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Marcel Kok / Federation Against Copyright
Added on January 1st, 2007 (7746 views)
www.c64.com?type=3&id=189
Tell us something about yourself.
My name is Marcel Kok. I was born on the 16th of August 1969 in Heerlen. I now live in Brunssum, a smaller town about 30 minutes from downtown Heerlen. Nowadays I trade in real estate which I partly build and sell, and partly buy in the local market. I also have a second company called Sunmax, in wich I produce suncollectors for swimming pools. I like to spend time with my family, wich consist of my wife Renate, son Michiel and daughter Sanne, and of course myself Marcel. I am still interested in movies which I still like to watch at home, especially when I just got them and I almost know for certain that not to many people can see these. Like screeners and so on. Recently I also started my childhood hobby again, Marklin trains.
What handle(s) did you use and how did you come up with it/them?
My handle was Marcel Kok, and I was a member of the group FAC. We as a group decided that it was more important to carry a group name then to have our own names known. FAC = Federation Against Copyright. The name was introduced by our German friends Frank and Helmut. Back then they were also in another group, I think it was Flash. Somehow Frank, Helmut, Peter Janssen (Ace) and me (Marcel) decided to work together. Frank and Helmut came up with the name. When I joined FAC it wasn’t so known yet, but that would all change very fast!
What group(s) were you in?
I was always and will always be in FAC. I consider this an old time Elite group!
What roles have you fulfilled?
I was a swapper, a talker and an organizer. To be honest, we just did our best to get the software out as fast as possible, that was all we did. And we always kept our promises!
How long were you active for?
From about 1983 until 1990.
Tell us about those years and how you got into the scene in the first place.
I saw the movie Wargames and decided I would also like to know so much about computers. So I asked my parents. By accident I bought a C64 plus cassette drive. I started trading in 1984 which was the same time FAC was born. We just got big. Why? God knows. But after a short time, like two or three years, we were known all over the world. I was trading with people in USA, England, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Italy, well just all over!!!! It was wonderful. Every day I would rush home from school and I would find like two or three packages waiting for me. I copied my new stuff on the disks and mailed them back, sometimes the same day!
Describe a typical day for you in front of the computer.
Of course, Saturdays and Sundays were the best, since there was no school. I would sort out all the games and programs which I got that week. I would make like four or five disks full of new stuff and mail it to about ten other people, just to make sure they also had the newest stuff. Friends would visit and they would all be impressed of all the stuff I had. Most of it wasn’t even in the market yet. In about 1987, the conference calls from USA started. Sometimes I had to take the phone off the hook because it just kept on ringing. I would sure like a conference call again!
Did you personally invent any special techniques or tools to make things easier for you?
I used a program called Kwik-Copy from which you could write messages on track 18, the directory track. I tried to have a new slogan every week in the header. Things like: FAC – The Best of All, or, FAC – The Winner Takes All.
When you look at what you did back then, what are you most proud of?
I think I was the first one to trade with my modem with people in the USA. Even in 1985!! That’s part of the secret why we would have stuff so fast. We met a group called FBR (Fucked Beyond Repair) and they sent us a modem, and also a modem to England. USA was the base. software went from Europe to USA, from England to USA, from USA to England and from USA to me. I am really proud of it. It also shaped the person which I am now. I am a successful businessman, from my worldwide contact back then, I learned that trusting people is easy. Today, I still do business based on mutual trust.
Who were your heroes on the scene and why?
Eagle Soft and 1103, one of the first cracking groups I saw on C64. I always liked Fairlight, Radwar... and many more, but I just can’t remember the names. I liked the English guys... I think they were from Kent?
What, for you, was the coolest thing ever invented on the C64?
Trading through modem using US-Sprint lines! Music by Martin Galway during loading of Hyper Sports and Rambo on cassette.
Did you go to any copy-parties, meetings or tradeshows?
Every weekend I almost had a small copy-party in my room! But I also went to a copy-meeting in Venlo wich I really liked.
In your opinion, what was the scene all about?
Friendship.
What were the particular highlights for you?
The whole scene!
Any cool stories to share with us?
(Not answered)
Are you still in contact with any old C64 people today?
Once in a while I mail with some people, just what comes around.
When did you get your C64 and do you still have it lying around somewhere?
I think I got it in 1983, and I am sorry to say I don’t have it anymore.
Was the C64 really as special as we like to think it was?
Yes, it was, not the computer, but the scene it generated. I like to think it changed the computer scene and got us were we are today.
When can we expect to see some new C64 output from you? :)
Never. This interview is about the only C64 thing I have done in like 15 years. I feel like Rocky Balboa in the new film (Rocky 6) which I saw Christmas Day 2006.
Do you have a message for your old contacts and/or anyone reading this?
Contact me at kok.m@tiscali.nl if you are interested in doing business in which every way you are involved with now a days.
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