(C) 1984 Chris Bourn, Sinclair User
(C) 1998 translate Spider / Olive-Branch
Music: Die Hasen unter Tanne / KENOTRON
JET SET SMITH
Life After Willie
Matthew Smith mined gold along with Manic
Miner'om. Chris Bourne found him in a jet-set shaft.
Admission is elegant. Sofas absorb any who dared to sit on
them. Posters on the walls of Paris. A small neat pile wrapped
in brown paper parcels. Clean carpets. No empty bottles of gin.
Matthew Smith, the creator of Manic Miner and Jet Set
Willy, it seems a little aged. Throughout the procedure
and silence. Where the chaos that accompanies the mind,
creating animated toilet seats, crazy rabbits which ever is not
a license or a kangaroo on the barrel. Madness here, somewhere
on the surface. But where? Included Alan Meton, high and
restless, he always moves. His office - Managing Director
Software Projects. Looking a bit like a young
Jimmy Hill. It bears no resemblance to the control
Director. In his office a real chaos. This is the usual
office clutter, covering the tables, even when
not enough ashtrays. "This is not a non-smoking room," - says
Alan. "I do not think it's even bezyadernaya zone. So somewhere
there must be an ashtray. "Alan is looking for an ashtray.
Coffee Machine fills a substitute in a plastic cup. He did not
seem to able to make coffee. "It's a lie," - says Alan. "How
much sugar?" Alan shows a cassette with the Jet Set Willy for
Commodore 64, the new conversion programs. All past tapes of
Software Projects made of blue plastic. "No one except us so
does not do "- says Alan. This is to prevent
piracy, so difficult to forge the original product. Even the
transparent part at the beginning of the film contains a
printed there a magic word. We can conclude that the Software
Projects seriously tackle the problem of piracy. Alan's sense
of humor manifested more in the course of the conversation.
Liverpultsy generally known for their sense of humor. If
reporters will be standing face to face with Matthew Smith, it
may have trouble. Probably Alan decided that the time has come.
So he said: "Let's look, maybe they've cleaned up the straw out
of the cage Matthew."
Matthew Smith lived at the zoo, along with other
programmers employed by Software Projects. Zoo - a territory
organized out of the buildings, especially for programmers. And
there is not anywhere plush little resemblance to the waiting
room. To get there, you need to climb upon the stairs and then
wait until someone opens door. Alan, of course, is the key.
Animals it respected. If Alan - Chief Curator, then Matthew -
exhibit. He stops talking to other residents,
When it comes to Alan and tells him about the interview. "Want
to give an interview?" - Asks Alan. "No," - meets Matthew,
throwing his head and laughing so that his long black hair
rastrepyvayutsya. He did not realize until the end of what is
happening.
Matthew was born in Peng, in Surrey, so
it hundreds of jokes about life in the suburbs. When he was
seven, his family moved to Vollesi. He attended secondary
school in Mosslands in March. Her He graduated at sixteen, and
there he learned nothing in terms of computers. His first
computer he received for Christmas in 1979, when he was still
only twelve or thirteen. "It was a 4-Kbyte TRS-80. I asked him
every day for six months to dismantle in part because I wanted
to understand how it works. I am well versed in electronics. "
The truth is, it really looks like
an electronics. His long straight hair, take out
to the clavicle. He is dressed in a white shirt,
water-resistant nylon and a weird pair of pants. Socks on It
does not - only a couple of heavy sandals. Well, this
electronics engineer or a journalist on holiday. "But I did not
take it apart into pieces because he both worked pretty well,
"- continues Matthew. "On it I learned the basics of BASIC, but
realized that it does not go far. Therefore, began to teach the
native code. It has been difficult. Then the book-it actually
was not, except that one, really hard, Rodney Zaks. "
Having mastered the beginning of the "useless" BASIC, he began
write arcade game. "Only two years later turned out something
worthwhile. The first game was in style "Shoot-them-all". It
even played everything. "
The changes came in the trade. Local shop
Tandy allowed many teenagers at that time on Saturday, urging
them to come and programming or playing on computers. For the
children it was fun and for Tandy - good advertising,
demonstrating, that "even" children can program their machines.
"People say that the programmer's company in Liverpool there
because of unemployment," - says Alan. "But it's not. They
exist because of the people. For example, Tandy and
Micro-Digital recruit people so that they do not become
hackers.
Liverpool - This is especially common in Silicon
Valley. It housed Software Projects, BugByte, deceased Imagine,
Voyager, and the people lived in other companies, not based in
Liverpool, for example, from Ocean Software. Readers Hit Squade
have the opportunity to become better acquainted with Steve
Kelly, Chris Arkvartom and Mike Singleton - they All
liverpultsy.
Once Matthew met with Chris Cannon
(He now works in the Software Projects), which
often visited the store Tandy. Chris knew Eugene Evans, who
wrote the program for the Bug-Byte. Later, Eugene moved to
Imagine. "Chris went to work at one of the newfangled Spectrum
in free from work in the Bug-Byte time" - says Matthew, who
could not then afford to buy Spectrum and therefore, asked him
to Chris for a while, saying that would like to write a game.
He showed the company that he had done on a TRS 80, and he was
offered a free contract for three games.
The first was the Styx. "There was one problem. I do not
made a half, and the computer memory to an end. After all, it
was a 16-Kbyte Spectrum. Here why in the game a lot of empty
seats. It was a game in style "shoot-ka-them" based on
Tutankhamun. I wrote it on the Tandy for Spectrum and attributed
procedure, which allowed Spectrum to read tapes from Tandy.
Then I dreamed of the drive. "
Styx: the first attempt - and not lumpy.
Thus was born the legend of the Manic Miner'e. Alan Meton,
which became manager of Bud-Byte, waiting for a similar game,
something like Donkey Kong, who had a tremendous success as an
entertainment arcade. Then Matthew proposed a game with eight,
or even with 16 screens. These arcade games have not done
before, to have been fixed screens. "The name came up, Alan," -
says Matthew. "Eugene said, 'I do not think
that this will work, 'he knows what he says. "
Miner Willy bases legend.
Matthew got to work on Manic Miner, using Tandy third
model, with color and sound. "I did 16 screens and looking for
a way to add four more. Everything was ready in August 1983.
"The game consisted of the central processes in the codes that
provide the main action, as well as special procedures,
applicable to each of your screen. "It stops people trying to
convert to another car, "- says Matthew." tired of people
working on solar cells. "Yes. tired. Games Matthew does not fit
their sense of humor." All began with a joke Eugene Evans, "-
says Matthew with a smile, sitting in his frothy yellow
mattress. "Revived toilet seat came up with my brother. He
wanted to see them in the game. "Anthony Smith, then was three
years old. Matthew modesty is striking. It was still a few
ideas borrowed from someone? "Nope. I was sick of little green
monsters. "
* TO BE CONTINUED *
DATA someone? "Nope.
I was sick of little green monsters. "
* TO BE CONTINUED *
# EB64: 4F D3
At # E702 replaces the value in # 0A
# 0E, to correctly print the name of the file (as
instead of a string FileName remain just Name).
So now with the address # EB66 free 14 bytes.
See where the STS is to determine the state trigger interrupts:
# DFFE: LD (# 5BA1), SP
LD SP, # 5BA1
PUSH BC
PUSH AF
LD A, R
DI
LD BC, # 7FFD
LD A, # 1F
OUT (C), A
LD B, # BF
LD A, # 00
OUT (C), A
JP # E028
Replace command LD A, R: DI on NOP, but the team JP # E028
- to JP # EB66. With the address # EB66 put this snippet:
# EB66: LD A, R
JP PO, # EB6E
NOP
JR # EB70
LD A, R <
> DI
JP # E028
Please note - this piece in any
If their work with the increases in the register R
the same value (7). The fact that more
will be executed one more command LD A, R, this
time is needed to determine the value of the register R,
and the correction will be made of measured value,
as R register value increases with each command, and it is
necessary to know its value to the end of the implementation
team traced. Here's how it looks:
# DCA2: LD A, # 5A
LD HL, # FEF4
SLA (HL)
RLA
ADD A, (HL)
RRCA
LD (HL), A
RET
Constant # 5A at # DCA3 should be replaced by # 53, ie,
reduced to 7 - because the program was added an additional
fragment, which increases the register R 7, and we must
compensate for this change.
After that you only write the changed file to disk.
Then the program was added an additional fragment, which
increases the register R 7, and we must compensate for this
change.
After that you only write the changed file to disk.
(C) 1984 Chris Bourne, Sinclair User
(C) 1998 translate Spider / Olive-Branch
Music: KENO-13/KENOTRON/BAD-MOOD '
JET SET SMITH
Life After Willie
(Continued)
Alan decided to leave Bug Byte and establish its
enterprise. 6 weeks it reached a peak share of Creative
Technology Group, founded by the owner of Imagine Bruce
Everissom. He still receives letters from Lawyers with
questions: who owns what and who that he had received. "I was
there for only six weeks," - a plaintive moan, Alan. Matthew
also wanted to leave Bug Byte. But he was there a small portion
of copyright income. "I would be happy to leave them a Manic
Miner'a, but they mentioned a contract, "- he says. Alan
explains. "Payments were to duplicate a tape, rather than
selling them." "They got into a huge duty, "- says Matthew."
Somewhere 25000. I asked at least part of it. However, they
avoided meeting with me. And then we broke the contract. I've
already sold them Styx, but they had a license to manufacture
Manic Miner, which I canceled. "
With all the pros and cons of business in Liverpool seems
too confusing, and Smith, however, teaming with Alan Metonom
and his wife Sue, to found Software Projects. Then they were
joined by scouse Tommy Barton and, later, after famous incident
with the bugs and listening phone, they moved Colin Stokes of
Imagine. Alan passionately spread the idea that Liverpool -
a kind of Silicon Dallas'a. "This is a very friendly
industry. For example, between me and Tony from Badon
Bug Byte no hostile feelings. And as a major proof of that is
that we eat together. We are all good friends. "
Matthew starts talking about Jet Set Willy.
It was the best selling game in Britain. Work on it began
before leaving the Bug Byte. He does not like to reveal their
secrets programmer, but still says that music playing at all
Throughout the game, does not use interrupts. "First
command in the program - 'disable all interrupts' "-
he says. "It's simple: move-tiny-little-bit, the BIS, the
tiny-little-bit. You probably noticed that the more life you
lose, the worse the music? "Some people will notice that
music, disgusting - nothing like
distorted version of 'If I were a millionaire. "
Most zaROKEnnaya game of all time?
Bugs crawled into play under the pressure of distributors
and dealers, who demanded a new game. This has generated a lot
of secrets about the third and final part of the trilogy. Bugs
doubled the score for some items and placed the number of
monsters after passing player Loft. Initially, Software
Projects planned to return through the house, which must be
quite difficult. "Wow, is not it you? "- rocks, Alan." If a bug
in the game, then you do not see. "Humor has become wider. Name
some rooms seem to be distorted. Is it true that "We must
fulfill Quirkafleeg" came from comics hippies, fluffy whimsical
Brothers? "Yes," - says Matthew. "I have been reading these
comics and fluffy whimsical cat Tolstoy Freddie, as well as
Alan." "You said it was a Norwegian folk dance," - Alan recalls
with bitterness. He says it is the importance of the Swedish
prime minister. It's really a zoo. Some never leave. Stewart
Foterington [sic], pankovaty, dressed in a skin developer, not
at home for several days. "They know their work at the
company," - says Alan. "People look at them and think they are
lazy. But while they are working on a program, we do not worry.
Some even sleep here. Hey, Stuart, when the last time you been
home? "Stewart muses. "On Saturday," - he says uncertainly.
Today is Tuesday. "They all have the keys," - continues Alan.
"I have no clue," - says Matthew. "Come on and take himself, "-
Alan is responsible. Matthew snorts.
According to rumors, the next game will be called
Willy meets the tax collector, "where Willie will have to pay
in his characteristic style. Alan said that has not been
decided. Of course, the new game will be based on further
exploitation of Willie. Matthew wants to base the game to put
'iron' using extra-ROM chips, which will be used in application
programming, forming an integral part of the new game.
Meanwhile, the company released a new game
Spectrum for "Lode Runner". There are levels of a
for others, as a ladder, and still have an opportunity
create their own screens. Graphics clear and simple cubic
should be collected, stairs connecting brick site. Alan
describes all the charm of the game. Game will be distributed
under license by Broderbund, the American programmer at the
firm, which has had great success with this game.
Everything is clear and simple ...
Most people think Software
Projects and Matthew is very unorthodox. Now he
the most famous developer in the country and spawned
currently a myth, as a schoolboy-millionaire. How did feel a
cult? "What?" - Matthew dissatisfied. "Me?" A man becomes a
star only if he asked an autograph. "" And they ask, "- reports
Alan. "They are asking for even posters." Matthew looks
puzzled. "I forge your signature," - explains Alan. "I try not
to think about it," - says Matthew, glaring at the table. "Star
is not is recognized. I tried to do something that
will sell well. All that really
interest - how to make money. "Alan thinks the ideal game is
something like a MUD, a multi-user dungeon, University of
Essex, which can take part simultaneously by several people.
Matthew says that they would like to write something like
that." But it must be done not Spectrum, for a start, "- he
says." And then to convert. "
Lifestyle Matthew - an experiment. Alan says Matthew
opened the sixties. "I'm not much do ", - says Matthew."
Computer - is my only hobby, but I do not do all the time. I
likes partying, drinking to unconsciousness. "He tells how he
recently went to a nightclub, dressed in a toga, 'purely for
experimental purposes'." They allowed you to go again? "- asked
Alan." But just not in a toga, "- said Matthew sad.
Unlike many programmers, Matthew still remains a fan of
computer games. "If I close up the room with the Spectrum and
cassette it is more likely - it Atic Attack ", - he said.
"It's close to what was supposed to be a Jet Set
Willy, than he is. "Unusual but absolutely Matthew
does not approve of the game, although he played in them,
making them and lives with them. "I think that game playing is
harmful - as well as write them. Computers are going to use to
stop the gamma radiation. They suitable for different things.
They can be used for brushing teeth, or on a construction site
to control the angle at which lay bricks. "
Matthew extends his view on
future. "Things will become hairy when we get a machine
intelligence that will be more than us "- he says." I go from
Alan and Tommy when they want to take over the world. I want to
live a simple life. I think many people want this. The world
can not sustain itself. It is time that we can not all be
happy, happy, well fed and warm. We will invigorate yourself or
looking the other way struggle. We have enough land. These
communists are living in communes, villages and tribes. I would
be happy live, but the whole point of attachment. It would be
nice make a wall around the city to be seen where
they end. "
Matthew itself against the starry programmers, Jeff
Minter, whose series of Grid Wars for Commodore quickly gained
cult status. "What I do not like in games Minter, is the fact
that He does not pretend to have any of the real problems.
I do not support the simulation of violence. In this little
merry. "Minter said that the games are boring Matthew, because
to them to pass, you need to follow certain routes." The only
route presents no new problems "- said Matthew -" But odna
particular problem makes the game incendiary. Bad encourage
violence. "And what about the boot, which crushes Willie when
he loses? It is violence? "No," - says Matthew firmly.
"Boots - comic character. A comedy overshadows
violence. "Matthew returns to his work, and we
leave the zoo.
Alan is a taxi by phone. Coffee
machine makes a last cup of instant black. Alan answers a call.
"No," - he says - "No one. It is better to call in the
morning." "I himself, the guard, "- he jokes, laying pipe." This
and taxis. The station only fifteen minutes. It was nice to
talk to. Good-bye. "
Sinclair User, December 1984
*
Softografiya Matthew Smith
Styx - Bug-Byte, 1983.
Manic Miner - Bug-Byte, Software Projects, 1983.
Jet Set Willy - Software Projects, 1984.
Styx - Bug-Byte, 1983.
Manic Miner - Bug-Byte, Software Projects, 1983.
Jet Set Willy - Software Projects, 1984.
orrektsiya determined value,
as R register value increases with each command, and it is
necessary to know its value to the end of the implementation
team traced. Here's how it looks:
# DCA2: LD A, # 5A
LD HL, # FEF4
SLA (HL)
RLA
ADD A, (HL)
RRCA
LD (HL), A
RET
Constant # 5A at # DCA3 should be replaced by # 53, ie,
reduced to 7 - because the program was added an additional
fragment, which increases the register R 7, and we must
compensate for this change.
After that you only write the changed file to disk.
Then the program was added an additional fragment, which
increases the register R 7, and we must compensate for this
change.
After that you only write the changed file to disk.
