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Saxonia Issue 02 Part 029
What happens when swapping dies?
By Rumrunner/VOID
[l
Let's see. Although I have been using Amiga computers since 1990, I first
entered the scene in 1999, I think. So I'm fairly new to the game. I
started out as a swapper, and tried to make some music too, as that was
one of the first things that attracted me to the Amiga. Hehe, I remember
helping a friend of mine making kingles and such for a radio programme
back in the early nineties. We had a lot of fun then....
Well, as you all know I now code, and make some music, but the swapping
has more or less stopped. I don't know why. I have sent replies to all
who have sent anything to me, but unfortunately, I got replies more and
more seldom, and at this point of time, I have not gotten anything since
31th of July 2002.
I think that this situation is rather sad, for the following reasons.
- I like getting letters (and writing them too)
- Traditional mailswapping was how I got the most interesting stuff
Now, you might say that if I like to write letters to my contacts, I can
just use email. Yes, that's right, but I think email has one big
disadvantage. It is far too easy to just write a few words, perhaps not
even a complete sentence, and then sending it away. This is no good
communication if friendship is what you want. Although it may relieve
you of much stress in the business world, it's not suited in areas such
as the scene. After all, the scene is supposed to be something that you
are involved in for the fun of it, right?
Well, onto my second point. I got most of the really interesting stuff
from swapping. Both regarding demos and utilities. Again, I do not think
that the internet is so well suited for getting what you need/want.
Why? This is simply because you always don't know of all the exciting
stuff that exists. Let me take an example. In a letter to Kempy/Veezya,
I mentioned that I had an Action Replay cartridge for my Amiga 500 and
that I still missed such a tool on my 1200. In the next send for him,
I found the great HrtMon program. This is a monitor reminding me much
of the Action Replay. It works good as long as what you want to freeze
doesn't take over the system completely. If you want it to work then,
you need a level 7 interrupt button, but that another issue.
What is important is that I would never have known about this program
if it wasn't for Kempy. Ofcourse, perhaps I would have found it on
Aminet sooner or later, but it's not certain. And it's also worth
mentioning that AmiNet still has not got the version I got from Kempy,
they only have an older one. Sadly, we will never see a new version
of this great tool, as Alain Malek (known as Hornet/Alcatraz) who made
it has now passed away (source : exotica.fix.no ).
Another problem, if you have to download the productions you want is
as follows : do you really know what you are looking for? If you
just want to find some demos for entertainment, but does not have one
specific in mind, where do you start to search? I think that the best
place on the internet for finding demos and other scene stuff is
the ftp ftp.amigascne.org . They have much of interest, but, like I
said, where do you start looking if you don't have any specific group
or production in mind? I have gotten productions I have never though of
from my contacts, and there are also some demos/intros that are
impossible to find on internet. Why is it so hard to find the Lairfight
intro "Killing Me Slowly"? If you have this, please send it to me,
you will find my advert in the adverts section.
Right, now I should perhaps say that internet isn't necessarily only
crap. There are some good points to it. Like sending previews of this
mag and spread deadlines for next issue around. Also, if you know what
you want to get, the internet will be a quick and easy place to get it
most of the time. But, I still consider swapping to be the best form
of interchanging ideas and productions. And have you ever though about
the fact that every single byte on internet is paid for in some way.
Either by your new direct line, or some shitty commercials popping up
all of the time. If I ever see another one of those, I will go bezerk.
Don't you think that it is irritating having to support those business
coat wearing people all of the time? Although stamps too cost money,
the post still doesn't put commercial messages all over your envelope
before delivering it. Perhaps not a good idea to show this to the post
office, as they perhaps would start to do so....
Anyway, if anybody want to contact me, please do so.
