Interview
Handle: Mario van Zeist
How did you come up with your alias ?
I never had a handle just Mario
City / Country and date of birth:
I was born 3 juli 1967 (yep flower power time) in a Dutch town called Oldenzaal.
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
My first CPU was a Texas Instruments 99/4a I got it around 1979.
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
My dad bought me a C64 when it just came out. Immediately he bought a C1541 as well, but no tape drive. I was one of the first people in this region to own a C1541 (cost a whopping $1000 US dollars at that time). The first thing I did was starting to program. I already learned basic on the TI 99/4a so now I was ready for Assembly language.
Together with some friends we started Boys Without Brains and started programming games (We weren't interested in making demo's, just games). We tried to make Gauntlet, Ghouls and Ghosts, and Rygar. But all those games came out before we finished ours so that's when we started Hawkeye.
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
Loosing at the MicroMaster best Dutch programmer contest. Because they couldn't believe a 13 year old boy could program this peace of software. (I coded a program to evaluate funds assigned to schools)
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
For my length (2 meter), my smile and of course my positive attitude.
What would you like to be remembered for ?
For the same reasons.
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
I didn't stop activity I actually never really started. I had (and have) a lot of friends in the scene and that was the reason why I went to parties etc..
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
Yes :-)
What was your favorite
GAME(S)
In the early day's it was Fort apocalypse, Jumpmen and M.U.L.E.
DEMO(S)
Sorry I can't remember one.
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
All time greats John twiddy, David colier, and Stavros Fasoulas
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Hmm..
OVERALL GROUPS :
Radwar of course
COMPOSER(S)
Martin Galway
BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
pheew...
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
All the ECTS and Venlo meetings.
DRINK ?
Vodka martini (shaken not stirred)
What are you doing nowadays ?
I am running a software company together with Laurens van der Donk we operate under the name Euphoria.
What are you doing on your spare time?
If I had spare time I would probably sleep
What is the meaning of life?
Why should everything have a meaning, just live and have as much fun as possible (OK you shrink, analyze that!).