Adventurer #06: Юбилей: Отмечаем год 'ADVENTURER' и его вклад в Speccy

      (C) Kotov A.V. (CAV Inc.)
      (C) Music D.J. Music

Here comes the anniversary issue of "ADVENTURER". You may ask why the sixth issue is the anniversary one and not the fifth? Because exactly a year has passed since the AURYN group gathered and decided to bring joy to the Speccy world with their magazine. Was this year good for Speccy? Many would answer "YES"! A lot of programs appeared, new developments emerged, and the FIRST gathering of demomakers in the CIS took place (unfortunately, I could not attend this meeting). What else can be said about the past year... Undoubtedly, it can be called the year of magazine building. Literally every major city had its own magazines and newspapers. Not every publication survived until the end of 1996, but there’s no need to regret that. The most resilient and interesting ones remained (?). At some point, we should conduct a ranking among readers for the most popular magazine (or rather, the top five most popular ones).

The past year can also be called the year of hope for Speccy. The entire year passed under the slogan "Spectrum forever!" Probably, everyone has already understood that Speccy is not a toy, but a serious eight-bit computer. We worked on conveying this idea to the people, but unfortunately, we didn’t make it to TV, and newspapers turned out to be not very effective. Therefore, we kindly ask the readers of our magazine: explain to people WHAT Spectrum is and why they shouldn’t spend huge amounts of money on PCs (and if they do have money, it’s better to buy an AMIGA). I appeal to the readers with this request because my heart bleeds, watching the PC advertisements. They sell all sorts of junk under the guise of cool equipment, and for many, the words "computer" and "IBM PC" have become synonymous. And that’s bad...

Well, never mind other platforms. I hope that 1997 will not be the last year for Speccy, but will allow it to rise to a new level of development, and we will see new works (at least, I plan to release QUEST). I hope that in the new year we will all find new friends and not lose the old ones due to the military enlistment office. You are probably waiting for us to tell you about our plans for 1997? Well, just wait. Maybe we will tell... someday.

One thing I can say for sure: "ADVENTURER" will continue to be published, and what it will be like depends on you, the reader. You have probably seen lines in many magazines saying: "...the frequency of the magazine's release depends on the readers..." So, what I can say is: if we (AURYN) lived in Moscow or St. Petersburg and publishing the magazine was our main activity, new issues would come out EVERY month and that’s without letters from readers!!! Nevertheless, we are happy with EVERY letter from our readers. They are like balm for our old hacker souls. So, dear readers, write to us, for it’s not hard - just take a pen and a piece of paper and jot down a couple of lines. It’s pleasant for us, and who knows, you might benefit from it too. After all, it’s nice to show your name in such a solid publication to friends, parents, a beloved girl (underline as needed) :-o. Or you might even write an article. And there’s no need to be shy about your clumsy Russian or bad handwriting. We’re people too, we’ll understand. (If only you could see my articles in the original :-o).

With that, allow me to take my leave, we congratulate you and ourselves on the end of winter, the first month of spring, and the anniversary issue of "ADVENTURER"!

           ────────────────────── 
           (C) Voshchenikin Vladislav

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.