Interview


Handle:
On the Amiga I used Smauge, but when I found out that somebody else was using it (well, his handle was Smaug), I changed to Opus. Now, when I am dealing with PCs, I am using Opus.

How did you come up with your alias?

Smauge is a dragon in one of the J.R.R Tolkien-books. I just looked for an unused handle in his books and that is what I came up with. My current handle Opus obviously comes from the cartoon. I just love it.

City/Country?
I live in Gothenburg/Sweden.

Born year?
1972-06-06

What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
My very first computer was of course a C-64 (had been using Vic 20 and ABC-80 before that but never owned one). I got that computer about a year after it was released or something. I do not quite remember. After that I moved onto the Amiga for a couple of years. Then it was time for the big stuff, PCs! Today I am a proud owner of a Pentium 166.

How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of?
I can not say how I got into the scene. Suddenly one day I was there! I guess I got more and more involved by the years. I have been a member of several groups of varying size. The first one was Tai Pan (C-64 and Amiga), a small group that just about did not do anything but play games. Acid House was also small but had more potential. We made one utility disk that was well appreciated. Shortly after the birth of the group, we were sucked up by DigiTech and this was the beginning of an exciting time. I began to build up my board and after a couple months of trouble I could open my very first BBS, Checkpoint Charlie. As far as I have heard, CC was one of the first Amiga-BBS in Sweden which is something I am proud of. After 12000 calls, CC was shutdown. I quit the Amiga-scene and after a while also DigiTech. After some months I opened Bloom County, an independent BBS. After some months,I joined The Dream Team/TRSI and ran this board for them until the day I closed the board due to legal problems and I was quite tired of it. Today, I am as free as the bird.

What was the proudest moment in your career?
Career? Hehe, I would not call it a career. But if I have to write something, I guess my proudest moment actually has to be multiple. Everytime someone remembers Checkpoint Charlie (or Bloom County), I grow some extra centimeters being able to tell them that I was the creator/sysop.

For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered?
If any, Checkpoint Charlie and/or Bloom County.

What would you like to be remembered for?
A lot. Seriously, it would be nice if I could be remembered for my efforts in BBS:ing.

What made you stop the scene activity? And do you remember when?
The authorities had some kind of campaign a few years ago shutting down boards. Probably there were a lot of rumors but since I anyhow was tired of it I closed my dear board. This took place in April, 1994.

Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
Well, I never learned how to code anything advanced on the Amiga......that would have been nice.

What was your favorite ...?

Games -do not remember

Demos - do not remember

Programmers - Conqueror of C&Z, Sauron, I had several....

Crackers - DefJam, FLT...

Composers - A friend of Conqueror, Ulf (do not remember his handle)

Best composed tracks - do not remember

Events - when I was a member of DigiTech, we had a copyparty, The Summer Conference. It was fun. (best Swedish party ever! -Ed) Did not attend to so many parties.

Memories - too many to mention here....

Favorite drink?
A cool beer always make me drewl.....otherwise I like snaps, especially Baeska Droppar since I attend Elektro at Chalmers (our national drink).

What are you doing nowadays?
I am studying electronics at Chalmers in Gothenburg. I have done about two years and have two more to go. I am involved in amateurtheatre, that is Chalmersspexet if you ever heard of it. In my sparetime, I am sailing, scubadiving and few more things. Chalmers is quite exhausting so there is not much time for any time-consuming activities. Today I am not involved in any kind of scene, which is something I miss sometimes. I work part-time with computer support at a large medical company. I use my computer for some programming, math and other serious applications. I enjoy a good game though. I do not think you are interested in the story of my life so I better quit here.

Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)?
Have fun!

What is the meaning of life?
42.