gaming like it used to be! - proclaims a slogan at the cronosoft site. the label that returns us to the days, when game industry was not conquered by multinational corporations, making money on titles instead of playability. the days, when individuals explored unknown territories of just born computer gaming. this is so unusual in the modern world, dominated by high tech, that i couldn't resist the desire to know more about the label and the man behind it.

elfh> introduce yourself, please. when did you get your first speccy?

simon> my name is simon ullyatt, and i live in boston, u. k. i got my first computer (a zx81) in 1982, and moves on to the speccy in 1984, at the height of it's popularity here in england.

elfh> how did you start cronosoft? i mean, what initiated the process?

simon> earlier this year, i finished my involvement with the last uk oric/atmos computer magazine 'rhetoric' when the magazine closed down, so i wanted a new project to work on. i noticed that there was several groups and people working hard to promote the 8-bit (or retro) scene in all sorts of ways, though very few groups actually 'release' the software on cassette, in the way that it was many years ago, when these computers were mainstream.

simon> i thought i would try the idea of promoting, packaging, and distributing software for anyone who may be interested, with the ideal goal of providing the programmers with a payment for every copy sold.

ideally, if programmers can receive a little extra money for their efforts, they may write even more new software!

elfh> what is your opinion about the place retrogaming handles in the modern world? what could be the future of this passion?

simon> i think that retrogaming will always exist. even with today's more modern systems, like the ps2, xbox, gamecube, eventually there will come a time, when the systems are no longer profitable for the mainstream corporations, and they will disappear into history.

sadly, when that happens, there are thousands of people who still love their old machines, and would love to buy more software (if it was available).

happily, the power of the internet, enables these people to get together, and make something new :)

elfh> what criteria do you adhere, while selecting games to be released?

simon> it is important, that the gameplay is good. the game doesn't have to be original, or to have great graphics, but it is important that the game would be enjoyable to play. i would not, for example, reject a game if it was written using a basic compiler, or a tool such as 'the quill' or 'graphic adventure creator'. gameplay and 'lasting enjoyment' is more important.

elfh> do you play those games yourself? how much time you devote cronosoft? (as i know, you copy all the tapes personally isn't it a tedious work? what about the stuff promoting?)

simon> yes! definately! i love playing the games, and it is a real honour to be one of the first people to play a new game :)

i devote however much time is needed to cronosoft... i can 'make' time if necessary, as it's really a very enjoyable thing - especially when someone who has bought a game writes back to say how great it is! it really makes it all worth the effort. i do copy all of the tapes myself, and print and cut out all of the inlays, which can be tedious work, but to be able to supply the games and make people happy, is great!

promoting the software is fun, as yesterday (1st november) we travelled to a computer show in norwich to promote the release of a new game, and met lots of interesting spectrum fans there.

elfh> what was the most successful release to your opinion?

simon> it's hard to say... all of the titles have sales around the same amount, though egghead in space is probably the best seller. i have high hopes for our new game rough justice :)

elfh> is spectrum a leading platform for cronosoft, or you appreciate all eight-bit machines equally?

simon> yes, at the moment, the spectrum is our main platform, with 5 titles. we have 4 more titles due on the spectrum for the future too. we also have 1 game for the commodore 64, and another planned for the acorn electron/bbc format. i am happy to release software on all systems - spectrum, zx81, c64, vic 20, oric, sord m5, dragon 32, and many others...! the reason we have so many spectrum releases so far, is that is what has been submitted to me :) with the spectrum being my first computer, i will always have a special interest in that format though!

elfh> what pushes you forward? what are the future plans of label evolution? what are you dreaming about?

simon> i would love the label to become more well known, with more and more releases, on all formats. i really hope that we can make enough sales to eventually start manufacturing cartridge based games too, for systems such as the atari 2600, gameboy, nintendo nes and others. also, i'd love to support some more obscure systems like the sord m5, ti99, and sharp mz range. as we have very few costs, then it is still worthwhile to support these formats, even if we only sold 5 copies of a game!

elfh> do you know about russian individuals releasing the games for the speccy on non profit basis? for example last summer brought us some new titles - most of it are arcade ones: 'lethargy', 'milos kasmus', 'fire and ice', 'death valley', etc.

simon> no, i wasn't aware of this, but i know how popular the spectrum is in russia and eastern europe, and i have seen the amazing talent and skill that russian coders have shown, pushing the spectrum to it's absolute limits! i would love to hear from any russian programmers that would like to release software through our label.

elfh> don't you want to use a diskette as a medium along with the tape (for the speccy, i mean) or it is the matter of ideology/spirit?

simon> eventually, i hope to expand the range, to include disk. there is a small problem, in that there are so many disk formats, and also with a large number of spectrum users in the uk having to use the now obselte 3 inch disks, which are hard to find. although tape isn't perfect, it allows every spectrum owner to be able to access the software. i can also supply .tap/. tzx files by email, if they would like to use the software on an emulator.

elfh> what means cronosoft for you (work, hobby, nostalgy, escape from our days reality)?

simon> i don't think of it as work - ! it's definately for fun, and to do something to help the scene. i get very bored with the latest pc and console games - the spirit of the 1980's and 1990's has gone from today's software. it's an attempt to recapture what was good about being a spectrum (or other) computer owner. it is very enjoyable, and i'm really happy to be a part of the scene, and to communicate with such enthusiastic, dedicated, and interesting people.

elfh> how do you explain a phenomenon of 'man in the machine' integrity? it works great in the old classic games, even without all those high-tech inventions. human imagination is the key?

simon> i'm not quite sure what you mean here... human imagination is the key to all great games. high technology is unimportant to make a good game. the best games come from 1, or a few people working together on a great idea. today's sony/xbox console games, involve hundreds of people, with a large amount of money, all writing games to a 'set project' arranged under the licensed name of a movie, or character. there's no imagination in that, and there's no incentive for the programmers of these games to be able to make the games great, as they are not free to use their own ideas. with an old computer, you are free to make whatever you want! no restrictions, no deadlines, no rules...!

elfh> maybe some final words to the readers?

simon> i'd like to say 'greetings' to all of our russian friends, and i hope that you continue to show the world what the spectrum can do! i'd very much like to hear from anyone :) my email address is: chaosmongers@yahoo.com

elfh> thanks also to you, for the interview :)

simon> best wishes, simon (chaosmongers) www.cronosoft.co.uk