Interview
Handle: FCS / Finnish Gold (FIG) - Homepage
How did you come up with your alias ?
I saw some games cracked by German Cracking Service. Then I tried some cracking myself:-) and came up with the name Finland Cracking Service (It was Finnish first, but Finland sounded better). The name was later a bit misleading (I quitted the cracking), and so I started using the "short form", FCS.
FIG... (our group): If I remember right, it was Gallstone who invented this name.
City / Country:
Muurame / Finland (Muurame is near Jyvaskyla)
Born year:
1970
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
Actually, it wasn't mine, but my father's. It was a Sharp pocket computer, I don't remember the model anymore. It had about 1 KB of memory and Basic interpreter. When my father went to a business trip for a couple of weeks, I learned Basic and begun programming that thing... games, music composing programs, mathematic programs etc. I think the year was 1981. Commodore 64 I got in 1984 (if I remember correctly).
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
Well, I was one of the very first people in the Finnish scene. We were just some people who were doing same kind of stuff with their computers (ie. not just playing).
The "most important years" of my "career" I was in Finnish Gold. Finnish Gold was at first a group of people living near Vaajakoski and Jyväskylä. I was also in Epical in 90's, doing PC-stuff (demos & Hoax-diskmag).
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
To see, demo after demo, our name in the European top charts. It's hard to pick the proudest moment. It sure was great when we beat Byterapers with our Contest-demo.
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
Demos. I for myself didn't think I was any super-good programmer, but I think the key to the success was the ideas, design, music, hard work and a bit of luck.
What would you like to be remembered for ?
Demos. I hope they'll live longer than I will.
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
My "active" time was practically over when I went to the army in 1989-1990. For that year, I didn't have enough time to keep up in the fast development. I did some things after that, too, like the Hoax-diskmag in Epical. Totally I stopped during my studies in the Jyvaskyla Institute of Technology (I studied to be BSC in informatino technology). During the studies, me and a couple of my fellow students formed an own company. When I had the option to make money for the coding I do, or just code for fun, the choise was obvious.
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
Yes and no. I did some cracking in the "first days" (only for own use :-), and that is (could you imagine:-) illegal! Well, that was anyway "good practice", so I don't regret it so much. Also, making the what_ever_composer I made, that used Jeroen Tell's music routines - I didn't actually realize I had done anything wrong before Tell contacted me.
Anyway, it was mostly great time, and I think the "overall" answer would be "No".
What was your favorite
(I hate this kind of questions)
GAME(S)
? I've never had too much time for playing... this must make me a dull guy. Lemmings was good. (Crackers in space I and II, heh heh).
DEMO(S)
Every _old_ demo, back in the Finnish Gold -time (the 80's). Of course, FIG's demos were the best, but if _I_ say so, you won't believe that.
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
XYZ was a great coder. Even I didn't understand everything he explained about his programs and ideas.
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
No favourite.
OVERALL GROUPS :
What do you expect me to answer to this :)... Let me give you a hint: it begins with an F and ends with a G.
COMPOSER(S)
Rock, definitely!!
BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
I don't now remember any, but it must have been Rock's. Jeroen Tell and Rob Hubbard did some excellent tracks, too.
BEST GRAPHICS
The gfx:s is one thing that is better nowadays. I've seen the new graphics, but I don't know the artists' names. Back then, I don't know...
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
The very first copyparties in Finland, like the one in Vaajakoski, and then Digiparty. And all the others. Small can be nice.
MEMORY(S)
64KB... just joking
Lost or the golden ones? Lost - I don't remember. Golden - the good old scene time in general. Golden - programming C64, beats the PCs!
DRINK ?
Back then, I think the following:
Soft drinks: water, milk.
Alcoholic drinks: Beer, wine.
If I had to pick only one (to take with me to deserted island, for example) it would be beer.
What are you doing nowadays ?
I'm teaching in the Jyvaskyla polytechnic, mainly programming and programming-related courses. And I also have my own company, Objectsoft Oy, which does software for the PC.
What are you doing on your spare time?
What spare time... I hardly have any, if I have, I'll read, watch TV... all the ordinary things.
Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
Remember, there is life after scene.
What is the meaning of life?
I dunno. "The truth is out there".