Adventurer #05 30 ноября 1996

Интервью

Interview - An Interview with Nicodim'om (R. Romanov), the author of the game Prince of Persia.

     We decided to continue the fine tradition begun in 
previous issues, and today we offer you an interview with the 
creator of the sensational this spring game "Prince of Persia" 
- Romanov Roman (Nicodim).


     On behalf of ADVENTURER'a interview took
Fedorov "Chasm" and Vladimir Colin "Never"
Alex from Infosoft Group, as well as Elfimov "Elf" Constantine 
of Auryn Group. 

ADVENTURER: We think it will be interesting
know when and where your passion Speccy?

NICODIM: My first appeared at the Spectrum
me in 1992 and it was Leningrad.
Then I was still in the first year of his high school and while 
on the computer, only played. Then I gathered myself "Pentagon 
48" (Incidentally, the "Leningrad" payal too himself), though 
he lived in my short time - I had suddenly burned. Similarly, 
even remember the date, when it happened - the first in January 
1993 year. After that I make myself nachal

Pentagon 128.
A: And when you do the first time I saw
Speccy?
N: When I was in eleventh grade,
Speccy only began to appear in Yaroslavl. Gizmo was fashionable 
then. Bought I remember myself dude in our class. I looked at 
toys to play - himself also wanted this. A: You learn on the 
programmer. What you to This has pushed?

N: At first I wanted to do on electronics, but then, toward the 
end of school, when more closely acquainted with computers, 

I wanted a little more about them. Here
and decided to enter the programming.
A: Toys - toys. And when you
the desire to write something yourself?
N: Yea long time. I have always, in principle, would
do something. Until Spectrum'a I worked on UKNC even if there 
was such desire. And for Speccy, after which

tired of playing, then decided something
himself ...
A: And when was it?
N: Basically, how to solder 128'oy and
program began to write.
A: If it is no secret, what was it? What
were your first steps?
N: I've been a bit mistaken. The first steps I
made another 48'om. Wrote different routines work with sprites 
in assembler. Type LASER BASIC. And if you honestly say - this 
was crap ... A: At the time, was the fashion at the feeders to

Games. Have you done anything like that?
N: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Loaders did. Did

like, toys to three. It seems to the "Silent
Service "," Phantis "and" Tarzan ".
A: Does anywhere Toys
with your intranet?
N: If sold, so just in Yaroslavl. We would like their friends 
in Moscow shove, but was told that this good for them and 
themselves in bulk. A: What was your first job, which

interested in others?
N: The first serious work for myself, I
I think Disk Doctor. True, others
he was not interested because the program I did for myself. 
Just those similar programs that were at my disposal does not 
suit me. Of course, in my the doctor had a lot of glitches, but 
for me it amiss. And the fact that interested

others - perhaps it was the "Pirates".
A: Before we end up with a lot of rumors that you,
allegedly, write, or write sobiraeshsya "Pirates 2". Is this 
true, and if you're going, when to wait for the release of this 
game? N: After I made "Pirates," in


Basically, came to me takya thought. Maybe I'm someone 
something like that and say, but seriously I have this project 
not engaged, and now not going to start. A: You have made a 
name for itself by releasing "Prince". Why is it byla this is 
the game, but neither is any different? N: "Prince" was the 
first serious game I saw on the computer, particularly on the 
PC. And for old time's sake I wanted to move it to the 
Spectrum. A: You did it once, or somebody who helped you in 
this work? N: For this game I D.J. MUSICSOFT wrote the music. 
And everything else I did myself and graphics make rubbings 
very interesting way - straight from the monitor screen "Pause" 
mode. A: In recent years, programmers have already filled disc 
loader, and a new fashion for different demos and megademy. 
Your attitude towards demam? Like whether you ever make your 
megademu? 

N: K megademam my attitude is, in principle, the normal, but I 
have never wanted to to do this because very steep

effects I have not, in general,
I think that this is all pointless, at least for me. Special 
talent in me to this no. And so, if anyone

engaged in this, please - is
interesting to see. Although vsrechaetsya quite a lot of 
bullshit. A: When the SPECTROFON'a like mushrooms after a rain 
crept different electronic publications. How do you treat

this phenomenon? What magazines you can
isolated from the total mass?
N: To date, I like only three of the magazine. This, of course, 
the most first magazine - SPECTROFON, then ZX-FORMAT and 
ADVENTURER. Other major magazines, I have not seen. A: What 
Kharkov FAULTLESS? N: I've seen a number of this journal. 
Special impression on me, he did not make. To me there's not 
much to be read. Nick FIR interesting articles.

A: What are your future plans? We
heard that you now started making a new game. Tell me more 
about it. N: While playing in the stage of conception. I want 
to make a game in the genre QUEST.Eto be "Legend of Kyrandia ". 
I want to surpass it with the Amiga on the Spectrum. I liked it 
- that's decided to do. Now throws schedule

and ponder the basic concept of the game - as
everything will be programmed.
A: That is now possible to say with certainty that the project 
will not be postponed in the "back burner", and the game will 
be released? That it's just a matter of time?

N: Yeah, you're right. I'm already seriously engaged in
this case.
A: Emblem of whether you are with what some people
from other cities, which also makes
serious stuff at Speccy.
N: Links I just within the city, well
and, of course, with you - rybintsami. No
simply expressed his desire this.
A: We know that you have in the city has its own

Computer hangouts. You never
there is an idea - to realize the interesting ideas of others?
N: Actually, I do not know those Yaroslavl
people who have a lot of interesting
ideas about Spectrum'a, so
exchange of ideas with these people is difficult.
In principle, the ideas I had and have very short supply. So no 
problems with it. A: If it is no secret, what tools do you use 
for translating their ideas into reality?

N: About the assembler: I have always worked
and will work in TASM. Of graphic
it's ART STUDIO, SPRITE EDITOR v1.0 - like Moscow. In fact, it 
is not very steep, but I'd rather not see. Returning to 
assemblers: lots of them I've tried, it XAS, MASM, PASM. When I 
was doing "Prince", I was trying to overtake the program in

any of these assemblers and I have nothing
this does not go. Some assembly
swore that he had no memory enough
the other just hangs when assemblirova
Research Institute. So I think that TASM for today the most 
decent product. A: What prompted you to write "Prince"?

I wanted to achieve fame, may be
money or you were just on the whim-
write a toy that people were happy?
N: I would say that the glory I never really
did not care. I like the program, and if by that you can get 
more and money - then why not. That is

money - this is not the last factor, which prompted me to write 
a game. A: Do you except Speccy, there is still Amiga.

What do you think about the different computer
platforms in general, and what would you advise, as already 
known quite a programmer to use in future Novice Speccy? N: At 
the expense of what I like here two views can not be - it 
certainly Amiga. And I can not advise - someone like that, he 
himself then buy. I think that the PC - it's crap. I chose 

Amiga, because, having worked on it a bit, just felt a big 
difference in Compared to a PC. No need to reboot,

when the program requires a different configuration. No messing 
around with cards, peripherals - Amiga is a once in almost 
everything you need for normal operation. Take the same

Sound - Sound Blaster on solid pilikanie and howling. The 
graphics on the Amiga looks much nicer. PC - this is such a 
machine on which you can run one, Well, a maximum of two 
programs. To start the third - to alter completely the whole 
machine and change the whole system. PC - machine for the 
office when working primarily with databases. Now many people 
are buying IBM, as it were automatically. Ask a man - why buy 
it? Steep that the machine? And he says -

everyone has a PC, and I took myself. That such
situation.
A: You say that you like to work on Amiga. And he to her you 
something done?


N: On the Amiga, I do no program
I write. I use it as a tool. Of course, I mostly play on it, 
well and make a schedule for at least the same

"Kyrand'ii. I have friends who
written on the Amiga music. In principle, using it as a home 
computer. A: We have heard that you have at the University of

have the opportunity to access the Internet. You
had the experience of work in this network? If yes,
it is interesting to learn about your contacts with
Computer enthusiasts in other countries.
N: Of course, there is a desire to connect with kemnibud, but 
I'm still a beginner in this business. So far, only go for a 
known server. So, I recently went to a server company

"Team 17". There I found a lot of information
which can be read: tips for toys, how to insert different 
cheat'y is interview people from the firm. Interesting thing, 
though out of the house to talk - a little expensive. And for 
all the freebies would advise to play. A: Among the programmers 
at Spectrum'e metilas this trend - almost

all write conversion from different machines: c PC,
Amiga, and even with the Dendy. Appear, of course
good work: "UFOs," your "Prince".
The plans of some people's "Dune 2", "Warcraft", "Mortal 
Kombat". Do not want to you do something his own, and if

you encountered such a desire, then what prevented the 
realization of this project? N: Yes, it's pretty sore point.

Loggerheads with the game on other platforms - the
the easy way, and to fully own
make a game that few know how to program
and draw well. There need someone who can write a script. Steep
game designer who knows how to do anything should own. Now, 
basically, everywhere some programmers who know how to write

program - and all.
A: If you had the opportunity to write their full play, which
genre would you prefer and why?
N: To date, I would prefer
made the game in the genre of QUEST, though not averse to

and STRATEGY, but I think this game
the genre is much more difficult to program.
If you do ACTION, then needed a cool artist. But in Spectrum'e 
nothing outstanding in this genre can not be done because the 
graphics from the computer rather shameful. A: And what about 
"R-Type", "Navy Seals", "Robocop"? They're pretty well done. N: 
I do not know. For now, there are many Games of this genre, but 
they are no longer in great demand. At one time the name of 
your games have been hits, but today their pereplyunet any 
console. A: Once you've done "Prince",

you had to distribute it. And you probably came to experience 
this kind of affairs. Tell what distribution methods are most 
effective. N: I do not understand the question! What methods? Y

We have one method of distribution - copy from a friend. Or, in 
extreme cases, to buy 

on the market. But I think that if you want
You can normally distribute their products.
A: In your "Prince", was given the proposal to extend it by 
mail directly from the author. Interestingly, this way to bring 
results? N: By mail? Was the lack of active buyers.

A: That is, basically, you're spreading
their programs through Moscow?
N: I sold a copy to Moscow and St. Petersburg
Local distributors for a single
remuneration. They got the right to distribute the program in 
the city and region. But they are unlikely to restrict it. 
Especially our Moscow colleagues, such as Magic Soft'a or 
Softstar'a. That is, they are happy someone from the floor to 
sell to the author does not know it.

A: As you otnosishsya to the creation of the world famous 
Spectrum of people and organizations, such as Mednonogova or 
Code Busters? N: More than anything, of course, makes me happy


St. Petersburg creativity of people or groups because of 
Moscow's virtually no programs and no leaves. Gathered there, 
apparently some hackers and huckster. That is, they trying to 
squeeze out a freebie from all parts of the program and shake 
their grandmother with it. Of Ukrainians want to thank Rst 7,

TASM and Stalker'a for STS. All other
piled with Spectrum definitively who
where.
A: If you do not mind a few questions regarding his personal 
life. N: Why not.

A: In your game, "Pirates", all the ships,
as we noticed, were named beers. I guess the beer plays an 
important role in your life? N: That's true. Of all the 
alcoholic beverages only, which I admit - is beer. And in the 
"Pirates" and the truth, the ships were named varieties, which 
at that time were my most favorite.

A: By the way, we learned that
except computers, you zanimaeshsya yet another
Noah interesting feature - you, with your friend Athanasius 
release the MC RADIO. This pretty cool thing, and we would all

Speccy fans advised to contact
with Nicodim'om and record a couple of issues.
Pinned you cool! After listening to a couple
cassettes, we just became interested in knowing
some reason you do this.
N: Well, first, the idea came not to me but
Athanasius. He's a big music fan, likes different music, but 
I'm doing, basically, hardware part of the project. Of course, 
we use the equipment in a nonprofessional their records. And 
led to the creation of this project is that to date on all 
radio stations that we can hear in the UHF band, pretty 
shameful music. For example, the same "Europe +" Us very 
annoying because there are very many goods pop. On the other 
hand, what we do, we just are funny.

A: Yes, we had the pleasure to listen to
several issues. Particularly liked

(I - Chasm'u) to "Beer revue.
N: my favorite topic.
A: What is your favorite genre among the games?
N: This is the most difficult question for me. Because I like 
almost any game, if only they were famously made.

That is, I love STRATEGY, and QUEST, and
ARCADE. For example, many do not like arcade games. They say 
it's childish game, or are they stupid. But I do not soglaesen, 
I do really like some of the arcade. Get the same "Prince". So 
that it is difficult to single out favorite genre, I in 
general, an avid player. A: It was a pleasure to talk with you, 
we all had a good time. N: Thank you, too. Till we meet for a 
glass of beer! 


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