(C) Fedorov "Chasm" Vladimir
╔───────────────╗
╔─────┬─╝ N E W S ╚─┬─────╗
────╣ ────╬── N E W S ──╬──── ╠────
╚─────┴─╗ N E W S ╔─┴─────╝
╚───────────────╝
Hello, guys! It's been almost six months since the last news release, and during this time, many different events have occurred in our city. I won't bore you with long introductions and will start (I don't suffer from premature demise, so you'll have something to read here). So - first, the news from Rybinsk.
The group AURYN has suffered an irreparable loss - in the prime of his life and creative potential, FLEX fell into the hands of the military enlistment office and was sent to the Moscow region for compulsory military service. As can be judged from his gloomy letters, he has already gotten tired of the service, and SPECCY is increasingly haunting his dreams at night (just like a beloved girlfriend). So if you wrote letters to the magazine's editorial office at the address of Zavodchikov Konstantin - you might be seriously disappointed (ADV: we were the first to be disappointed), because the letters didn't reach us for the simple reason that they are waiting for FLEX to read them, which will happen at best during his summer vacation. Now write letters to ELF (address in the "ADVERTISING" section).
ELF, in turn, has taken on the task of improving the magazine's shell, which he is doing quite well. Kostya has sped up the printing driver, added a screen saver, and a few other features, and he also made an intro for the magazine. Recently, the editorial office received several complaints about the poppiness of the music (one even from me). Earlier, it was selected by RAY - a well-known pop fan (sorry, but that's the plain truth), but starting from this issue, it will be the prerogative of ELF (SEPULTURA RULEZ! Although PRODIGY is also very cool).
RAY has made another version of his monitor (see the attachment) and is currently thinking about a game in the RPG style. The working title is still kept secret. He has thought about it, but now he has problems with graphics - so he doesn't talk about release dates.
RAY's comment: information for those who still can't grasp why RAY DISK MONITOR was made. While this issue was being laid out, my zero track on the disk with all the article texts for it "crashed" (the power went out while I was copying to this disk). So, with the help of this program, I restored THE ENTIRE DISK (!) in just TWO hours.
CAV inc. is experiencing the same difficulties - his project "WAR ROBOTS" is currently on hold, but he is not sitting idle and is developing an arcade adventure under the working title "HEDGEHOGS - MUTANTS".
ADV: For "robots," CAV needs three-dimensional images. If anyone has access to 3D editors and can help - contact us or Sanya.
We at INFOSOFT are currently quiet - the announced "MASTER OF ORION" in some coming soon's has moved to other hands, as PROTECVISION is now too busy for it. Shurik got a job and spends all day there, and Lexa recently got married, so for a while, he won't be into computers. But the good initiative will not go to waste! The guys from SURDAKAR have joined the work (which will be mentioned below). SHRSOFT and SURGEON have finally finished a maze runner for their project based on "HIRED GUNS" and put it on the back burner for the simple reason that no one can properly draw monsters, and the converted ones turn out too ugly. So if you live in Rybinsk or the Rybinsk region and can, and most importantly, want to draw - call ELF or come to the flea market across the Volga on Sundays. Your creativity will be appreciated (not with money, then with glory, and maybe both).
Also, SHRSOFT is developing (or so it seems, as his disk drive is broken) artificial intelligence for "MOO".
The lover of digging into others' internals, SURGEON, has so tightly encrypted himself from the military enlistment office and the police that sometimes even we can't find him (I, for example, haven't seen him for a whole month).
Have you ever heard that you can perform on stage with SPECCY by using it to extract music? We, too, hadn't heard it with NEVER, but we decided to give it a try.
At the end of last year, an alternative music festival was held in our student club. There used to be everything there - from punk to doom, only acid was missing, and we decided to fill this gap. Teaming up with a couple of guys, one of whom sang (rather growled), and the other played live on bass, we made three tracks in the acid noise style using DIGITAL STUDIO. Although the sound was very shameful, the crowd liked the music - people were rocking at the stage, shaking their hair (for those who had it, of course). So if anyone wants to listen to DS modules - write.
SURDAKAR GROUP is also not sitting idle. Smirnov Andrey is finishing "ROAD FIGHTER" and is also mastering the PC emulator of SPECCY, as he has converted his Spectrum monitor to VGA mode.
Together with SHAITAN (that's the pseudonym taken by Yura Parshukov), Andrey has joined "MASTER OF ORION," so the process has moved off the dead center. SHAITAN is also working on the next version of his "FONT EDITOR."
Nikita Frolov from WREDOSOFTWARE is participating in writing the script for RAY's game, and in his spare time, he is writing a PC game "Self-learning Tic-Tac-Toe."
Now I want to highlight a joyful event - another team has formed in our city. It has a pretty cool name - GroboClone. It includes: Sosedov Vanya (STELLEREX), who is quite well-known in our city as a cool graphix maker, Shishkin Mikhail (TWINSEN), and Pavlov Alexander (D.J. ALEX). The guys decided to finish the long-standing project of STELLEREX called "GNOMON" - it will be a graphic adventure in the style of "GOBLINS." They also have in mind a game "NEUROMANCER," which will be in the spirit of "BLOODNET" on PC.
Misha Ershov (INFECTED PIXELS) has finally acquired his own computer, and now we can expect a lot of cool graphics from him, which we all lack so much.
In the fourth issue, I promised to get in touch with ROS ltd. and FAST SOFT. After many calls, I finally caught ROS and inquired how he was doing. The answer was not encouraging: not only was he very surprised that SPECCY in our city has not yet died (you won't get rid of us!), but he also disappointed me by saying that he is doing absolutely nothing on his PC, and FAST SOFT has fared even worse - he bought a Panasonic 3DO and is playing stupid games. The guys have disappeared, what a pity.
Well, it seems I have covered everyone who is doing something on SPECCY in Rybinsk, so I pass the word to our special correspondent in Yaroslavl, Vlad Voshchenikin.
(C) Vladislav Voshchenikin
Yaroslavl news.
──────────────────────
Hello, friends, it's again Oleg Filimonov and his top ten jokes... Oh, what am I talking about? Ah, yes... Hello, friends, it's Vlad Voshchenikin with news from the capital city of Yaroslavl (though, it depends on how you see it). So, let's begin...
A. Lebedev, better known as CONDOR soft, besides distributing software, is currently actively, according to his own words, corresponding with many leading programmers and creative groups in the country and nearby abroad. Soon (possibly) an electronic magazine from Magadan will be available for sale. He also plans to promote "AMIGA" computers in Yaroslavl and the region. He intends to carry out this project together with NICODIM. Initially, they plan to sell AMIGA-600 computers and software for them, but over time, they may switch to the "A1200" model.
NICODIM is working on the project "LEGEND OF KYRANDIA." The work is progressing slowly but surely. Roman refused to name any release dates, reasoning that he doesn't want to deceive people with unrealistic promises. Regarding the recent noise about glitches in his "PRINCE of PERSIA," he responded with three points:
a) Do not use the MAGIC-soft version - it is ILLEGAL.
b) There are no glitches that would prevent you from completing the game.
c) Some glitches had to be left so that the hero's movement speed wouldn't suffer.
By the way, according to CONDOR, the game "PRINCE of PERSIA" together with the game "48 Irons" was found on the INTERNET on a server somewhere in Norway!
Andrey Kazakov (K.KAV soft.) is currently writing the fifth part of his series "RETURN to HOME." The main part of the game is already ready. According to the author, "Return to home-4" will only resemble it by name. It will be a purely strategic game, externally resembling "Last Battle." A DEMO version of a new three-dimensional turn-based game is also ready. Its working title is "Deadly Worlds." It will differ from the fourth part by the ability to turn the hero at 45 degrees (see "attachment"). A game "Reversi," a worthy continuation of all "Hundreds" and "Fifteens," is also being prepared for release. The game features a choice of scanned images for children and adults.
Nicolas Viper is currently engaged in breaking others' protections. He has just released a program with the playful name "Microfucker," which jokingly broke the protection on the 21st "Spectrofon." And at other times, according to CONDOR, N.Viper spends his time on the Internet, as does A. Kazakov.
Another well-known hacker in Yaroslavl, Dr. Shura, is engaged in reviving old games: inserting music, cheats, and localizing them. Moreover, he specializes in Spanish games.
It seems that soon we will witness the birth of a new electronic publication: for the first time after the demise of "Eldorado," there will be a magazine in Yaroslavl: the "Bars" firm plans to publish a magazine, tentatively titled "ZX-news, Yaroslavl." The publication's frequency will be at least once a month, with the estimated release date being early February. According to CONDOR, this publication will closely resemble the newspaper "On-line" with a complete absence of music and an interface written by Dr. Shura.
At the Yaroslavl radio market, I was lucky to stumble upon a SPECCY user from the city of Danilov. After a brief conversation, I fell into complete stupor, as it turned out that there are Spectrum enthusiasts in Danilov, but they DO NOT:
...unite into teams,
...read electronic publications,
...write their programs,
...hack others'...
When I asked what they do at all, they proudly replied: "we're trying to write music..." Shame on you, Danilov, shame on you! At least read some magazines!!!
It turns out that there is a club of ZX-Spectrum enthusiasts in Yaroslavl. However, I learned about it completely by accident, reading a notice about their meeting in the 5th building of YGPU named after Ushinsky, which took place back in September of last year. A strong request to the members of this club: if you are reading this magazine, please contact the author of this article by calling the phone number in Yaroslavl: 66-98-05 (in the evening), ask for Vladislav.
Now, here is the "HOT TEN" games from the city of Yaroslavl (ADV: while this issue was being laid out, it has slightly "cooled down"):
1. UFO-2: Devils of the Abyss.
2. Last Battle
3. Star Raiders II
4. Kings bounty
5. UFO: Enemy Unknown.
6. Virus
7. Solitaire (DIGITAL REALTY)
8. PREFCLUB
9. TANK WAR
10. PRINCE of PERSIA
The popularity of Star Raiders II is still explained by the wandering rumors about the existence of the 128th version of the game (see ADVENTURER #1).
ADV: Or maybe the game is just cool?
The magazines that were appreciated by market visitors can fit into the "Hot Five," as there weren't many other noteworthy publications. So...
1. SPECTROFON
2. ZX-FORMAT
3. ADVENTURER
4. SPECTRUM PROGRESS
5. SPECCY
So, I just want to thank everyone who reads our magazine, wish them all the best, and say:
UNTIL NEXT MEETINGS,
UNTIL "ADVENTURER" #7
News collected by
VLADISLAV VOSHCHENIKIN
──────────────────────
Contents of the publication: Adventurer #06
- Presentation
This is an introduction novel for the game Return to Home 4, featuring space battles and a narrative about pilot Raifus navigating challenges in a military context.
- Presentation
The article presents K.KAV software's new game 'DEATH WORLDS: TORISTAG INVADERS RETURN TO HOME 5', a real-time strategy continuation of 'RTHЧ'. Players will battle against competitors on resource-rich planets while managing technology and military forces. The game's projected release is between late spring and summer of 1997.
- System Software Updates for ZX Spectrum - Котов А.В.
The article reviews various software updates and utilities for ZX Spectrum, highlighting their features, usability, and performance. It provides insight into programming tools, disk management, and database applications. The tone blends critique and personal experience to inform readers about the latest developments in Spectrum software.
- Overview of ZX Spectrum Software
The article provides a comprehensive overview of new software for ZX Spectrum, highlighting various games, their features, and recommendations for players.
- Interface
Discussion of the ZX Spectrum's interface issues and user frustrations with compatibility and modern enhancements. The author critiques the push for users to modify their machines for non-standard features and expresses dissatisfaction with current trends. Reflection on the future of the ZX Spectrum and the need for a more vibrant community involvement.
- Interface
The article discusses feedback from readers regarding games and programming tools for ZX Spectrum. It includes cheat codes for a game, opinions on assemblers, and insights into user preferences for computing. Various reader inquiries about games and software are also addressed.
- Interface
The article discusses issues surrounding the OVER FILE GROUP, a game developer known for mail-order sales, and the impact on user trust in software distribution. It also raises the question of whether to transition the magazine to 128K ONLY, seeking reader feedback. The piece reflects on the importance of user support for maintaining a trusted gaming community.
- Interface
The article discusses recent news in the ZX Spectrum community, including game development updates, personal news about developers, and local happenings in the Rybinsk and Yaroslavl areas.
- Presentation
The article presents new software releases by SURDAKAR GROUP, including a demo of ROAD FIGHTER and updates on FONT EDITOR and RAY DISK MONITOR.
- Promotion of Adventure Games
The article provides a detailed analysis of the adventure games 'APOLLO' and 'ЧУЖОЙ', evaluating their gameplay, challenges, and shortcomings in design.
- Ottyag
Discussion of computer slang and its impact on modern language, highlighting humorous interactions among users.
- Оттяг
The article presents a humorous collection of absurd lists, including reasons for dinosaur extinction, alternative names for Robinson Crusoe's Friday, and more.
- Ottyag
The article presents a test for aspiring demo makers, assessing their skills and commitment to demo creation on the ZX Spectrum. It evaluates their approaches to music, graphics, effects, and their overall engagement with the demo scene. Results determine their standing from novice to expert in the demoscene community.
- What Not to Say or Do When Drunk
The article provides humorous advice on what to avoid saying or doing when drunk, based on personal anecdotes. It emphasizes the consequences of poor decisions and offers cautionary tips. The content is lighthearted and reflects on typical drunken behaviors and their repercussions.
- Friendship Quiz
The article presents a humorous quiz about friendship, evaluating how friends would react in various social scenarios, culminating in a scoring system to assess the depth of one’s friendships.
- Ottag
Статья представляет собой сборник китайских пословиц с юмористическим подтекстом, отражающих различные аспекты жизни и отношений. Она сочетает в себе элементы сатиры и легкого фольклора, используя ироничные наблюдения о человеческом поведении. Текст включает в себя аллюзии на сексуальность, настольные игры и религиозные вопросы.
- Оттяг
Статья представляет собой пародийное евангелие, где события жизни Иисуса Христа изображаются в неформальном и юмористическом ключе.
- Experience Sharing
The article provides a detailed guide on creating a complete disk version of a program for ZX Spectrum, including code examples and practical advice.
- Experience Exchange
The article provides a comparative analysis of the PC and Amiga platforms, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages based on personal experience.
- Experience Exchange
The article discusses the existence and behavior of computer viruses on the ZX Spectrum, particularly the BASIC file infecting virus known as 'Drunken Djinn', first seen in the game Last Battle.
- Code Protection Methods
The article discusses various methods of software code protection, detailing techniques like inversion masking, obfuscation, P-code, cryptographic algorithms, and the use of ISR. Each method is evaluated for effectiveness and application, particularly within the ZX Spectrum environment. The author invites further information and collaboration on information security methods.
- Anniversary
The article celebrates the sixth issue of 'ADVENTURER,' marking one year since the founding of the AURYN group. It reflects on the past year for the Speccy community, including the emergence of new programs and the first demomakers' gathering in the CIS. The author expresses hope for the future of Speccy and encourages readers to support and promote the platform.
- Anniversary
Article celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Spectrum, reflecting on its enduring legacy and recent developments in hardware and software.
- Novella
The article narrates a novella centered on a covert mission involving a programmer named Gerald O'Brien, who is hired by a drug lord called Swede to infiltrate a rival's computer network, leading to a thrilling sequence of espionage and violence.
- Contest
The article discusses a contest related to ZX Spectrum, showcasing submissions and participants' creativity.
- Advertisement
The article is an advertisement section in Adventurer #06, inviting hackers, programmers, artists, and musicians to contribute to the ZX Spectrum community. It outlines collaboration opportunities, offers specific requirements for software submissions, and includes contact information for advertising and game distribution. Additionally, it promotes a range of ZX Spectrum software and services available across various cities.
