analizing this year, and the rest of last one, i think, the logical conclusion could be made, that we have the raising game makers' activity. though, there are not so many games, that are worth of long time playing, anyway, most of it can leave the ordinary crap game competitions entries far behind in it's quality. one of the reasons, as i reckon, is the activity of perspective group - the 'your game' contest, the beginning of game projects distribution, that, i hope, will continue, and of course, 'abzac', that directly reveal the field of interests of its creators.

we took a little interview with alex xor, that shows his attitude to the current situation and the following development of game 'industry' on speccy.

elfh> during last few years you pay a lot of efforts to resurrection of game making from depression since the end of 90-ies. what leads you and what is the highest purport of your activity?

axor> the main impulse was the fact that there were no good games made during last years. the demo competitions became boring for me. so, i decided to make a game competition, the event that had never been before on spectrum. there are few purposes for this contest, as for me, the main are the following:

1. to attract groups/people that can make good games for spectrum;

2. to attract consumers, new gamers seldom pay attention to spectrum and it is very baneful for our platform. i'm sure, that new games are able to attract the young generation. i think it's not a big secret, that it's almost impossible to do it in big cities, but in province, where clubs and hobby groups still exist, this method can help. that's why i hope, that our contest will yield its fruits. however, we rely on contest participants!

elfh> are you happy with the last year's results? what can we expect this year?

axor> i was quite pleased with last year's results. there were many games, with good quality, moreover, this contest was the first one for the most of competitors. what can we expect this time i don't even know. i was informed by many people about their participation, but still (27.10.2003) we have a very slow movement in this direction, so i'm very worried about the contest. and i was surprized with 6 games presented at cafe'2003 this year. i don't know why people decided not to take part in 'your game'.

elfh> as for me, the quality of games presented there was higher than those from 'your game' - what do you think about it?

axor> i don't know. probably, the last year's "your game' games pushed authors forward to creating better games. anyway, i don't really know.

elfh> the realization of 'imperia 2' in the way that it was done by you became something totally new on spectrum at this time. what was the reaction of users? will you keep on creating such products?

axor> yes, it was a new approach. i think, here in russia we had nothing like that before. but not so much people wish to buy this game with all that stuff from the package. will i make something else of that kind? i shall if anybody able to make games, music and novels will support me.

elfh> 'imperia 2' was made only for machines with at least 256kb of memory. you think this is the only possible direction in development of game making?

axor> of course not! by the way, the game itself let me down. many users were upset because it work only on 256kb, moreover, using scorpion and pentagon 512 standart. i won't do like this anymore. i think, that there is a long time ago used standart for good spectrum games - 128kb, that's enough, 'black raven', i guess, is a good evidence.

elfh> what is the most important aspect in this case: gamer or the game itself? in other words, will imperia initiate the appearance of large amount of machines with extended memory?

axor> i think, if someone had the purport of increasing the quantity of such machines, then the games like imperia 2 should have appeared 8-10 years ago.

elfh> is imperia protected? i admit, the appearance of new games will bring the revival of crack scene. what is your attitude to this?

axor> i'll keep the secret about protection. what's about crack scene - i suppose, it's already history. there's nobody left. those, who still can make something understand the value of a new software, and i believe, they won't harm. the time has changed, you have to pay if you want something to appear. though it was actual long time ago. if situation with coders' fees would have been regulated in the past, now it could have been not so catastrophic. and i'm very displeased with crack scene! i still can't forgive that asshole, who cracked the past year's 'your game' release and put it in internet.

elfh> do you play games much? do you solve games, that take part in the contest?

axor> i seldom play. i have no time, anyway, i prefer to make something by myself than just play. honestly, i haven't completed any game from last year contest, even mine. i played it enough while developing.

elfh> it is well-known, that today there is an uprising interest to retro-gaming in europe. have you any plans for your appearance on the international stage?

axor> not yet. can somebody give an advice how to do it?

elfh> i see the solution of this problem in the following: creation of a english/russian languages site with all appropriate information for developers and potential customers. the games, subjected to distribution, must be comprehensible to english speaking customers and russians. the problem with formats (trd/tap) arise, but it can be solved. our gamers aren't used to pay for games, while it is the common thing in europe. of course, the bet must be done on the release appearance and design, as it was done with imperia 2 - no crack can provide such feelings that it's possible to gain having an original release. what do you think?

axor> i agree, that this our trick with imperia 2 is something new, comparing with all other game releases made on spectrum in russia. but we have to settle down all affairs with our (russian) gamer before presenting such products to the european audience. moreover, this game release let us down, cos it has some bugs. i hope, there will be no more such rush releases.

elfh> how wide 'abzac' is spread? what is its circulation? what can you say about the tendencies in development - does the readers amount increase?

axor> we have a large range - russia, ukrane, belarus, poland. the edition is still at the point of 100 copies. the circle of readers is almost constant, some of them leave, some of them are just starting reading us, and that's good. now my question - why 'adventurer' crew don't buy 'abzac'?

elfh> i've got some issues and i haven't read them completely cos i understood - it's not mine. we just have a different point of view and different interests, what can be seen in the last issue of 'adventurer'. though it doesn't decrease the value of 'abzac'. maybe some final words to the readers?

axor> i hope it won't be censored? anyway, i shall speak to you. i wish you just one thing - to get back where you came from, the place you occupied during last years. now, by the readers' replies, i've made a conclusion that people begin to like you less. and that's bad. your attempt to unite our scene with the rest has failed, at the same time it caused a split here. i suppose, at first, we have to make everything alright here, and only then to show it to the rest of scene. i know, that time change us, but people like us for our past, not for our present. try do not to lose the reader and correspondents and then everything will be fine! have a good luck.

elfh> yes, i know that last issue has distressed many people, but we are not gonna stop our evolution (involution?). i wish you luck in those affairs that we have practically left...