Interview
Handle:
Zero The Hero
How did you come up with your alias ?
Zero The Hero of Abnormal (I was one of the founders) and earlier known as HBH of Panoramic Designs (I was in from the start, only we where many from the start as founders).
City / Country:
Verdal in the county of Nord-Trondelag. I live in Stiklestad which is a small place here in Verdal. It's located in mid Norway.
Born year:
20'th August 1971
What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
Commodore 64 Grey Box with a taperecorder, which I bought at a local shop in Verdal (Chainstore by the name "EXPERT").
How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
How I got into the scene: This was in 84 so there wasn't many demos around yet, but I remember the first demos from TMC, Section 8, FLASH, TCC, and others in 85, which gave me lots of inspiration to make demos on my own. It started by making my own (very simple, music and text) executable demos. Besides at that point I was into trading software with about 20 contacts. I was in several small local groups, but the first real group I was in was "The Hidden Forces", also local but later we had members from other parts of the country. This was in 87. In 88 we united with "LCS" into "Abnormal" which was to become the NO.1 group in Norway in 89. Our production was cracking games, making demos (entering democomps at partys), Trading (we had about 20 members at the most - in which most of us traded with about 15 persons each). I was getting into assembler programming at this time and had started on some games, and my intrests was much into programming and not cracks and trading, so in 90 I joined up in Panoramic Designs. This group was founded on the intention to make games, music, demos, utilities and other stuff. There were members from several groups like: Shadows, Abnormal, Shape, Rawhead, Troopers, Stars ... . We made some very technical demos and made several games the next year. I sold 2 games to Magic Disk and a notemaker, which made me earn some money. The period after 92 I have been a member of "Reglage".
What was the proudest moment in your career ?
Seeing my game cracked by another group. Imported and NTSC fixed from the states.
For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
For what reason I'm remembered: Being a member of several significant groups in Norway during the C64 mania (86-90).
What would you like to be remembered for ?
For which reason I would be remembered: As a contribution for digital evolution in a positive attitude.
What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
There was in 91 when I stared to examine the other aspects of life, outside the computer, and I moved to Trondheim. Living life to the max, drugs and rock & roll. Now I have gone a circle and again I am back in front of the screen. The PC standard of today are getting at the same level of the old C64 - only better graphics and sound. Things look more real.
Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
Considering the settings back then - none.
What was your favorite
GAME(S)
Several to name a few "Aztec Challenge" (84), "Bruce Lee" (85), "Wizball" (87), "Combat School" (89).
DEMO(S)
"Shade" by Newlook, "Thrush Concert" by Stoat and Tim, "Think Twice" by the Judges.
PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
David Collier, Sensible Software.
CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Mr. Zeropage and Eagle Soft Inc.
COMPOSER(S)
Martin Galway
BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
Parallax by Martin Galway.
EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
Stjordal 88, the first party in Norway held by Razor 1911 and Abnormal.
MEMORY(S)
Talking to Mario of BWB in Denmark 89, talking about an old FLASH intro.
DRINK ?
Clean cold water.
What are you doing nowadays ?
Working in a local computer firm, selling computers and Internet connection. Mostly to other firms.
What are you doing on your spare time?
What I'm doing on my free time: Listen to music and chill out, go out to Ravepartys and dance to techno, Watching a film. Meet other people.
Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
Stay ready when the stuff comes down.
What is the meaning of life?
What is the meaning of life: Live in one with everything and let the intuition guide oneself in conjunction with the cosmic laws.