Tusovka - FunTop'98: Interview with Serzh Soft.

<b>Tusovka</b> - FunTop'98: Interview with Serzh Soft.

(C) DR.DASH
Edited by NEXT-STOP
Music: (C) KENOTRON / ETC / RUSH



                 LIVING ROOM



     Articles and contributions of this man appeared
in many magazines, Spectrum (as in
electronic and printing). But about himself
little is known. We decided to correct this injustice and make 
the author of many articles mainly hero of one of them. Along 
the way (in principle, it is not on the way) on FunTop'98 to 
visit us drove Sergei Kolotov (SERZH SOFT).




V: How and where there was your first acquaintance with

  Speccy?


C: The first time I met with Speccy in Shadrinsk,
when I went to the station for young technicians in a circle
Electronics. It was about 1989. There
We stood "Atari" and we're always in for something playing. A 
little later we brought the Spectrum. As soon as I saw it, so 
immediately thought: "Oh, this is something!". 


V: What do you immediately liked the Spectrum?


C: At first he just stood there, and we played on it, but
later began to appear so-called "game rooms". That is, the 
store put 3.2 Spectrum, downloadable games, and ... It was then 
I thought, thought and went in a circle of young programmers 
all on the same UT station. It was already 1990.



V: How did your passion for coding?


C: What is coding?! While I have yet met with this computer! 
But the first program I began to write in that circle, though 
in BASIC. We were there almost was not taught, gave the 
cassette with games, a tape recorder, for adjusting otvertochku 
head and said: "Do what you want, free ...". AND we played. A 
BASIC became engaged on their own, and that's when I started 
tetradochku, which is a each programmer, and it began to write 
his first program, of course, in BASIC. References no at that 
time we did not have, except for guide Spectrum Vickers. 

V: Actually, it was about assembly language ...


C: Wait a minute ... The thing is that three years later I
left out of this circle, and left this tetradochku there.
So, a year after that I looked at the UT station and saw this 
picture: a few people crowded around a computer program from 
the hard stuffed this notebook. Then I thought: "It can if we 
want!" and decided to seriously do something higher. That's 
exactly when I started programming on assembler.


V: How does the first assembler you used?


C: First - DATA;), that is, I stuffed the line DATA, a program 
in BASIC to read and run. And my first program involved a 
modification of the font. 

V: It's not even programs, and procedures. And as for the
  program is ...


C: Program I did not write at all ever. True, there were 
several ... At least, here. I really liked one program from 
Norton Utility, which created card drive. I decided to do the 
same on the Speccy and did. She had, and "side effects" - she 
looked the picture and allow it to run files. A first step I 
did in the assembly EDITAS. It was loaded with a tape recorder. 
Then I "moved" to GENS 3, after appeared GENS 4. Then there was 
the drive and GENS 4, but is a disk, and then appeared MASM, I 
was blown away. At its glitches at the time I did not pay 
attention, because after sitting in GENS'a MASM'e just nice. 
And then came ZXASM, in which I still and write. Glitches in it 
I do not notice, and Global glitches are observed.


V: You yourself admitted that ZXASM convenient for pa
  Bots primarily with XT-keyboard ...


C: Yes, I have attached IBM keyboard on it, I
and work. Other I have the soul does not lie. A ZXASM
just perfect for this keyboard.

V: And how many of your finished work?


C: How many - I do not know, I did not count them. Again
the same - complete ... First, a mini-demo "Gingerbread Man". 
This was my first attempt to translate the program in BASIC 
into machine code. 

V: For the first time - pretty cool.


C: Then I immediately thought: "We must begin to cool, then
over time, something cool will come. "For those who
not seen, say that the bun it goes across the screen,
jumps, climbs everywhere and so on. It somehow reminded Dizzy 
... 

V: Grand Dizzy, who walks on tiptoe. ;)


C: Yes, quite large. In fact, he walked normally, jumping and 
running. And then came gift'iki different. The first one was 
for Mitchell'a, he was still lived in Norilsk. And now he is in 
the Laser soft, ie in Obolensk. Another of my job - it's an 
intro to game Kurgantsy "FOX HUNTER (Fox Hunting).



V: What can you say about the collaboration with

  FANAT'om, which makes the game SCORCHED EARTH?


From: A-ah! What a sneaky question! :) So, here's how ...
FANAT - a coder, also from Shadrinsk, or rather,
former coder from Shadrinsk very good coder. C
I met him at school, in grade 10, at the Olympics programming 
when I took I place. FANAT took up many good projects: for DOOM,

DIZZY. His GOBLINS, by the way, it was a fly - a
in 1995. But, as usual, quite by accident source "ruined." Then 
FANAT and LONE WOLF wanted to do TUNNEL, was still a whole 
bunch of projects: FANAT engaged in DUNE, by the way, before 
anyone else, but the end nothing has been brought was not. And 
once we saw the toy SCORCHED EARTH (twisted

Land), IBM PC. We are in it for very long were cut,
She liked us and decided to make it FANAT
for the Spectrum, and make cool, with twists.
He did all this cool bells and whistles were there, and he 
released several demos, and one was already with the menus and 
icons. In short, there was an a good half of all toys, but 
there was a bad thing - FANAT began to depart from 
Spektrumstseny, he's some other hobbies, other problems, and 
the project was buried, and sorry ... : ( 


V: And what role did you play in this project?


C: Well, what ... Yes, almost any. FANAT ordered
protsedurki me, and I made them, because in general, like
to do various small protsedurki and then they improve. There 
were procedures for multiplication, division, addition, and 
others. By the way, then they started appearing everywhere. :) 
I wonder ... It turns out, clever ideas people come to mind at 
once. But in general, except for tips and procedures, this toy 
did my no.


V: With this clear. In short, we never shall see
  Dim the full version. Those who have seen though, would be a 
demo 

  this game, mourn with us. But that's enough

  the bad news. What are you still doing on the spectrum
  metal other than coding?


C: In addition to coding, I'm doing just coding. But
it's pretty broad term. It's like writing a different stateek. 
Incidentally, this is one of my greatest pleasure. Earlier I 
sent them in ZX-REVIEW, and I always kill it, as they are 
published: in six months, nine months later. Generally, nine 
months - a symbolic date for "revyushki. That is, the magazine 
gave birth just over this time. I did not mention the fact that 
the articles were cut from them cast their very good things ... 
But I think it was all for the better - it gave me

some hardening ...

V: And not only that. After your computer you "must"

  namely Inforkom ... ;)


C: Yes, I must stop at this moment more ...
At first, I was sitting on Spektrum48 to 5.25''drive
and black-and-white monitor on the BK-shki. And so I wrote
article, or rather, a series of several articles. Inforkom me 
very pleased, when awarded the prize for ... m-m-m ... system 
programming. Except for me, prizes were given to Mr. Veremeenko 
- for authoring and Ilya Komandin - for the game section. 
Interesting that they were all second places, ie PC

Nobody went and we got the computer's motherboard
SCORPIO. When I first saw this card, it
I really liked, but it was nowhere to be connected. I thought, 
thought and wrote in Scorpio More one 5-inch floppy drive, 
controller, IBM-keyboards, various connectors, etc. And at home 
I purchased mini-tower. Later I added a second disk drive, 
3.5''... Here on this car and I continued to work until now

then ...


    * CONTINUED IN NEXT ARTICLE *



(C) DR.DASH
Edited by NEXT-STOP
Music VERNISAZH (C) KENOTRON / ETC / RUSH



                 LIVING ROOM

                 (Continued)



V: And who do you think is currently "elite" to

  Spectrum scene?


C: Wow! Okay, but it's only my opinion ...
First, coders, since I can attribute it to them.
I was always curious to know: Is it cool code
itself as a demo. Thus, coders: the most advanced is the group 
X-TRADE. In their demo in 1996 ILLUSION was such a cool code 
for the time, there was going pure real-time programming. In 
general, I think X-TRADE ancestors' realtaymovogo programming. 
Before that there were some attempts, but they do not were so 
obvious. What is characteristic for them, their effects were 
the most compressed. Of course, it was possible to compress 
more, if you try:), but the code was approaching maximum 
efficiency. But in 1997 was the most concise and cool demo - it 
... 

V: POWER UP!


C: Absolutely. In it there is a lot of cool effects. But one of 
its problem that all these effects are not linked

into a coherent whole, ie, design disappoint. By design I want 
to highlight SHIT FOR BRAINS, but codes there is not at a level 
like EXPLODER'a. 

V: And what about DIGITAL REALITY?


C: good coder FLYING, good, good algorithms, he is doing, but 
I'm in his place would have worked over a little more. :) 
Indeed, compared with the same EXPLODER'om guys and their 
X-TRADE ... to him they should be catching up ...


V: What if a pure hit-parade of teams in your concept?


C: Okay. I will classify them according to the development of
level of coding and design, to progress. Mostly here
is demomeyking. It is in good demomeykinge
see all of the band. At first I put PROGRESS, it's really 
progressive group. Then there are the DMS from the association 
RUSH, but they are now gone, so that they can be omitted. But

VIBRATIONS - this is a demo, which I bastard
and I will always baldet. By the way, their encoder, BACA, was
my "virtual teacher" on algorithms, ie
some algorithms I looked at his code. One can not forget also 
the association EXTREME. It includes MEGACODE, BEERMANS and 
others. Very young group of E-MAGE from the first demos burst 
onto the scene Spectrum and very, very many struck it was 
"fixing" that is, the guys understand how to downhole do demos. 
Effects may not be as too steep, but the impression from the 
demo will be at altitude. And the music in the late TRASH'a - 
the most ruleznaya music! ;)



V: Well, what are you busy now?


C: Now I have slept one big strained. Here today, 8 th August 
1922 the number will FUNTOP, I finally finished writing 4K 
INTRO. In her eight effects plus pechatalka messages. If we 
calculate then each effect lasted less than 500 bytes.


V: We have already seen and appreciated this thing, and what

  everyone.


C: I think the chances are ... Their competitors
It is at 4K INTRO I think: of course, X-TRADE ...


V: If they will participate ...


From: EXPLODER, PROGRESS - can take a very
good effect and music, DIGITAL REALITY - can take a clean 
design and E-MAGE, although about their Codes I'm not sure. In 
fact, they take it a set of graphics, music and movement, at 
the currently this figure is the highest on the Spectrum

it is from them, among groups of beginners, of course.

V: In the near future ...


C: In the near future, that is, tomorrow we will go
Obolensk in and do some writing demos on FUNTOP
with Dr.DASH 'it and LASER SOFT. From the intro, I calculated 
the small stone fell from the soul, but remained big-very big 
piece of rock called BITS MUTATIONS. Now it is possible to 
speak, as the interview will appear after the festival. 

V: But the name - a piece unreliable, especially if

  when work is not finished yet ...


C: I think that it will remain, but will not
get ahead of ourselves, all the time. By the time
as you read this stuff, all we have met on FUNTOP'e ...

V: And what are your plans for the future on the loading pa
  Botha Z80?


C: After I returned back from FUNTOP'a, plan
take part in ARTCOMP'98. What would it be - you will see ... 
Besides, I would like to write something necessary for the 
Spectrum. 

V: And what do you think is right?


C: At the moment I would very much fallen from Pascal's
type TURBO PASCAL 7.0 on the IBM PC. Many people,
something to write on the Spectrum, are familiar with Pascal.
Not with C, with other languages, namely Pascal,
more than half of the people. Imagine PASCAL on
Spectrum with the ability to call assembler directly
from the text ...

V: And if something is more democratic ... What would you

  wanted to write?


C: I do not know what I would like to write. I have big 
problems with patience, so the prospect of I write only of any 
demos. If, however, enough patience, you want to write a small 
toy in the genre of "adventure". Specifically, it will play in 
Russian, with a very simple design, ie the font 6x8, monochrome 
screen, but the toy will be very intelligent. She will be 
designed for the true lovers of text adventyur. 

V: Well, you gave! M:)


C: But this I just want to ... :) I would also like to make all 
the characters alive, able to move freely, that they were not 
alien to any human problem. They should sleep eat, go about 
their business, etc., that is, the concept of "virtual 
theater". 

V: Now you're just so-o-al! ;)


C: Now, exactly ... :)


V: We've heard that you're going to write a book ...


C: One feature I pulled in to write a journal DEJA
VU a couple of lines that I would like to publish a book on the 
Spectrum. Since I wrote this, you will have do it. Therefore, 
plans to write a book dedicated to the art of coding on the 
Spectrum, that is create good, well-developed, optimized

procedures and programs. I want to parse it all effects that 
are configured for 4K INTRO, all effects from the demos that we 
are now ready to work with LASER SOFT and DR.DASH 'it on 
FUNTOP'98. In writing demos helped us DEMIURGE ASH from the 
city of Carpets, Group ETERNITY INDUSTRY, big thanks to him for 
that. In particular, he helped with the graphics. I think that 
it work FUNTOP'e take far past the place. Also worth mentioning 
in the schedule of FILL'a Moscow. His images - just shine!


V: We are a bit away from the topic, rather, from the book ...


C: Yes, the book is devoted to writing the coolest
effects, there will be disassembled algorithms for each effect: 
it kodilsya the difficulties may be encountered when 
implementing these algorithms. The book will help the very 
people who want to create cool effects for their demos. 

V: The intention to publish a book is quite serious, or

  again this plan?


From: Intentions something serious, but can not imagine
as this book sell. But, still think that
will release this book purely for myself, that is, for 
non-commercial distribution. A few chapters I could write right 
now, but good, the volume worked by the book - that's how it 
goes. Over it need to work more than one month. Perhaps, the 
contract with someone from the distributors. Again, we need 
feedback, looking for information on specific people: Do I need 
a laptop or not, whether it is useful them.


V: indisputable, it will be interesting because boards
  shape change, and the algorithms remain.


C: If someone is willing to buy this book, write me, tell me 
what is needed ... 

V: Much, if not all will depend on the price ...


C: I can not say right now, even about its price,
but I will say that the volume of the book will be around 200 
pages, such as books on the chart at INFORKOMA. The book will 
be given Listings, their detailed description etc. Just tell 
me: "Yes or No", all will be depend precisely on this. My 
address is: 

      641800, Kurgan region., R. Shadrinsk,

         st. Liebknecht, Building 27, Apt. 1.

             Kolotova Sergei

     You can also write to the address of the publisher.

V: What toys do you like?


S: It is, of course, LORD OF CHAOS. This is the my
playable toys. She sits on my desktop drive, and I run it 
periodically. And sometimes I its run "lifeless", sometimes 
normal. Normal I like so much more. Then, I liked the toy LASER 
SQUAD, I just fanatel from ne8e often played, but after the 
LORD OF CHAOS me to play it no longer wants. Also on my hard 
disk seated chess IS-CHESS 48 - they are very much play, and 
they are very hard to win even on the second level. Out of the 
48's toys I like best MYTH. On a PC, I dropped out of 
CIVILIZATION, looking for her on the Spectrum, even saw that 
someone makes it. But ... On the Spectrum is a good toy Prince 
of Persia. It was done well, but there are glitches. What about 
toys Fame Mednonogova ... I enjoyed playing Fool. Pinocchio 
looked - made fun, but this game not for me. TANKODROM - is to 
play together, we with his friends often played it, all very 
much. In UFO-I I've played, but it is not much liked me. For

I UFO'shki not fit the concept of good toys. That's my opinion. 
I've played in UFO-1 and UFO-2, but did not get the pleasure 
you get from other toys. At UFO-2, I spent the time factor in

three less than the first part, and she did not like it. But 
BLACK RAVEN - is the most ruleznaya toy for the Spectrum, is 
indisputable. The fact is I had experience playing WARCRAFT, 
the best of my years institute, the first three course, held 
under the auspices of the WARCRAFT games with the teachers and 
students. After that play Black Crow was eerily interesting, 
and the passage I have spent somewhere in a week. Might and 
faster, but I digress. Generally, in this toy I was playing, 
play and I'll probably play. Cheat'ov I do not recognize, 
especially in such games. I do not know them and know I do not. 
In general, Slava fellow in the sense that if he sat for the 
project, it will sit for him until until not finish it, unlike 
the group, producing endless pre-release demo, and how it is 
being heralded! The demo version of the new version! Wow! But 
time flies, and nothing appears. Now there is a lull on the 
Spectrum, but I think it's the calm before the storm, before

FUNTOP'om.

V: I hope that this will be the case. In general, these "no
  completed projects "are driving another nail into the

  Spectrum coffin as it's not sad.


C: Yes. Now on the Spectrum are some fans
then there are people for whom this is a hobby. They probably 
have another machine at home, but they want to work 
specifically on the Spectrum, because it feels the What can you 
do something himself, and to do cool.


V: To argue this is useless. Finally, several

  words for the readers "VOYAGER".


C: In conclusion, I want to say hello to all my friends, all 
those who communicate with me, be rewritten. I want to say 
thank you DR.DASH 'y for their hospitality. Individual 
greetings LASER SOFT of Obolensk, COMPUTER RATS GROUP of 
Barrow. Not also forget about ARTCOMP'e that follows FUNTOP'om. 
And for all - read on ... 



P.S. Now, after FunTop'a, I want to congratulate
Sergei with 2 seats in the 4K INTRO COMPO and wish
success in future endeavors.

                                    DIO-GEN