Adventurer #03 30 апреля 1996

Группы

Interview - Znakostvo with Rybinsk group Infosoft Group.

     (C) Music Batsan Roman


                 T ews



     Continuing the theme begun in the previous issue, we 
present INFOSOFT GROUP. A few days ago, the editors visited 
them a visit. With part of the group were:


SHRSOFT - spinel Roman
NEVER - Alexei Colin
PROTECVISION - Krasavin

               Alexander (Sr.) and

               Alex (Jr.)
CHASM (ex-HACKER FEDYA) - Fedorov, Vladimir
SURGEON (ex-KLSOFT) - Leonid Kiryanov
JOHN IVANOV - Eugene Ivanov

From the editorial board were present and asked questions:
Gladyshev Andrey Elfimov Constantine
Breeders' Constantine.

     I must say that the planned interview did not happen. 
Rather, it was conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.

Team members willingly shared their memories, but we could only 
listen to ... 

     So ...
ADV: How, and most importantly, with whom it all began?
CHASM: That was in early 1991, when I
met Pikunov Vladimir (PVL)
through the Arsenal club "(it was the first
Computer tusovka - game + program distribution).
SHRSOFT: Do Pikunov a friend - Sanya
Kalinin - the owner of this establishment. He
there all with their own hands have built computers ponavez 
(the first "Leningrad") programs are about 700. He was the first

brought in Rybinsk program. We are there and
sat and played ... And here again Pikunov brought the game and 
said: "In Rybinsk altered. I looked up - a game I is, the boot 
loader was written "BILL GILBERT ". But here, instead of" BILL 
GILBERT " written "HACKER FEDYA".

(Animation ...)
I did not know him and wrote a poangliyski something offensive. 
A Pikunov carried it to anyone who it noted. And he -

terribly offended and came to me to understand. So they were 
introduced ... FEDYA just did not tell me that his name is 
Vladimir. I have him come home, I call. Opens

his mother. Me: "Call Fyodor ..." - "??!"
That's a joke we have.
ADV: That is, first you had three ...
CHASM: Yes, I, SHRSOFT and PVL. Then Vova
head struck a smart idea - selling
program.
PROTECVISION: They woke up a commercial vein, and they do 
business. Started go to the flea market and selling there. Worn 
tapes of eight - ten. CHASM: And as I have these tapes recorded 
... One tape copied within two hours. Sold two or three tapes 
per week. We felt it was very set on-the-go. SHRSOFT: Clean the 
tape was in rubles twenty ...

CHASM: We have sold a hundred ... While
I knew Krasavina Alexei quite
long time, and his brother had just returned
from the army.
PROTECVISION (Senior): By the time I
made the "Leningrad". Somewhere, over the month
a half of operation, loading programs
tape recorder seemed to me very tiring. And I did 
"PENTAGON-48." Us came together in the idea that

a good idea to copy the "PENTAGONe" these
Games for sale.
PROTECVISION (Junior): Was this program "PCOPIER".
PROTECVISION (Senior): Since then, we began our work in the 
field of distribution of computer games. ADV: Then and INFOSOFT 
come from? INFOSOFT (chorus): Oh-oh-oh, no. Much later.

PROTECVISION (Senior): traded on the sly. Cassettes our then 
titling so: "Copied by Hacker Fedya and Protecvision ".

SHRSOFT: A week after we met, FEDYA introduced me to his 
brothers Krasavin. Then in computers

drives just was not there. All the polls were "Leningrad." At 
that Pikunov time came the information that

Moscow appeared cool chip. Called AY. Was worth it, about how 
to drive. Pikunov bought the chip, and I - drive. Muzykalki 
then were already practically everything on the disk. He walked 
towards me - I reworked it to tape. Then he went to

him, listened and dragged.
CHASM: By that time (1992) we met with KLSOFTom. In addition to 
programs, we began to haul in the city and the literature on

SPECTRUMu. Ie carted information and programs: INFO and SOFT. 
And turned INFOSOFT.

PROTECVISION (Sr.): After we
worked together (FEDYA, PROTECVISION,
PVL) about six months, the status quo in trading tapes us
ceased to hold (SHRSOFT and KLSOFT in
Trade cassettes did not participate). We
was a tough division of labor: we
brother wrote cassettes, and did FEDYA
collections. Traded together. Pikunov
classes were not found. We gave him
find some alternative.
CHASM: Then he began selling disks
alone.
PROTECVISION (Senior): We, the pirates, then
start time worrying problem of piracy.
We bought tapes, copied them, and
Then came the claims, saying, "Your
Cassette is not loaded. "And SHRSOFT started
invent all sorts of protective copiers.
The program is loaded without problems, but no
one of the copyists did not take them.
CHASM: SHRSOFT remade from a Copy
PCOPIER pilotton in such a scrape, iridescent. In the end, 
things have gone. PROTECVISION (Senior): We were days

when the tape does not turn off days
threes. We felt all recorded
where some 6.7 thousand cassettes. That is, in fact, everyone 
who was at that time a computer, surely, had not one of our 
cassette. CHASM: Then everyone began to appear

computers with DVD drives, and we decided to engage in trade 
disks. SHRSOFT: From time to time appeared some kind of crazy 
idea and immediately realizovyvavalas. The very first, in my 
opinion, was a "DLC" (DISK LOADER CREATOR). Since the games on 
tape was great, but at CDs - little, we made the program, she 
spanked kotoraya disc code downloaders. PROTECVISION (Senior): 
When I FEDYA Peter went to the market in Avtovo notorious 
Vasilyev Anton offered to buy his drive with the author's 
development for 1.5 (!) rubles. (Blank floppy

then the cost of 100-200 rubles). When he
described what is selling, we are interested in this, but for 
the money, of course, do not buy steel. But some

his ideas are implemented themselves. For example, when I told 
SHRSOFTu about the program for search for eternal life in the 
MAGIC-files (SEACHER), and the very next day,

He brought the finished program. Incidentally, this
same program we have found in the third issue
magazine "ZX-Revue" in 1995, where are full, to say the 
villain, stealing program, gave her his. In this case it has 
not changed even numbered lines in BASICe. There everything as 
it was in SHRSOFTa, but the name Roma was not there.

SHRSOFT: Just a single line that was changed - this is where he 
stood My Copyright. They even assembler

the text is given in the form of MONS-sovsovskogo
disassembler. This "author" did not bother
even cause the text to look as if he
written.
PROTECVISION (Sr.): In general, at the time, basically, we were 
engaged in a purely informational support - carted programs, 
literature ... SHRSOFT: We went to Moscow and St. Petersburg 
times, probably forty ...

PROTECVISION (Senior): For one summer I
went to Moscow six times.
ADV: You probably were the only
who drove the literature on SPECTRUmu in Rybinsk. And it did 
not - so she was gone, how to cut. SHRSOFT: It began with the 
printouts from translations from BAJTEKa etc. It was necessary 
to spend a stipend to buy

correct description. Since then, and began to haul ... There 
was a funny incident: 

     Once we went in the literature:
I, PROTECVISION and FEDYA. In St. Petersburg on the market, 
they loaded up on my literature, a kilogram of 50, but faded 
into the firm themselves "Peter" - this was not enough. I was 
waiting for them on the market. I waited and waited ... The 
market is already closed. And I'm the one pulling these pounds 
up to the station. It was just after the surgery, I was 
appendicitis excised. Cursed and SPECTRUM this and all

the rest. I then almost gave up ...
PROTECVISION (Senior): There was another funny incident. Let's 
go to Peter: My brother and FEDYA. Purchased, but not enough.

I was left at the station, drove themselves to the
the same, "Peter" ...
Time: 15 minutes before train departure -
they are not. Standing in front of the train, all on edge. 10 
minutes prior to departure - there are none. For A few minutes 
before train departure pop-up "foaming" of the subway, dragging

for a cart, loaded to the eyeballs
these books and run to the car.
SHRSOFT: While in St. Petersburg and Moscow
we all know. All known sinkleristy
were our friends: Nikitin, Pencraft,
LOGROS, Isaev, ShiSoft etc. We have such a
apparent inclination - to take a freebie
new programs. A special case was when
We fused the source MICROPROTECTORa
SPECTROFONovtsam. And since then we have received
their magazine free of charge.
ADV: It's because of MICROPROTECTORa?
SHRSOFT: In principle, not only. It was
so. Interestingly it turned out that between St. Petersburg and 
Moscow did not have any contacts. Sometimes, thence sinkleristy 
for months iimeli information updates. We came

for one, took the new program, carried their
others. So went back and forth. As a result, both in Moscow and 
St. Petersburg were all our good friends and we had a new 
program for free. ADV: We seem to be a bit distracted ...

So how exactly was formed INFOSOFT?
PROTECVISION (Senior): This was the year in
1993. In the end we have assembled a permanent team, and it was 
somehow called.

ADV: What was the first structure?
SURGEON: While our numbers were:
SHRSOFT, HACKER FEDYA, brothers PROTECVISION, I was still 
adjacent to the us PVL, with whom we have broken all ties

After some disagreements in matters of
selling floppy disks, although after a long time he used the 
trademark INFOSOFT (tm) by selling a floppy disk in TTC

"Gnome". We're at a time floppy disks were sold only in shop 
"Chance" and staggered Club Olympus.

PROTECVISION (Senior): We've come a long
way from the flea market, then there was a shop on
Cathedral. When there is a store is closed, we
started trading in the "Chance" and parallel
in "Olympia". In the "Gnome," we traded only
cassettes. In this store we have established good relations 
with Sergei Leshchenko. 

SHRSOFT: I would say that's what.
Was such a firm VILS. She worked
hardware. They made the "Leningrad", "Pentagon" ...
ADV: Why did "? As far as we
known, their work continues
to this day. Only the composition has changed.
PROTECVISION (Senior): I at one time worked for them fitter. 
Then in the "VILS" worked two. Actually, as deciphered "VILS? - 
Igor Volkov and Sergei Leshchenko. I met with Igor on flea 
market where he sold his computer and, thus, came to this 
company. So we are with them docked, even one

time they have implemented through their tapes. Then they began 
to carry programs from Peter. CHASM: By the end of our work 
cassette versions of new games have been very little, and I had 
to deal with alteration of the disk version on tape. Hit of the 
season the end of 1994 was, of course, "TERMINATOR II", 
reworked by me for Work on ribbon "Leningrad-48".

NEVER: And maybe that's enough self-congratulation?
Cassettes - this is the past ... Even then,
began to appear disc program.
SHRSOFT: When we started selling programs on the discs had such 
zamorochki. Just bring a new drive to market (And even then 
drives were very expensive in Moscow. We sell much more 
cheaply.) sell ... The next day she

walking around the city. And next week
it is already all sellers.
CHASM: And we said: "Roma, why
do not you come up with biting defense? "
SHRSOFT: Then there was the coolest Protection
* L * F * A * protector. This program was
a couple of thoughts that had no
implemented. Once I dug potatoes
in the country, and I came up with an idea.
At the same time I found in "Microprocessor systems" article 
about the system VG93 teams. Began tinkering with programming 
SH-shki (TR-DOS is already fed up) and collided with a bunch of 
problems. Information There was no, everything was done by

"Spear". Even called the guys in the Peter and
Dnepropetrovsk Sendetsky, consulted with the MOA (which made 
the monitor to SCORPIONu). Turned out not to consider the 
track. They too knew nothing. Tormented, tormented, but still 
achieved something. All this was the result of many experiments.

A 18-volume SPECTROFONe read, it turns out I was very cleverly 
done everything, to full of theory, using some disc images. I 
do not know what it is ... B * L * F * A * protectore security 
keys stored in the nonstandard sector. But appeared to 
SPECTRUMe copiers, which can copy discs with non-standard

sectors. Aktualano was to keep the keys
protection is not in the special sector and the
vnesektornom space. By trial and
errors could implement this idea. The interface of this program 
was completely "broke" from ART STUDIO. MICROPROTECTORa 
versions were released, probably 30 pieces. The first common 
version was 1.04. We drove it to Peter, there namenyali on

many new programs. A month later, come again - we claim - 
"nothing does not work! "The problem is this: protected

disk - and it works. The disc sold, and
then the buyer has resorted indignant -
"DOES NOT WORK!#$%'!" Vendors test drive - all right ... (on 
their computer). It turned out, the thing do not match speeds 
of disk drives. On-the idea must be 300 rpm, and in fact, is 
smaller and the keys do not fall into zone read. Tinkering, 
tinkering - to work. Drove back to St. Petersburg. So five 
times. For each new version received a large number of new 
programs. Once we saw the new (then)

Journal SPECTROFON, secure MICROPROTECTORom. Just be ready a 
new version of the defense, and we took her to Moscow and 
proposed to the Editor. Since then and to this day SPECTROFON 
protected MICROPROTECTORom. Not everything went smoothly. About

This has already been written in the "ZX-REVIEW", and in the
SPECTROFONe. Protection works on some
computers, but on the other - no. Turned
case in the version TR-DOS. Since I was
too lazy to redo the protection of a TR-DOS v5.01,
I gave the source MICROPROTECTORa Editor. All versions after 
2.3 have already been creative works ShiSoft'a. PROTECVISION 
(Senior): So we started sell discs protected. Then suddenly

drew a helluva lot of literate comrade
who managed to break MICROPROTECTOR
and made automatic "opener."
SHRSOFT: Once we got on with FEDYEy
eye magazine "DUNE" with the announcement of such
read: "If you want to remove MICROPROTECTOR with their drives, 
are calling for such a phone." Rings ... Asked the address, it 
turned out, living side by side. Come. So we met with John 
Ivanov. This was in early 1994, when John was in

SURDAKAR GROUP. And he joined us.
ADV: Question Eugene: How did you managed to
break MICROPROTECTOR?
JOHN: I also bought their CDs. Protecting ... Friends will buy, 
I want them Games to cancel, I'll buy - they need to. Well get 
by once and sat down ... Somehow wrote ANTIMICROPROTECTOR. And 
he wrote in that same DUNE ad. The next day - a call.

Call FEDYA and SHRSOFT - famous people.
Agreed to meet. Come. I opened the door: Is it worth FEDYA, in 
a cloak, as Highlander, behind Roma somewhere near the battery 
hanging out ... And FEDYA begins to "run down": say, we buy the 
game in Moscow, the money They spend more, but you are bad,

they all left and right are distributing. And
met. How to tell if I was to SURDAKAR GROUP. But we were 
uncomfortable - I live in one of the city, they in another. And 
here, so to speak, closer to home.

SURGEON: I remember, came to SHRSOFTu. Roma
at me with bulging eyes: "here boy
is - wrote ANTI-MICROPROTECTOR ". I
his eyes bulged, too: "Yeah-ah, you must meet."
ADV: Will continue to work on
this protection?
SHRSOFT: For us it is no longer relevant,
as we are "tied" to trade.
SURGEON: Just when we need - we will do almost anything, and 
when not - no one will not tighten.

PROTECVISION (Senior): Lenya, where do we
you and I began to write PIPE DREAM? ...
ADV: What in your group appeared NEVER?
CHASM: When we sold the tapes at the flea market, Lech came and 
bought. I knew its a long time and I was terribly uncomfortable.

Then, while Shura (PROTECVISION (Senior))
collected his SCORPION, Lech somehow imperceptibly joined our 
ranks. Wrote the music in SOUND TRACKER'e ... His music was 
inserted into LOADERy.

NEVER: Then the ASM was a hit of the year.
CHASM: C ASM'mom was the whole story. We
bought it from Sendetsky for $ 5.
He even asked us for new demos. Here we
he decided to send a CD and money. This
was insanity ...
SHRSOFT: They came to the post office - send a packet, and we 
are there: "On your diskette nobody knows what is written, 
maybe there is sensitive information - you can not send. We 
have to do analysis. "We went on with FEDYEy customs, making 
this the most "analysis". Us from there somewhere else sent ... 
In kontsekontsov got to the head post office. Screw his brains 
... will send a floppy disk. We have first appeared in Russia 
ASM v1.11. ADV: since I started talking about music, your

attitude toward MUSICDEMO?
SHRSOFT: This is simply a translation of the time. In
general, no one should be - looked
once and all. Even the most drastic -
"SATISFACTION", "INSULT" - new in them
nothing. The same multicolor long time ago
used in toys, and three-dimensional
schedule so no one really and will not do. Even in the best 
demo of Slovenia ("ECHOLOGY") - a three-dimensional graphics - 
is simply ridiculous (compare, even with games "FIGHTER BOMBER" 
or "STARSTRIKE II"). ADV: What other programs you are released,

except MICROPROTECTORa, DLC and PIPE DREAM?
PROTECVISION (Senior): Yes, almost anything. Basically, we did 
different disc version, restored the program and the like. We 
started programming when no longer a problem of replication, 
just to do something. SHRSOFT: One of the first overtime was

Lapping "CONVER COMMANDER" to ensure that
He worked at SCORPION'e.
NEVER: Another Romijn boot, which allows
make comments in the catalog for the games.
SHRSOFT: The idea of ​​writing a boot has arisen due to the 
fact that it was a good many games, which run from 48 
treatment, or were merely 128. Remember them it was impossible, 
and that's made such a aaplet.

NEVER: True, after a while we
saw this program, the author of it was
Information ... MAGIC SOFT ... Even the "glitches" have 
remained unchanged. ADV: Why is your group away from the market 
for? PROTECVISION (Jr.): The reason was

adoption of the law on copyright protection.
Then, in Cover, and video rental,
and recording studios, etc., and the heap
strained and those who traded in software, ie us.
However, after some time the same audio and video again opened,
but we break the link and we decided to
curtail our activities.

ADV: What is your opinion about new programs,
made in the former Soviet Union?
PROTECVISION: toys very well.
SHRSOFT: Made cool. Play nice.
Unpleasant one - its something for nothing. No
original ideas.
ADV: And what about the system? For example, there were some 
full-screen assemblers. SHRSOFT: I looked up some. Level

Programming disappointingly low. Compare, though, TASM 3.0 and 
ASM 80 for CP / M (Written in the 80's). The latter is far 
superior in features TASM. Who would try to write TASMe 
programa for nonlinear algorithms ... I did not mention the 
cross-references. PROTECVISION (Senior): All of these new

Assembler me "kills" in 64 characters
line. Then again, the impression,
that everyone who writes his assembler
considers it his duty to come up with its own format for the 
source file text. And it's a shame ...

SHRSOFT: This could come only from
us. Throughout the world, for all computers
source code for all languages
are stored in ASCII-format. If even the authors
want to use tokens - for God's sake
make a transcoder at startup.
Let it at boot time translates source text into tokens, and at 
discharge, and vice versa. That's it!

ADV: Your future plans?
PROTECVISION (Senior): firm decided to make a "MASTER OF 
ORION". This will be purely strategic game. Lech has algorithms

wrote.
PROTECVISION (Jr.): I am programming in general does not 
appeal. I hate the assembly instructions. Algorithms - please. 
PROTECVISION (Senior): We have such a company - almost all 
programming not like. All just come up with algorithms. All

menial tasks (codes) makes SURGEON.
ADV: And when to expect the emergence of new
game?
SURGEON: We are especially not in a hurry. Until
being developed algorithms. When we finish with this - we will 
draw graphics and etc.

ADV: Why did you leave the schedule at last?
SURGEON: The most important thing - it's algorithm.
Take the same PRINCE OF PERCIA from Yaroslavl. The author of 
the algorithm has not thought through, and result - good 
graphics and the Sea "Glitches".

ADV: Your attitude to computers that are on today?
SHRSOFT: IBM is $#!%. SPECTRUM, of course,
best, but out of date. However, when doing
nothing to write on it nicely. And the most
best car - AMIGA.
SURGEON: I have nothing but SPECTRUMa not
accept. At AMIGA or IBM can play
not bad, but to do something ... sorry.
PROTECVISION (Senior): SPECTRUM - a machine for the soul. Money 
on it is not large earn, but it is possible to do something

his own. On the IBM, AMIGA almost everything.
Something to do there own - is very problematic. And easier to 
find what is necessary, instead of In order to write yourself.

NEVER: SCORPION is the best!
ADV: The traditional question: your
attitude toward ADVENTURERu?
NEVER: Graphics you little weak ... And
interface - a copy of SPECTROFON. In the ZX-FORMAT
interface I like better.
PROTECVISION (Sr.): The thing you need is good. And anyway, 
everything is fine. Like like to see more people in it were 
involved. PROTECVISION (Jr.): For claims in

schedule I do not join. The magazine is
magazine. In it the main thing - information. Graphics - only 
need to attract attention. The same applies to music. 
PROTECVISION (Senior): As far as interface, ZX-FORMAT, he 
certainly looks very professional ... PROTECVISION (Jr.): ... 
You do the same - a simple but at the same time, and more 
practical. Such an interface standard. Anyone who has read 
SPECTROFON, will not be thinking about managing, reading 
ADVENTURER. Try, having worked in a BASICe 48-m mode, and then 
work in BASIC128. Feel the difference ...

SHRSOFT: These are all the arrows and the like - it is 
beautiful, but it is secondary. Important information.



     This concludes our "interview" with
INFOSOFT GROUP. We hope that sinkleristy Rybinsk and other 
cities yet to hear of the glorious deeds of this group. 


                  *