INTERVIEW WITH JON RITMAN
Published in e-zine
EMULATE! #6.
Translation and processing - Heaven Aeroplane
from Pro Hackers' Dynasty.
PH (017) 243-0-244 (Sergey).
It happened! Our wandering reporter
Blood meets Spectrum
God John "Head Over Heels" Rhythm-
nom! Let's give him the floor - ed.
"On the computer scene now there is no
such a phenomenon as the "famous pro-
rammist". In the good old spectrum
mov times for each user
had his favorite programmer, and often
I mean his name, not the name of the company,
published the game, influenced the volumes
sales."
"One of the geniuses of that time was
John Ritman, creator of such classic
stuff like Match Day, Batman and Head
Over Heels. John isn't going anywhere these days.
disappeared and is still involved in gaming
business."
"I, in my "hooligan-youth-
journalist's cap, briskly ran up to
him and asked if he would agree
answer a few questions. So what
you think he agreed! The result
this was the first exclusive in-
rant for Emulate!"
Q: How did it happen that you became a worker?
thief in the computer industry?
A: I worked for Radio Rentals - repairing
TVs. They were going to take
computers for rent, so I'll think about it
small that they will need specialists and
bought a ZX81 tolearn the program
mation. This is where it all started.
Q: When did you first see the Spectrum?
What were your first impressions?
A: I can’t remember exactly, but it was
cool!
Q: Could you remember the very first
making my own game? That she's from
did you imagine?
A: Of course I can. It was called Namtir
Raiders and was released by Artic
Computing for ZX81 - there at the bottom
part of the screen the ship was moving.
(Retro fans with a ZX81 emulator can
drain yourself Namtir Raiders by contacting
at the following address:
ftp://ftp.nvg.unit.no/pub/sinclair/zx81
/snaps/packs/ZXPRGS10.ARJ
The file is called NAMTIR.P -ed.)
Q: Please tell us about your per-
howl to a "commercial" game.
A: As they say, “look above.” (In those
times you could make money gambling
re two kilobytes).
Q: When did you write the game you were
really happy?
A: I don't release games that I'm not happy with.
linen Each subsequent game must
(or should) be better
previous ones.
Q: Have you always been involved in programming?
professionally, or started
like many others, "in the evenings, in
corner of the bedroom?
A: I wrote the first three games while working at
Radio Rentals and then completely
devoted his time to programming
nu. (In those days I wrote four
games per year).
Q: Tell me if the game Knight Lore has appearedreason for creating your own
pseudo-3d games, or was it yours
idea?
A: Of course, the reason is Knight Lore!
Q: Did you use the same concepts?
to write Monster Max, which is
on the Spectrum for your 3D games?
A: No, everything had to be reworked.
(In case you don't know this,
I inform you that Monster Max was the only
John and Bernie's new game, written for
Nintendo Gameboy. This is a pseudo 3D game
very similar to Head Over Heels. If
you are drawn to such toys, then
We would like to draw your attention to it).
Q: Head Over Heels, perhaps still
por is the best pseudo 3d game
on any of the platforms and is included in the
a number of “special favorites” for many people
dey. What games on the Spectrum are for you?
did you like the most and why?
A: Match Day II - because I could you-
play. Knight Lore - because
I went crazy when I brought her
I saw you.
Q: Which of your own games do you like?
most of all?
A: Head Over Heels.
(Not surprising, right?)
Q: What was your job at Speccy?
the last one? Did you leave anything
unfinished (and is there any hope that
will we ever see this)?
A: I don’t remember exactly, it was a long time ago...
Probably HoH or Match Day II! I
started writing a new game with a worker
name Starship when he left
Speccy. The sources are lost somewhere,
yesthat you will never see her again
you don't have to hope.
(Shame on you, my friend!)
Q: Why did you leave Spectrum?
scenes? They say it was for you
surprise...
A: There was an article about Ultimate (I
I'm sure you remember it). I went
see how they work and began
work together with them.
(If my memory serves me correctly, advertising
the article John is talking about was
placed by Ultimate in the late 80s. Invited
programmers tried to speed them up
introduction of consoles and game consoles into the market
machine guns The article appeared in all
popular Spectrum magazines).
Q: Were you sad to leave Speccy?
or, on the contrary, you were burning with desire
work on something more powerful?
A: More is better!
Q: Do you miss the past?
A: Of course, times were interesting, but
now we are working on much more
powerful machines, so it’s impossible to say
Let me tell you that I miss you a lot.
Q: You are currently working in a new company -
Cranberry Source. Does it work with you?
someone from the Spectrum prog-
rammists? How's Bernie Drum doing?
mond (Bernie Drummond)? Are you still
do you work together?
A: My colleague on the case, John Cook, was
head of the design department at
from Mirrorsoft. Actually, he doesn't
programmer and therefore few people
knows, although he is among the specialists,
probably better known than me. Whatas for Bernie, he works for
CS.
(New ones keep coming to mind
topics for questions!..)
Q: What is he currently working on?
Cranberry Source? What kind of equipment do you use?
do you use it?
A: We are working on three games (versions
for PC, Playstation and Saturn) -
Q.A.D. - flying over the most amazing
landscape plus hostage rescue
(for two players); The Net - football on
several players; Redemption - epi-
a game that you can talk about
take a very long time.
Q: Are you still involved in programming?
or do you delegate it to others?
A: To start programming now
there are too many pre-
obstacles. When you drive one
company, then you get interrupted every
three minutes.
Q: Do you miss being a programmer?
or, on the contrary, we are glad that we abandoned it
business?
A: Working in a company of this type requires
there is no constant accumulation of experience
Learning programming is easy). I
still studying machine code
procedures and trying to optimize
those of them that were written by my hundreds
mines. Sometimes I succeed.
So, as you can see, it's final
I haven't given up programming.
Q: Do you have any plans for conversion?
of your old works on a PC or device
tavki? I remember I once saw a con-
twisted Head Over Heels (for
16-bit machines). What's it likeYour opinion
about this?
A: HoH conversions for 16 bit were done by the program
rammist with Ocean; they were us-
only as good as they can be
good conversions. I wouldn't underestimate
swear with old toys, because now
we've been working on a football game for an hour
The Net, and it should be better,
than Match Day. I recommend it to HoH fans
look at Redemption(it will appear-
not earlier than the end of the year).
(Mommies! How long can we wait?!)
Q: Have you ever had a desire
write a Spectrum toy,
instead of doing this
boring things like PCs and consoles?
Oh no.
(I repeat: It’s a shame, my friend! But it was worth
I'd like to try it!)
Q: Retromania hit like a hurricane. All
play with old toys and let
a tear for the good old days
men. Do you think that modern
new games to compete with classic
kimi? Aren't they just
cartoons, not toys?
A: Unfortunately, many games are
essentially consist of only animation
tions, but this does not mean that modern
this game can't have cool graphics
fics. You can make fancy games
on super-powerful PCs - this idea is collected
The company CS is planning to develop.
Q: Is it easier to create a game for PC or
consoles than for Speccy, because
that they have a more advanced app-
Parallel support? Or "cool"
iron"allows people to be less ac-
military and knowledgeable than you, for example,
create low-quality soft?
A: It's not easier to create games because
Data volumes have increased significantly.
PC has fewer restrictions than old ones
cars Using your computer wisely
you can beat the creators of all these
cartoons, which some re-
they are called games.
Q: Have you suffered from retromania? It happens
is it that you pull out the old one?
computer from junk and play ancient
nie toys? Or do you just have more
no free time?
A: I have a Z80 emulator, but on it
I only run my programs.
(Well, I could think of many
darker purposes in which you can
use this emulator!)
It happened! My first interview
and even with a real Spectrum
God! I think it helped you look
inside the "pan" where John is cooked
and his projects. Let's hope that everyone
they will become classics for eternity,
like his previous creations.
For those interested in products
We recommend checking out Cranberry Source
in PC Format (for September'96) - there
Q.A.D advertisement published and, as we say
Hall to me John, in the October issue
there should be a playable demo (it seems).
Thanks to John for highlighting
for me a little time from my
very busy day. I hope that you
I liked the interview so muchthe same as me.
Next month I'd like to talk
with Matthew Smith, but in
but these are just dreams.
Blood.
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