The second day of ENLIGHT was killed!
ALK and I arrived around 9:30. There was a crowd, but it was smaller than on the first day. People were frantically trying to read and understand the contents of two handwritten leaflets hanging on the wall. In brief, their content was as follows: "Suxx has arrived, everyone can be free, we will post the work on the BBS, for now..."
Battle-hardened people fighting bureaucracy did not disperse and continued to hold their ground. BEERMANS, TOX, and SAT from MEGACODE approached us, along with two guys from Ulyanovsk who had been sitting in the row next to us yesterday. Together we waited for something. Someone hung a sheet of fiberboard near the announcements, and various inscriptions began to appear on it. One stood out in particular:
HIROSHIMA'45
CHERNOBYL'86
WINDOWS'95
ENLIGHT'97
WHAT'S NEXT!??
Everyone was very pleased with the editor of the Moscow newspaper NICRON. He, along with two companions, began collecting questionnaires and conducting an unofficial vote. Naturally, these results were incomplete, as many did not submit their questionnaires, but without these approximate results, E'97 would have been a complete disgrace.
The votes were counted very slowly, and the result was a piece of paper with the top three places in DEMO, GFX, and AMIGA INTRO COMPO. BINARY LOVE took first place in the demos. Judging by the faces, this was a revelation for many. At least everyone I spoke to was wholeheartedly in favor of S4B. Later, back in Moscow, the votes were recounted and everything fell into place. However, this did not prevent ARTY and his team from starting HIDDEN PART.
It was impossible to drink right near the institute, particularly due to the constantly circulating police cars. One by one, people clustered together and left in an unknown direction. We were in no hurry to leave, and the wait paid off...
A member of the rS group HRG, having lost his temper, took off his branded t-shirt with the ENLIGHT'97 emblem and proclaimed its solemn burning. The shirt was hung on a sharp spike of the fence and began to be set on fire to the sounds of cameras clicking. And although a solid gasoline lighter was used for this, the shirt did not want to catch fire. Cries arose from the crowd: "ENLIGHT does not burn!!". In contrast, the shirt suddenly began to smoke and, engulfed in flames, started to burn.
The burning was the last interesting moment near the "VoenMech" building, and upon its completion, we, along with the Ulyanovsk guys, headed to where the hidden part should be. This place turned out to be a shady park just a couple of steps from the institute.
People were drinking, and they were drinking with a flourish. The guys from LOGROS were trying to interview the still sober ones, while the others were realizing themselves in a drunken state lying on the grass. The main contingent of drinkers included HACKER CRIS, DIGITAL REALITY, V.Mednonogov, SPB, and MOSCOW ZX-NET.
After hanging out for about an hour, I, ALK, and the guys from Ulyanovsk concluded that ENLIGHT'97 was over for us, and it was time to move on. We decided to take a little walk around the city, and as a farewell, I took a photo of the partying park.
Our walk through the streets of St. Petersburg was not successful. The only sight was a half-dry canal and a street named "STAROMALODETSKOLSELSKY PROEZD". Under this impressive name, I took my last, in my opinion, ENLIGHT photo:
In the photo:
MR.JOHN/JS MAXWELL/JS ALK/SoK
After walking a little more through the streets of St. Petersburg, we, strangely enough, found ourselves back at the metro station, the institute, and finally, the park. Out of curiosity, I suggested we go in and see what was happening. And there was...
In the park, everything remained unchanged, except for the degree of drunkenness of those gathered. More and more people lay directly on the grass; some tried to sit, but they struggled to do so.
After surveying this drunken community, I suggested to the others that we move a little further away, intuitively sensing something bad. Everyone agreed, and we set up our camp 30 meters from the main crowd deeper in the park. The presence of law enforcement officers immediately caught our attention. Two of them constantly walked around, making rounds of the crowd in a large circle. This led to sad reflections; however, the police did not show any aggression and simply observed what was happening.
Other park visitors were pensioners, settled on benches with newspapers. They only occasionally tore themselves away from their activities to glance at the gathered crowd with sharp looks.
We sat for half an hour, simply resting from the entire day. The desire to drink was gone, and the desire to eat had been killed. Periodically, the thought of leaving somewhere came to mind, but there was nowhere to go, and we continued to stay in the park.
The crowd, however, reached full condition. DIGITAL REALITY and someone else started a game of football with an empty plastic bottle; one comrade was dragged about 50 meters right across the grass, which was heavily littered with human and dog excrement, and loud shouts of "RULEZ", "MUST DIE", and of course "FOREVER" were heard.
Suddenly, a person separated from the crowd and headed towards us. As he approached, he was identified as a representative of the local ZX-NET. And indeed, he was! The newcomer loaded us with two interesting facts:
1) The cops were bought off with a bottle of vodka and therefore were not bothering anyone.
2) Entry to ENLIGHT'97 was paid!
Well, we didn’t argue with him about the vodka, but the topic of paid entry interested everyone. It turned out that he, in collaboration with a couple of local schemers, printed tickets on a color printer, guess where?... to ENLIGHT'97. The ticket price was 5,000 rubles (I think), and they were selling very well in ST. PETERSBURG! I didn’t remember the exact amount collected, but it was quite decent. Having supplied us with this valuable information, the comrade headed back to the crowd, which by that time had begun to actively sing songs from the repertoire of "KINO".
One of the attributes of this gathering should be highlighted - the ENLIGHT flag. It was a piece of red (!) fabric nailed to a long wooden stick. On the front side, the inscription ENLIGHT was emblazoned, as well as VIRT GROUP, ANARCHY, RULEZ, and something else. So about the flag...
By the time our guest reached the crowd, the following happened: the people gathered in a circle, and in the center, the aforementioned flag proudly fluttered. Then everyone began to sing... the Anthem of the Soviet Union, and it was something to see!
The pensioners instantly dropped their newspapers and stared at the unprecedented spectacle - a crowd of youth singing a patriotic song under a red banner! This was the true apotheosis of the hidden part.
No more than ten seconds, as if enchanted, we watched this scene. Then I had the thought to take a photo of this process. Of course, the photo could not convey the Hi-Fi DOLBY SOUND that was in the park, but at least it would capture the event itself. And just as I was about to unfasten the pocket of my bag, two or three blue-and-blue painted cars rushed into the park through the main entrance at breakneck speed.
For a few more seconds, the four of us stood paralyzed, but then I decided to take control of the situation and instructed everyone to slowly walk to the back of the park. No one knew if there was another exit or not, but the 40 meters to the police cars gave us a head start. The Ulyanovsk guys surged about ten meters ahead and confidently moved toward the presumed exit. No one looked back...
And finally, a gap appeared in the fence through which we could safely crawl. At that very moment, a commanding voice came from behind: "Guys, stop!". Turning around, we saw a person "on duty." Apparently, telepathically, someone from us suggested to run, as the cop was still far away. Also telepathically, I suggested staying, as I saw this as the only way out.
As he approached, the cop began a very thorough examination of our identities, documents, and belongings. He mistook the Ulyanovsk guys for locals due to their lack of bags, and upon seeing our Samara registration, he took decisive action.
The first demand was to present something like a permit to stay in the city. After a brief argument, he was quite satisfied with our tickets from Samara and back to Samara. Then he began to search our belongings.
During the search, someone asked: "What are we actually looking for?". The answer was brief: "Vodka, drugs." I still cannot understand why vodka was involved, but in any case, we had neither.
Meanwhile, ten meters behind the cop, his fellow officers were sitting - the very ones who were given the bottle, according to the ZX-NET guy. Judging by their gestures, the cops were busy processing that very bottle!
After finishing the search, "our" cop inadvertently dropped my pseudo-"Commander's" watch, justifying it by saying they were shockproof anyway. After thinking for a moment, he asked the reason for this whole gathering. My dialogue with him went something like this:
- What are you doing here?
- Well, we have this computer competition called ENLIGHT...
- What is that?
- Well, it's when music, graphics, all kinds of programs, people from different parts of the country come. You see, everything seemed fine, but the St. Petersburg guys drank a little too much and got out of hand. That's when you arrived...
- Ah, I see now, you have a "point" going on here, right!
With this statement, the cop knocked everyone down. After stepping back a little, I dared to ask how often he had to disperse "points." The cop remained silent, as he probably was a fidonet user himself. Feeling bold, I finally asked about the reasons for the arrival of so many "on duty" people in the park. The cop simply replied: "People living in the houses complained about your noise."
This answer was simply magnificent! If you look at the park from the place where we entered after the gathering at "VoenMech," to the left and at the end of the park are half-ruined, abandoned houses, and on the right is a construction site. What residents at three o'clock in the morning???
However, the fun did not end there. Continuing in the same direction we had been going before the cop, we exited the park and, having passed a couple of houses, stumbled upon a large anthill (the police station). Now it was clear which "residents" were unhappy with the noise.
I never managed to take photos of the final part of the hidden part. But EXPLODER and VISUAL, who were at that moment on the other side of the park behind the fence, made several excellent shots, according to Viktor Moskalev. Apparently, this is the only documentary evidence of what happened.
This, in principle, concluded the second day of ENLIGHT for us.
The remaining two days spent in St. Petersburg were of little interest from a computer perspective. Although on Monday we sat for about six hours at the SCORPION company, where the kindest guys led by VIK and Fomin showed and even let us hold all the company's relics. Among them were the GMX board, an immense number of branded cassettes, and a real SPECTRUM (like 3+) from which the SCORPION scheme was drawn and the LASER GENIUS package, which became the basis for the "shadow". With the last two relics, we even managed to take a picture. By the way, I thank the guys from ANTARES, whom we met there, for the photo.
In the photo:
M.M.A ALK
in hands LASER GENIUS in hands...SPECTRUM!
So, what did I take away from ENLIGHT'97? A lot... And first of all, I realized that living like this cannot continue!
The organization of the party itself is terribly poor. People worked and prepared for a whole year, and their works either completely flew by (everything on PC and music on ZX), or were shown in such miserable conditions that it is hard to even call it a show.
However, a party for SPECTRUM is needed now more than ever. If at E'97 we see a strong Russian demo scene + very interesting foreign works (including completely foreign ones!), then with the disappearance of ENLIGHT, it is unlikely that the growth trend in demomaking will continue. And now our demos, like SHIT 4 BRAINS and the demo SPIRIUS (from the creators of SPAZM) that did not make it to ENLIGHT'97, represent very solid works in terms of concept and script. They are far from SHOCK, LYRA II, or INSULT. Really interesting, "adult" works - that is what this is about!
So what about the party, you may ask me? Everything is under control! While empty debates about the revival of ENLIGHT are taking place in the fido echo ZX.SPECTRUM, while JOCKER calls us all to Sochi, preparations are already underway in the capital of our homeland. As far as I know, in August next year, a joint party with BK-MANIA will take place in Moscow with various COMPOs, prizes, and all the other things. The organization of this event is being taken on by MAGIC SOFT and PROGRESS.
Let's wish them good luck in this difficult endeavor!
In conclusion, I really want to write the prophetic lines of the little-known Russian poet V. Mayakovsky:
I believe, the PARTY will be,
I know, SPECTRUM exists!
When such a SCENE
exists in the Soviet land...
P.S. As music to this article (are your ears still not hurting?), the unfinished SOUNDTRACK to NOUMENON - our ENLIGHT demo - was used. Unfortunately, DAGMA did not manage to finish this melody, as he was taken into the army. And MMSM from SAGE GROUP, of course, could not write us quality music in two days. Moreover, he himself had only just returned from the army a week ago. And KSA SOUND TRACKER PRO, the dog, incorrectly compiled the whole thing. That is why the SOUNDTRACK to NOUMENON turned out to be quite miserable... For now! CUL8TR!
By the time this issue of the magazine was published, we received a huge (compared to previous issues) number of letters. The most "expressive" works are placed below.
For unknown reasons, Mr. R.Atrides took a long time to gather and arrange this section. That is why (as always) I (M.M.A) had to take everything into my own hands. The first two letters had already been commented on, but I added a couple of my thoughts on both the text of the letter and Atrides' comments. Such are the things!
Now, let's move on to the analysis of the most interesting letters, in our opinion, that came after the release of the third issue.
Contents of the publication: Oberon #04
- From the Editorial
This editorial discusses the legal 'charges' against the creators of Oberon #4 as a humorous narrative, highlights the challenges faced in publishing this issue, and announces a potential hiatus for the magazine.
- Scroll
Analysis of the game 'Chaos' by Julian Gollop. Simplified gameplay mechanics and strategic elements. Description of creatures, spells, and tactics.
- Scroll - Unbeliever
Description of a mathematical game for ZX Spectrum where players collect formula symbols while navigating gears.
- Scroll - M.M.A
Discussion of 'Doc the Destroyer', a unique fighting and adventure game for ZX Spectrum. The article covers controls, character customization, and game mechanics. Compatibility issues on different ZX Spectrum models are also addressed.
- Overview - M.M.A
The article provides a review of games for ZX Spectrum, including KOMANDO 2, WRESTLING SUPERSTARS, TAG TEAM WRESTLING, and CAPTAIN PLANET. It highlights the features, graphics, and gameplay of each game, noting both strengths and weaknesses. The review concludes with recommendations and comparisons to other platforms and games.
- Overview
Overview of various ZX Spectrum games, highlighting their unique features, gameplay mechanics, and design elements. Includes critique on sound effects, graphics, and technical issues. Discusses games like 'Stryker in the Crypts of Trogan', 'Phileas Fogg's Balloon Battles', and 'Survival'.
- Overview - Alex Noman
The article reviews games for the ZX Spectrum, including BOOVIE, MOTOR MASSACRE, SOCCER PINBALL, and HUXLEY PIG 1 & 2. Each game is detailed in terms of gameplay, graphics, and unique features. The discussion includes comparisons to other games and highlights specific technical aspects.
- Review
A review of various games, including Little Computer People and Lost Caves, highlighting their features and versions. It also discusses 75Occ Grand Prix by Codemasters with its limitations. The article provides insights into game mechanics and versions.
- Review
Detailed review of various assemblers like Alasm 3.8, TASM 4.12, and others, highlighting their features and shortcomings.
- About Everything
Announcement of the creation of the SamZxNet network in Samara and the challenges of setting it up with HAYES modems. Explanation of the modems' power requirements and potential difficulties. Invitation for technical advice from experienced readers.
- About Everything
Description of travel to ENLIGHT'97 and meeting various demoscene participants. Observations of event organization and issues. Insights into participant experiences and scene discussions.
- About Everything
Report on the second day of ENLIGHT'97: events, challenges, and reflections. Describes voting results and organizational difficulties. Highlights future prospects for Spectrum demo parties.
- About Everything
The article features reader feedback on Oberon #04, critiquing design and content choices and discussing issues with software protection and game enhancements.
- About Everything
Discussion of the adventure game KAYLETH with gameplay tips and advice. Includes a game dictionary and suggestions from the author and their team. Calls for a local artist for future RPG development.
- About Everything
Reflection on the closure of the 'ZX-REVIEW' magazine and the adaptation of its article for 'Oberon'. Discussion on the development of ultra-short boot loaders. Optimization techniques for writing one-sector boot loaders on ZX Spectrum.
- About Everything
Exploration of amateur contributions to electronics, music, and computing history, highlighting figures like Faraday and Babbage. The evolution from handmade instruments to personal computers. Discussion on jazz, blues, and rock'n'roll's informal origins.
- About Everything
The story of Lieutenant Edward Roberts' journey from radio kits to creating the first PC, the Altair 8800, overcoming skepticism and challenges.
- About Everything
The article explores the rise and evolution of the computer industry, highlighting the transformation from passionate hobbyists to corporate dominance by giants like IBM and Microsoft.
- About Everything
An exploration of Sir Clive Sinclair's project after selling the Sinclair brand, detailing the features of the Cambridge Computers Z88 laptop.
- About Everything
Discussion of software market problems in 1997 for ZX Spectrum, highlighting lack of new software and user reluctance to pay.
- Announcement - M.M.A
Announcement of 'Black Raven' game by V. Mednonogov, focusing on gameplay, technical challenges, and upcoming features.
- Announcement
Discussion of the decline in ZX Spectrum development, reviews of new games and utilities, and announcements of future projects.
- Educational Program
The article provides an overview of FidoNet, a non-commercial computer network often considered the predecessor of the Internet, detailing its origins, growth, and unique cultural aspects.
- Hardware
Instructions for connecting the 'ALEGRO' modem to computers with normal port #FF, detailing hardware modifications required for proper signal handling.
- Hardware
Connecting Hayes-compatible modems to ZX Spectrum, focusing on Scorpion and Pentagon models, detailing hardware modifications. Specific instructions for internal port blocking and signal alignment provided. Step-by-step process and technical intricacies explained.
- Hardware
Discussion of the transition from 5.25' to 3.5' floppy disks for ZX Spectrum, including installation issues and solutions for compatibility with existing software.
- Let's Feast
A satirical story about a Rabbit who lost his house to a cunning Fox and how a Rooster helped him reclaim it.
- Let's Gourmet
A humorous tale about Malysh and Karlson's adventures with technology, drawing parallels between computers and everyday life, culminating in a comic mishap with an AMIGA computer.
- Advertising
Article discusses free advertising policy of Oberon, catalog of programs and hardware for ZX Spectrum, and adventure game engagement.
- Advertisement - Kano
Promotional campaign by Magic Soft and RPSG in Russia for Amiga multimedia computers, offering exhibitions, sales, and consultations. They highlight Amiga's advantages over other systems, describe various models, and provide price lists. Collaboration with 'Computers for Population' for distribution and services.
