Interview
Handle: I've had lots of different handles. Back in -84, when everybody had a number, I was 1030, but my last one was Stone. Homepage
How did you come up with your alias ?
Stein (my name) translates to 'stone' in english, so it wasn't all that peculiar...
City / Country:
Oslo / Norway
Born year:
1969
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
My first computer was a C-64, and I got it in 1984 (I think... or was it -83? ;-) )
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
I had a friend in school, who said he could program in machine language, and he showed me a Pac-Man game he had coded. I remember being really impressed by this, and I decided to learn assembler. I bought the C-64 programmer's reference guide, got a copy of the HES-mon machine-code monitor and started hacking. I made a program with split-screens and scrolling (nowadays commonly referred to as a DEMO) and showed it to my friend who was totally blown away. As it turned out, his Pac-Man game was actually coded in BASIC, and compiled using something called Austro-Compiler (or something...). So then I had to teach HIM assembler! We started a group together called NCC, and we mostly cracked games (I have since seen the error of my ways...) for our own enjoyment. The first really big group I was in, was probably Newlook. Since then I have been in various groups like The Stars, Jazzcat, EMO, The New Stars, Megateam, Troopers, Panoramic Designs and probably quite a few more that I can't recall.
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
This may sound strange, but one thing that really stands out is the joy I felt when my friend and I had cracked the disk version of Ghostbusters. It was a really tricky protection (or so at least WE thought) and we worked a whole weekend on it. Later, me and my friend coded a racing game (this was in -84 I think) and we used the same protection scheme just for the hell of it! Since then, I guess I've done a lot of things that I'm more proud of (Programming etc...), but this memory really stands out.
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
Well, I don't think ANYONE remembers us from the good old days, because we weren't as famous as we'd like to think, but hopefully people remember the music we made as ProSonix.
What would you like to be remembered for ?
I would like to be remembered for programming a really great game.
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
When I got my Amiga, I was already tiring of the scene and computers in general. I was studying computer science at the University of Oslo, and that really drained my interest... I think our last demo (ProSonix: Destination 91) took one and a half year to complete, just out of laziness. It was released at the Horizon copy party in the easter of 1991.
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
I partly regret spending so much time just programming and playing games, because it took me away from a lot of (more social) activities that I enjoyed, like sports and partying... Other than that, nah!
What was your favorite
GAME(S)
OOh! Jumpman and Jumpman jr! I think these are two of the most addictive and playable platform games ever (ANY format). I also loved Bruce Lee and International Karate (I always got really pissed off when losing at this one! I used to smash up my computer until one day it just died. So I took it to school and exchanged it for a working one).
DEMO(S)
I don't remember a lot of demos. I liked some of the ones we made! ehh... One that I DO remember is 'That's the way it is' from Scoop. It had some cool graphics and a great tune (the main part). I was never impressed by all that tech stuff (like DYSP, DYCP, etc.) The way it looks and sounds should be the main focus, not how clever the code is.
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
I used to look up to Dave Collier at Ocean, because he made some really great games (Green Beret, Terra Cresta etc. etc.), but no demo coder leaps to mind, except Suicide from 'War Deal Lamers' (SIC!), not because he was a great coder, but because he's the craziest guy I've EVER met. I still laugh everytime we talk about him!
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
I didn't really pay attention to cracking groups, but I remember Triad, Dynamic Duo and the guy who put his handle in Donkey Kong and Commodore Soccer; 1103
OVERALL GROUPS :
I guess Scoop, because I always expected something special from them. I don't think they mad that many demos, though...
COMPOSER(S)
Easy! Martin Galway, first and last!
BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
Parallax, Terra Cresta, Green Beret, Wizball to mention a few...
BEST GRAPHICS
I don't know... Bob, perhaps. He made a few excellent pictures.
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
Horizon parties 90-91. We never coded at copy parties. We just met a lot of cool people and generally enjoyed ourselves. They had great (and I do mean GREAT) pizzas there...
MEMORY(S)
Driving from Oslo to Stockholm with Suicide of 'War Deal Lamers'. While driving at 100 km/h he suddenly opens the window, tells the guy next to him to take the wheel for a second, then pulls his pants down and sticks his butt out the window. To top it all off, he puts a big Coke bottle up his anus, pretending to masturbate! After a couple of minutes when he'd got back into the car, about 10 seconds later we passed a police traffic control!
DRINK ?
Coca-Cola!
What are you doing nowadays ?
I have just quit my job at FunCom, where I worked on the Pocahontas video game. I was for the most part programming the SNES version, but this sadly got cancelled due to Disney Interactive's screwed up priorities and internal squabbles. We had to help out on the Sega version which only caused further delays on the SNES. The Sega version is now out in the stores, so it's pretty frustrating to see something you've worked on for almost a year go down the drain, especially when you're so close. On the Pocahontas game, I also had the opportunity to work with Mario van Zeist (Who is a really cool guy! Stelletje hondelullen!!) and Jeroen Tel. As I've already mentioned, I quit my job at FunCom and together with some extremely talented people from FunCom, I have started a new computer games company here in Norway, called DiMaga Studios (Don't ask me what the name means, you don't want to know...)
What are you doing on your spare time?
Spare time! What a concept! I'm a programmer!!! O.K. I drink beer, and spend time with my girlfriend (When she's asleep, I play games on my SNES!).
Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
One thing that REALLY bugs me is GIRLS WHO SMOKE! Arrgh!! DON'T! STOP IT! NOW! (Well guys too, actually, but then I'm not that interested in guys...)
What is the meaning of life?
Find a job you like (If you have to...), find a girl you like (if at all possible...), enjoy yourself (sure thing!).