Adventurer #15 31 июля 2004

Игры

Interface - Alex Xor on the status of gaming in the ZX Spectrum.

After analyzing this year, and completion of the last, perhaps,
You can come to the conclusion that we are experiencing a surge 
in activity game creators. Suppose this is not always that what 
can be really long time to play, but, nevertheless, the majority

releases far ahead of the work exhibited at the crap game
competition. One of the primary reasons I can see activity
Perspective Group - competition 'Your Game', the beginning of 
activities implementation of the game projects that I hope will 
be continue, and of course, 'Passage', directly

revealing the scope of the interests of its creators.

Alex Xor gave us a brief interview that shed light on his
vision of the current situation and development of the game 
dalneyshee 'Industry' on the Speccy.


elfh> In recent years, you make a lot of effort to
elimination game making from the stagnation observed in the 
late 90's. What prompted you to this and what the ultimate goal 
of your initiatives?


axor> The main thrust was that I had not seen recently
good games. Competitions same demo I have a few fed up.
Contest is game was not there, so I decided to spend
such an event. Goals in this competition a few.
The main of them, at least for me, are as follows:

1. Attracting teams / people are able to make good games
Spectrum;

2. Involvement of the "new blood" in the face of the players in 
these games. In Recently new to the Spectrum come rarely, and

this is very detrimental effect for the entire platform. I am 
convinced that New games are able to somehow attract younger 
replacements. It is no secret that big cities do it today

virtually impossible, there already and the new games do not 
help. A here in the boonies, where there is similarity of clubs 
and circles, this method acts. Therefore, I hope that our 
competition will bring fruit. The main thing that we were 
supported by the participants themselves Contest!


elfh> Are you happy with last year's results? What can we 
expect in this year from the competition?


axor> The results of last year, I was completely satisfied. Was
a decent amount of games, quality of the games also at a good 
level moreover, that for many participants, this contest was 
the first. What can we expect this year, I still do not know 
myself. I claimed by many people, that they would participate 
in the competition, but to this day (27/10/2003) to accept the 
games there is creeping phase. If in the year I was not afraid 
for the failure of the competition, because I myself makes the 
game, this year I was suspicious. Very surprised to see that 
was presented CAFe 6 games this year. Why do not people began 
to be exhibited at our competition, I do not know. 

elfh> In my opinion, the level of games presented on CAFe'2003, 
was higher than in the past, 'Your Game' - what causes it, how 
you do you think?


axor> What caused this? I do not know, maybe that game last year
prompted the authors to make the game even better. In general, 
no I know.


elfh> An exceptionally new to the Speccy at this time was the 
idea to realize 'Imperia 2' in the form in which you did. What 
was the reaction of users? Will you still be engaged in similar

projects?

axor> Rarity, of course, was established. In my opinion, we in 
Russia Spectrum, this has never happened. But not many want to

see this game and everything that came with it is sold. Will I
engage in similar more? I would be if they are writers who
write games, music and novels.

elfh> 'Imperia 2' is made only for cars with 256kb memory. You
think this is the only possible direction of development of game
making?

axor> Of course not! By the way, the game failed me. Many
were unhappy that the game is only 256 kb machines, yes
yet only on standard Scorpion and the Pentagon, 512. Such
more I do not intend to. I think that the standard for good
Spectrum games have long been identified - it is 128 kb. "Black
Raven "I think everyone remembers.

elfh> What do you think is primary in this case: the player or 
the game? Ie initiates a Imperia a large number of machines with

expanded memory?

axor> I think that if someone were to pursue the goal of 
increasing fleet machines with more memory than 128 kb, the 
release of such games had to deal with 10.8 years ago.


elfh> Imperia extends to protection? I think the emergence of 
new Games will inevitably lead to a revival of crack scene. How 
are you to this?


axor> It's a secret. About the crack scene, I think it is 
already in past. Now it is doing virtually none. Whoever

can do, he understands the value of software and I think to do 
this will not. Now time is not something you have to pay if you 
want that at least something left. But this had to think

much earlier. If the situation with the salaries of programmers
was arranged back in the past, we have not seen such
catastrophic picture, it is now. And to the crack scene I
'm very negative! Especially since I still can not
forgive idiot who gave the network of
last year's competition.

elfh> Do yourself a lot of play? The games, participating in 
the competition? 

axor> I'm playing a little. Time does not exist, and for the 
most part not love something to do than play. Honestly, it has 
not passed a single game competition, even his own. I have my 
game naprohodilsya stage development.


elfh> As you know, abroad are now seeing the resurgence of 
interest retro-gaming. You do not plan to go international

level?

axor> Not yet. And if someone suggested that this be done?

elfh> I see a solution to this issue as follows: site
in Russian and English with the publication of all necessary
Information for developers and potential buyers.
Accordingly, the proposed game should also be understood as
English-speaking people, and our compatriots. Rises
problem with the format of the disseminated data (trd / tap), 
but this solved. We initially no one was accustomed to pay for 
games Unlike the west, where it is normal practice. Course

rate should be on a form of release and the accompanying
materials, as is the case with the same Imperia 2 - has nothing 
to do a crack will not allow those feelings, which can be 
obtained from original release. What do you think?


axor> I agree that this is our trick with the "empire-2" - is
something new, compared to all the game releases on
Spectrum in Russia. But to go out to a wider
audience (I mean the West, etc.) need to deal with
its players. Moreover, that he release of this (just this)
We summed up the game somewhat, because game several 
glyuchnovata. Therefore, more such releases will not be hasty. 
I confess, we hurried.


elfh> What is the geography of distribution and circulation of 
'paragraph'? What can you say about the trends - growing 
readership? 

axor> Geography great - a large area of ​​Russia, also have
Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. Circulation of 'paragraph' is not 
changed and is 100 copies. The total readership is almost 
unchanged, someone leaves, but new ones come, it's still happy. 
Now my question? Why editorial 'Adventurer' do not buy 
'Passage'? 

elfh> got a few rooms and do not read them fully, no, I
understood - is not my issue. We just have a different view on 
things maloperesekayuschiesya and interests, which can be 
easily judged by last number "Adventurer". Nevertheless, this 
does not reduces the value of your publication. Any final

suggestions readers?

axor> I hope that there will be nothing trimmed? But I wish
not readers, and yourself. I wish you the same - gradually
back on track, where you worked last
years. Now for the reviews to our editor your magazine has 
become less like people, but it's bad. The fact that you tried 
to allegedly connect our western and the scene has not brought 
anything good, but Here Razdol we have here given. I think that 
one must first bring order at home, and then show it to others. 
I understand that time is inexorably and we change, but we love 
for what we were, not as steel. Try not to lose the reader and

correspondents, and then everything will be okay! Good luck to 
you all.


elfh> Yes, I understand that the last number of disappointed 
many, but at the same while we are in no way are not going to 
stop our evolution (involution?). I wish you success in all 
endeavors there, where we have virtually no ...