). Then I thought.... Zap... Nah... Crash... Nah... Splat Yeah! Cool. For some strange reason I decided to use two T's and add an exclamation mark (!) So the name Splatt! was made.
Where did the Splatter House BBS name come from?
My original BBS was called Fantasy Zone which kinda sucked. Whilst talking to Death Bringer (ex Paranoimia, Accuulators) on the phone he was playing a game called Splatter House on his PC-Engine. As soon as I heard the name I knew I had to have it.
What was your first computer and when did you get it?
Spectrum 48K, a LOOOONG time ago.
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been in?
Although I had a C64 for many years I was never part of the scene. It wasn't until I got my Amiga in 1988 and obtained some cracked games that I realised a scene existed. The first games I got where Marble Madness and The Guild of Thieves. I originally traded the cracked games because I wanted them to play but couldn't afford to buy them. Gradually I became more involved in the scene and my interests changed from wanting the games to play to wanting the games to be the fastest. As I changed group over the years I wrote them down, so I'm able to supply you with an exact list! Here it is: External, Dynamic Vision, Powerforce, Automation, Acidforce, Sirus, Acidforce, Subway, Anarchy, Vision, Classic, Horizon, Quartex, Hyperion Fairlight, TRSI, Fairlight, Ministry, Fairlight
What was your proudest moment in your career?
Supplying the game with the most talked about Amiga protection system ever, Robocop 3.
World charts voted: Number one ansi artist, Second nicest scene guy, 6th fastest european BBS (Splatter House).
Running Fairlight UK in 1993, the year we released more games then any over group.
What are some of your favourite memories?
The many times the Fairlight guys (Gaston, Rebel, JBM, Foxy, Strider, Bob Duncan, Hogster, Renegade, Cemi, Executioner) stayed at my place drinking beer to some rediculous time in the morning.
Supplying Shadow Dancer from the computer shop where I worked!
Leaving Rebel and Flux with a bottle of 50% Vodka in my living room the night before Rebel was due to go home and finding it empty the next morning! Sitting with a bag full of beer at the Party 2 in Denmark with Rebel. As the organisers took the empties away we simply opened another.
What specific reason do you think you are remembered?
For running Splatter House BBS and for the many ANSI/ASCII logos I made.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Being a part of the greatest group of all time, Fairlight.
How many games did you supply for Fairlight?
39, I think.
What made you stop scene activity?
When your at the top there is only one way to go, down. I didn't want that to happen so I quit at Xmas '93.
Is there anything you regret?
1. Letting Gaston down on Turtles 4.
2. Lying to Scott/Crystal about Wonderland.
3. Giving Rebel his 17th Vodka slammer so he could equal Gastons amount. Then having two mad drunk Swedes run about my house totally wrecked shouting their home town names.
What's your favorite:
Game - Fire Power
Scene Program - The AMAZING Lemmings Editor by Gaston! - Can we release this now, Anders?
Release - Fairlight's New Year Lemmings 1992, created using the Lemmings Editor! (then having Legend train it!!!!)
Programmer/Team - Dr Skull/Virtual Dreams.
Crackers - Gaston, Nomad, Renegade.
Composer - Dezecrator/Classic.
Track - Hurry life dying by Dezecrator.
Event - Party 2 in Denmark.
Drink - Budweiser.
What are you doing in your spare time?
Playing games, writing a book about the scene, playing squash, drinking budweiser, remembering the old times.
Is there anything you'd like to say?
Will someone please organise a party where all the old scene legends attend for a reunion.
What's the meaning of life?
Fuck knows.