http://c64mags.untergrund.net/wiki/index.php?title=Skyhigh_19_About_Trap_-_part_1&feed=atom&action=historySkyhigh 19 About Trap - part 1 - Revision history2024-03-29T13:17:55ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.19.0http://c64mags.untergrund.net/wiki/index.php?title=Skyhigh_19_About_Trap_-_part_1&diff=3814&oldid=prevYmgve at 16:44, 29 November 20072007-11-29T16:44:26Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div><pre>About Trap<br />
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<br />
Another interview, another victim...<br />
This time Skyhigh has found a true legend for the in-<br />
terview chapter. I don't think there are anybody who<br />
haven't heard about the legendary Danish group :<br />
BONZAI.. It is with a great pleasure I can bring an in-<br />
terview with the pretty wellknown BZ member - TRAP.<br />
<br />
+ = SKYHIGH - = TRAP<br />
<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
+ First of all I would like to welcome you, Trap, back<br />
to a temporary trip to the beloved &amp; beau-tee-fool<br />
C64. - Ok, no more craptalk for now, let's start up<br />
this thing. Why don't we start out the usual, and bor-<br />
ing way. Please give the readers a small introduction<br />
of the person named TRAP&gt;<br />
<br />
- Well, back then - in my C64-prime - I went to secon<br />
dary school, was 14 years old and had no worries in<br />
life... hmm, except that I spent far too much time on<br />
the computer... Today I'm 23 years old, studying Com-<br />
puter Science at Copenhagen University and - Hell! -<br />
I still spend too much time in front of the computer.<br />
I guess I'm an ordinary freak... used to hear Heavy<br />
Metal (still do), had a beer or two at the weekends,<br />
went to parties (also computer-ones)... etc, etc.<br />
<br />
+ As you were on the C64, what was your function.<br />
Composer, gfx'er, swapper or?<br />
<br />
- In Bonzai I was the leading person and I used to<br />
code a lot! I fooled around with JCH's music-composer<br />
now and then, but nothing ever turned out to be good<br />
enough...<br />
<br />
+ Talking about the old days. Please tell us about<br />
your C64 scene career. You know: when did you enter,<br />
what other groups have you been in. Please try to<br />
give us a chronological story of back then.<br />
<br />
- Hmmm. I'm not exactly sure when it all started but...<br />
Let's make this fast: I bought a Spectrum 48k many<br />
many years ago, sold it and bought the only true love<br />
in my life: The FUCKING ULTIMATE COMPUTER IN THE<br />
WORLD: COMMODORE 64... Yep! Played games for some<br />
time... Got interested in coding. Met a few local dudes<br />
who coded, they had a group called ICE-T.<br />
Anyway, I started coding: Started CCC (Commando Code<br />
Crackers)... Hell! it's a looooooong time ago, ok?...<br />
Joined ICE-T for some time, went solo for some time,<br />
until something big happened: I joined RAZOR EXPRESS<br />
(today known as RAZOR 1911 - A huge crackergroup on<br />
the PC), coded a few demos for them, I can't remember<br />
any titles really. Then at the Danish Gold, Trilogy &amp;<br />
Supply Team party in Denmark (some time in 1988-1989)<br />
I met ZTH of The Hidden Forces... I joined his new<br />
group called ABNORMAL - Ha! You guys probably re-<br />
member these crazy days aswell, right? Anyway, I co<br />
ded a few demos... Only remember one though : "Trap<br />
Crap Wrap" (some people should recognize this con-<br />
stellation?) - I'm not really sure but I think I also<br />
finished SLEDGEHAMMER 2 under the ANM-label? Help<br />
me out with this one, WizKid? (Ahhhhhh, damn then I<br />
have to find it and load it up... - Well I did, and guess<br />
what, he is wrong.. He released it under the BZ label!!<br />
- Biz Kid..). Anyway, people with a bit of sense should<br />
know the Sledgehammer-packer from Z-Circle... I did<br />
a new packer-algorithm and reused their interface..<br />
Actually it was a LOT better than the original!<br />
Well, I then joined DOMINATORS for some time... After<br />
some time I founded BONZAI together with another<br />
DOM-member, SONNY - We recruited some of Sonny's<br />
friends: Lotus and Luxor. and we released "LETHAL<br />
DISPLAY" !<br />
What most people don't know is that BZ was shut down<br />
after 6 months, and Sonny and I joined Success (the<br />
German group)... Then after another few months I re-<br />
found Bonzai, and that was the beginning, some more<br />
people joined, and the real turn-over for BZ was as<br />
THE BLACK LORDS joined: Walt, THA, Crush, Dize...<br />
Many more came and went, but the hard-core of BZ<br />
always remained: Crush, Walt, THA, Dize, Metal and me!<br />
In 1991 I left BZ - there were many reasons for that..<br />
<br />
+ I started out saying that you are a pretty well-<br />
known. Maybe this only counts for the older sceners,<br />
or to put it another way; the sceners who have been<br />
in the scene for some time now. For what do we know<br />
(or should we know) you. Any particulary releases/<br />
routines/inventions that has your handle attached<br />
to it?<br />
<br />
- I did the "SLEDGEHAMMER 2"-packer, which a lot of<br />
people used, I was among the first to code a 2 DYCP<br />
scroll scrolling over each other, and I was the first<br />
to release Raster-splits (ICE-T actually released a<br />
demo with rastersplits at the same time)... Some might<br />
say that White Lion of Science 451 invented it before<br />
me, but it happens, that he got the idea/code to look<br />
at from me.I had quite a lot to do with the:<br />
BONZIIIIEEED demo that was inspired from the Amiga<br />
demo "Coma".<br />
Hmm, what else? I honestly can't remember... see, I<br />
was fucking hyper-active, I released a demo approxi-<br />
mately every 3rd. month - more or less coded by my-<br />
self!<br />
<br />
+ Do you remember the memberstatus of back then. If<br />
so then please list it up for us. (Their handle &amp; func-<br />
tion, if possible...)<br />
<br />
- Well, the member-status of Bonzai changed all the<br />
time, but most memoriable members are:<br />
<br />
WALT ... CODER<br />
WALT ... CODER<br />
CRUSH ... CODER, CRACKER<br />
CRUSH ... CODER, CRACKER<br />
DIZE ... GRAPHICIAN<br />
DIZE ... GRAPHICIAN<br />
T.H.A. ... CODER<br />
T.H.A. ... CODER<br />
METAL ... MUSICIAN<br />
METAL ... MUSICIAN<br />
DRAX ... MUSICIAN<br />
DRAX ... MUSICIAN<br />
SCORTIA ... MUSICIAN<br />
SCORTIA ... MUSICIAN<br />
FOX ... GRAPHICIAN<br />
FOX ... GRAPHICIAN<br />
RICKY ... CODER<br />
RICKY ... CODER<br />
SONNY ... SWAPPER<br />
DONNY ... SWAPPER<br />
TRAP (ME.. HE HE!) ... FOUNDER OF BONZAI, CODER<br />
TRAP (ME.. HE HE!) ... FOUNDER OF BONZAI, CODER<br />
<br />
Well there were a few more than I can't remember the<br />
name of, sorry!<br />
<br />
+ When you are at it. Thinking back, that is.. I remem-<br />
ber a few demos BZ did, namely : Crackle'n'Cocio,<br />
Cockrusher and of course the Lethal Display series.<br />
Could you please fill in the other demos Bonzai did on<br />
the C64.<br />
<br />
- Sorry, I can't remember.... There were so many...<br />
"Bonziiiieeed", "Lethal Display 1-4", "3rd Dimension"...<br />
<br />
+ Besides the demos, BZ were know for other things.<br />
I know that you also did a disk magazine for Bonzai.<br />
(I have just read issue 6, at this very moment..) The<br />
name of the magazine was LETHAL NEWS, and was main<br />
edited by no-one else than....YOU.<br />
So hey I am interviewing and old colleague.. Not bad.<br />
So you know the meaning of heavy text writing, col-<br />
lecting sheets and deadlines. But I got the feeling<br />
that you didn't start up this magazine yourself, or..<br />
Anyway, please tell us about the beginning of Lethal<br />
News. When was the first issue released, who started<br />
it, stuff like that!<br />
<br />
- Actually the magazine was started up by me and<br />
Sonny. I had the idea, made a few layouts for the mag<br />
and Fox did some graphics, voila - we had our maga-<br />
zine. I remember that coding the mag only took me<br />
one afternoon :) of course there were improvements<br />
later on but...<br />
I can't remember when we released the first, and I<br />
guess #6 WAS the last issue we ever got around to<br />
release - Writing articles, counting votes and shit<br />
took up too much time, and I lost interest in the mag.<br />
It all ended when Sonny left Bonzai, cause he didn't<br />
want to swap anylonger - Actually there were seve-<br />
ral reason for Sonny leaving - He re-joined Domina-<br />
tors! That was before Bonzai REALLY started to grow<br />
(I guess!)<br />
Anyway, looking back today I'm quite surprised to see<br />
that "Lethal News" actually was read by people. We<br />
figured that there were so many good mags around<br />
so the last thing people needed was another mag<br />
(that was also one of the reasons why we stopped<br />
producing it!). But, obviously this wasn't the case, eh!<br />
<br />
+ As mentioned then it was issue #6 I read, how long<br />
did the series go ? Another thing, at that time most<br />
magazines (if not 'em all..) were single-filers. Did Le-<br />
thal News ever have another outfit with chapters<br />
which had to be loaded, like the magazines of today?<br />
<br />
- Well, as said: #6 was the last (I think).. If I remem-<br />
ber correctly we had a discussion wether to make LN<br />
a one-filer or not, and we kept it like that simply be-<br />
cause there was no need to have multiple files!<br />
<br />
+ Well, I have to admit that Lethal News have style.<br />
Eventhough it is a onefiler it probably could compete<br />
with some of the mags which started up the last year.<br />
Fine coding with some great design aspects, great<br />
graphics/icons and easy readable font. Quite a nice<br />
mag indeed.<br />
Ok, enough about the magazine. I believe that Bonzai<br />
also should be known for a party or two. I think I've<br />
heard about a certain Bonzai Party. (Was it the SamsĀ£<br />
Party??0. Please give us some information about this.<br />
<br />
- Is there anything bad in having a one-filer mag!!!<br />
Hell I can not see why that should make the mag<br />
worse?????? (Ofcoz, there's nothing wrong with this<br />
kind of magazine, but I won't give it many chances in<br />
the scene of today!!!! - BK!)<br />
I didn't have much to do with that party really, but<br />
yes - we did arrange a party with some other groups.<br />
We stood as the C64-part of the party, but don't ask<br />
me too many questions about that, beacuse it was<br />
Crush who had the most to do with thata party.<br />
<br />
+ And the the Bonzai group dissappeared. Or should I<br />
say : moved on. What happend? Sick and tired of the<br />
good old commy, or was it the other systems which<br />
got a hold on you. Yo Trap, what happend with you<br />
after the end of Bonzai 64 division?<br />
<br />
- Well, we all got tired of the C64, and we figured<br />
there was nothing left to do... (obviously, we were<br />
wrong). I can't say that the other systems caught in<br />
on us, but the next logical move was to go Amiga<br />
(BIG MISTAKE!!!).<br />
Anyway, as things went we all slowly stopped activi-<br />
ties - I guess there never even was a real BZ's death<br />
demo... I did release a small text-file informing about<br />
me leaving though!<br />
So, Bonzai's death on the C64 wasn't a planned move<br />
or anything , it just happened! We have often talked<br />
about going back to the C64, but I guess it'll stay to<br />
the talking... Today we have so much else to waste<br />
our time on.<br />
Crush, Dize, Scortia and Ricky joined TSL Denmark on<br />
the Amiga (still active there... they made it to the 3rd<br />
at the TP94 Amiga-demo-compo!).<br />
Many members simply dissappeared - Fox went to jail<br />
for some illegal video-copying... Well, disintegration...<br />
Some of us later bought a PC! so, about a year ago<br />
Walt, Metal and I decided on giving Bonzai a second<br />
go on the PC scene. Well, this didn't turn out so good!<br />
<br />
+ Amiga and PC... Hmm, I know that Bonzai PC released<br />
a demo not long ago. How did that work out. I know<br />
that you yourself told me that the demo was not a<br />
success, and that it had some consequences. Maybe<br />
it is better for you to tell it with your own words.<br />
<br />
- Yes, we released "Lethal Display 5" on the PC.... It<br />
made a 6th place at the PC-demo-compo at the TP94.<br />
Not even faintly deserved really. The demo was no-<br />
thing but a gimmick! The demo SUCKS! ... And of course<br />
the reaction from the public was respectively nega-<br />
tive! We had recruited a few members from here and<br />
there, and we're starting to look like a real group<br />
again, but unfortunately nothing ever happend among<br />
the Danish members (yes, we recruited some foreign<br />
members who were quite active really - Hi Unifier, TDJ<br />
and Mirage!!!), and due to lack of motivation and the<br />
lousy result of our first go with the PC, we decided<br />
to letting it go - I guess none of us had the energy<br />
to start from square one again.... So it is official :<br />
BONZAI PC has died, and there will NEVER AGAIN be a-<br />
nother Bonzai! If you happen to see a group named<br />
Bonzai (or Bonsai) then tell them to change their name<br />
(if not for nothing, then at least to honour our name<br />
- we worked DAMN hard to get Bonzai where it ended,<br />
and the last thing I want is to see some lame pricks<br />
misuse the name!)... as said :<br />
BONZAI WILL NEVER RISE AGAIN! (sob sob)<br />
<br />
+ So the Bonzai PC division is dead.. So whata now ??<br />
Starting up a new group or maybe staying freelance?<br />
<br />
- I don't know, as for me I guess I'll look around for<br />
a new group to join. I think i'm starting to get some-<br />
where with my music, and I have slowly adapted to<br />
Watcom C, and it seems suitable for demo-coding,<br />
(Assembly is for pricks on the PC - Too much trouble<br />
with little results)!<br />
<br />
+ Have you ever thought about returning to the love-<br />
ly C64 scene? I know you said that many of the new<br />
coders can outcode you any time and anywhere. Well<br />
yeah, that might be right, but so what.. My advice to<br />
you is to pay the few doughs for a 'new' Commodore64<br />
Well what do you say?<br />
<br />
- Hmmm, I'm often tempted, and I will NOT say that it<br />
is impossible, but then again I much rather prefer to<br />
be remembered for what I was, than to destroy my<br />
reputation by coding lousy demos on the C64... God<br />
knows! Maybe some day I'll return...Nothing said :)<br />
After all: The C64 scene is STILL the BEST!!<br />
<br />
+ Afraid of returning to the scene as a newcommer,<br />
or a 'lamer'. I hate that word but I use it for a reason<br />
A dude once said, and I quote :<br />
<br />
"A lamer is not a goy without talent,<br />
but a guy without a brain!!!"<br />
<br />
Well I presume that you have seen this before, coz it<br />
is no one else than YOU who said it..<br />
<br />
- I remember that yes! I still ive by that, and I really<br />
hope people will adopt that sentence.... It'S a good<br />
thing to live by - Make the world a better place.. and<br />
so on... Yeah right!<br />
<br />
+ About the C64 scene. Please give us you favourites:<br />
<br />
<br />
FAVOURITE DEMOGROUP: CREST (and UpFront)<br />
The group who gave us the most competition!<br />
<br />
CRACKERGROUP: Ikari+Talent<br />
... This reminds me: A funny story.... I play in a band<br />
and I play with a guy named Sune - He founded the<br />
German USA-Team! I think it's funny that I meet him<br />
again, and that he lives in Denmark now!<br />
<br />
CODER: Maduplec<br />
Good friend of mine!<br />
<br />
CRACKER: Dogfriend<br />
Also a personal friend!<br />
<br />
COMPOSER: JCH<br />
He lives a few kilometres from me - we meet now and<br />
then!<br />
<br />
GRAPHICIAN: Fox<br />
Honestly he WAS my favourite<br />
<br />
MAGAZINE: MAMBA<br />
What can I say - It was the best!<br />
<br />
DEMO: Roads of..... by triangle!<br />
Can't remember the full name, but I do remember<br />
that it was delayed for almost a year, but boy did it<br />
kick ASS!<br />
<br />
GAME: DELTA and QUEDEX<br />
Yep, Stavros Fasoulas was my favourite!!! - to no<br />
ones surprise really :)<br />
<br />
<br />
I know you might have some diffculties in filling this<br />
out, just give it your best shot. It doesn't matter if<br />
the groups are long dead and buried.. Just write what<br />
comes to your mind..<br />
<br />
+ I don't know how much you know about the 64 scene<br />
of today. A lot of things have most deffently changed<br />
since you left. Groups like Oxyron, Camelot, Bytera-<br />
pers, (Taboo) and some more are top groups now. Yes<br />
that's right the old legendary group Byterapers is<br />
back in effect, hitting real hard.<br />
The C64 scene is known for beeing a friendly place.<br />
Sure there are some arrogant suckers here and there<br />
but basically the scene is based on friendship.<br />
<br />
Does any of these things ring a bell to you? I myself<br />
has just recently entered the PC world, and don't<br />
know much about this scene. So please tell us a bit<br />
about how the PC scene is today; try to compare it to<br />
the C64 scene as it is now, and as you remember it.<br />
<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well this interview is quite long, and I have realised<br />
that it is impossible to have it in one chapter. There-<br />
fore it is necessary to split it into 2. So, to see the<br />
answer on the question, and of course the rest of<br />
the interview you will have to load part 2 now!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
BIZ KID<br />
BIZ KID<br />
<br />
<br />
?--------<br />
</pre></div>Ymgve