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It’s time to summarize the results of the qualifying tournament of our virus championship. I must say right away that the readers were very active and literally overwhelmed us with their developments. Thank you very much to everyone who responded and participated in the qualifying round.
Now a few words about the changes in the championship rules, which life itself suggested. The first meetings showed that among the viruses sent by our readers, there are many "raw" developments that are literally on their last legs and cannot participate in our marathon. We wouldn’t want known outsiders to seep into the final league, so we have reduced the number of participating viruses in the FL from twenty-two to sixteen. We have also made some changes to the principles of determining winners in protracted "draw" battles. Now, after two tied halves, a third, additional half may be assigned. And if there is still no clear victory in this half, the winner will be determined by the CONTROLLED AREA, rather than by the number of cells, as was previously announced. That’s about all the innovations. And now, the report on the qualifying round of the Open Championship of Viruses.
QUALIFYING ROUND
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Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and Gentlemen! Friends! Today we bring you our report from the Qualifying Tournament of the Open Championship of Viruses! Our championship can rightfully be called international, as fans of Speccy from Estonia joined Russia, represented by Mr. Melentyev from Tallinn. Since our report will be recorded on the screens of your monitors and televisions, allow me to get ahead a bit and say that we tried to distribute the viruses in such a way as to balance all the groups by the strength of the participants.
However, a couple of times it happened that there were two very strong viruses in one group. In these cases, we reserved the right to advance both viruses to the FL. And another thing. Our photo correspondent was absent during the qualifying stage, so unfortunately, you will not see stills of outstanding moments. We hope that the reports on the matches of the Final League will be accompanied by photo materials.
So, we begin our report. The first to enter the battlefield are:
1st Group
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1. Virus: Serum
Author: Andrey Balabanov.
City: St. Petersburg.
2. Virus: Laks
Authors: Busygin A., Litvinov A.
City: Perm.
3. Virus: C.LUPUS
Author: Blokhin V.
City: Kirov.
4. Virus: LENA
Author: Konovalov V.
City: Armavir.
The referee blows the whistle - the match has begun. The first few seconds are an equal fight, but after a while, Laks begins to expand its holdings, invading the territory of virus LENA more and more. Under the pressure of attacks, LENA sharply gives up its positions and... the cell counter is reset to zero. At the same time, Serum is fighting with varying success against the virus C.LUPUS. And loses! Incredible - two monsters remain on the field - Laks and C.LUPUS. Who will win? However, the area controlled by C.LUPUS is much smaller than that occupied by Laks. Too much strength has already been spent in this match. After a long resistance, C.LUPUS gives up its positions. The virus Laks wins! We have determined the first participant of the Final League. It is the Perm virus Laks, developed by Busygin Andrey and Litvinov Alexey!
2nd Group
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1. Virus: Physics
Author: Dubrovkin M.
City: Volgograd.
2. Virus: MAD DOG
Author: Blokhin V.
City: Kirov.
3. Virus: Momry 2
Author: Kotov A.
City: Rybinsk.
4. Virus: Aids
Author: Itkin I.
City: Ufa.
While I was opening a bottle of beer, the match had already begun. From the very first sips, there was a noticeable advantage for Momry 2, which actively bombards its newborn cells at first Aids, and then Physics. MAD DOG is shooting from around the corner, but it seems he will soon run out of ammo. A few more moments and... how right I was! MAD DOG is no longer shooting, but merely snapping back, but the forces are clearly unequal. Who could throw some ammo to MAD DOG? You? Sorry, but it’s too late - our fierce MAD DOG has dissolved into the darkness of millennia... With the victory of Momry 2!!! I could have treated you to a beer, but you are already far away - in the Final League!
3rd Group
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1. Virus: DEATH
Author: Blokhin V.
City: Kirov.
2. Virus: Blader
Author: Sukhov I.
City: Kazan.
3. Virus: kiss 4
Author: Panarin V.
City: Tolyatti.
4. Virus: Stheals
Author: Kotov A.
City: Rybinsk.
In this battle, two leaders were determined from the very first seconds - kiss 4 and Stheals. The fourth kiss so overwhelmed the terrible Death that it died off so quickly... Blader is close to a heart attack, but he is still trying to stab his blade into Stheals. But unsuccessfully! Perhaps the blade has dulled slightly. And now only two viruses remain on the field - kiss 4 and Stheals. The deadly kisses of one of them seem to be reaching their goal, but Stheals does not give up. Moreover, he makes several thrusts and almost deprives kiss 4 of its stinging weapon. The controlled areas of both are approximately equal, maybe with a slight advantage for the treacherous kiss. But then the referee's whistle sounds, and the viruses go for a break. Who will win in the second half? Let’s not rush things and wait for the end of the break, especially since the commentator still has a bit of beer left... The second half begins with fierce attacks from kiss 4, under this powerful onslaught, Stheals staggers and begins to retreat. My God! How is he holding on to such a small patch? Will he hold out or not? I wouldn't have held out. Beer - you understand... Yes. Stheals also did not hold out. May he rest in peace! And let’s welcome another participant of the FL - kiss 4 and its author Panarin V.P. from Tolyatti!
4th Group
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1. Virus: DARK
Author: Blokhin V.
City: Kirov.
2. Virus: PIRANJA
Author: Melentyev V.
City: Tallinn.
3. Virus: NAS
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
4. Virus: HOLERA
Author: Gavrilenko F.
City: Krasnodar.
The fight has begun! It should be noted that the foreigner Melentyev V. has entered the game. Friendship - to the peoples! While I was saying all this, NAS has already been devoured! I didn’t even notice when this tragedy unfolded. On the field, there is a noticeable advantage for the virus HOLERA (cough-cough). The Prince of Darkness - the virus DARK seems to never come to light. What a pity - he fought desperately. We are left with two viruses again. Which one do you support? The Krasnodar one? Or the Tallinn one? Or maybe friendship will win? Especially since the break has already been announced - you can go to the buffet... Second half. The advantage is with the virus HOLERA. No, the virus PIRANJA cannot seem to close the gap in cells. A few more moments and we have a new participant in the Final League - the virus HOLERA!
5th Group
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1. Virus: Robocop
Author: Komar A.
City: Murmansk.
2. Virus: NAS2
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
3. Virus: BARACUDA
Author: Melentyev V.
City: Tallinn.
4. Virus: ann
Author: Reznik Anna.
City: St. Petersburg.
For the first time in our championship, a girl participates - maybe the gentlemen will give up their place in the final league to her? We shall see. What do I see? NAS has been eaten again! That was too quick. Gentlemen, that’s so unfair, give up your place to ann... No, they can’t hear me. What a pity! The virus ann is crushed like a forest butterfly under the boot of a mushroom picker. A protracted struggle is going on between two viruses - the steel Robocop and the swift barracuda. But Robocop is clearly not in form today. Meanwhile, our Estonian friend - Mr. Melentyev and his charming BARACUDA are in form. Robocop is dismantled into parts and sent to the scrap. Let’s congratulate our foreign guest - he rightfully made it to the Final League.
6th Group
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1. Virus: BETA
Author: Melentyev V.
City: Tallinn.
2. Virus: milk
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
3. Virus: ANNA
Author: Timokhin D.
City: Moscow.
4. Virus: andy-2
Author: Ivanov A.
City: Tula.
The next, already sixth group enters the fray. Wow! Here are all familiar faces - Mr. Melentyev with his new development and Mr. Nikolaev with the virus "NAS has been eaten"... Excuse me, I’m being told that the virus is called milk. I apologize to the author. Well, let’s switch from beer to milk. Forward! Let’s go! What does the protocol say? Aha. I read: "quick death of milk". Just like that. I thought it was "MILK!", but it turned out to be "we were eaten" again. And ANNA is catastrophically unlucky today. In short, only two viruses are left again. And andy-2 has the advantage! Yes, it is so - this time Mr. Melentyev and his new development could not withstand the pressure from andy-2. Let’s congratulate the winner - Ivanov Andrey. We wish him success in the FL!
7th Group
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1. Virus: ALFA
Author: Melentyev V.
City: Tallinn.
2. Virus: cyan man
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
3. Virus: F.C.M.
Author: Sokolov D.
City: St. Petersburg.
4. Virus: VitVirus
Author: Lomakin V.
City: Moscow.
We continue our report on the qualifying round of the Open Championship of Viruses! New viruses enter the battlefield! Wait a minute. They say that new is well-forgotten old. Yes-yes! I see under the first number the virus of our Estonian friend Mr. Melentyev, and under the second - wow! Cyan man?! Mr. Nikolaev, how should this be understood??? Alright, let’s not look into the English-Russian dictionary and remember the old good viruses NAS... They were eaten! Indeed, the virus Cyan man was eaten in the first seconds! The author needs to think carefully about this. We have (not NAS) three viruses left on the field. However, now there are already two. VitVirus went after Cyan man. How will the battle between the well-fighting F.C.M. and ALFA end? The first half did not reveal a winner. After the second, the cell count is equal. The referee assigns an additional - third half. Again a draw! The referees are consulting at the edge of the field and... announce both viruses as winners. Incredible! With the victory of F.C.M. and ALFA!
8th Group
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1. Virus: ALEX
Author: Kayashov A.
City: Nizhny Novgorod.
2. Virus: Leon
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
3. Virus: Elias-1
Author: Volkov I.
City: Murmansk.
4. Virus: Enfuence
Author: studio BARS
City: Yaroslavl.
Before the battle began, the referees deliberated for a long time - whether to allow the virus from studio BARS to play, as the accompanying documents for this virus lack a return address. However, since the championship has just begun, the referees allowed the participation of Enfuence on the condition that the authors immediately send their address. So, the battle! In the very first seconds, Leon is literally torn to shreds. It seems that was done by the BARS guys. Soon Enfuence set about ALEX. ALEX, you shouldn’t have called for help from Yustas... On the field, Enfuence and Elias-1 remain. But the latter is weakly resisting. After a minute, it’s all over. With the victory of Enfuence!
9th Group
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1. Virus: ORZ
Author: Krupchatnikov E.
City: Solnechnogorsk.
2. Virus: denis sd
Author: Kayashov A.
City: Nizhny Novgorod.
3. Virus: FLU
Author: Volkov I.
City: Murmansk.
4. Virus: alien
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
As soon as everything began, it became clear - ORZ will wipe everyone out. And no terrifying Aliens will help. The fastest battle of the cycle. A brilliant victory for ORZ! Congratulations on reaching the FL!
10th Group
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1. Virus: CANDY
Author: Volkov I.
City: Murmansk.
2. Virus: BLIZKRIG
Author: Igoshchev A.
City: Moscow.
3. Virus: kolgat
Author: Przhedetsky R.
City: Rostov-on-Don.
4. Virus: Sunrise1
Author: Bulkov M.
City: Kaliningrad.
From the very first seconds - a strong advantage for the viruses kolgat and BLIZKRIG. A quick death for CANDY. I don’t have time to comment on this battle. It seems Sunrise1 slightly shone and now he is no longer on the playing field. Although this virus put up a worthy resistance. Now there are only two viruses on the field. Who will be the first? No one wanted to die. The BLIZKRIG operation is going with varying success. The second half - the picture is the same. Additional - third half. And the referee gives the final whistle. In this match, as in one of the previous ones, there are two winners - kolgat and BLIZKRIG. Let’s congratulate them!
11th Group
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1. Virus: Sunrise2
Author: Bulkov M.
City: Kaliningrad.
2. Virus: Karies
Author: Kandrachyan E.
City: Rostov-on-Don.
3. Virus: ss-22
Author: Igoshchev A.
City: Moscow.
4. Virus: LILEATA
Author: Aleshkin A.
City: St. Petersburg.
The match has begun. From the very first seconds, an equal fight. It’s hard to favor any virus.
It feels like our opponents are not trying to attack. It seems only Karies is nibbling at the virus LILEATA. They say all diseases come from nerves. Ours, it seems, come from teeth. LILEATA faltered. What a treacherous Karies! Is there no dentist on the field? I’m being told that there isn’t. Bad! LILEATA died from Karies. Who could have said! Three viruses are on the field - the struggle continues. Sunrise2 is somehow not very noticeable. What, also a cavity? And then ss-22 explodes!!! Who said this isn’t a way to fight any disease? There’s no Karies here anymore! And nothing else! Only ss-22. With the victory, Anton Igoshchev!
12th Group
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1. Virus: sifa
Author: Bukharev R.
City: Rostov-on-Don
2. Virus: Slider
Author: Skudny D.
City: Chelyabinsk.
3. Virus: BSV5
Author: Bogachev S.
City: Krasnodar.
4. Virus: s.a.a.
Author: Skudny A.
City: Chelyabinsk.
So fate has it - two viruses from Chelyabinsk met in one group. Two brothers began to saw each other at the speed of the chainsaw "Druzhba" (what a nice word!). No, friendship in this battle, perhaps, will not win. No one concedes living space, but Slider falls to the sinful earth, followed by the strange sifa. Second half. And... a quick demise for BSV5! And I was already getting ready to go for beer. Congratulations to the winner - the virus s.a.a. and its author Skudny Anton.
13th Group
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1. Virus: Denis
Author: Skudny D.
City: Chelyabinsk.
2. Virus: BSV1
Author: Bogachev S.
City: Krasnodar.
3. Virus: nik
Author: Nikolaev A.
City: Moscow.
4. Virus: Sadizm
Author: Blokhin V.
City: Kirov.
The match began and Sadizm immediately engaged in its favorite activity.
But he was interrupted. Who? What do you think? NIK! He’s "NAS has been eaten". This time nik showed himself quite decently. But... he turned out to be a bit weak. BSV1 quickly dealt with him. Three viruses are on the field. The advantage is with Denis. While Sadizm was doing his direct duties - Denis avenged BSV1 for nik. And while I went for beer - Sadizm evaporated. Victory in this round goes to the virus Denis!
16th Group
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1. Virus: Gigant 2
Author: Vladimir.
City: Vladivostok.
2. Virus: VICTORY
Author: Rabotkin A.
City: Kungur.
3. Virus: WARRIOR
Author: Khomchenko.
City: Skalisty.
4. Virus: RAT
Author: Antipov A.
City: Moscow.
We are bringing you our report from the last, sixteenth round of the qualifying cycle. From the very first seconds, we could observe an interesting, equal struggle among all four participants. But it seems we have identified the leaders. These are Gigant 2 and RAT. By the way, RAT feels great and is already launching an attack on WARRIOR. The latter quickly surrenders. VICTORY tries to resist, but this virus seems to have no chance of survival. Sharp rat fangs tear the virus with the romantic name apart. While RAT was expanding its boundaries, Gigant was sitting in defense and was punished for it. A swift leap from RAT and our giant has nothing left to breathe: the area controlled by him is too small. This battle ended quickly - in the very first half, the virus RAT won. Let’s wish him good luck in the Final League.
So, all participants of the Final League have been determined. They are:
1. Laks 2. Momry 2
3. kiss 4 4. HOLERA
5. BARACUDA 6. andy-2
7. ALFA 8. F.C.M.
9. Enfuence 10. ORZ
11. BLIZKRIG 12. Kolgat
13. ss-22 14. s.a.a.
15. Denis 16. RAT
All other viruses that did not participate in the qualifying round either:
1. Did not reach us on time.
2. Did not come to us at all.
3. Twin brothers of those who participated in the qualifying stage. This applies to those who sent more than one virus.
Details on the progress of the Championship in the next issues of our magazine. The acceptance of new viruses is CEASING!
Wishing you all the best!
Thank you for your attention!
The report was conducted by Yuri Matveev
Contents of the publication: Spectrofon #14
- Expertise - Алексей Литвинов, Андрей Бусыгин
Analysis and Russian adaptation of the game 'Academy' by CRL Group, highlighting significant program modifications and the addition of a new game ending.
- Archive - Андрей Школьников
Analysis of the game Archon, its appeal, mechanics, and strategic elements. Detailed exploration of its characters and their battle properties. Overview of magical spells and game tactics.
- Debut - Андрей Школьников
Analysis of the game 'Emerald Isle' by Level 9, contrasting linear and global adventures. Describes gameplay, puzzles, and strategy for success. Concludes with tips for navigating challenges.
- Overview
Overview of new games on Moscow's radio market, including 'Star Legacy' with its full release, 'UFO: Enemy Unknown' conversion, and others.
- From World to Bit
This article provides guidance for several ZX Spectrum games, including tips for overcoming challenges and critiques on the influence of games on players.
- Championship - Matthias
The article covers the Open Virus Championship, detailing the selection cycle, changes in rules, and highlights of the matches. Participants from different cities and countries competed with their virus programs. Key winners have been determined for the Final League.
- System - Chung Software
Analysis of compatibility issues in ZX Spectrum models like ATM Turbo and others, detailing solutions for port #FF and INT signal. Emphasis on practical adjustments for various models, ensuring optimal compatibility with original ZX Spectrum 48k. Critical examination of DIY computer upgrades and potential issues with software compatibility.
- Premiere
Review of two software tools: Pro Sound Maker, a music editor by Denis Dratov, featuring solutions to technical challenges, and Visual Decompressor v1.2 by Timothy, offering visual effects during decompression.
- Advertisement
Advertisement of Spectrofon magazine, offering licenses and calls for collaboration. Contact details for buying games and software. Studio Logros promotes Russian programmers.
