Domination 07 Interview 3 - Tristan
From C64 Diskmag Wiki
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* Interview with Tristan/Scs*Trc/Empire *
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Welcome to the third ever American interview to
appear in Domination.
An experienced scener who has enjoyed a long c64
career in the ntsc scene and former h/p activity.
I proudly present, Tristan/Scs*Trc/Empire.
[D] = Domination
[T] = Tristan/Scs*Trc/Empire
[D]
Hi and welcome to the interview section, firstly as a
usual introduction I ask of you to describe yourself
and a basic outline on what you do on the Commodore 64
[T]
My first name is Scott. I am 21 years young,Irish-Ameri
can,and live in southern Virginia, USA. I have Blonde
hair and blue eyes. I am about 5feet 7inchs tall and
weigh about 145 pounds. I have been on the c64 scene
since 1986. 11 years!! I'm not afraid to admit that I love
my 64. I am a 64 Historian/Die-hard nostalgic. My skills
are organizing,hacking,importing,composing,mail swap
etc. I've gone from 64 games to finicial terrorism&back
[D]
Over the years ntsc fixing on the c64 has obviously
changed, compared to say 1990, what changes have
you experienced in the fixing scene compared to
today? What do you think of today's fixers..?
[T]
There is all Euro guys doing the ntsc/pal fixing now.
This all started with RockStar in 1992. Before 1989
it really was no such thing as fixing. Americans would
release games even with the screen flickering crazy
and eventually locking up. These days I think its great
to see people like Elwix/Style fixing euro demos!
[D]
What was your reason to return to the c64 scene, you
have even started swapping via mail, worldwide!
Have you any other plans? how do you think you will
serve the scene this time around?
[T]
This time around I plan to really focus myself on having
fun. If there is always a scene, I'm surely to stay in it.
Also EMPIRE is not dead yet, just inactive. Very soon
we ARE going to be active again. Doing quality fixing and
such. YES, I am trading WORLDWIDE now. I decided to do
this because its something I've never done 100%.
Besides, it's mainly a method to exchange old wares and
make new friends. And no better way but thru TRC*SCS!
[D]
From the past, who are the top four American ntsc
fixers that you admire, and give some examples of say
each one's peak releases/accomplishments..
[T]
Booze/Empire... Fixed Creatures! BTTF 3 fix+ one side!!!
StormBringer/Exodus... very constant.
Horizon/Nec+Nei... great cracker turned great fixer.
Pudwerx/ATC/Random/Illusion... quality.
[D]
Your scene history is substantially long, and you must
have experienced several different eras in the scene
and shiftings in the mainstream.
Please try to give the readers some details of your
scene career, from the very beginning to the end.
Also try to name some major highlights or personal
accomplisments..
[T]
In the beginning God created the heaven, earth and
the commodore 64. Around 1986 TRISTAN entered the
pirate scene. No other people in virginia were elites.
Only an few pirate releases made it to my area. I can
remember loading up games put out by ESI,NEPA,1001
Crew,New Stars,Bencore Bros,Dynamic Duo,ABC, etc.
And wanting to be like these guys I built a huge respect
for. I started calling old bbs numbers in intros and
somehow found my way into the underground. Talking
to guys like Devastator/TOP(raster blaster was in this
group), Agent X (ex-Abyss member), and The Dictator..
(eventually an NFI member). During 1987 there was so
fucking much activity in the states it was mind blowing!
There was probally more than 30 usa groups!! And
importing had become a very serious function. I can
remember using 9501033 when they were 5 digit,called
overseas,got one every 10 tries,and lasted for about
2 months. I used them to call over and import euro game
s for various usa groups. Around Sept.1989 I joined my
first Elite group. Reign of Terror(ROT). Members were
me,TaskMaster,SwanSong, and The Executioner. We
were the first group to Import LEGEND wares. Then ROT
turned into a demo group. I was asked in Nov1989 to joi
n Excalibur. I turned it down and joined FANTASY. We did
quite a lot on the import scene. Most 90 I was mainly hac
king and joined NAPALM with ToxicR0adkill and Shamus(
(HandyTerm maker). Jan1991 I joined a little known grou
p called EMPIRE. By April91 we took the scene by storm!
Even cracking 1 of the last usa games! When I look back
on all the old releases,scroll text,boards,and confer-
ences,and memories..I can feel justified that I reached
my goal... I Gained my respect as a 64 pirate and made
my mark in c64 history that will live longer than the 64.
[D]
It is now the time to storm your brain!
Please give your first answers to the following;
Raggings: Fun Fun Fun!
Internet: Useful but kind of lame.
Virtual Fighter II: Who cares. Karate Champ still kicks!
Scene: Comfortable but needs more activity.
Drugs: Alcohol,Xanax,and Prozac!
Violence: When necessary.
The female form: Makes the world go around.
Thor: Diarrhea mouth.
Lame: People who talk the talk, but can't walk the walk.
Elite: Rare breed.
Bruce Lee: I used to play that game alot!
Interviews (!): yea.. you got it!
[D]
What would you say would be your greatest personal
challenge in the scene that you have overcome and
defeated?
[T]
In 1991-1993... Keeping EMPIRE #1. NEI was a very strong
competition, but we always remained high in the charts
and 90% of the time #1. Also its was very hard to main-
tain a real life and keep EMP motivated,strong,&steady
[D]
From past history you were going to edit the mag
"Propaganda" with Omg. What happened here, and will
you start to write in c64 media again?
[T]
Back in 92 when Empire shared H.Q. (Mystic Caverns)
with G*P, OMG/ANTICHRIST asked me if I would like to re-
port USA news for Propaganda. The magazine was
very respected here in the states and also viwed as
the main source for accurate charts. Of course I
agreed! If I remember correctly, that was in March.
Well, half way through editing the mag and the end of
April approaching I got locked up for some local bull-
shit. And yes.. I have joined the VANDALISM NEWS staff!
[D]
Now your personal favourites of the following;
Computer game: Too many! Skate or Die/The Goonies.
Scene friends: Rich,The Extremist,Booze,TLD,Burglar.
Crack Group: new: AVANTGARDE old: Eagle Soft Inc.
Cracker: Burglar+Antitrack old: Crisp+PowerPlant
Demo Group: pal: Crest,Light,BF,OXYRON! ntsc: Lords,2D
Ntsc Fixer: old: Booze+StormBringer new: don't know.
Board: old: The Forum,Channel0,GOE. new: The Dungeon
Scene year: 87-89 was great, but truely.. 1992!
Food: GrilledShrimp,BloodySteak,Mangos,Veggies,Garlic
Dream Girl: Raven-Haired, Pale Skin, Gothic Goddess.
Drink: Milk,Tomato Juice,Beer,7up,Water,Mixed Drinks.
Movies: Excalibur,Jacob's Ladder,WarGames,The Crow,
Sneakers,Hackers,Kids,Clive Barker movies.
Disk Mags: old:Influx,Mamba,Sex+Crime,Shock.
Authors: Poppy Z. Brite,W.Gibson,B.Sterling,C.Barker
Hobbies: Collecting EroticArt,EBM/GOTH/CYBER Culture
Money,Traveling,Party,NightTime,Kinky Sex,
Wares collecting,Music,Trading,and cleaning!
[D]
The hack phreak scene is now somewhat inactive
compared to former times, what is your opinion on the
scene? ever been seriously within it?
[T]
These days I could care less of the h/p scene. For all
my years on the 64, I also spent equal time within many
underground circles. From VMB/CODE groups to the
true elite hack underground, I went through the full
spectrum of it. Although I had some very serious things
result from it, I also accuired some very important
skills. Fuck the scene fame,its risky. Hack for reason!
[D]
If you had the choice to create the ultimate group in
the scene year of your choice, who would be in the
group and for what purpose?
[T]
The year would 1988 (strong wares flow). My superior
megagroup would have the following members:
Organize,Importing,Hack: ME (Tristan)
Crack: AntiTrack,PowerPlant,Crisp,Burglar,Rich.
Fixing: Booze,StormBringer
BBS: The Forum
Mail Swapper: Derbyshire Ram
Magazine: Mamba
Code: Flamingo,Fuben,Graham,CrossBow
Grafix: Gotcha,Mirage,DeeKay,RRR
Music: Jeroen Tel,Sequencer,EVS,Drax
The group would hold the name... NUMBER 1
With all those guys it wouldn't be hard to live up to it.
[D]
The scene now is at an average point with slumps and
rises occasionally occuring. Compared to the yester
years, one would say going down hill.
What would be the best way to improve this scene to a
degree of more action or the old scene style..?
[T]
The scene surely needs more steady quality games.
We all understand that there's not alot of people
buying software for the 64. If the 64 companies like
Ocean,Capcom,Epyx,Konami,EA,Domark,Activision,US
gold,Hewson,Mindscape,Firebird and Data-East were
still producing, we would have some good times. And we
really need a strong USA piracy scene. Like old days!
[D]
Most know you got busted and were sentenced to a
jail. Some people are still a little uncertain on what
sctually occurred. Could you explain what happened
and what you experienced in prison?
[T]
In 1992 (when i was 17) I got busted for abusing a telco
called TriTel. I was being very careless in my activities
and knew it... but I was doing so many things that it was
hard to focus on safety. Which I've learned now is the
most important thing. Because I was a kid,the US Secret
Service placed me under investigation. When I turned 18
they nabbed me for hiting MCI for $220,000 dollars in
access device fraud and sale of services. I served 2
years in a medium security federal prison. Quite a trip!!
[D]
Over the years you must have quite a few scene
friends. Ones that may not even read these very texts,
but here is your chance to send some greetings..
[T]
To my friends who made my world wonderful:
All in EMPIRE(Rich,Extremist,Booze,Vizz,TLD,Sequencer)
All in TRC&SCS(CBA,Alchemist,Burglar: get well enno!!!)
Solar(don't choke chickens!),HOK(comeback!), GOTCHA!,
EVS/20CC(where are you kut?), CrumbSucker(CH.0 #1),
Kid/F4CG(nice times!), Cybernoid(why BC?!?), Moloch...
(keep'n the USA alive!), SwanSong(are we the last left?),
PeaceMaker(alot in common!), Tyron(Draw her!), French
Hawk, Vengeance(V.N. ROCKS!), Jihad(BB god!), JoeCool/
Paramount(Bunny!), BOD/HOTLINE/TALENT ( WANKER!!!),
SpitFire/Action(EMP+ACT #1!), MK/NFI, Mangar/NEC,
ProblemChild-Villian/Emp/Survivors, Technique/Fan,
Asterix/Fan, The Ace/RFO/FBR, Skreemer/INC, Thor,
The Shadow, Eclipse/Lords, Necromancer/Havok,
Maelstrom/ROT, The Executioner/Exodus, Pudwerx,
Krs1/Verdict, Tape/Nuclear, and CandyMan/FBR.
[D]
Well that closes it now, thanks for your time and
welcome back to the commodore scene, are there
any last words that would leave a final impression of
wisdom on the audience??
[T]
No problem JazzCat... I enjoyed it. I could have went
deeper and explained alot more, but I'm sure you don't
want your WHOLE magazine to be just my interview!!!
I do have something I like to say to the entire scene....
Were the ones who keep it alive... ME,YOU,and US!
Live for today, because tommorow you may die.
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Kind Regards;
Jazzcat/ONSLAUGHT
