It is possible that some of this is not entirely accurate - unfortunately, there is no official page dedicated to news for Speccy on the Internet, so we have to rely on information obtained through correspondence with our sceners. In general, in foreign scene magazines, the process is as follows: teams send files with news to various diskmags themselves - primarily to get coverage, as they are interested in it themselves, since it can sometimes serve as good advertising. Here at "RU(s)H", we give you such an opportunity, though I don't know how this option will work in our country. You can find our contact information in the "Contact the Editorial Office" section.
Alliance
-------
Released a demo version of their new game on ZX - MEGABOOM - a worthy successor to classics like Eric and the Floaters.
AmigaLine & Kondorsoft & mag "Новая Амига"
-----------------------------------------
The website of "Новая Амига" states that in late January - early February, a presentation of the magazine and a small exhibition of new Amiga hardware will take place in Moscow on one of the Sundays. The companies "Amiga Line" and "Kondor" are participating. After the reports and sales - an unofficial part with FREE BEER!
Alchemist Research
-----------------
The legendary Englishmen - publishers of the largest electronic magazine "AlchNews" on Spectrum topics, available on Amiga, Speccy, and PC (under emulator), are still active in the scene! They are the ones to learn from!
Asphyxia
-------
I don't know where it came from, but a new, previously unseen creation from Tankard has appeared - the game "Mole Hunt". Behind this intriguing title is a rather simple game that is nevertheless enjoyable to play while having a beer. ;-)
Brokimsoft/ETC
------------------
Participating in the creation of our joint magazine - "RU(s)H", providing music and materials. They have released a bunch of games, as always high-quality versions with trainers. Due to Panda's delays with the setup, the release of the full version of Crime Santa Clause II: Deja VU is postponed. According to Ticklish Jim, the main coder of the project - "as soon as the setup is ready, the game will be released in a couple of weeks." A new pre-release version was recently released, aimed at finding and attracting official distributors. Personally, I had the pleasure of looking at and using the test version of the game (it was sent to 5a$hu1yA/sMaSh for bug catching and feedback). The impressions are as follows: AMAZING!!! It is possible that the game will surpass the current hit - Kolobok Zoom II from Fatality and Asphyxia. Nothing like this has ever been seen among Dizzy-like quests: meticulously drawn graphics, a ton of animations, great music + effects on AY, support for 512 kb, an interesting plot, competent texts (!). CSC II will take up an entire disk. I strongly recommend everyone to purchase the full version of the game. Sadly, Steeler and Lazy sold their Amigas and switched to PC. According to the latest information, the long-awaited "CSC II" is almost finished and by the time you read this text, it is undoubtedly already being distributed. :-)
CodeBusters
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Wrote and are improving their new Speccy emulator on Amiga. Read more in the "VIRTUAL SPECCY" section. Max Iwamoto visited Moscow, where, according to rumors, Amiga enthusiasts treated him to beer for his services to the homeland :) The goal was to stimulate the development of the CBSpeccy version for 68040 and 68060 processors.
Concern Chaos
------------
Most likely, the demoparty Chaos Construction, postponed from winter to summer, will become the successor to Funtop. I remind you that CC98 was planned to be held in December as a commercial compo on Amiga, PC, and ZX platforms. However, it was canceled due to the crisis and problems with sponsors. It seems that the option of holding the competition in the Northern Capital of Russia suits both Moscow and St. Petersburg. The promotion of the party has already begun. Amiga and PC enthusiasts wishing to participate should contact the organizers, as there are currently very few of them, and the demo-compo for these platforms may not take place.
Copper Feet
----------
"Black Raven II" will be released soon! A demo version is currently available. More details in the article "Black Raven II".
Crystal Dream
------------
They have a rather strange policy regarding their magazine Depth - according to the producer (SOI aka Stanley), the fifth issue of Depth is close to release, although few have seen the third. (If not to say that no one has :) By the way, one of the issues of Depth published a story about how SOI met Spectrumists from Italy, using the "Scorpion" emulator, as well as a Sinclair enthusiast (!) from Vietnam (!!!). SOI told me all this personally over the phone, saying that such a release cannot be discussed over long-distance calls - read DEPTH, he said. Besides working on the magazine, they are writing a huge commercial game for PC - with a lot of digitized video, etc., currently working on squeezing it onto 2 CDs (!). Additionally, theoretically, a distributor for the game has already been found - some PC enthusiast from Australia, whom CD found through the Internet.
At the time of writing this article, I managed to contact SOI! So, the fifth issue of DEPTH has already been released, and the sixth is expected soon. Also, according to him, CD is not shutting down its activities on Speccy, as he is currently working on a new game. However, I still don't understand where Smaggly-3, finished a year ago, is ;-(
Denis Sotchenko
--------------
Plans to release a new version of his BK emulator for Amiga with PowerPC processors.
Digital Reality
--------------
Due to the wild workload of musicians and artists, the full version of the demo Forever has not yet been released. Currently, the main coder of DR - Flying is writing the shell/setup for the new magazine Scenergy. According to Arty, all previously announced projects are not closed. MegaBall will be distributed as Shareware. The Doom project has made progress - 2 new levels have been written, with 13-15 remaining ;-)
E-MAGE
-----
KVA continually delights owners of "real" Speccy, "sitting" in FidoNet, releasing new versions of Lara Croft. Rumor has it they are preparing a new demo. The script is ready, half of the effects are already written, but the authors have little time, so they do not disclose the exact release dates for their new masterpiece E-MAGE.
Energy Minds
-----------
They left the Amazing Software Making association and joined the X-Project Association. At the end of 1998, the leader of EM - Midisoft visited Kharkov, where he met the other XPA members. Recently released a series of game releases, unfortunately, some released games remain incomplete (Soldier of Fortune, for example). They are currently writing an info piece for the Summer Smash Gathering 99. The artist NSV has completely switched from Speccy to Amiga.
Entire
-----
After long suffering and trials, Rob F. accomplished the impossible - released the demo "Virtual", which the group has been working on for several years. Unfortunately, by today's standards, the demo is not competitive, but the fact that the group managed to complete at least one major project is certainly encouraging. We hope that all the other countless projects of the guys will see the light soon. In general, the group is intensively engaged in Amigas; recently, Dreamer bought himself an A600 and soon plans to acquire an Amiga Drawer. A long time ago, Surgeon got an Ammy. So far, Ammy is mainly used for composing music, but there are plans for broader applications of this platform. The unmatched "hardware wizard" Ace does the impossible with computers and realizes the unrealizable. His largest project at the moment is connecting a hard drive to Speccy with full emulation of working with TR-Dos disks. The author is interested in the demand for his future development, so if you are interested, you can contact him personally (phone in Kyiv: (044) 414-82-88 (Andrey)), or through our editorial office, leaving your contact details. Also, we express our gratitude to him for repairing and upgrading our own computers. Thanks, Ace!
ETC
--
Announced their exit from RUSH. Wolf is writing a new demo for Chaos Constructions 99. Lazy is completely absorbed in PC.
Excess
-----
Information from S!V BLadERa:
ZK SYSTEM, the author of such revolutionary programs as: EXCESS SAMPLE EDITOR, EXCESS de LUXE PAINT, EXCESS MULTY VIEWER, returns to Speccy after illness ... so wait for something new (maybe even for free :) and ZK's performance is something to behold ... Probably, we should expect EDP soon - today I saw how cool the new texture-filling method is implemented in it (intriguing)... So if someone wrote to me about EDP and didn't get an answer, now ZK (who visits me practically every weekend) will answer all your questions and listen to your comments live... (i.e., it makes sense to send me your wishes and grievances again via email :) to the Fido address: 2:5049/66.50)
Fatality
-------
Not long before the New Year, they released another game - "White Eagle", dedicated to the pre-New Year local - Minsk and Grodno hackerz-drink-party. The game is written quite well, full of humor, unfortunately aimed mainly at the Belarusian scene. :) A bit of information from the authors themselves (Ars/FTL):
Hello, All! And this, I don't even know what it is :) Don't judge harshly, it's a mini-game made in two weeks, right after the release of Kolobok. It's a pity that all the jokes will only be understood in Grodno and Minsk, but still, maybe someone will like it. By the way, there's a glitch again :~( Instead of the word "meat", it should read "butter".
FFC Computers
------------
According to information from Alex from FFC COMPUTERS, BestView 2.6 is on the way!!! The writing of the next version of BestView is nearing completion. This version (2.6) is expected to include global improvements and further optimization.
John Musienko
------------
Completely gave up on Speccy and is currently working on music for Amiga. In the foreseeable future, he plans to participate in the development of a commercial strategy game for Amiga.
Imp/DMS/RUSH
-----------
Working as a designer for the newspaper. According to him, he is quite satisfied with this job, as it has a creative aspect. Imp stated that he does not intend to return to Speccy, although he could now write the coolest and most stylish demo if he returned. Unfortunately, demo-making no longer interests him.
Ivan Mak
-------
(From Vyacheslav Mednonogov):
Ivan reported that he implemented the hardware capability of scaling vertical lines in Sprinter for making doom-like games. Now, it turns out, he has taken on the implementation of a similar game himself! I believe all sprinterists and spectrumists should take a look at that very demo I wrote. To understand, WHAT IS IT?!! P.S. The demo occupies exactly one 1.44Mb disk and will run on all sprinters with BIOS firmware from 1999. P.P.S. The actual code in the demo is 1.5 kilobytes. The rest is tables, graphics, music..
Laser Dream Technology
---------------------
The Dnipropetrovsk group LDT has suffered losses in its ranks: several people have left, including the main coder 3VC. The remaining team members hope to revive the Amigos newspaper and finish the unfinished project of Ned Wilson - "Ukrainian Football Manager". At the time of writing, the author received information that LDT no longer exists. DoomStar has moved to another team.
Ned Wilson
---------
Has been drafted into the army, to the glorious city of Pavlograd, where he is occasionally visited by Syndicate members. He usually comes home on weekends, which gives him the opportunity to see his beloved A1200 at least once a week.
Omega Hackerz Group
------------------
After the commercial failure of their music editor, they threatened to leave Speccy, as they no longer intended to write anything "for free". I don't know what exactly happened, but they recently released an editor for truecolor images. Multistudio.
Петерс
-----
Announced that they do not consider the "Sprinter" project unpromising and do not intend to abandon it. An interesting "interview" with Ivan Makarchenko was improvised in Fido:
Q: Is it true that the company Peters has lost interest in Spectrum?
A: Everything is still the same, work on Sprinter continues as always. Only the market situation has changed, unfortunately. Due to the crisis, demand is practically zero. :(
Q: Is it true that Ivan Makarchenko has been elevated to the rank of technical director, or possibly a business partner, responsible in the company "Peters" for Spectrum-compatible computers?
A: No.
Q: ...Or is this all evidence of a gradually waning interest in the SPECTRUM platform at the "Peters" company?
A: Commercial interest has practically disappeared. "Peters" still sells disks from "Welcome" and repairs Spectrums. This brings in a very small income. And the Sprinter topic is developing and will continue to develop in the future. I hope that interest in Sprinter will rise again, but if it doesn't happen, the ideas laid down in Sprinter will not be lost and will be incorporated into the new development Sprinter-II. (Not to be confused with P-II :))) And interest in Sprinter will greatly influence what Sprinter-II will be like and how close it will be to Spectrum.
Rage
---
Mythos/Rage can be said to have written a new generation Elite, although the author himself does not consider it necessary to call this demo Elite - it will simply be a new game of a similar genre. A mix of Elite, Academy, and ZH is expected in the future. In general, big plans ;) By the way, all three-dimensional objects were made in a special editor, the full version of which will most likely be freeware. The engine is taken from Hard Drivin and slightly optimized.
Silicon Brains
-------------
According to rumors, Golden Eagle has now fully devoted himself to Amiga. After a long quarrel with Mad Max, they no longer communicate. Max himself is on PC. The Worms project for Speccy has been postponed until the release of a new version of Alasm. I remind you that in the full version, graphics and music will be from Avalon, all of this is already ready and sent to Nikolaev. So now everything depends on Golden Eagle.
Sirius
-----
Gave up on Speccy, or rather on software distribution in Odessa as an unprofitable venture and is now trading in CDs and video tapes.
Smash Hackerz Band
-----------------
Slowly engaged in everything. Thrash became a Fido user on Speccy, which means he has even less time for "Long Live Amiga". Mighty trades PC, his Speccy died. DJ DAN and D!M0N upgraded their Amigas with accelerators to 68030/50 and 68030/40 FPU respectively. Cooper left Speccy and does music for the sake of music on Amiga. They held a local demoparty (but not a compo), where they showcased demos on Speccy and Amiga in front of a crowd of about 100-150 people.
Speed Company/Extreme
--------------------
At the moment, the team's composition is as follows:
(Information from Maxsoft)
Max Vasilyev aka Maxsoft aka Max Piwamoto group founder, currently an x86 programmer. Occasionally writes something for Spectrum at the request of MMA or restores heavily damaged games. Also sometimes consults people on hardware/software compatibility issues, as during the active ZX life, he was primarily involved (besides software sales) in fix-a issues and forced various hardware to "get along" with software. With the acquisition of a phone (and a modem), I may represent SC's interests in fido/i-net. I haven't turned on a real Spectrum in about a year, I’m busy catching bugs in emulators.
Yuriy Vasilyev aka Chemberlen - was the main trader & swapper, and sometimes a gfx maker. After getting married, he doesn't even have his own computer :(
Max Mutchkaev aka M.M.A aka Unbeliever - now the main person for Spectrum issues in SC. Promotes software in the market, writes articles for OBERON and Born Dead (issue 7 is in preparation). Also develops scenarios for new demos and organizes their creation. Regularly guides Walker's writers on the right path. Based on our software collection, he publishes CDs. In late January, he went to the XTM party in Moscow.
Alex Rybinskiy aka Dr.Death - now a proud TEAM OS/2 member. Recently, he made [skipped] for Spectrum :(
SVV
--
Uses Amiga of Ned Wilson, while he is lounging in the army. Together with him, they are trying to write a Speccy emulator with support for TR-DOS disks. According to the latest letter from Ned, it seems that the project has collapsed, as the hard drive containing the source code crashed :-(
Syndicate
--------
After the release of Super Laser Squad in Pavlograd, a few people joined them. Currently, only they are active: ZS+VEK and mr.FLASH have moved to Amiga, while CHIP'n'CHAP have gone to PC.
Titus
----
At the moment, he is finalizing his SNES emulator for Amiga (requires a 68030 processor). After that, he plans to start writing a Sega Megadrive emulator.
UNIT-5
-----
Back in the summer of 1998, they announced their return to the Spectrum scene, but since then, nothing has been heard from them. The Spectrumists from Krasnodar were quite skeptical about their announcement from the very beginning.
Virtual Vision Group
-------------------
Released a nice congratulatory demo (trackmo) for the 25th anniversary of the artist (and Amiga enthusiast :) L-Grapha.
ZX-LEGION
--------
Recently released a demo "ZETTER" in collaboration with RAGE, where they expressed their sincere love for the President of Belarus, Lukashenko, and his policies.
XPA
--
Cobra has moved to PC, joining the Pilabs team. The sources of Citadel were handed over to Dismaster. Currently, the engine of Citadel is already a bit different from what we saw in the demo version, or in the demo Over the TOP: in particular, the game has become colorful. Let's all Spectrum world DIS drink beer, so that its performance increases and Citadel finally appears on Speccy! ;)
Zaporizhska Ciчь
---------------
Lost all interest in Spectrum and moved to PC. Unfortunately, Alex from ZS was the only Spectrum trader selling software at the Zaporizhzhia radio market, so currently, new programs are not being sold in Zaporizhzhia, and, according to eyewitnesses, the process of user outflow from Speccy has accelerated. :-(
Zer0
---
Got their own homepage on the Internet:
members.xoom.com/ZeroIA
Letter case must be observed!
Contents of the publication: Rush #01
- AMIGA NEWS
Amiga Inc works on Amiga OS 3.5 with enhancements like CD drive and PowerPC support. Split development for M68K and PPC processors. Delayed release to late 1999 or early 2000.
- AMIGA NEWS
Description of the 'Fast JPEG 1.10' viewer for Amiga, focusing on its features, installation, and usage. It highlights advantages like fast processing without quality loss and provides user tips. Readers are encouraged to share their software experiences.
- AMIGA NEWS
Basic programming for classic Amiga, discussing challenges and sharing knowledge in Amiga coding. Overview of Amiga graphics capabilities and processor features. Introduction to Amiga assembly language specifics.
- AMIGA NEWS
Overview of events related to the Amiga platform from early to mid-1998. Highlights include new hardware, software releases, and notable company collaborations. Future updates and developments are scheduled for the next issue.
- AMIGA NEWS
Collection of cheats and secrets for classic Amiga games compiled by Postcard Man. Readers encouraged to share their findings on complex games. Selection of tips and level codes provided for various games.
- AMIGA NEWS
Discussion of Phase-5's graphics cards and Permedia 2 processor capabilities. Details on Permedia 2's 2D/3D acceleration and compatibility. Mention of GLINT Delta processors and comparison of prices and availability.
- AMIGA NEWS
Analysis of Amiga's survival in the 90s, highlighting community efforts and technological advancements. Discussion on hardware improvements and software development. Encouragement for further exploration and learning about the Amiga platform.
- Spectrum Programming
Explanation of a fast method for real-time 3D graphics on the ZX Spectrum. Introduces efficient rotation and deformation techniques for 3D objects. Emphasizes improvements over traditional methods with practical examples.
- Spectrum Programming - Ticklish Jim
Discussion of combining sound effects with music for Spectrum's AY chip. Examples from development of 'CSC: Deja Vu' and technical challenges faced. Contains practical guide and code examples.
- Spectrum Programming
Discussion on byte mirroring and background restoration in ZX Spectrum programming, with examples.
- Spectrum Programming
Comprehensive guide for system programmers with practical tips for creating efficient and user-friendly software, including coding techniques, device compatibility, and program testing strategies.
- Spectrum Programming
Advanced coding techniques and modern graphics methods for ZX Spectrum. Tips for optimizing graphical procedures and coding on assembly. Useful advice for programmers to improve performance and efficiency.
- The End
Reflections on the creation of the first issue of the magazine 'Rush', its goals, audience, and future development.
- ZX-SOFT - Вячеслав Медноногов
Development updates on Vyacheslav Mednoy's new game 'Black Raven II', including gameplay changes, new spell introductions, and performance improvements.
- ZX-SOFT
Overview of new features in the updated commander from REAL software for ZX Spectrum, including file management, autodetection, and media viewing. Improvements in text, font, and music handling. Questions addressed regarding future updates.
- ZX-SOFT
Debate on which demo deserved the top spot at Funtop'98: Forever by DR or Refresh by XTM. Discussions in the demoscene community highlight the clash between technical prowess and conceptual depth. Different opinions reflect on the evolution of demoscene preferences.
- Authors
Acknowledgment of contributors and partners in creating Rush magazine. Detailed roles of each author and collaboration insights. Recognition of technical support and media partnerships.
- Virtual Specky
Discussion on converting graphics from PC to Spectrum, featuring insights from various experts. Techniques for improving conversion quality and tools like Photoshop are detailed. Emphasis on post-conversion refinement in Spectrum graphics editors.
- Virtual Speccy
Discussion on the CBSpeccy emulator for ZX-Spectrum on Amiga, highlighting its features, community opinions, and technical performance. Criticisms and praises for its emulation capabilities, particularly compared to PC emulators. Examination of potential improvements and community debates around version updates.
- Virtual Speccy
FAQ on ZX-Spectrum emulation on PC, covering popular emulators and file formats. Instructions for using different emulators and managing file types like Hobeta and TR-DOS. Discussion on Russian ZX-oriented servers and resources for enthusiasts.
- Introduction
Introduction to the Rush magazine, emphasizing creativity, progressive scene, and the goal to create a superior information source. The magazine seeks to gather promising groups and offer a unique perspective. Focuses on content and atmosphere, welcoming creators to contribute.
- Introduction - Grunge
Introduction to Rush, a new scenemag for Speccy/Amiga enthusiasts, aims to provide quality content and news while encouraging reader feedback.
- Interview - Konex
Interview with ANTARES group after FUNTOP-98. Discussion on their demos, challenges, and future plans. Insight into the group's formation and dynamics.
- Interview - Kvazar, DUX
Interview with Alexander Seleznev (KVAZAR), discussing his history with computers, the state of the ZX Spectrum scene, and future plans.
- Interview - Kvazar
Interview with Vitebsk group POWER on demo 'Crazy Love', development experiences, and future projects.
- Informatorium
Exploration of a CD with emulators for various platforms, highlighting Spectrum. Details the content organization and diversity. Concludes with insights from the CD-ROM Project's Spectrum software collection.
- Informacrium
Compilation of interesting and useful Internet addresses related to Amiga resources, including magazines, hardware manufacturers, and software companies.
- Informacrium - Viator
Overview of existing and upcoming publications on the Amiga platform. Discussion of the availability and distribution challenges for Amiga literature. Appeal for collaboration with new publications.
- About the Magazine
Discussion on creating a multi-platform magazine focusing on Spectrum, Amiga, and PC. Emphasis on broader understanding of computer scene. Encourage professionalism and adaptation to changing technology.
- Parallel Worlds
Overview of the evolution of Windows OS and PC processors from 1981 to 2000. Development milestones of MS-DOS, Windows, Intel processors, and competition with AMD and Cyrix. Challenges in maintaining compatibility with new processor technologies.
- Parallel Worlds
Overview of Macintosh models and their relevance in design and graphics fields, covering prices and specifications from 1997-1998. Discussion includes the evolution of Apple's hardware, notably the PowerMac series, and compares new G3 processors with PC counterparts. It highlights the resurgence of Macintosh post-crisis and its ongoing influence in the market.
- Development of the Spectrum - Slider
The article discusses a new graphical extension for the ZX Spectrum that enhances color palettes without increasing resource demands. By using a modified flash signal, new colors are created without interfering with existing software compatibility. The article provides implementation details and addresses practical usage concerns.
- Development of Spectrum
Connecting a CDOS modem to the 'Compact-128' computer by addressing keyboard port conflicts. Description of hardware modifications to solve the issue. Solution includes automatic blocking using a transistor inverter.
- Development of Spectrum - Ars
Discussion on AZX-Monstrum 512K development, its hardware compatibility, processor options, and potential enhancements in graphics and OS.
- Development of SPECTRUM
Discussion of Clive Sinclair's new computer platform, the ZX2000, designed to outperform PCs with enhanced speed, affordability, and battery efficiency.
- Development of Spectrum - Андрей Савичев
Examination of the evolution and ongoing relevance of the Z80 processor, and its role in embedded systems. Comparison of Z80 with its successors, highlighting advantages like energy efficiency and command enhancements. Overview of integrated Z80-based CPUs and their peripherals.
- Advertisement
This article is an advertisement for Scorpion products including hardware for ZX Spectrum and Amiga software, along with pricing and ordering details.
- Advertising
Collection of advertisements for Amiga and ZX Spectrum hardware and software, with contact information for sellers and details about the new Amiga magazine subscription.
- Advertisement
Advertisement for X-TRADE's General Sound music board. Includes pricing, technical details, and purchase instructions. Features a FAQ section and compatibility info.
- Meaning Without Meaning - Viator
Philosophical reflections on existentialism, immortality, and human destiny. The narrative weaves through stories of ambition, the quest for eternal life, and a utopian downfall. A blend of introspection and speculative fiction.
- Scene vs Professionals
Exploration of the demoscene's creativity versus commercial game development. Discussion of potential for professional-quality programs by scene members. Call for collaboration with leading scene groups.
- Scene Chronicle - Андрей Савичев
Reflections on ZX Spectrum's enduring appeal, its community's resilience, and its potential resurgence in Russia.
- Scene Chronology
Overview of the Rush group's activities, including past projects, current endeavors, and future plans, with emphasis on software development and gaming.
- Scene Chronicles
The article discusses various ZX Spectrum scene news, including game releases, demoparties, and updates from developers and teams.
- Chronicles of the Scene
The article discusses the FUNTOP'98 international computer art festival held in Moscow, highlighting key events, notable attendees, and the various competitions held during the event.
- Scene Chronia
Discussion on Amiga scene development through collaboration, addressing user isolation and promoting network expansion.
- Shell Management
Статья описывает управление оболочкой для ZX Spectrum и Amiga, включая клавиши и функции для навигации. Упоминаются особенности работы на Amiga с PAL монитором и предоставляется контакт для поддержки. Также отмечено, что текстовые файлы имеют стандартную MS-DOS кодировку.
