About everything - the fruits of a “hacker’s brainstorm” on some games: Sea Action, UFO Enemy Unknown, Star Legacy. Excerpt from a letter to the STEP group.

 This section is somewhat similar to SPECTROFON-
                                          
ovskaya "FROM THE WORLD BY BIT" (do not escape from fate-
                                          
Come on, somewhere we need to publish letters from readers
                                          
teley) and tells about everything on SPECTRUM-
                                          
light.                                    
                                          
  For starters, we present to you
Let's look at the fruits of a hacker's brainstorm
for some games.  Unfortunately, along with
tricks of working with the program, we cannot
let's not even touch on some interesting ones
in our opinion, moments of program operation,
which we hope will add a new flavor
in communication with your favorite program. In one word
wow, some are small (and not only
small) program tricks.  By the way, everyone
You can purchase these programs at stores.
zines"ZX-Club".                         
 SEA ACTION.                
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 Y'allHave you seen "SPECTROFON" No. 16?  Well
so this program is located in its "Applications"
zheniya", and is briefly described in the magazine itself.
  Let me be curious, you launched-
download this game? And she went with you?       
It’s weird, and it didn’t work for us.  Do you know
why?    The program requires that there be
"CAPS LOCK" mode is enabled!!! Let's not ka-
to wonder why the author did not normalize
linear control (two commands at start
program, and CAPS is enabled: or one command
yes when polling the keyboard, and CAPS in general
"to the point of light"). But here's why "SPECTROFON"
not that I didn’t fix it (oh, sorry -
"copyright", the author is always right), but
didn't even hint at such a "glitch". And now
you have two options:                         
- enter TR-DOS (bypassing "SPECTROFON"),    
  enable CAPS, type RUN "SEA":       
                                          
- violate the “inviolable” copyright   
  right and add to BASIC-loader in   
  any place in the line "POKE 23658,8".      
 Otherwise, this is a pretty good implementation.
tion of the board game MarineFight.
Although we have a suspicion that the program
sometimes cheats - too methodical
she is firing, and in a suspicious vicinity
Fear from our (your) ships.          
                                          
          UFO. ENEMY HEU3BECTEH.           
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 Quite a great game. There is truth
she has one bug.  Formation of the current
game situation occurs due to pseudo-
pre-random numbers. But that's not the problem, the problem is
that these numbers are not sent to disk. B
result, if for example, to your database
attacked and when you arrived there, you found a crowd
"SLIP-SLIP", then by recording the game and loading
again, you will find already boring  "SEK-
TOIDS".                                  
 The problem is solved even more glitchy
grab a UFO for exploration.  For this you
(to study "SMALL" ships) you need
three times in a row (!) to shoot down a ship with speed
tight corners ("SCOUT").  And if you
decided: “it’s time to start researching UFOs,”
then before the “sinking” of the next ship
sign up (in memory).   If you like this
the ship is not needed, then consider it(from memory)
- the ship will be different (sometimes the same,
that's just how the number generator works), pro-
keep doing this until you find the one you need
UFO view.                                  
  Now about writing the state to any disk.
 The state is recorded as six seconds
tori, starting from10th sector of 0th track
(tracks). Therefore, on the disk with the loaded
condition should not be carried out "MAGIC"-
actions.   Load state from this
the disc is a pleasure.  When
phrases "insert disc and press ENTER" you
insert the disc with the status, press
"ENTER". When a characteristic sound is heard
the squeaking sound of a wheeze (not to be confused
with “non-reading” - there is a zhik-zhik), which means
trusts that the status has been read and the computer
tries to find and load the overlay
module, you quickly remove the disk from
condition and also quickly insert the disc
with the game. Then... enjoy the continuation
reversal of the previously interrupted game.               
  Note to owners of two (or more)
disk drives  Gentlemen, do not flatter yourself and
look at your single-disk drives
Tyev from above.  Even if "UFO" loads
from disk"B"  (or "C", or "D"), then read
state and overlays, it will de-
start everything from the same "A".                   
  However, this remark is only true
ko for version  "by Mortal Kombat Group".
Version "by Stars of Keladab" (our) of these
has no shortcomings - it works with the current
new disk drive, and also provides
works well with Soviet disk drives.
  STAR LEGACY-1. BLACK COBRA.   
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 Let me reassure readers right away: if you want to
found this game in the store "ZX-Club"and
in it the screen saver depicts a battle, blinking
inscription "DIPROTECT BY "STARS OF KELADAN"",
then everything is fine.  You can forget everything that
talked about in"SPECTROFON" and "ZX-Review"
non-branded versions, this does not apply to you -
Xia. Your version has passed thoroughlytest-
roving and FULLY WORKABLE.  We are for
we guarantee it (of course, if the sellers do not
"messed up" - if the game is loaded for you -
got it right and earned it, then there will be no “surprises”,
we guarantee).  And if it calms you down, then
we played on “our” version
(and reached the bitter end, where we want
advised to urgently buy the second part
games "STAR LEGACY-2. ON THE OTHER SIDE
UNIVERSE").                              
                                          
                                          
 Now what we wanted to talk about.
At the end of January 1996 we sent
group "STEP" letter, entirely dedicated to
new to the analysis of their game and how we pro-
walked.  At the end of February the 16th came to us
number "SPECTROFON" (issue time of the number
end of December 1995), where there was a whole
article about this game. In the article, the authors (group
ppa "STEP")  were perplexed about
that no one can beat the game.  Their thought
was like this: “For some reason no one can ra-
solve our puzzles. What are you talking about?
guys? It's like thatJust ! Look here."
The following is a train of thought (yours, or rather
they think your thoughts should be so-
kimi) when solving the next puzzle.
Let's not retell the fact that they are there
they said (read for yourself, the original is he
always a good read), it’s better to give
excerpt from our letter.  If you want
beat the game on your own, it’s better not
read the second part of the passage (where we
we guide our thoughts when solving the same
puzzles), although we give the head a cut-off
Surely, sooner or later you will have to look
put there or in number 16 "SPECTROFON".
As for the first part of the letter, then
since we have a heading "ABOUT EVERYTHING", we
We believe that you will not be uninterested in
read this (we share with you our we-
please and hope for reciprocity). In general-
then the game is very good, and we are delighted
passed it and look forward to the next one
the remaining part.                                
                                          
     EXCERPT AND 3 LETTERS TO THE "STEP" GROUP.     
                                          
 As with any program, it has been tested
Noah by its authors, and seemingly researched
noah along and across, small ones are found
(and notvery) inaccuracies that the authors
are not noticed (we repent, we have this too),
however, a fresh look will always find something
"wrong".  And we met the following
due inaccuracies:                       
1. In location "Automatic transmission" with one hundred
Rona Taran, in the accompanying text
first description spelling error:
the word "video camera" is written as "vidioka-
measure", but it's not scary.                 
                                          
2. If the shuttle flight to "Arkan" is unsuccessful
(he is shot down by fighters) under the rubble
remains buriedE-NAVIGATOReven if
before departure (after setting the flight destination)
first pull it out and take it from
yourself.                                    
                                          
3. Gravimet,what is it?   From manual
weapons can shoot clots of matter,
energy, plasma, but how to shoot clots
gravity? A clot of gravity (and such
is it even possible?  (gravitational field,
as well as magnetic, notmaybe a creature
vat without a source)) must with the same
force to act both on the target and on
shooting and destroy both.   Or everything
kamikaze gravimetal arrows?  Why-
would not shoot from the good old blasters
or firearms (remember one of
contraband goods in "ELITE" ?) ?      
                                          
4.  Time counter.  Maybe, of course, this
our minor quibble, then we ask in advance
forgiveness for her. But still. Why the sun
does the meter move from west to east?
Does it have anything to do with the direction of travel?
clockwise? If yes, isn't it easier?
was to draw a dial and hands (or
clockwise only)? And if not, then
your hopes that the sun moves on Raxxla
runs from west to east due to the reverse
rotations are very naive. Even at the dawn of research
of other planets using AMC (auto-
matic interplanetary stations) before
our earthly scientists have faced a problem
determining the cardinal directions on other planes -
tah.  There were several decisions, but I won
conservatism: ON ANY PLANET east there,
where the sun of this planet rises, regardless
fromthe direction in which the car rotates
ma planet.  So even on Venus (and she
rotates around its axis in the reverse direction
ron, compared to the Earth) The sun rises
in the east (if you see it through the
varnish). You can read about this in any
textbook on astronomy. And what's happening
dit in "Legacy" can be described as humorous
poem A.S. Pushkin:               
                                          
 "The ruddy king of nature is rising from the west.
 And the astonished peoples do not know what awaits them.
 accept:                                 
Go to bed or get up."            
                                          
As we progressed through the game, we were defeated
perplexed by some game situations,
determined by the game script (but not its
implementation). We hope that you, like the auto-
frames, our opinion about them will be interesting:   
1. All cultured people, when they meet
stranger, first they try to
talk to him. You, having seen the perfect
but an unfamiliar old woman, you need to immediately “drizzle”
give her the bracelet and only then the old lady
deigns to give away the key item (pass
to the glider).                              
                                          
2.  Neither in the introductory story (not counting
words "I've been flying since childhood"), nor in the game itself
there is not a hint of the protagonist’s childhood and
most importantly, on his father's past. Yes
How can you find out that the merchant James
the dream knew his father "Fearless" and recognizes them
family crest on a medallion? We will talk about this
guessed using the "most scientific" method
- poke method, in a well-designed game
there is simply no place for him.                     
                                          
3.  Kloredy... Yes... You have a rich imagination
zhenie!!! Not only that, in order to
JUST to see them, you need to get to the area
bara (Pulsar metropolis) for the third time,
and in order to seize their money with impunity -
miyou need to appear near the bar on Thursday
1st time.  And get some sleep for a couple of hours
next to corpses near a crowded bar!!
Let's say we came across this "glitch" altogether
by chance, having lost hope in the slums
Pulsar...                               
                                          
4. Safe !!! Some statistics:          
- number of Cipher combinations: 30 per cube,
   total 27000:                           
- number of hologram combinations per
   Hours: 12:                            
- third factor - Door. Two states.  
 Total: 648000 combinations.             
 Considering observation and logical
player's thinking at Pulsar airport (2nd
Infozone, messages about the "passage yard" and
"our watches can do everything") number of combinations -
tions comes down to 324000. Let's say, ideally
the player will interpret the phrase "When We Stay On-
one..." as a cipher "CON". Gentlemen, well,
What then is the image of a Bee on the clock? Mo-
maybe because in front of the villa there is DECORATIVE-
NEW bushes? And if there was a pond, then what -
The snake (it swims, and the bee sits on
bushes)? Don't you think that Mushroomfor the role
the key to the safe would fit better, since it
the only representative of the plant
world in the list of holograms.  And to find
it, it would be necessary to apply the association
creative thinking, and not the same "poke".
In addition, it is necessary to knowwhat factors
influencing the opening of the safe exactly 3. Not 2,
not 1, not 10, but precisely three. Where is this from?
can I find out?                            
 We think that “non-hackers” will not open it soon
safe, not earlier than summer... 1999...      
 Let's add that we recognized the hologram and code
only after analyzing the verification algorithm,
but simply by “hacking” the game, and we don’t count
This is a game against the rules. If you don't
you think, then calculate the quantity yourself
combinations and hours spent on solving
near the computer.                         
                                          
5. Tempor Raksla. What is in the Painting "Vra-
that Tempora" everything points to the number "PI",we
guessed right away (the “P” icon itself, position
dial hands - three and four
tsat). We even understood the interpretation of the icons in
bottom corners: left- "noon (morning)" or
go out in the morning, or be in place at
noon, or vice versa: right - "look-
"to speak", most likely through binoculars. But who could
guess that the number "PI" is the sequence
number of directions from the landing site to
The Temporal Zone before the Clot, and even on
five (!) steps ?                          
 Not bad!!!  The most beautiful puzzle
Don't think this is not irony.  But the number
"PI", as far as we know, up to the sixth
decimal place equals 3.141592. A
you this fundamental constant is equal to
3.1412 !!!! Excuses that say, the fifth and
there is no ninth direction of movement;
are taken into account, in this case the number of steps is logical
but it would be possible to reduce it to four, and also
better up to three (in the common sense
"PI" is simply equal to  3.14, and again
arrows point to this)... Due to
This is a complete walkthrough of the game "honestly"
way delayed until... 2467
(when Tempor Raxxly is opened by John's group
Maka without our participation) ... And how
we "thought out" what should be
fourth digit (fifth step), and that it is equal to
2 (to the east), guess for yourself.══════════════ ════════════════════════════
 Well, that's enough for the first time. On-
We remind you that the main correspondents are
This column will be about you and your letters.
And we will publish them, and sometimes
express your thoughts to you (when they are
we will appear). Write to us at-
myself (in Samara, of course):               
                                          
- 443010 Krasnoarmeyskaya st., 23, apt. 68    
  Evgeniy,                         
- 443079 G. Mitireva Ave., 14, apt. 2          
  Alexander.                      
 This method of communication is somewhat "expensive"
so there is another: you leave yours
letters, notes, wishes in the department of the store
zina"Ear", which is at the intersection of Cher-
Norechenskaya and Clinical, near the universal
ma "Michurinsky".  Which department - you'll see
It's hard to make a mistake here.                   
 If you would like us to respond to your
a letter to you personally (not only on the pages
"OBERON") then you needperform two
conditions:                                 
1. The letter must make sense.             
2. The letter must contain a paid envelope
with your return address.                 
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