Adventurer #08: Интерфейс: Проблемы и переживания пользователя Speccy

     (C) CAV Inc. /AURYN/CPU

Nonsense #9

Hello, dear readers, you are probably waiting for another dose of nonsense from me. Wait, wait. Honestly, I’m tired of rambling and not seeing any feedback. What difference does it make if I write for the hundred and first time that PC must die, and Amiga rules, what will change because of that? If a person has firmly decided to leave SPECCY, they will do it, and where to go, as they say, who knows. I’m not planning to leave SPECCY for now, although I could afford either a "four" in a multimedia configuration or an Amiga 600. But, as you understand, the "four" is not needed at all right now, and for AMMY, I would have to go to Moscow, which is a bit problematic from Siberia (it would cost more for the trip). Honestly, I don’t want to buy a PC at all; I’ve seen enough of them at work (I’ve been a sysadmin for a while now). Many of the problems that are mentioned in literature (see "Computerra") I haven’t encountered, and I ran a bunch of applications even on 16 megabytes (Word 97, Photoshop 3.05, Supermag, Corel 6 & a bunch of other small stuff). Of course, windows didn’t pop up instantly, and "Supermag" didn’t allow me to do anything when calculating reports (although the CPU load indicator was only at 40%). Honestly, who cares, no one. There are no such problems on SPECCY at all. To ensure the survival of our platform, we need to fight not only among SPECCY users but also, to a greater extent, among those who are not yet computer literate, and we should immediately focus on Sprinter and other models of a similar class, but primarily on Sprinter. Because right now there is one big problem. This problem is components. If the processor can still be found without problems, then, for example, finding VG93 is already a problem. And a big one at that. In the city of Kemerovo, where fate has placed me, I could only find that damn microchip in one store at a rather crazy price - 25 rubles! brand new! In general, it’s hard to find something for SPECCY now (and don’t think it’s easy for others; where, for example, can you get a keyboard or an LCD monitor for a trashy "BONA" laptop?). Technology has progressed too quickly, and to keep up, you need too much money, which honestly, I’m reluctant to spend just on games. Of course, I want to have 3D graphics as soon as possible and of the best quality, but to set up a "box" worth $200, why do I need that? All these Voodoo & Co are not suitable for work (where have you seen a designer working in 640*400 or 800*600?) In the old Light Wave 4.0 released in 1996, you can create many more effects (it’s a really cool program; 3D MAX has a lot to learn from it) and you can set the size of the resulting image to whatever you want (with a color depth of 32 bits). However, I’ve only seen the PC version of this program; they say the Amiga version is much cooler. I don’t want to convince anyone that Amiga is better than PC in any case. If you want, you can argue with me. How the world has changed; everyone wants to make money, many can, but do nothing. The favorite excuse is "if only I were paid 500, 600,... rubles, dollars, tugriks, then I would do it." What can I say to such people.... Look at the universally disliked Bill Gates; what do you think he did, sat in a dark room whining, "if only IBM paid me for the operating system then I would...". If that were really the case, he wouldn’t be the richest person in the world, and don’t blame the pirates. I understand Slava Mednonogov, who spent who knows how much time on his "Black Crow," and as a result got less than expected. And feeling offended by the whole world, he said that we wouldn’t see anything from him anymore. I also invest a lot in ADVENTURER and see nothing from it, but I don’t scream to the whole world: "pirates are bastards, users are bastards too, since they don’t want to buy my products and go to pirates." Why, from what, try to answer yourself. But I believe that one should not stop writing programs if they don’t earn money for them, because your SPECCY is not work, it’s rest, it’s even more than rest; it’s a lifestyle, and if you can still earn money from it.... And you just need to do something for yourself. To prove, first of all, to yourself, and then to others that you can, that you’re cool and the only one cooler than you is the clouds. Coders! You are incredibly lucky that you work on such a machine and can easily catch almost all the bugs. Take, for example, PC, where everything needs to be done with an eye on neighbors and "hardware" companies, and there is always a chance that your creation won’t work on 40% of machines, while Vasya Pupkin’s will work great, albeit slowly, on all machines. People, everything is in your hands, and only you can help yourselves. And in general, I’m tired of saying this every time. I’m not a preacher. Well, I promised there wouldn’t be nonsense, and look what happened. I’m getting old, though.

Contents of the publication: Adventurer #08

• От автора - Shaitan
  Technical details of a new program interface for ZX Spectrum. Discusses improvements and features like scrolling and color change. Provides keyboard and button navigation instructions.
• От автора
  Introduction by the author and editorial team details.
• Presentation
  The article presents a software installer for creating autorun disks and introduces a new adventure game created with QUILL by Dr. Laser.
• Presentation of TRICK Software
  The article presents TRICK, a new software for program protection developed by Eternity Industry, and discusses its beta and commercial versions. The author, Alexander Kalinin (aka Paracels/EI), addresses previous shortcomings in the software and emphasizes its improved interface. It includes purchase details for the software and invites readers to request it.
• Presentation
  The article provides a detailed user manual for HELP_Z80, a free utility for ZX Spectrum that serves as an electronic guide for Z80 microprocessor commands. It outlines how to load and use the software, including command explanations, search functions, and integration with assemblers. Additionally, it includes memory distribution, operational features, and references for further reading.
• Interface
  The article discusses reader feedback on the magazine's interface, addressing concerns about pricing and software trends in the ZX Spectrum community. It features a letter from a reader expressing thoughts on game pricing and the declining number of users on the platform. Additionally, there are discussions on software developments and user engagement.
• Interface
  The article shares the author's experiences after purchasing an Amiga, comparing it with a PC, and discussing its usability for games, graphics, and music, while noting some software limitations.
• Interface
  The article discusses user support issues faced by hardware manufacturers SCORPION and NEMO for ZX Spectrum devices. It critiques SCORPION for poor customer service despite being a market leader, while praising NEMO for responsive support. The author expresses concerns about the overall market direction for ZX Spectrum hardware.
• Interface
  Article discusses the future of the Spectrum platform, addressing user demographics, software production challenges, and hardware evolution possibilities.
• Interface
  Article discusses the frustrations of a Speccy user regarding hardware issues, the challenges of modern computing, and the dedication to maintaining the Speccy platform.
• Interface
  Статья рассматривает жизнь и судьбы пользователей ZX Spectrum, включая личные воспоминания автора о друзьях и их взаимодействии с компьютерами.
• System
  The article reviews various software for ZX Spectrum, including text editors, audio players, and graphic utilities. It provides independent opinions on their features and usability, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. The piece emphasizes the evolution and improvement of software tools available for this classic platform.
• Overview of Games
  Overview of notable games for ZX Spectrum, highlighting their graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics. Each entry includes a brief summary and rating. Recommended for fans of retro gaming.
• Review of Demos
  The article reviews demo versions of various games, highlighting their potential and unique features. It emphasizes the scarcity of such releases in the market and evaluates the quality and gameplay mechanics of selected titles. The author shares insights into the progress and expectations for future full versions of these games.
• Guests
  The article discusses the formation and activities of the Eternity Industry group, its members, projects, and future plans for releases and competitions.
• Гости - Dr. John
  An interview with Felix from Virtual Brothers discusses his transition from ZX Spectrum to PC, development of the game 'Winnie the Pooh', and future plans.
• Guests
  Interview with the musicians Mарат and Демон from the band 'Disgust', discussing their musical evolution, influences, and perspectives on life and creativity.
• Promotion
  The article provides a detailed manual for the game 'ENCYCLOPEDIA of WAR', explaining army selection, unit types, and battle mechanics.
• Promotion
  The article provides a walkthrough for the game, detailing necessary items and strategies for progressing through various challenges, including dealing with dinosaurs and navigating villages.
• Promotion
  Статья представляет собой обзор arcade adventure игры 'ELOPEMENT' от Omega HG, выделяя ее особенности и советы по прохождению.
• Promotion
  Статья описывает текстовую адвентюру 'Остров тьмы' на QUILL, предлагая советы для игроков. Упоминаются механики и персонажи, включая загадки и взаимодействия. В конце представлена карта острова.
• Promotion of 'Knightmare'
  The article describes the game 'Knightmare', detailing its commands, gameplay mechanics, and initial quests. Players control a knight who must interact with characters and solve puzzles to progress. It serves as a manual for navigating the game's environment and objectives.
• Experience Exchange
  The article critiques the adventure game 'Island of Darkness' by Paul Moskow, highlighting its illogical design, lack of detailed item descriptions, and absence of helpful hints for players.
• Experience Exchange
  The article provides a detailed manual for enhancing the ZX ASM 3.0 assembler, introducing debugging features and functionalities for better program execution control on ZX Spectrum.
• Experience Exchange
  The article describes a phenomenon observed with the ZX Spectrum video controller, where switching between two screens can create unexpected visual artifacts. It outlines a specific program that demonstrates this effect through rapid screen toggling. The author discusses the implications and potential applications of this behavior.
• Обмен опытом - Иван Рощин
  The article is a programming guide on porting the 'iris.ss' screen saver effect from Dos Navigator to ZX Spectrum, including source code and modification tips.
• Обмен опытом - Иван Рощин
  Description of the OPEN_W procedure to create window borders. Includes details on customization of symbols and dimensions. Utilizes PRSYM for symbol printing.
• Обмен опытом - Maximum
  Introduction to long integer operations for game development on ZX Spectrum, including addition, subtraction, and conversion to ASCII.
• Experience Exchange
  The article discusses the customization of the ART STUDIO graphic editor by creating additional modules that enhance its functionality, including features like music playback and cursor coordinates display.
• Experience Exchange
  The article describes a program developed to improve the visual quality of a pixel-by-pixel moving attribute message on ZX Spectrum. It provides details on the implementation, including the use of data arrays for motion trajectory and image rendering. The program includes comments for easier understanding and can be modified for different effects.
• Оттяг
  The article features humorous sketches and commentary on various aspects of life and technology, including anecdotes about a fictional character's experience with a Pentium processor.
• Pharmacist Test
  The article presents humorous tests designed to identify whether someone is a real pharmacist or a fraud, featuring situational questions and scoring to gauge knowledge of pharmacy.
• Oddities and Self-Reflection in 'Оттяг'
  The article 'Оттяг' presents a humorous and critical self-reflection of the author, exploring various life experiences and quirks that highlight his unusual personality traits.
• Humorous Quiz: Assess Your Sense of Humor
  The article presents a humorous quiz to assess one's sense of humor and sexual attitudes through various situational questions, revealing absurd and comedic perspectives.
• Student Types Quiz
  The article presents a humorous quiz to determine what kind of student you are, ranging from a party animal to a diligent scholar. It features a series of questions regarding typical student activities and responses. The results categorize students based on their score, from carefree to nerdy.
• How to Properly Torture Windows 95 - Maximum
  Статья описывает иронический подход к установке и эксплуатации операционной системы Windows 95, включая способы ее 'мучения' и троллинга. В тексте используются гиперболизированные примеры взаимодействия с ОС для создания комичного эффекта. Это развлекательный материал с элементами юмора.
• Ottyag
  The article is a humorous narrative featuring Winnie the Pooh and his friends returning to the Hundred Acre Wood, where their carefree life turns chaotic. It describes their antics, including drinking and misadventures, as they reunite and encounter various challenges. The story showcases the characters' personalities and interactions in a comedic light.
• Novella
  The article describes a humorous novella featuring Corporal Johnlan recounting his first military mission and his interactions with a young grandchild over beers.
• Novella
  Novella recounts an adventurous escape from a Glot base using a vintage spacecraft, highlighting the protagonist's encounters and clever maneuvers.
• Novella
  The article describes a whimsical story about two hedgehogs, Pukhly and Zaraza, who, after a strange event, develop wings and must navigate their new reality. The story blends fantasy and humor as the characters face unexpected changes and challenges. This is a novella showcasing imaginative storytelling.
• News
  The article discusses recent updates from Rybninsk related to the FunTop party, detailing contributions from various individuals and teams for the 'Adventurer' magazine and demo competitions.
• News
  Статья сообщает о событиях в сообществе Спектрумистов Ярославля, включая информацию о разработчиках программного обеспечения и их текущих проектах.
• Advertisement
  The article is a collection of advertisements and announcements related to ZX Spectrum, inviting collaboration from programmers, artists, and musicians, and detailing how to acquire the journal and software.