Spectrofon #16 20 декабря 1995

Интервью

From the world of bat - an interview with a group of STEP (the creators Spectrofon and Star Heritage).

       I N T E R B L U

Q: With "STEP" is known for issue of electronic journal
"SPECTROFON", but the most popular game is brought to you
"Star Heritage". Are you satisfied with
your job? Brought a game
moral satisfaction?

A: Perhaps we are now surprise
you, but we have, by and large
the game does not really like it. No, of course, to some 
extent, we satisfied with the fact that we could

Finally complete the work, but
professional bar set
initially much higher. In the final
eventually had to lower the requirements due to acute shortage 
of time. In general, we felt that if not "'ll end the" game of 
the promised time, then probably will not be able to follow 
through. Q: Do you think that rush you hurt?


A: In a sense, yes. Although from
total time working on the game
- Half year - directly
to work with the codes, graphics,
music we have spent a whole
about 5 months. Of these, more
It took months just to debug
our creation. While debugging
We would like take more time because it could not vytsepit of 
several programs minor errors. Now

hands before that hardly reach. AND
bugs in our first game
become history. How edifying
descendants ...



Q: When and How did the idea
game "Star Heritage"?

A: The idea was in the air as early as
March 1994. Then she even
slightly splashed on the pages
magazine in one humoresque of conversation between two lovers 
"ELITE". There's one character utter the phrase: "I'll go buy 
Globe Rakksly, and then can not understand where

search for treasures of the deceased daddy. "Since then, the 
idea of ​​the game became more and more visible outlines. 

Q: And why did you choose peace program "ELITE", is not close 
if you within its framework?


About: Peace Program "ELITE" was
not selected randomly. Playing a decade at the time made a huge 
impression on us. And now this program - one of the

the best on the Speccy. Hundreds of pilots
still comprehend its mysteries.
Although at some stage it became
closely in the framework that defined the game "ELITE". 
Voobscheto we have not tried to follow all laws and rules the 
world "ELITE". Not really worried about us

and chronology. But in general terms
we adhered to its scope,
to make it recognizable.

Q: Could you say a few
words about the software, with
which created the game?

A: The game code is written using
special macro language developed by Sergei Shishlyannikova 
specifically to create adventyur this type.


This macro language is similar in structure to the language for 
GAC, which is published on pages our magazine.



   The entire schedule has been drawn in
popular ART STUDIO. Music
was written SOUND TRACKER'e.

Q: You have to understand that the game of
various reasons, some ideas
Not logged in?

A: Yes. Zadumok was twice
more than we had realized.

Q: Could tell us about them?
Or is it a secret?

A: Something is of course a secret, because we intend to 
transfer their the second part of the game. But some can tell.


   For example, in Pulsar
all seen inhabitant of the city -
fat man with the newspaper.


   In a situation where a player attacked a fat man and killed 
him, the newspaper as an object does not exist. This introduces 
an element of illogical. How so - the paper was - and suddenly 
it's not. In fact, the original version of the newspaper there 
and it could read. But soon the

obvious reasons (too
large amount of textual information "glued" to an object that 
can carry) of this exciting venture we had to refuse. The truth 
of the articles from newspapers carried over to

airport. Something similar happened with a stranger on the 
island "Oh," he was carrying a picture of our hero.

From which the conclusion that the
Stranger specifically podstereregal his side of the road to the 
village. 

In the final version of the photos also had to give up
that is a bit disturbed at the logic
that episode. Well, perhaps,
can be said that all flights
on the shuttle were conceived as a flight simulator. But the 
realization of This ideas was at the

currently a challenge.
Although, if we had more
time ... Well, another idea that has not had time to become a 
reality - the situation with a note from an old woman. In the 
pirate version of the game in the note should have appeared the 
phrase: "Dear Jameson. It is not our man. He

not listen to my advice. Make
the correct conclusion. "
And instead of helping,
Jameson had to get weapons and kill the main character
right in his shop. Unfortunately, his hands had not arrived.

Q: We hope that the second part
playing a lot of unrealized
you will have?

A: We also hope.

Q: How are you doing?

A: We have completed work
over the opening novella and plot the second part of the game. 
As Once all the it will take real

shape to begin work on
scenario. Then the development of maps, algorithms, and 
modernization of the interface objects, items, locations, text, 
and forward - for debugging the finished version. Q: What are 
some innovations appear? 

A: The main thing will be so
as it was in the first part. Quite
probably be improved user interface - it will become even more 
convenient. There are ideas on regime change

fight, but it's still a distant
perspective. In general, we believe
Now that the game interface is close
to his ideal (for the Speccy, of course), but always there
thinking how to make it even better, how to give the game an 
extra charm. 

Q: Maybe - the sound?

A: I must say that we sound
not very happy. While something
happened in our opinion well. We mean music in the menu.


   There is a special feeling in it
and some ledyanyaschee heart charm. In the second part of the 
game will try to improve the sound and musical accompaniment. 

Q: Do you have a desire to insert a game cartoon
elements, since this is done,
For example, in KAYLETH?

A: Certainly, we consider
this question. The thing that
special problems with the technical
point of view there, but the amount of work
grow two and even three-fold. Especially from the artist. And he
so overloaded. It's no joke - in
the first part of the game more than two hundred
pictures? Now imagine
themselves that they still need to be
revive? So everything will depend on how quickly will
Work on the second part.
Q: One of the letters in
"SPECTROFON" reader of the magazine
suggested: very good
that in the game "is not there any magic bredyatiny. Probably 
not everyone agrees with this statement. What do you think?


A: We do not give up the elements of the genre "fantasy", but 
this should fit into the world of our

game. Something from this genre,
likely to be in the second part.

Q: The traditional question - WHEN?
When can we start
"Star Legacy - 2" at its
machines?

A: Perhaps it is most difficult for
We question. We would like to succeed in
this year, but have probably
hardly. We hope to have time for our biennium. It will be 
February. Q: What about your second game -

"SPECIAL FORCES"? Maybe you
already put a cross on it? It seems to be promised that it will 
be released in October?


A: They promised no earlier than October ...
But now there is some
problems with the interface. Although the works are - finished 
almost all the textures and sprites objects. Already, through 
the maze game can roam, open and

close the door and look at
all with their own eyes, but in the battle
monsters come until
impossible. It's the nearest future. We hope that the New
, the beta version, we already would be.



Q: Will there be a demo version
"SPECIAL FORCES" in your journal?

A: Just can not say. May
well be that the game will appear in the
selling directly to its full implementation.

Q: Is there anything more specific
you can say about it?

A: Perhaps only the fact that the game
will be designed for computers with
RAM 128 KB. Already
We crossed the boundaries of the 48-th regime. Of course, this 
may disappoint owners of forty-eighths of machines,

but there's nothing about it
impossible. But it will allow us
to do something is, what else
did not exist at Speccy.


We advise to wait. The bomb had not yet
ready. She is waiting in the wings.

Q: But will there be for this game map editor?

A: Probably not. As long as we ourselves develop levels.

Q: Will I be able to play
"SPECIAL FORCES" on the modem?

A: This is our dream. Such an option
we are considering, but has hardly imagine how to make a game 
over a modem looked flawless. Here

need to solve many problems. All
it's definitely going to think of.



... By the way, recently at the Polytechnic Museum held a 
presentation of the creative team "STEP", in which in addition 
to other software products was exhibited demo "SPECIAL FORCES". 
We were pleased to hear from the boy's age seven the following 
phrase: "And, I know how is called this game! This

"DOOM"! ". Well," DOOM "so
"DOOM", although we understand that
nothing to do with "DOOM" is our game
no. Towards the end we all clicked on videoskaner and
went home. In the picture,
you can see below, the group
"STEP" is almost at full strength.
Sergei Shishliannikov unable to take part in the presentation. 
Left to right: Yuri Matveyev, Stanislav Yefimov, Dmitry 
Usmanov. 



Q: This may be an unexpected question - why do not you write a 
musical show? Or you stay in their rejection of the principles 
of this kind of creativity? 

A: For some reason, many people believe that
we dislike treat a variety of musical demonstrations. It's not 
quite true. From the pages of the magazine we had it only of 
those copies, which with in terms of ethics and morality are not

incurred any frame. Just
bothered to read the illiterate and
uninteresting messages to individual
hackers. Too much dirt
was in these "demah. And the musical demonstrations as such we 
treat normal, if someone like this - let wrote, we understand 
that this is one 

kind of creativity and self-education. Before our eyes for the 
last five years musical demostroenie (demo-making) came a high, 
professional level. Grew up a giant pyramid on top of which is 
simply wonderful examples of masters a business - but at the 
foot of this movement began to gain some perverted form. Abuse,

swearing, bad-smelling dump.
We are opposed to sorting out relationships in
such a form - Demo letters. In the end, if you
need to clarify relations with some hacking, well, dial
his phone number and tell him everything
you think about it. Throw him in
mailbox or passed through
Friends of the letter, even
Electronic, diskette, let
even in the form of demonstrations.

But why all this is to distribute
markets and to new prishlepyvat
games? Who is it interesting? A demonstration we do not write 
because that we are much more interesting to write games. How 
do you know - it matter of taste.


Q: Maybe all these demonstrations - a new form of communication
between hackers? Have you ever thought about this?

A: The thought of. And we need such
form (namely as a form of communication)
do not like. Non-operational. And
somehow very much demonstrative
look, all these claims are asserted. Banal and sometimes silly
grandstand play.

Q: But there are normal and demonstrations, which simply regards
transmit.
A: For God's sake, let him pass,
if someone likes. Generally on this topic so much has been said 
that there was no point in continuing. 

Q: And why do not you spend
championship for hackers and programmers musical 
demonstrations? By type of championship viruses?


A: With pleasure, you first need to be developed
rules. We hope that by next issue we will try to solve
this problem.

Q: I would like to know how much
your band man?

A: The core group - four men, well, all those who took
participate in the group - six of them.
Q: Could you do a little
tell us about yourself?

A: Okay. Artist Group -
Dmitry Usmanov, 20, student
4-year student at the Moscow Institute
Communal Services and Construction. Programmer - Sergei
Shishliannikov, 28 years old, graduated from
Moscow State University. Mathematician by education. The second 
group of programmers - Stanislav Yefimov, creative

alias FANATIC STAS, 20 years
student of third year of the Moscow
Avitsionnogo Institute. Screenwriter
group and musician in combination - Yuri Matveyev, 29,
graduated from the Moscow Energy Institute, an engineer of 
electronic equipment. 



Q: In any group there are
Generator of ideas, critic and implementer. How are these
role in your group?

A: The generator of ideas - Yuri Matveev, Critic - Sergei 
Shishliannikov, well as implementors we are all together.

Although, of course, these roles are rather relative. In certain
situations, roles may change.

Q: What do you look at what
to unite with any other group and create
something incredible?

A:??

Q: Well, for example, to start joint work with ... CODE
BUSTERS from Kharkov?

A: What works?
Q: Write, for example, game ...

A: Well, first of all, they live in
Kharkov, and we are in Moscow, it is difficult
imagine working together with inability of the active
communication. Secondly, they have enough experience to write 
their own serious things (at least, judging by

their numerous and INTRO DEMO).
It would be a desire to ...

Q: In megademo "INSULT" SODE
BUSTERS suggested the creation of you
Journal of Field dedicated
computer "AMIGA". Do you mind?

A: Against. What relationship
"AMIGA" has to Speccy? With such
You might as well, and IBM to write about and everything else.

No, if you really want to CODE BUSTERS
move "AMIGA" to the masses - let
create a special journal
on this topic. Although some specific articles on topics close 
to "AMIGA" and "ZX-SPECTRUM" could be printed. There is in our 
journal Section "Warm greetings", which publishes articles from

PC-REVIEW. And sinkleristam chosen themes are similar - 
aviaimitatory, problems playing "ELITE" and etc.


Q: In the fifth issue of "ZX-REVIEW announces the establishment 
of a creative association on the basis of

your group. How close
idea to realization?

A: As long as people will not be shaken. We shall wait for 
letters with specific proposals.


   Only we need to see immediately that capable people
before offering him kakuyunibud work. Therefore, we
wait for letters and illustrative works from our readers.

Q: Thanks for the interview.

A: Thanks to all our readers
for all matters on which this interview was prepared. Thank you 
for your attention. 


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