About the world - a response from a representative of the CONDOR company (developer of the Profi computer) to letters from readers, as well as a continuation of the topic “How to write MEGADEMO”.

 Now we'll move on to another
topic that was raised in
previous issue of the magazine
letter of response from our permanent
readerSim Olegon steam
diyu "HOW TO WRITE A MEGADEMO"
("S"N11).

   Discussion of the parody resulted in
a small discussion on the topic that
which can be called approximately
like this: "Campaign for Clean Gaming."
The point was that some of
Today's hackers produce many
a lot of illiterate "intros" to
original games, find out from-
wearing in the running lines of these
the most "intros", using non-priced
harsh expressions, etc. More
for details see "S"N14.

   So far the editors have no letters from
responses to that publication, but
recently we came across a moss-
Kova electronic newspaper
"ON-LINE", in one of the headings
the second article-response was published
to the one discussed in our magazine
topic.  We read with interest
this article and decided that I would raise
the questions asked in it require
due discussion.  Moreover,
that they suspect us, how do we find out?
the problem is that we don't print
letters reflecting a different
editorial point of view. But about
that later, andnow we wanted
would be completely (in order to avoid
accusations of bias) bring
article from email newspapers "ON LINE".
Style and spelling have been preserved.

 HACKERS ARE PEOPLE TOO!

Note: I have nothing about
tive electronic journal
"SPECTROFON" and I should note,
that it was the only publication
onSpectrumin our country, on
which was worth paying attention to
tion.  And praise and respect to them for this
tion. But with all due respect to
to the editors of the magazine, I am fundamentally not
I agree with their point of view on
this issue, which is strengthened
but, with enviable consistency,
propagated by them. And for this reason
read...

   Everyone's gotten used to it a bit
to constant "attacks" of electron-
magazine "SPECTROFON" on
hackers. Lack of clear art
reasoning of their claims, and
the main thing is the good nature of the majority
hackers, allowed them not to
pay attention to such statements
leniya.   Moreover, there was no
alternative edition (there is
suspicion that letters in defense
hackers were simply ignored
editor, it's hard to believe that
there were no such letters at all).
But the 14th issue of the magazine came out,
where things reached the point of absurdity, and
My patience has run out.  I can't
to say that the publication of this
articles was the main reason
creating a newspaper, but I won’t ut-
believe that such
the prospect did not support me
in your decision... But let's start with
in order.  In the first issue there was
which made me very happy -
assertion:

  "After downloading the game, the user
encountered such a soft, but
a very intrusive question:
"INFINITE LIFE?"... Giving in
temptation, you plunge into this
game in an hour, and sometimes
faster, go through it to the end and
never return to her again
"We're talking."

   Well, dear user,
Tel, look through your disk -
tah.  Everyone has a bunch
"shooters" with "INFINITs", and
only a few without them (and even then,
only because the hackers
handsdid not reach them). Usually,
when a normal person confronts
comes with a game remade from
slot machine, like "Kill-
-them-all", and on its passage
You are given three attempts
the result is known in advance...
Just in time for games like this later
they don't come back anymore! After all, in
the same slot machines,
You are asked to select a specific
quantity CREDITS, bro-
siv a certain amount of same-
tones, and sometimes add them to
game time. In addition, the game
pa "DIZZY" and with eternal life "for
hour, and sometimes faster" is not successful
No one was yet able to get through. In that
same number "SPECTROFON" "pre-
motrel" and counter-arguments from op-
ponents (NO SINGLE LETTER NOR
NO ONE SEEN ONE OPPONENT)

   "As a rule, there are two of them:
you have eternal life - choose
normal and the second argument -
people with reduced speed
promotions are sometimes very difficult to pass
game is almost impossible. By
about the firstargument we are
in general they already said that they don’t
people should be tempted
offering immediately relieved va-
riant game. Our second argument
doesn’t convince either: people from normal
sometimes they can’t react with a small reaction
go through some excellent
shooting game or successfully complete
car racing, but that's it
not a reason to disfigure
create a program."

   So it comes before my eyes
image of an unfortunate gambler: raised
tousled hair, bulging eyes
behind, with shaking hands he tortured
It is impossible to reach the "N" key,
and your eyes are focused on the "Y" key,
and he spends it in this state
most of his life, and does not sleep
at night, and tormented the family with nervous
screaming in a dream “I don’t want-e-ever-
but I don’t want to live, I don’t want to!!!”, and in
it's about time sometime
hacker sits at the machine and with a
with a free grin, “I’ll arrange
"eternal heavenly" life for you!!!"
breaks another “began”...
Gentlemen, editors of the electronic
magazine "SPECTROFON": if you
I'm tempted to press the wrong keythe shu you wanted, maybe it’s worth it
think about changing activities???
As for the "refutation" of the second
strong argument... "People can't-
gut, but that’s no reason.” I need to-
it seems that “this” is exactly what
water  If players with normal
with a small reaction “they can’t”, then
this game is in itself without "CHEAT
MODE" is ugly.

   There were many others no less
"interesting" comments and "recommendations"
mendations" to hackers, but all this
small compared to the 14th number
rum magazine:

   SIM OLEG (Volgograd)
was filled with thoughts about the dispersal
fattening by disk hackers
space by connecting
to game downloaders
"INTRODUCTIONS" (actually translated
usually read as "INTRODUCTION") with
Hello, names of hackers, you-
who released this version, etc. And
"dear editors" it's hot
supported. So what do we have there?
with "disk space": each
the next issue of the magazine
"SPECTROFON", starting from the 7th,
takes up almost the entire disk,
due to the stubborn reluctance of the editors
tors to do "dirty work"
hackers" - compress your
creation.  As a result we have 14
disks full of magazine
instead of 4-5.  Same story with
"STAR LEGACY"...

   Now about "INTRODUCTION", and
more precisely about HAKKER RIGHTS (who
will translate into English - ozolo-
chu).  To begin with: who is hack-
ker?


1.A programmer who can write
programs without preliminary
development of detailed specifications
tions and promptly make corrections
integration into running programs, not
having documentation.
2. Computer network user,
concerned with searching for illegal means
how to gain access to protected
data.
                 ENGLISH-RUSSIAN
                      DICTIONARY
                    OF COMPUTERS
                 AND PROGRAMMING

   Yes, regarding the second definition
I don't want to talk about any rights
no need to. It sounds thunderous
but, although it only means
removing protection (and no need to fart
regarding the filmed
MICROPROTECTORa, protection must be
it’s cooler), in particular with flax
precise loaders for adaptation
programs to disk. Now we're talking
Rome about definition number one.
Dear Oleg, if you half-
downloaded a tape copy of the game (there is
such people are also hackers,
suffering from delivery from abroad
new games, for example, company
"OUTLAND"), adapted it to
work with the disk drive, restoring
shaft after the “hackers” (there is also one
some people), removed the "glitches", skipped
born by the authors themselves (sometimes
quite often), maybe even
translated the game into Russian,
went through it inside and out and wrote
HELP , organized the 128th mode
(if there was no branded one) and, on-
the end, I spent a lot of time on this
me and my nerves, and then decided
give it away for free or for pennies
distributors;  so if
would you try to do the whole thing
I would like to see this work
how many sectors did you spare?
would be on "INTRODUCTION", not inferior
depending on the quality of the work done
fight work and how many kilobytes
text you would spend on greetings
to everyone who helped you and to those who
during this time I did no less than
wonderful things, as well as
thoughts that fill your throat
lova (don't be offended). Regardinginscriptions that caused Oleg Sim
such nostalgia, "CRACKED BY
Bill Gilbert", "DISKED BY ANDY
CHERNIKOV" and the like, then
these people did at that time
which alone deserved one
lines: Bill Gilbert exactly lo-
small games (I haven't seen any
game that passed through his hands and
not requiring restoration), and
ANDY CHERNIKOV only disked
games without resuscitating them (after
since these programs have been
already at B.G.) and not paying attention
due to the absence of several
levels.  HackerHAS THE RIGHTto
own Copyright by making
good job. If you are a government
under the users of “such a service”
no need", try organic
call an alternative if possible
You can think of something better.   Experience
"SPECTROFON" is not convincing:
most of the programs included in
the application requires serious
repair, not "formatting"
disc with 40 tracks and one
side"... What insanity.

   I was also surprised by the "valuable
thoughts" of the magazine's editors about the goal
consistency of distribution to
software market of different versions
the same game. You made me out-
blame me, but even beer "Zhigu-
levskoe" (or, if you like - ke-
some kind of company), released in
Klinsk is very different from
the same "Zhigulevsky", welded
new in Moscow, even if only
the other is inferior to "Baltic" (here
who doesn't need hackers). Kumekae-
what am I talking about?

   With this attitude of the magazine towards
hackers are not surprised that they
can't get it for more than a year
Kladova none of its versions
"ELITE".

   Still a fan of "SPECTRO-
FON", HAKKER and editor-in-chief
computer newspaper "ON-LINE"
Dmitry Grigoriev (OLDMAN

 EDITOR'S COMMENT "S"
 ────────────────────────

   As our attentive observer will notice
reader, author of published
above the article started from afar - with
long completed theme "infinity"
tions" or, in other words,
"immortification" of games. Then for-
tag about "infinized" games
rah was written in hot pursuit
after a "pleasant" conversation with
immortalized "SAINT DRAGON".
As a matter of fact, this topic was
closed in the tenth issue of the magazine
a letter from our reader. In general
we all agreed that "in-
Finishing is a delicate matter and to it
you need to approach very carefully
but." In that discussion they put
point.



   But it turns out that
something "the cup burst" (ok
also that the roof did not "overflow-
sha") and everything returns to circles
own Quoting from "S", av-
the author of the article forgets that the speech is in
that discussion was mainly about
interesting games, about masterpieces, and
not about casual shooters, of which
onSpeccy are a dime a dozen (not available
in view of masterpieces like "R-TYPE"). We
now we wouldn’t want to raise it again
mother of this topic. Let's just say one thing
- if a hacker inserting "info-
nit" into the program (note - in
someone else's program, and this is already violating
copyright infringement) is not
feels that threshold, transition
which makes the game boring
boring and uninteresting, violates the
Lance game, then it's worthless
his skill.  And we performed
exactly against this.

   You can be the coolest prog
rammist, but don’t understand anything
in games.  In this case, this
it is better for a person to engage in systems
special programs and do not clog
head with all sorts of “toys”. On
worst case scenario, you can severely
losing megadems is your ego
will be satisfied with this at all
no less.  The man who passed
game with infinity, never
will be able to understand the delight of the player
go to the original version. In ka-
a number of examples can be given
the same "SAINT DRAGON" and "X-OUT",
flying right through from the first
times and never again -
emoji, or "BATTLE COMMAND", which
which is sufficient in the original
uncomplicated.

         And about the line:
          "Infinite life? Y/N" we
           Everything has already been said too.
            Maybe, of course
             another player and not
             sleeps at night, ter-
             fussing about you
             bora, but the one who
             realized what we had
            in mind when writing
           whether about this, for a long time
          uses in his work
bots principle of hot keys. U
it also has an "immortality" mode
I", but it was done wisely,
cunning, with a twist. And the one who
of course he wants to know that
"if you press so-and-so -
you're beaming something." So in this too
case of trade and butchery "Press
'Y' for infinite life!" without som-
Nenia loses to the romantic:
"I LOVE CODEBUSTERS" (INSULT ME-
GADEMO).
   And one more thing: if people with normal
reaction cannot pass through the
lyalka, then there is no “infinite”
will make it better. Remember again
times "infinified" "R-TYPE",
for which passage does not require -
no reaction at all - game
just losesmeaning! Well, what if
the game is also mediocre and inin-
interesting, then the “equipment” of it
"infinites" didn't help any more -
maybe she will become more popular.  Yes
Is it worth spending on it then?
time?  Is it just because
sporting interest. Although, co-
Of course, the main tractor here is not-
satisfied vanity and thirst
yes self-affirmation.  After all, where
it’s easier to insert “infinite” into someone else’s
program than to write something
your own, original. So decide -
those are really a hobby
"infinization" - a sign of "cru-
tizny".
   Now about saving disk space
space.  In "S"N14 it was
about the disk space that
is spent on different “intros” -
faded in essence and defiant in
content.  It seemed to us that
everything that has been said about this
our reader - no doubt. But
author of the critical article "Hakke-
"ry are people too" did not agree with us -
Sep. Why? Yes, it's simple - his
the arguments are powerful: what, they say,
what's going on there!
"SPECTROFON" - not compressed
van! What a horror! How much longer
magazines would fit on one disk!You yourself are wasting our DP!

   Sorry.  Let me disagree
sit up.  The best way is not
squander yours, dear av-
torus, disk space,
this is... correct, not a census-
transfer our magazine to your disks.
You have every right. Better write down
Sew megademo onto a blank disk.
This time.  But if you think
ourselves our "still worship-
com", then leave us the right
decide for yourself how to manage
OURdisk space.
That's two. In addition, consider the following
current fact: depends on whether
"S" is compressed or not you
absolutely nothing to gain
those  Its frequency will be
the same, the volume is approximately the same.
The price is the same. If you think-
those that, having compressed the numbers, we released
there are twice as many of them then
you are deeply mistaken.  At its best
case, those five are compressed
disks that you gave us
read all issues of the magazine,
would come out once every
half a year.  And as you know, our
readers would like to meet
us more often.
Yes, and feedback with such
periodicity would be questionable
catfish

   If you don't take everything into account
the above and just like that, in
to please the dissatisfied, compressed
publish every regular issue of the magazine
huh, what will change? Speed
downloads?  So she is more than com-
compensated by timedecompress
these (remember the fashionable
inscriptions "DEPACKING! WAIT, PLEA-
SE!"). Who needs such a compression?
this?  And in general, it’s time to
turn off to the fact that the volume of prog-
frames on a disc, music or
the film on the cassette is determined
not by the volume of the carrier, but exclusively
exactly who this product was
produced.   And it would be necessary already
say goodbye to the "Soviet" psycho-
disc (media) recording logic
to capacity.
This was still justified at that time.
exchange when floppy disks were expensive
dozens of programs recorded
on her. Now that one disk
costs much less, it's time to buy
turn off to what the cost is
program is determined not to be worth
the ability of the bearer, but its value.

   As for "STAR
HERITAGE", then the accusations are inflated
whole disk's worth of toast due to
lack of compression is
a consequence of the incompetence of the prosecutor
narying, since the main part
of the total volume of the game (graphics)
compressed in the game.  For the sake of
experiment disc with the game trying
wanted to compress on IBM,
using fairly powerful
compressors PKZIP and RAR - game
shrank by only 12% (compressor
LPC on the Spectrum it presses noticeably
worsePKZIP'a).
   Now let's go back to square one
point - about distributing dis-
space hacker, on-
who wrote some kind of mind-blowing
worthy, but very disgusting
"intro" content.  It's a speech
were you talking about this? Isn't it?

   We buy the game, and there
stupid mini-demo. We include
I eat TV to watch
good film, but we have to
show mediocre advertising. We
let's go to the store to buy bread
- and they grab us by the hand and pull us
for the presentation of chewing gum
Zinki without sugar.  "Yes, how much
is it possible? I'm tired of it!" - Says the wife-
respected layman.  But no, he
begin to stubbornly prove that
bad mini-demo before the game -
full shell for
restored blood and sweat
ALIEN games, mediocre advertising
before a unique film - payment
chena and developed by the company "du"
Yu here?", presentation of gum and
occupation of the store - paid
by the "chew it while it lasts" company.  More
need examples? "SPECTROFON" neither
when notopposed simple
and a beautiful disk shell
version of the game.  If it's done
modestly and tastefully. But what
started to happen in the bootloaders
new games - nothing short of delirium
impossible to name. Tub of slop
and obscenities on our heads
users pours out almost from
every new adaptation. And so
we have always opposed this
and we will perform.  Calm down
gentlemen hackers, be lenient
kind to each other, think
after all, your “messages” can pro-
children read...


   Next. ABOUT "HAKKER RIGHTS",
as our opponent writes. Let's start with
the fact that NO rights the hacker has
no.

   From a legal point of view
everything is clear - if he didn't receive
permissions for adaptation, modernization
nization, Russification from fi-
We are a computer manufacturer
programs, then no rights
there is no question. If
such permission has been obtained, then
the company provides the programmer
source codes of the program and all necessary
information needed for work.

   But let's think about how ha-
ker can justify his efforts
on the restoration of foreign
programs?



   Manufacturing companies are far away
I don’t feel like calling abroad, and
these programs are for them - already long ago
but the stage has passed, so,
obviously he compares his
actions except with the restoration
lazinessarchaeological find
rare beauty, accidentally discovered
married in a landfill in a terrible state
languor. Well, such a point of view
niya has the right to life. But
imagine that the restoration
torus, restoring some
picture, completes it with his own
taste, and for better perception
visually impaired friends - spread
bursts with brighter colors. After that
what hard work instead
the author's signature will write the title
his restoration workshop
and the copyright is larger, again
for your visually impaired friends.


   And to reasonable remarks that
the author conceived his work
tion a little differently, restorer
will be offended and explain that
all this is for our own benefit.

   Well, how can you call this
"reducer"?  Does he have
moral right to do this
"restoration"?  "I have complete
right!  After all, I spent so much effort
til!"   Absurd?   Without a doubt.
But for some reason no one talks about it
doesn't remember when it comes to
programs. It would be worth it.

   As for the restoration
niya "broken" games - for God's sake,
restore, but respect
decency and don’t write any rubbish
neither.



   That "hacker is a programmer,
capable of making... change-
niya... without documentation", this
does not mean that it is automatic
chess becomes the owner of the
horse copyright.  This way
zom, about your rights to ALIENSprograms (both Western and
domestic), our hackers can
keep quiet.

   And the author's comment
regarding the second definition
Dictionary on computers and software
Framing in general is rudeness.
There's no other way to call it.  Quote
no need, read carefully
comment.


   For our part, let’s say the following:
the next step is to reproach the authors for their weakness
fight defense, it's the same
reproach the director of the robbed
store is that it is not fenced
beat him with barbed wire and didn't
placed a platoon of special forces at the entrance
for a couple of armored personnel carriers.

   The author of the article somehow forgets
that, among other things,
there are laws protecting
copyright, and even basic
decency after all.
Although what can I say about this - ha-
kers themselves know everything. But they don't
It’s more convenient to reason.  Otherwise how
justify your theft?
As a matter of fact, for the sake of this
excuses and subsumes everything
these reasonings are a kind of “philo-
Sofia platform".


   About some Russified
hacker games.   I would like to
ask: how do you look at
another Russification, in the "intro"
which is present almost
the entire vocabulary of common language?
Would you like to use
"services" of such a "translator"?
There are many examples of mental
zealous “Russification”, which
which I will now pour out in abundance -
entered the country's markets. Russification
Everyone who is not too lazy plays games. Yes-
same toour editors sometimes receive
There are letters with the following content:
nia: “I’m not good at speaking Russian.”
I apologize for any possible
errors.  I offer it for your consideration
Russification of the game "IXOLON" about
known to me..."  Who needs it
such a "service"? Typical example
- Russification of the game "REBEL STAR".


In this "Russian" game you can pro-
read the following gem: "Rat.
The object in the hands is sharp teeth".
Or again: "Swamper. Item in Russian
kah - tentacle". What's it like? There are also
other examples, "SPECTROFON" already
I have written about them more than once.

             Looking for hackers
          Russification, remember-
          eat the movie "Gentelme-
          good luck", where one of
          heroes, having learned a couple
            words in English,
              declares: "Well,
              English I'm the-
              I know I'll go
         worktranslator."

           Now about the claims to
        programs included in
       appendix to our journal
      nalu.  This, it must be admitted,
one of the weakest links in
our work. And about this problem
we already wrote. Cover all types
We don't have Spectrum-compatible cars.
able. We wrote that we can
we can guarantee the work of our
applications exclusively on two
car brands - PROFI and MOSCOW.
This, of course, does not mean that
let's say, on PENTAGONE none of
programs included in the application
won't work. Just take into account all the nu-
ances of behavior of various types of ma-
the fate of computers is not always possible
yes.

   Regarding the "beer bars" I concluded
ideas and analogies. If we compare
implement various hacker ver-
these foreign programs and search
analogues in the food industry
ty, then you need to remember that beer
- and "Zhigulevskoe", and "Baltika" -
produced by manufacturers, and
not resellers and intermediaries.
So your importance lies in this
in fact, to put it mildly, exaggerated
on.  Figure out the rest yourself and
find a place that suits you
in the chain producer - consumer
bitel.

   And finally - your conclusion on
about the attitude towards hackers and lo-
logical connection with the pantryver-
this game "ELITE". Actually
there is no connection here. We hope-
xia, you understand that when two
the parties are negotiating about
me or purchasing your own products
tions, then the ratio of one of the
ron to intermediaries and resellers
in this case does not play any role
what role to play in such negotiations. And
we can talk here purely about
the material side of the matter.



   Finally, the very last thing: about
the idea you persistently put forward about
"clamping" letters from readers in protection
that hackers. If you pay close attention
read all issues of our magazine
la, you might have noticed that we
I even had to "predict"
possible responses to our publications
cation.  That's why we wrote
"someone thinks so" or "someone
may object”, etc. And where
it would be easier to quote
a prepared letter in defense of hackers,
than to formulate the possible
different opinions on this issue. Pi-
sew, do not hesitate if you
there is something to say.

       WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR LETTERS!

             * * *