Interview


Handle: Mr.E

How did you come up with your alias ?
It's a 'MYSTERY'

City / Country:
Glasgow & Perth, Scotland
now Manchester, England

Born year:
1970

What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
Sinclair ZX Spectrum about 1984

How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
A friend of mine knew a guy called Birdy (Scottish Cracking Crew) who had loads of games on C64, so I got to know him and eventually joined and started cracking and writing demos. Some of the groups I remember being in are...

c64: Scottish Cracking Crew, Group A, NATO.
Amiga: Public Enemy No.1, Tartan Army, Oracle, Genesis, Angels, Crystal.

What was the proudest moment in your career ?
1. Anytime I cracked a game and beat everyone else to release it.
2. Having a game at no.1 in the Amiga charts. (Jurassic Park)

For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
See last question.

What would you like to be remembered for ?
See last question.

What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
Got a job in a software company in 1991.

Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
Oh yes.. Losing my social life for about 5 years, Spending loads of money on phone bills, going to work after no sleep the night before, Working for companies whos games I'd cracked.

What was your favorite
GAME(S)
Pirates(Amiga), Terra Cresta(C64)

DEMO(S)
Can't really remember the names of any.

PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
1001 Crew, Sodan.

CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Mr.Z, Weetibix, 1001 crew, NOMAD.

COMPOSER(S)
Martin Galway, Jackal, Rob Hubbard, Chris Huelsbeck.

BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
Knucklebusters, Spellbound, R-Type, Parallax, Suspicious Cargo (Hi Baz!)

EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
The PCW shows were kind of fun. Meeting everyone and especially stealing games from the exhibitors stands and cracking them in a hotel across the road!

DRINK ?
Stella Artois!

What are you doing nowadays ?
Working as a Nintendo 64 programmer for a company in Manchester.

What are you doing on your spare time?
What spare time???? Just getting drunk and collecting speeding fines. (not at the same time!)

Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
Just 'hello' to everyone who knows/remembers me!

What is the meaning of life?
To get drunk!