Community - ZX Spectrum: As it was in Ryazan (1993-1995).

1993-1995
 Let's go to assembler!
Alone Coder

   From the end1992 to mid-1994
we lived poorly because theRZMKP was delayed─
we lived on our salaries. We had a car "Zaporo─
zhets" and a dacha with potatoes, this was how they were saved. 
   One day my father suggested that I write
his book on programming, and he would
organized its publication. It was pretty
a bold proposal, because nothing says─
I'm no better than a BASIC animation editor
wrote.
   A significant breakthrough was a stack of dis─
kov, which my father brought from work from his─
Max's friend. As far as I remember, I was not
I’m sure that he won’t take them, he didn’t relate to
them as one of our own and did not study them right away. And soon─
I couldn’t feast either, because there was no room─
yes.

Bystrov M.V.: 
 Now about Max. His real full name.
Abramov Maxim Fedorovich.He worked for us 
at the factory with the customer's representative (i.e.
was a military man, that's what we called them. He was in that
the time when he gave these discs to me, my elders
lieutenant). He was approximately the same age as me.
Maybe 2-5 years younger than me. Externally
was a very nice guy. Then came─
those were/were very difficult years for everyone
our country, and for our plant. Where is it
it turned out during these years - I don’t know. I only know
the fact that now he has completely lost his soul─
human appearance from excessive consumption
alcohol.

   I took a pink general notebook and began
write text. Carefully rewrote the pred─
words from the book by Larchenko and Rodionov. Pa─
simultaneously recorded the byte-by-byte breakdown in
service track TR-DOS (which in the existing
I didn’t have any literature). This is the fuse
ended.
   I took another notebook, this time blue, and
started writing down the best procedures there
of your essay. The first of these was the shift
screen to the left, which finally worked.
There were also shifts in all other directions─
us.
   I decided to write either a new Supercode,
eithergraphic editor. Addresses size─
Developing procedures for a graphical editor
ended up in a pink notebook, and the list about─
The procedure for the new Supercode was walking around on paper─
Kam. The original Supercode that got me
inspired when we bought the book"System─
new programs for ZX Spectrum", with real─
new acquaintance was very disappointing. And the books─
she was awesome :)


   After some time, my father gave me
personal floppy disk. Save a partial copy of it─
appeared on digitized TRD files in the form of erased notes─
that directory on the159th track. This is an opportunity─
it was easy to pull out several pictures (like
the one above), but not from earlier programs
nothing left but notes on notebooks
and leaves. However, the paper archive from
this period remains almost exhaustive,
and after digging for a year, I was able to date
each piece of paper, using the dates of their re─
lizov and linking to lessons in notebooks and
diary.

   At this time, my father, with my help, Russifi─
copied the Masterfile database and entered it there
catalog of magazine articles"Modelist-constructor─
tor". This process gave me the idea of upa─
forging the font, where some of the Russian letters are made─
comes from Englishwith or without modifiers,
and different sizes are obtained by cutting and
overlaying columns of letters. The papers reflect─
There have been several attempts to create such a system─
print topic, but I have a full-fledged library
never did.
   My father also suggested that I write a prog─
disk cataloging system. First I'll─
I created a version of the program from Ochkov’s book and
Pukhnacheva "128 tips for a beginner 
programmer", then wrote several
of its procedures. But I didn’t finish it to the end -
it wasn't really necessary. I started that─
You can only keep a list of games on your disks:
the first version on paper, the second in the form
screen file (I didn't have a text file
editor), and then many, many versions on
different sheets of paper. They are also easy to date─
wat:
 -at the end1994(gmslist.scr with erased─
th end of the disk COMPDISK.TRD) was available as 
minimum53games (51 on the list + Quackers + 
Saga, not counting what was not included from the “Ma─” discs 
ksa") 
 -for spring(?) 1995(Knight Lore sheet)
there were120games (there1 Elite, 2 Breakers, 
there is Olli&Lissa, 3D Grand and Test Drive 2, 
we do not count crossed out Savage and SQUARCOL) 
 -spring(?) 1995 (shortest list
games) - there were 131 games 
 -end1995(Rolla Round sheet) available
about156games (there are Olli&Lissa1, Ranarama, 
Draughts(lost part of the list?), Ski 
Star, Vampire's Empire, which later do not exist, 
2 Breakers) 
 -beginning 1996 (Zigzag sheet) available
about 216 games (206 visible because Toi 
Acid 1-4, missing letters Q, U, W, X and 
Fantastic Voyage) 
 -on 03.20.96there were225games ("list
games unsorted", there are 2 Elite, 1 
Breakers, and "largest list" = 219 
games (1 elite, 2 breakers), missing there 
Prison Riot, War Cars, Quondam, Mig-29, 
Timetrax and some other game) 
 -to the end1996more found18games (re─
there should be more) 

   In addition to the list of games, I also drew in the form
screen table of Z80 commands and even a fragment
some story by a little-known writer─
the faces of Valentina Solovyova...

   When in August1994 parents received
end they gave a salary, they bought a color one
TV. To this TV I am with whom─
they didn’t let the pewter in (“you’ll plant pipes─
ku!"), I was only able to spend a few
connections via the SCART connector, but it was
later.
   Back in 1994, my father bought a board
Pentagon 128 and started stuffing it and setting it up─ 
to live. At this time, Vya got a job atRZMKP
cheslav Mikheev, and he helped his father set up─ 
install a new board. It took two years,
during which 48K with the drive gradually─
but he was dying - there were more and more failures and pain─
she. It was possible to play without access to the disco─
water, but I could only write programs─
one procedure at a time. This, and also the limits─
reading in 1 hour a day, and there is an explanation
my then ineffective method
programming in small bits.  But
thanks to this, there was practically nothing left on the papers─
That's all.

KSA-7G:Presumably, in1994year, at the end
first yearCollege of Electronics,in May, 
I probably bought a computer from a classmate 
Dead Angel/Valerka Moiseev, friend/one─ 
student Oleg Kaplunov/Steve Gibson, 
friend Valerka Filyaev/Dave Gibson, although, 
now I guess so, that year ADG, 
Apparently, it was just taking shape. 
   I bought it for 50 rubles, I think, along with
a dozen (probably) cassettes, and simple/ 
a thin book, which, it seems, 
was called "48K", and there was almost nothing in it 
was, and what was contained typos and 
inaccuracies that made me suffer, sir─ 
trying to get through to the truth, and at first was 
horrified by the BASIC editor - after Partner─ 
ra misunderstanding him and trying all the instructions 
no description. Tried to reach everything 
“groping”, swearing and nervously unaccustomed─ 
ki. Two days later I tried it and loved it! 
I realized how cool BASIC is! 
As Valerka promised - “the best in mi─ 
re", except perhaps without the Russian language... 
   The computer was the "St. Petersburg Option":
KR1858VM1, matrix (reliable/non-erasable) 
ROM(Didactic scalicawith corrected NMI), 
sent to any port without decryption (crackling 
borders in games under AY), even Wait, then─ 
roidal built-in trans andstabilizer 
on the Krenka (barely pulling, sometimes failing), 
excellent film keyboard -58keys, with 
red BREAK and regular arrangement 
functions (by Symbol Shift- inscription below, 
forExtend Mode- inscriptions on the side). 
   It was Steve who showed me the radio market - oh
which I had only heard before: just 
Steve (like Dave) lived in the area and... 
of course, the radio market could often 
sorry... I might confuse you, but Steve is someone 
then (perhaps Slash) imagined how 
potentially a good programmer (inRKE
I was one of the best and really loved Speccy, 
imbued with demos, effects, creativity─ 
vom...). 
   I had to get out of it from scratch, dos─
melt computers for modest money, yourself 
spend a lot of time increasing experience - trying to 
mpy to establish.  Of course: training and experience 
fiddling with them led to progress, and I didn’t 
I’m sorry, but without normal knowledge and support─ 
ki - I spent too much energy on this─ 
gee, strength and even health. I think this one 
period - abnormal survival, and I 
It’s a shame that I had to fast like this in my life─ 
to fall without good support. In this sense 
I was unlucky like millions of others 
creative individuals - whoinitially 
wanted to be better, wanted to study, a lot─ 
to know and be able to do, but there are opportunities for 
We all almost didn’t have this: with personalities─ 
you were almost not considered at that time, was 
difficult period without money, and to universities for 
good knowledge doesn't just get you there, 
and even if you get caught, they teach you the wrong thing 
What do you really want to know? 
   It's very sad to realize, but I'm too
spent a lot of effort on his own personality─ 
new survival and self-education - absent─ 
effect of normal support! And in theory, if 
If only I could be freed from the things I don’t need 
school and university subjects, and provide─ 
given the opportunity to work with 
competent technicians/electronics engineers/programmers─ 
rammists - I would then have much 
greater knowledge and abilities, less 
would waste time on many unsuccessful and 
useless efforts to do something in one─ 
night... In short: in life, not everything is as it should be─ 
it seems! 
   I remember how we wandered around several times
cassettes: either I myself or my brother were sent by─ 
bathe. They were sold in the store"Home
Books" on the Moscow highway (now, it seems─
Xia, this stop is calledMilitary Commission─
sariat - according to the local building according to the co─
home, and instead of books there is already another order─ 
denition). As you enter, there’s an immediate appearance on the right─ 
There was a wok, and there were cassette tapes under the glass. Co─ 
I don’t really remember how much they cost, although 
it was almost inexpensive/available for us, 
but their quality was very good! Pictures 
was not on them, but excellent (laser gun - 
already then?) were written in bold italics 
program names and brief descriptions on 
Russian! On each side there are6games, cassettes 
60 minutes. Almost everything was loaded and almost from the computer.
good time, although the recordings were “muddy”. 
   Later I made high-quality co─
pi through copiers and did not restore─ 
which are unreliable records. Unfortunately, this─ 
there are only a few of these cassettes left - 
I need to take a look... 

   In October1994 I met
Nick personally. At that time his name was"Wun─ 
wild" (from the word "prodigy"). He had
Pentagon 128K with a floppy drive, and it had 
demos (then it was called "musical
demonstrations" or simply "musicals"). Himself
he has already written one game (something like
Pacman or Python with enemies) and wrote 
the other is a fight with a lot of animation. This fight
he thenentered into the city "Competition"
hackers" atInstitute for Educational Development─ 
in the beginning of1995. And then I wrote the game - 
Rex type platformer.  He copied me
branded games, but never their own works.
That's why they didn't survive, including this one
a fight and an unfinished platformer. A brand─
he took new games from Vyacheslav Mikheev.

Nick: 
 I don't remember the dates, unfortunately. Natural─
but before that there was 48K,someone collected it for me 
that's a student (cool, apparently, a student), the most
The cool thing about it was the body - created from
regular foil PCB, i.e.
soldered from the inside at the seams, but almost a jeweler─
great work. And the most disgusting thing is inevitable
tandem with different tape recorders of the "Elek" type
tronic"and a screwdriver for adjusting the heads─ 
ki. How is it "tape loadind error"- when 
finally reached the penultimate level
games? =) Maybe I’ll go with him to the “competition” and so will you─
taken.
 48th I then changed it to a prefix for
TV, which was supposed to catch the decimeter
high range - but I didn’t catch anything)) And I
started to stir up money for 128K- or they got it─ 
Which drive inspired me, or games
Terminator type. Possibly (and sooner 
total), there were also some "intermediate"
options, I don’t remember... By the way, some kind of “Pen─
tagon"still lying on the veranda in 
Moscow region - maybe even in working order─
yaniya ))
 It seems that he participated incompetition two
times. This is a really useful acquisition
there were not all kinds of "128K",but a book on AC─ 
sembler for Z80) 
 It’s interesting to remember who helped disassemble─
to get ready and take the first steps? In common with the guy─
was a man who lived not very far fromRadik,
I think Vadim his name was. When I had 
48with a tape recorder - he already had a 128th one with 
disc. I have the 128th- he has the 386th)) and 
etc. )
 The last steps seem to have helped
understanding that during the work on
program (game like Rex,which I deleted) 
I lost about a diopter and a half of vision -
instead of a monitor there was some kind ofwoe-television─
zor )

   Disc from the Mikheevs with the collection Dizzy 1-6
I took it from Nick. Everything is there BASIC-load─
ki were length 0, and the disk was sealed. U
I was not there, commander. I tried to copy─
transfer files viaCOPY B, but TR-DOS became
swear at the defense. Then I peeled off the protection─
strip, and TR-DOS copied the file to
the same disk. boot on that disk became an issue─
vat"No more than 20!". The situation of difficulty─
It turned out that there was still one in the catalogInvalid
colour (that's where I got the idea to call future
magazine with the word "Lampoper", overlaying the symbol─
ly in the catalog with special codes - but then re─
thought).  Nick apparently couldn't fix it
disk. No other copy could be found. Glory
Mikheev did not give up his collection of discs. He 
I only gave discs with old games. Sta─
The discs from the Mikheevs were numbered─
new and mixed up game code files,
without packaging.

   What else did we do?  We tried to pass
Dizzy (in Dizzy 5 Nick did immortality, I 
tested and built the map), Jet Set Willy
and Sir Fred (unsuccessful here).We studied multicolors and borders, what did we talk about?
I have saved many records with different
methods.
   Nick suggested an easy way to find
immortality in games - look for two bytes:3D
32 (dec a : ld (..),a).  In this way I
immortalized several games, so my di─
The stock versions turned out to be more “professional─
cash" (albeit in BASIC). I also have
a book appeared "Caches of the ZX Spectrum" with
a huge list of ready-made POKE, sometimes I
I used it too.
   Nick was fond of music, he still played
por performs on guitar (you can find him
duet"Instead of darkness"). I was also interested in
but in its own way. Even earlier I tried to master
a toy piano at home and a real one everywhere,
wherever I could get my hands on, I read books on
music and tried to edit in Wham. Pi─
Sal many times a program simulating PIA─
Nino (including with the screen off),
I wrote my own beeper engines and even my own mu─
language editor in BASIC with syntax─
som command typePLAY on the ZX Spectrum 128K.
At the same time I learned to solder and soldered
tape connector parallel to speakers─
ku-"squeaker".It ended with me
recorded music from games over all my
programs on my cassette. So everyone disappeared
my masterpieces in BASIC, except Animator,
which I retyped under TR-DOS with the corresponding─
existing modifications for compactness.
   My father said that in Animator you need
store the difference between screens so that you can
evil more frames. I didn’t understand - after allXOR
adjacent frames will take up the same amount of space! And
games on cassettes and disks were all bad─
bathrooms (including from the Mikheevs). Nick
said that the packers work very hard
It’s difficult, “there’s no way you could come up with that on your own.”
I wrote packer-depackerRLE several times. From─
I didn’t know how to get things done, so I just copied─
shaft first. It got into my disk drive─
this Gun Fright, for which I changed a little
picture (so that there are no single0 and ff -
I had them as special codes withN for repeat
themN times).
 From other upgrades, in addition to the connector─
ma, I remember the closure of the legs of one
microcircuits to expand the screen ver─
ticked. There was also an idea to connect non-used─
zuzable16K RAM instead of ROM (first I do─
small, thatremoving the ROM is enough, and then
got lazy). Then many expanded their memory
using different methods, usually up to256K or 512K.
I also repaired the buttons on the keyboard,
did Delete and Edit through diodes, and in
the arrows even soldered two reed switches (ka─
married, took the example of Slava Mikheev). Nick
somehow managed to connect myself
keyboard, running a bunch of wires inside.
And the wildest idea I had then was to
install an antenna and broadcast on kilometer-long waves─
us to the radio. But the idea sank
among other glorious deeds.