ZX Format #07: Tales of Colors and the Last

Operation RR.  

music by COOPER  
(C) Soft  

- Hmm, - said Green.  
- That's just it!, - replied Red.  
From Blue's side came the rhythmic sound of snoring. The conversation was clearly not going well. The general boredom was intensified by the sun, which raced from east to west every 1/50 of a second. A herd of hippos from the 76th ring world, drifting under the clouds, added to the overall drowsiness. A group of the last ones, wildly belting out the song ".the devil here - the devil there, life like a dream - a complete deception.", drunkenly swayed as they jumped southward.  
- Take these last ones, for example, - resumed the conversation Green, - there was a time when they didn't exist, how good it must have been then! No drunken antics, no spherical depressions in the ground, no hippos falling from the sky.  
- No, - countered Red, - judging by ancient chronicles, there were people before the last ones. They were really savages, they walked on their feet and instead of the neat little holes of the last ones, they left behind disgusting crooked and slanted tracks. According to the Observer, drinking was purely their invention.  
Blue stopped snoring.  
- Exactly! They were strange beings, - continued the budding dialogue Green, - I heard they spoke all different languages, how did they understand each other?  
- For that, there were special compilers that translated their languages into a universal one and back, and if I remember correctly, the universal language was called assembler, - chimed in Blue.  
- At the birthday party of the Purple Mutant, the Observer, having reached a certain state, shouted at the top of his lungs: "You're not a prof! The last ones were created not by colors, but by vile coders.". Perhaps he meant those coders, - Green showcased his erudition, - they were probably more advanced than other representatives of the human race.  
His speech was interrupted, his gaze fixated somewhere above his interlocutors. Following his gaze, Red saw in the flickering light of the wildly racing sun the wavering silhouette of a young last one approaching them. Not far from him, the outline of his faithful companion - a hippo, followed him at a minimal height.  
The general stupor was broken by the peaceful snoring of Blue, whom they began to collectively bring back to a working state.  
The last one, meanwhile, was getting closer. Now his enormous eyes with equally enormous pupils were visible in all detail. Soon, small pseudo-nostrils located above the giant frog-like mouth became visible. Finally, the last one began to stop, his jumps becoming shorter and shorter, and now he was already bouncing in place, increasing the spherical imprint of his body in the parched ground with each impact. A little behind the last one, the characteristic sound of a landing hippo was heard (something between the sounds of a stopping jet engine and the cry of a male baboon in mating season).  
By this time, Blue was already back to normal, and they chanted in unison: "We greet you, most esteemed last one!", and received the reply: "Greetings to you too, no less esteemed colors! Would you happen to have a couple of crates of beer for the traveling last one?".  
Usually, they chased beggars away and were very protective of their supplies, but the weather was excellent, the annoyingly looming herd of hippos had vanished in an unknown direction, the frenzied sun was almost obscured by clouds that wrapped the entire sky in a thick cotton blanket, and the nearby valley began to fill with a faintly phosphorescent mist, from which the dark blue head of a sea giraffe occasionally peeked out.  
- Perhaps!, - began Red, who managed their beer supplies, - it depends on what you can offer us as payment.  
- Grm!, - said Blue, he, like any other blue, didn't want to share his beer with anyone.  
The last one caught Blue's reaction just in time.  
- I am a humble traveler, - he began, - and I have nothing to pay you with, but I could tell you many interesting and true stories and facts about the last ones and more.  
- Alright!, - said Red, pulling out crates of excellent beer, - we really need a good conversationalist.  
- I agree with that, - declared Green, pulling out a couple of bottles from a crate, - I have always wanted to know more about the last ones.  
- I categorically protest!, - shouted Blue, he only got one bottle, but no one was listening to him anymore, everyone was listening to the last one.  
- Long ago, - began the last one, placing an unopened bottle of excellent beer into his vast mouth, - long ago, when the sun moved very slowly across the sky, there existed certain beings who called themselves humans.  
- It seems you wanted to tell us about the last ones, - rudely interrupted Blue, stretching towards a new crate, but immediately received a gift from Red in the form of an empty bottle that struck his head painfully.  
Meanwhile, the last one continued as if nothing had happened.  
- As you probably know, among humans there were certain coders, essentially they were the same humans, differing from the others only in that their favorite pastime was coding. Coding means roughly the following: communication with a certain ritual-mythical device called a computer, directly in the language of the computer itself. Perhaps the definition of coding is not entirely accurate, as a lot of time has passed since then, but the main essence is roughly as follows. So, in the process of coding, computer games were often created, which people enjoyed playing together with their computers. From the perspective of the last ones, it was a completely useless activity, although the last ones might owe their existence precisely to computer games.  
The last one extracted from his vast mouth the same unopened bottle, but this time it was empty, handed it to Red, who also managed the empty containers, and received a new one, which was immediately consumed by the bottomless mouth. Green and Blue performed a similar operation, although their empty bottles lacked caps, which they spat aside.  
Meanwhile, the weather was improving, the sky was covered with a thick layer of black electrified clouds, the sun was no longer visible at all, and everything was plunged into a gray twilight, occasionally pierced by flashes of enormous lightning. The nearby valley was now filled with a thick layer of mist, brightly glowing with a cold green light. From it now protruded about a dozen blue heads of sea giraffes, often gaping their mouths in silent screams and occasionally glancing towards the company in search of scrap metal in the form of beer caps. The number of caps was quickly increasing, which they were undoubtedly happy about.  
- History is silent about what happened next, but referring to some facts, one can assume that a certain cataclysm occurred, which caused huge surface and internal changes in the Solar System. The movement of the planets accelerated many times over, the Moon, unable to withstand such overloads, split into two parts. Due to the multiple acceleration of the Earth's movement, most ground structures were destroyed, and many people perished.  
- Yes, indeed, for the most part, people were poorly developed and shortsighted, otherwise they would not have built so many flimsy structures, - concluded Green.  
- But that was not the worst thing, such disasters, albeit on a smaller scale, had already happened to people, and they were somewhat prepared for them. The most terrible thing turned out to be this: under the influence of some, still unknown, forces, the plots of computer games materialized in undefined spatial-temporal intervals, resembling certain shadow subspaces. The connection between them and the main reality was carried out through a regular null-channel transporter.  
The last one finished another cycle of consuming the beer from the bottle and began a new one.  
The flashes of lightning were becoming more frequent. Occasionally, they were refreshed by the gust of a squall of wind. A weak drizzle, resembling dissipating mist, began to fall.  
Sensing the smell of scrap metal brought by the gusts of wind, the sea giraffes began to show impatience, which manifested itself in brief excursions out of the glowing mist.  
- Yes!, - was all Blue could say, swallowing a quarter of a crate at once.  
- As you all probably know, the illusory barrier between space and shadow subspace is very weak and unstable, one could even say transparent. For a true hero, overcoming such an obstacle posed no difficulty at all.  
- That's why they all started to crawl out, - inserted Red, who had been silent until then, spitting a dozen caps towards the green mist.  
- Absolutely right, - the storyteller delicately noted.  
The caps disappeared into the completely impenetrable glowing mist, and from the place of their fall came the nervous rustling and bubbling voices of the sea giraffes dividing the spoils.  
- As a result, a great confusion arose, all sorts of monsters and freaks began to roam the Earth, and people started to fall into shadow subspaces. At that time, people did not know about the existence of the last ones and colors and considered themselves the highest form of life. They did not consider the denizens of the subspaces to be intelligent, or perhaps even alive at all; people were very frightened by their independence and might. And they began to think about how to get rid of this army of aimless wandering titans.  
- They were quite the beasts; how good it is that they all went extinct, - Green thought aloud.  
- Before long, they solved this problem. As soon as the restoration of the destroyed structures was completed, they created a special front organization, whose main task would be to monitor all subspaces; in reality, this organization was supposed to cleanse the Earth of the materialized heroes of computer games and create strict control over all subspaces. Thus, the Center for Monitoring Shadow Subspaces of Computer Games was created, abbreviated as CMSPCG. The CMSPCG had all the computer heroes at its disposal, and there was direct access to all shadow subspaces. All heroes were kept in the CMSPCG under barrack conditions, more akin to imprisonment.  
The last one finished transforming the contents of yet another bottle and was about to start on the next one, but a slowly growing rumble of energy-static biodrives was heard, and he set it aside for better times. Startled, Blue even dropped the unfinished bottle from his mouth. Meanwhile, the rumble grew louder, and it was now absolutely clear that it was the biodrives of the Pink Crocodile, one of the most dangerous hunters of glass containers.  
There's no need to describe the ensuing panic among the colors, who began to stuff empty and full bottles into every possible crevice and hole.  
The Pink Crocodile, sensing an easy meal, began to slowly approach, swaying on its right and left engines. In general, the Pink Crocodile was quite a strange creature; no one had yet succeeded in studying it in detail. It was only known that it hunted for glass containers and was a distant relative of the long-extinct green swimming crocodiles, differing from them only in color and the presence of special devices on the right and left sides for creating the necessary thrust for flight, similar to the biodrives of hippos, but differing from them in that the biodrives of hippos operate silently and have greater thrust-to-weight ratios.  
Meanwhile, the situation was heating up more and more, and it is unknown how it would have ended if not for the invaluable assistant of the last one - the flying Hippo. Instantly assessing the situation, he quickly revved up the engines, shook off the raindrops covering him, and soared into the sky, sparkling with gigantic lightning. The Pink Crocodile did not immediately recognize the impending danger and continued its approach towards the colors hiding their supplies.  
Hippos were rightly called the kings of the skies - in maneuverability, speed, and load capacity, they had no equals. They even surpassed the eared ones in many characteristics. And no roaring Pink Crocodile was frightening to them.  
Most likely, the Hippo had dealt with the Pink Crocodile before, as he, without any hesitation, performed a masterful maneuver and found himself directly above the hovering Crocodile, who began to feel some danger from the Hippo. Realizing his intentions, he tried to dodge, but it was too late; the Hippo shut down his engines and crashed down on the Crocodile. As the Hippo had expected, the Pink Crocodile did not have enough load capacity and, being pulled down by the weight of the Hippo (7 tons), began to descend rapidly towards the ground, helplessly screaming with overloaded engines.  
The colors, who were spellbound by this brief aerial duel, felt a pang in their beer-pumping organs as the two flying giants, embodying good and evil, locked in a screaming and buzzing mass, crashed straight into the phosphorescent mist, scattering a flock of sea giraffes that had settled there after lunch, or perhaps dinner.  
- Let’s continue, esteemed colors, - said the last one, watching as the Hippo leisurely returned to them, dispersing the bright green mist.  
The colors only came to their senses when the Hippo, as if nothing had happened, made a specific sound and landed nearby.  
Receiving another portion of beer, the last one continued his tale.  
- To divert attention, the CMSPCG engaged in peacekeeping activities and the elimination of disturbances in the subspaces of computer games.  
- And what about the coders, - interrupted Green, - how could they allow this, as it seems to me they were on the side of the computer heroes.  
- Yes, the coders were indeed on their side, but none of them knew about the insidious plans of the people from the Center, and many of the coders, being unaware, worked in the CMSPCG as consultants. Gradually, most computer heroes were assigned to the CMSPCG, and the remaining ones were caught in various ways and forcibly attached to the CMSPCG. A profession even emerged - hunter of computer heroes; the CMSPCG hired anyone willing for good rewards. All stable interdimensional rifts were monitored by CMSPCG employees to prevent computer heroes from moving through the subspaces.  
Around this time, the last ones, who then only inhabited their subspace, completed the development of the null-channel transporter and began its testing. A terrible tragedy occurred during its testing; the first tester was captured by the energy flow of the null channel. He was thrown into one of the shadow subspaces at the earth level (i.e., directly connected to the Earth). But his troubles did not end there. As is now known, the last ones completely lose their memory when exposed to null-particle radiation, which is harmless to any other forms of life. Modern teleporters provide reliable protection against null particles, but that first null transporter did not even have the simplest shielding, and, as expected, the last one found himself face to face with the problem of memory loss.  
It is well known that we, the last ones, are very active and cannot sit idle for long; that last one was no exception. Coming to terms with the loss of memory, he began to explore the subspace he found himself in. History does not give us an accurate description of all his wanderings, although it is reliably known that after numerous adventures, having passed through all dangers, he reached a stable interdimensional rift, one of those that connect shadow subspaces with the main, axial space. He had no choice but to jump into it. And he jumped. And was brutally captured by the secret agents of the CMSPCG, which he was very pleased about, as he had nothing else to do. He was quite satisfied with the prospect of working as a computer hero, and he did not protest.  
But the CMSPCG was a front organization, and heroes did not work there; they were contained. He did not escape this fate either. Time passed, there was no work, and he became increasingly covered in dust.  
But one day, he was summoned to the authorities for an important assignment. They even gave him a strange name - the Last, the meaning of which no one knows. It is from this name that the name of the race of the last ones originated, but that was much later. At that time, explaining to him with hand gestures that his main task was to return alive, they stuffed him into a teleporter and sent him to sort things out in one of the subspaces where some glitches were observed.  
So the Observer speaks in vain that the last ones were created by the coders; perhaps the idea of their name belongs to someone among them, but no more than that.  

He wanted to say something more, but the main User flipped the switch on the gray box to the "OFF" position and looked out the window. In the window was a road along which huge trucks and small cars were racing, roaring fiercely. In the window was autumn. Perhaps there, in the window, someone has been waiting for him, the User, for a long time. Perhaps this is his last chance. The last chance.

Contents of the publication: ZX Format #07

• From the Authors
  Update on SMUC, distribution issues, and plans for future ZX Format issues. Authors address outdated SMUC info and distribution problems of ZF-6. Upcoming content includes game descriptions and new projects.
• Аторы журнала
  Contact information and editorial team details for ZX-Format No.7. Provides mailing and electronic addresses, as well as contact phone numbers. Information on the availability of their website and specific contact instructions.
• Содержание номера
  The article provides an overview of notable software releases on the St. Petersburg market for autumn. It also includes detailed descriptions of games, programming tips, and hardware projects. Interviews, philosophical tales, and reader letters enrich the issue.
• Игрушки - Welcome
  An overview of software novelties for ZX Spectrum, including games like 'Los Angeles Drugs Bust' and 'Jungle Warfare'. Each game description provides insights into graphics, gameplay, and features. A variety of genres from action to strategy are covered, showcasing the diversity of software offerings.
• Игрушки - Алешкин А.В.
  The article describes the game 'TAI-PAN' as an arcade-economic game set in the 19th-century East, focusing on trading and survival amidst pirates and danger. It details the gameplay mechanics, such as trading goods, managing finances, and navigating seas with different ships. Despite its engaging plot and interface, the game didn't achieve much popularity in Russia.
• Игрушки - Soft
  A whimsical narrative in a fantastical world where colors converse with the Last, a character recounting tales of ancient humans, coders, and a mysterious past. The story explores themes of language, translation, and the creation of 'the Last' amidst fantastical beings like flying hippos and sea giraffes. It serves as a fictional narrative with humorous elements, blending science fiction with satire.
• Игрушки - Alex ASP
  A parody on Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' named 'Bored of the Rings' by Delta 4 is explored. The text references adaptations, humorous adventures of characters like Fordo and Bimbo, and differing versions from Delta 4 over the years. Anticipated prequels and correspondence excerpts with Delta 4's Fergus McNeill are mentioned.
• Игрушки - Гил-Гелад
  The article provides a detailed guide on navigating the 3D Construction Kit interface for ZX Spectrum. It explains menu options for file management, game setup, and in-game conditions. Additionally, it covers object creation, editing, and logic implementation within the program.
• Программистам - Дмитрий Рудовский
  The article concludes the description of BB commands and provides tips on their usage. It details the usage of the CLOCK command for time and alarm management on ZX Spectrum. Additionally, it explains the SORT command for array sorting and introduces new logical and mathematical functions.
• Программистам - Angel
  Introduction to assembly programming for beginners, covering basic concepts and commands. Detailed explanation of processor registers and flags, with examples. Offers practical advice on transitioning from Basic to assembly language.
• Программистам - GreenFort
  Discussion on fast calculations in assembler for tasks like vector graphics and astronomy. Describes procedures for binary division and multiplication, with examples for different byte sizes. Highlights the adaptability of these methods for increased precision.
• Программистам - TP, Stinger
  Detailed technical description of the Mod file format for music composition on ZX Spectrum, focusing on structure and data offsets for title, instruments, and patterns.
• Программистам - Research
  The article describes the capabilities and limitations of the Convert program, focusing on its use for converting images to the BMC format. It includes technical details about the program's functions, such as dithering methods, sprite and screen format output, and the removal of extraneous dots. Additionally, the article briefly discusses the source code of X-Color and its potential applications.
• Обзор
  The article discusses the ENLiGHT'97 demo-party held in St. Petersburg on August 24, 1997, featuring platforms like Spectrum, Amiga, and PC. The event attracted around 1100 delegates, leading to overcrowding and technical issues, which caused the cancellation of the second day. Despite these issues, the event was generally enjoyable, and there is hope for another event in 1998.
• Обзор
  Review of VideoFAIR exhibition in Manezh with highlights on video and audio equipment. Amiga-service and various companies showcased their technological advancements in video editing and broadcast systems. Notable innovations include 3D laser-scanned displays and professional audio solutions.
• Железо - Nemo
  Discussion of KAY technology export to decentralize Spectrum production. Highlights potential benefits and challenges of local manufacturing. Emphasizes quality assurance and support systems.
• Железо
  The article describes the development of a new Scorpion motherboard, focusing on enhancing graphics, speed, and compatibility with modern peripherals like IBM keyboards and mice. It introduces the GMX (Graphic Memory Extension) board, designed to upgrade existing Scorpion models to match the capabilities of the new motherboard. The GMX board offers significant improvements in memory, graphics, and processing speed, while maintaining compatibility with ZX Spectrum and Pentagon standards.
• Железо
  The article provides a detailed overview of two popular audio amplifiers for ZX Spectrum users in St. Petersburg. It highlights the advantages and specifications of the 2 X 2W low-voltage amplifier and the 2 X 22W car amplifier. The article also includes a price list and ordering instructions through the 'Nemo' company.
• Примьера
  The article describes the improvements and features of the Turbo Assembler version 1.1 for ZX Spectrum. It highlights the differences from version 1.0, such as bug fixes, screen size changes, and added features like line editor and syntax checking. It also details the memory allocation and provides a guide on using the editor and compiler functions.
• Примьера - STS
  Description of the Riff Tracker MOD-editor for General Sound, its features, and functionalities. Provides detailed instructions on using editing and sample management. Notes on the current version limitations and expected improvements.
• Примьера - Paul Atrides, Alex Noman
  Presentation of Oberon Creative Pack, consisting of ZX-WinWord and Sprite Cutter. ZX-WinWord is a text editor combining text and graphics with advanced features. Sprite Cutter allows sprite creation and manipulation in various formats.
• Примьера
  Presentation of the second demo version of the game Headball by ZX-Masters, discussing its features and improvements since the first demo. The game offers two-player mode, four levels, three types of projectiles, various options, and computer difficulty settings. Availability of Turbo mode and enhanced synchronization and animation make it unique among other Spectrum games.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with Digital Reality about ongoing projects like DOOM and Paradise Lost. Discussion of challenges and progress in game development. Preview of their submissions for the ENLiGHT event.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with members of the newly formed group EXTREME. They work on demos for Spectrum and Amiga platforms and discuss their team members and activities. The interview also touches upon the state of the Amiga scene in Moscow.
• Интервью - Борис Прытков
  Interview with Samara-based Spectrum enthusiasts discussing their achievements and challenges. Emphasis on community building and publication of Oberon magazine. Efforts to establish a Spectrum network and convert the game WALKER.
• Интервью - Борис Прытков
  The article is an interview with members of the group Flash inc. discussing their projects for ZX Spectrum and PC, including a music editor with an innovative interface and a new multicolor graphic editor.
• Интервью - Михаил Акимов
  Interview with Moscow-based group Progress discussing their current work on Spectrum demos, plans for future projects on Amiga, and opinions on the Russian demoscene.
• Интервью - Михаил Акимов
  Interview with Felix about changes in the tech landscape, the enduring appeal of Amiga despite PC dominance, and his work on 'Winnie the Pooh - 2' for Spectrum.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with Slash about the ENLiGHT event, including sponsorship issues, attendee behavior, and the quality of music and demos. Discussion of the current state of the Spectrum and Amiga markets. Commentary on music trackers and the future of hardware development.
• Интервью - Ruster
  Interview with V. Mednonogov after ENLiGHT'97 discussing impressions of the event, future of Spectrum, and his current project 'Black Raven'. Mednonogov shares his views on new hardware and software development and the importance of copyright. He also discusses his plans for upcoming projects and the challenges faced in game development.
• Здесь был ты
  A satirical guide to gaining power and invisibility using magical rituals and Orbit gum.
• Здесь был ты - Saggitarius
  A contemplative novella about a man's existential journey after encountering a mysterious individual offering a device called the Stop Crane. Through flashbacks, the protagonist reflects on his life, uniqueness, and his desire to break free from societal constraints. Ultimately, he faces the moral dilemma of using the Stop Crane to transcend time and existence.
• Почта - Eagle Soft
  Critique of ZX-Spectrum software, highlighting the limitations of current programs and recommending the removal of outdated tools. Discussion on the limitations of assembly programs and the need for more efficient assemblers like M80. Evaluation of current music and graphic editors, with a focus on the redundancy of certain applications.
• Почта
  Discussion of reader inquiries on ZX Format distribution and content. Responses include details on acquiring issues and technical insights on the KAY-256 computer. The magazine also addresses criticism of its market outlook article.
• Почта
  This advertisement highlights XL Design Inc.'s software distribution campaign, offering games like 'Plutonia' and upcoming releases such as 'Mortal Kombat'. Mouse controllers are promoted with humorous selling points and pricing details. Studio LOGROS provides a wide range of software and peripherals, with options for local and remote purchases.
• Разное - Александр Сысоев
  The article discusses the creation of an RPG game by the OBERON GROUP, inspired by 'Eye of Beholder'. It describes the game's humorous plot set in a distant galaxy and the battle against invaders on a planet named Agima. The team invites musicians, artists, coders, and scriptwriters for collaboration.
• Разное - Viator
  The article describes the development of a new graphics editor called STATE OF THE ART for ZX Spectrum, aiming to improve upon existing editors like ART-STUDIO and ARTIST-2. The team AVALON, inspired by feedback from the SPECCY artist community, incorporates features from editors on Amiga and PC, while also addressing specific user requests. Key features include a user-friendly interface, enhanced magnify mode, advanced shape and window manipulation, and optimized performance.
• Разное
  Discussion on enhancing consumer quality of Spectrum computers without altering their technical specifications. Suggestions include improving existing support, developing platform ideology, and structural changes. The article also touches on the potential of electronic books and their commercial viability.
• Amiga Club - Максим Петров
  The article describes the author's admiration for the Amiga computer, emphasizing its aesthetic and technical merits compared to other platforms. It explores the author's programming experiences on Amiga, highlighting its efficiency and the impressive capabilities of its new hardware upgrades. The article concludes by reflecting on the unique community and passion of Amiga enthusiasts.