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King Arthur / We Against Software Protection,
West Coast Crackers,
Fairlight
Added on January 9th, 2007 (7940 views)
www.c64.com?type=3&id=193
Tell us something about yourself.
My name is Stefan Benediktsson, and I'm a 37 year old senior computer geek from southern Sweden. I've been working in the computer business for the last 16 years where the first five was as a software engineer in the airline business. I've been working as a Unix consultant since the mid-90's, and today my main focus is network security.
What handle(s) did you use and how did you come up with it/them?
When I first started out in the scene, I didn't know what to call myself. Everything was so new to me. I was looking around and finally came up with the very innovative name GRU. At the time, TLA (Three Letter Acronyms) was in, probably because it fitted in the header on a floppy disk. ;-) After a while, I changed my name to KAP which was another TLA for King Arthur Pendragon (I was born on the Arthur name day in the Swedish calendar), and I kind of got stuck with that name.
What group(s) were you in?
The first real group I joined was W.A.S.P., but when the scene changed and everything got more serious, West Coast Crackers (WCC) was formed. When it finally got really really serious, I was asked to join Fairlight. Then I found out what to do with girls, and my interest for the scene faded away...
What roles have you fulfilled?
The main reason why I started with computers was that I liked to draw/paint (for all you computer geeks out there: in those days we used pen and paper!!!). When I first saw the famous picture of Tutankhamun, I was lost! I just knew that I had to get myself a C64.
How long were you active for?
I think I bought my first C64 in 1983 or 1984, and I was the first among my friends with a 1541. *big grin* I think that my most active period was between 1984-86, but then the testosterone in my body finally woke up, and girls started to get more interesting than listening to SID-music and moving around pixels on the screen.
Tell us about those years and how you got into the scene in the first place.
I think that the whole thing started at our local chess club (major geek warning!!!) where I met Sir Galahad. We both shared the interest for computers and AD&D.
Describe a typical day for you in front of the computer.
I still did a lot of my work with pen and paper which I transferred to transparent plastic film and put onto the TV-screen. Then all I had to do was to trace the lines. Gosh I was happy when I got my first scanner in the mid-90's!
Did you personally invent any special techniques or tools to make things easier for you?
Don't know if the plastic film counts as an invention, but it worked.
When you look at what you did back then, what are you most proud of?
(No answer)
Who were your heroes on the scene and why?
(No answer)
What, for you, was the coolest thing ever invented on the C64?
(No answer)
Did you go to any copy-parties, meetings or tradeshows?
Some... I remember a copy-party in Denmark (in Odense, I think). We had brought a UPS so we could power up a C64 and a small portable TV on the train (geek warning again!!!).
In your opinion, what was the scene all about?
(No answer)
What were the particular highlights for you?
(No answer)
Any cool stories to share with us?
(No answer)
Are you still in contact with any old C64 people today?
I still talk to Sir Galahad (Black Shadow) on a regular basis, where regular means once every fifth year or so.
When did you get your C64 and do you still have it lying around somewhere?
(No answer)
Was the C64 really as special as we like to think it was?
The C64 era was a huge breakthrough. It was the first computer (well, VIC20 came first) everyone could afford, and also the computer you actually could do something cool with. I think that this became the foundation for a whole new generation.
When can we expect to see some new C64 output from you? :)
Haha! Probably not... But I got a nostalgic flashback a couple of days ago when I downloaded VICE, and you should have seen the big grin on my face when I powered up Zaxxon and blew those oil tanks away. ;-)
Do you have a message for your old contacts and/or anyone reading this?
Yeah... It's been an honour to share this era with you!
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