Interview


Handle:
Hornet/Alcatraz

How did you come up with your alias ?
I choosed it rather stupidly (who didn't ?). I'm a fan of airplanes and as I had drawn a F18-Hornet with DPaint, I thought of using this handle, so I had already a gfx in relation.

City / Country:
I live in Lausanne, Switzerland. Born year:
I'm born in 1973. (I will soon be 23 years old.)

What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
I started with a C64 computer. I don't remember when I got it. I didn't get it very early. It should be around 1987 ? (possible ?)

How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
I've always been much interested in coding. On the 64 I formed a team with I friend of mine. I only did a small intro, with a picture and a scrolling. (It was my first assembly program.) The team was called Panthere. Then I moved to the Amiga. Panthere became Omega. Then I joined another small local group, (I don't rember then name.). Then I joined Avenger, and finally Alcatraz.

What was the proudest moment in your career ?
The best moment in my career was at The Party when everyone were applausing while watching Odyssey on the big screen.

For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
Because I got the 1st place at The Party with Odyssey.

What would you like to be remembered for ?
I would like to be remembered for Odyssey of course, but also for the (in my eyes) good coding of this demo. (Small demo OS, multitasking (loads while demo runs (even on vector parts), cylindrical vectors, fast vector routine...)

What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
I stopped my scene activity because it takes too much time to code a demo just for free.

Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
On the good old days, demos were released at any time, not just at Partys.

What was your favorite
GAME(S)
My favorite games were, Rocket Ranger, Interceptor, Falcon, F1GP.

DEMO(S)
Mental Hangover, RSI megademo.

PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
Metalwar

CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Quartex

COMPOSER(S)
SLL, Moby

BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
...

EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
Alcatraz copy-party, The Party.

DRINK ?
Water !

What are you doing nowadays ?
Nowadays I'm studing computer science, at the EPFL. (Swiss federal institut of technologie in Lausanne)

What are you doing on your spare time?
On my spare time, I go sking when possible. I also code a little bit on my good old A1200.

Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
I send some greetings to all ex-members of Alcatraz worldwide. And everyone who reads these lines.