Interview - The Oliver Twins.

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(c) Ice'Di^triumph   
   
we bring to your attention an interview taken in  
end of 2000 Oliver twins. The article was  
published in zxf magazine, and thanks to our  
has been translated into Russian. :)   
   
:##%##########: the Oliver twins :##########%##:  
                                                  
(interview) Robert hazelby                        
(translate) nelly^triumph                         
(support) Plaid^triumph                           
                                                  
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    В   своей  первой  статье  для  zfx,  Роберт  
Hezelby (Robert Hazelby) talks with his brothers  
which made Code Masters famous.  For  
most people Philip and Andrew Oliver (Phillip  
& Andrew Oliver - the Oliver twins) most  
known for their classic Dizzy series,  
which was produced from 198b to 199e and was  
widely distributed on many computers and  
game consoles.                               
   
Perhaps you don't know that from the middle to  
late 80s they were the authors of more than 5%  
products from Code Masters. so classic  
games like Super Robin hood and Grand Prix Simulator  
were works of theOliver twins. starting  
their career as simple programmers at the beginning  
8s, today they are leading  
managers of their own company - Blitz  
Games.  there is no doubt that Olivers are for this purpose  
have done a lot of work since their first  
program that was published in the magazine  
Computer and Video Games.                         
   
 +--------------------+   
 | R - Robert Hazelby |               
 |  About - Oliver twins |               
 +--------------------+   
   
 R: - Thank you very much for what you found  
time in your busy schedule to talk  
with us. Perhaps many zfx readers have very little  
have heard about you since the interview with you  
appeared in numerous 8-bit magazines  
8s.                                       
 A: - Yes, we fell out of sight a little,  
but we've been here all this time, developing  
games and creating a successful company - Blitz  
Games. Now we have more than 12 people on staff  
and a huge list of games that have received recognition.  
check out our website: www.BlitzGames.com   
   
 R: - some fan sites on the Internet  
seem to do a lot to support  
Dizzy's popularity, as well as amateur programmers  
(located mainly in the Russian outback),  
which continue to be unofficially released  
a large number of Dizzy adventures.  You are not  
is surprised by the undying interest of gamers in Dizzy,  
considering that since its last official  
has it been a long time since the release?                
   
 A: - we were always amazed that Dizzy is so  
remains attractive for a long time. It's easy for us  
touches.  It's very nice to see people still like this  
highly passionatesomething we created around  
2o years ago, besides, it's great that people  
still having fun with it.           
   
 R: - There are a lot in the Dizzy series games  
tricky puzzles, and a very funny flow  
events.  You draw up a map plan and plot for  
each game before you start or  
make it up as you go?                         
   
 A: - Basically we planned most of  
maps before starting work. We have everything  
there are also large long rolls of paper on  
attic with maps and plans!  games strongly  
change and develop during the creation process, so  
that sometimes we changed some things along the way  
but it is always very important to have a plan to  
which you can contact, otherwise we would just  
went crazy trying to track what we've already done  
and what it led us to!                         
   
 R: - One of the highlights of the Dizzy series is  
a huge number of characters present in  
game.  Where did you dig up all the names for yours  
characters?  I have reason to believe  
that Theodore the Wizard now lives on the outskirts  
Bristol, and another character was named after  
neighbor's dog. :)   
 A: - This is one of the difficulties - choosing the right one -  
giving names for characters.  One day we even  
I had to buy a book of children's names to  
gain inspiration. Theodore, after all, was ours  
neighbor, and we actually named the wizard in  
Dizzy in his honor. (u yes, he really lives  
currently on the outskirts of Bristol!). What  
refers to the dog - the dog's name in Code Masters  
zak (zak), but in reality he was like this  
named after Wizard Zack from the game than in  
honor of someone else. We borrowed this name  
from the author z8о programming Guide (which we use  
by the way,learned to program) - Rodney Zaks  
(Rodney zaks).                                    
   
 R: - although the last game in the Dizzy series  
came out in 199, do you have plans  
further adventures of the egg-shaped guy, and if  
yes, what stage of readiness are they at now  
are there?                                        
   
A: - by the end of our work in Code Masters  
there were a couple of Dizzy games we worked on  
although they were never published, nevertheless,  
we have many other characters over which  
we will work.  
   
 R: - what do you think the new Dizzy game will be  
will be well received if released on any of  
existing platforms? Will 2D graphics remain  
or our egg-shaped friend will be forced  
convert to eD (similar to Mario h/Mario  
Sunshine) to succeed?                        
   
 A: - It would be a little overconfident in advance  
say: “Yes, it will be well received,” but at  
in fact, we have heard many times from different people  
ages that they would like it again  
see.   we often conduct professionallectures at universities, and even students who  
must be too young to  
remember it, they still ask us,  
are we going to revive Dizzy.                 
   
As for our views on how Dizzy  
should look like now - probably we  
we prefer that it goes to ED, and it would be  
great to be able to see it in the game  
the way we always wanted to see it, but  
we were not able to do this because  
technologies that we used. During  
for several years we have been conducting tests in a new way  
lookDizzy, and currently we have placed  
video of some of the latest results on the site  
www.fantasticdizzy.so.ik, so no  
feel free, stop by and let us know what you are  
you think.                                          
   
 R: - how things stand with Dizzy in the present  
moment?  I've heard two different opinions on this  
the reason when I did research for this  
articles. the first opinion is that Code Masters has  
rights to Dizzy, and everything connected with it, and  
that you tried to buy the brand back, but you  
was stopped by the very high price. Another opinion  
which I've been hearing a lot latelyfrom those  
who writes for GamestM, that when David Darling  
(David Darling) asked about the likelihood of occurrence  
Dizzy in Gameboy Advance format, he replied that  
they no longer have a license.  Could you  
finally clarify this situation and say  
who currently has Dizzy?     
 A: - the rights to Dizzy are divided equally between  
us and Code Masters.  From time to time we  
we are talking about it, but so far it has not brought us any success  
no results.                              
   
 R: - You have developed so many games (full  
information on www.olivertwins.com) but is theresome game from this huge list of games  
created by you, the creation of which you especially  
are you proud?                                        
   
 A: - This is the same as asking someone  
choosing his favorite child is impossible. У  
we are left with tender memories from Dizzy,  
because we started with it, and Super Robin  
hood will always remain special for us, because  
that this is our first major game that we  
created in Code Masters and the first one for which we  
received more or less decent payment.  
Every year, people who currently work at Blitz  
release something bigger and better than a year before  
this, so there is always something new than  
you can be proud.                                  
   
 R: - during the time that you  
worked at Code Masters, you released a great one  
number of simulation games, including Grand Prix  
Simulator, Ski Simulator, fruit Machine  
Simulator.    what research have you done  
carried out during the development of these games? have you  
both have practical experience in sports that  
present in games or you received information  
about them from the press and television?                    
  
 A: - We do not have the ability to reproduce on  
Spectrum is an absolutely accurate imitation, so  
the only study we conducted -  
this is what is much more important to do something  
cool than doing any research  
for the game!  ;-) We got the idea to create Rgo  
Ski Simulator after returning from vacation, where  
we were skiing, and Jet Ski Simulator  
appeared at a time when we often rode   
water skiing and   
flew on   
airplanes, so it’s more like ours  
hobbies influence our game ideas more than  
anything else.                                  
 R: - many companies and individual programs -  
Rammists give permission to have their things  
were available for free download on the website  
"World of Spectrum" (www.worldofspectrum.org).  
Code Masters, however, is a company  
which refuses to extend rights to  
your products, i.e.  although all game titles  
are listed in the archive, they cannot be downloaded. how  
Do you relate to this? Don't you think that Code  
Masters is trying too hard to protect the very old  
computer programs that are no longer produced  
15 years? Of course, Codies do not take into account the output of such  
products like Super Robin hood and Advanced  
Pinball Simulator for PS2, Gamecube, etc. and  
etc.   and are forced to protect such a “valuable”  
property.                                    
   
 A: - Code masters have all legal rights  
to prevent people from copying and  
distribute games that belong to them. u although  
obviously, they won't be able to do anything else  
make money, one might assume, sooner  
in total, thus, they support the norms of the law  
about copyright violators.  piracy in  
is currently a big problem, and  
Code Mastersare more active in  
in their attempts to prevent it, so it was  
It would be hypocritical of them on the one hand  
complain about piracy, and on the other hand, allow it  
him.                                              
   
 R: - many will agree that the computer emulator is  
yuter platform is a great way  
keep outdated equipment operational. themes  
no less, nothing compares to playing on  
genuine computer.     Have you ever  
used your Specties for other companies  
or are they hidden in your attic for a long time?        
  
 A: - we would love to, but to be  
honest, we both have young families now and  
responsible work, so it is very difficult to find  
time to play these wonderful ones  
new games, not to mention going to  
attic and dig through all sorts of rubbish.                
   
R: - after many years of developing games for  
Code Masters could you briefly tell us  
why your collaboration with Darling  
is it over?                                      
   
 A: - Now everything is in the past. All of us thenwere young and wanted to achieve the best, and we  
realized that we can achieve more if  
let's separate and do our own thing  
business.  They gave us good opportunities, and we  
in return they gave them several well-selling games  
which helped make the company stable, so  
that we got a lot from communicating with each other  
other.                                           
   
 R: - Now you are both enjoying success in  
Blitz Games from licensed ones (Barbie, frogger,  
Chicken Run, etc.) and original games (Glover,  
fuzion frenzy, zapper).  what are your plans for  
the next year and a half?                            
   
 A: - we will continue to combine licensed ones  
and the original games, but it is becoming increasingly difficult and  
it's more difficult to get a publisher to buy the original  
product, since it is riskier than working with  
a proven licensed game. this Christmas  
we release fairy OddParents (based on  
nickelodeon television show) in the USA, and Barbie  
horse Adventures in the USA and Europe.  In spring we  
we will release Bad Boys II (based on the blockbuster  
released this summer with Will Smith  
and Martin Lowrence in the main ones  
roles), then, by the end of the yearwe will release more  
many good games, but unfortunately, about them for now  
You can't talk.                                  
   
 R: - u, finally, taking into account your life  
experience, is there something that you would like  
do it differently, knowing what you know  
now?                                           
   
 A: - probably the best lesson we learned is semi-  
Chile hiring people.  At the beginning of our career we  
we simply hired our friends, and although  
this probably sounds great, but it's actually not  
very good to indicate to the people you are with  
friends, what should they do. (by the way, very  
many of those personnel still work with us  
por!).  As for business, we probably  
like any novice businessmen did  
errors, - the main trick is to be  
confident that you are learning from them, and also be  
confident that you are contacting the right ones  
people for advice.  Make mistakes too sometimes  
useful if you make the right ones  
outputs. In any case, we don't regret it.      
   
 Many thanks to www.yolkfolk.com,  
somr.sys.sinclair and participants rllmuk.som for  
provided questions that appeared in  
this article. Special thanks to theo White, natalie  
Griffith and, of course, Philip and Andrew Oliver  
(Oliver twins), without which it would have been impossible  
create this article.