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Network Ten / Danish Duo,
The Danish Circle,
The Goonies,
Illusion 2016,
2000 A.D.
Added on May 2nd, 2013 (4468 views)
www.c64.com?type=3&id=256
Tell us something about yourself.
My name is Henrik Adelsten, I live in Ringsted, Denmark and was born on 2nd December 1972 in Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm currently working as an electrical engineer in charge of maintenance. Aside from my family, my hobbies include computer programming, Lego Star Wars, biking and travelling.
What handle(s) did you use and how did you come up with it/them?
While in Danish Duo, I initially just used my first name, plain and simple, but at some point I then chose the nickname Delirium (from a Belgium beer), and later still I came up with Network Ten (the name of an Australian TV company I once saw in the credits of some movie).
What group(s) were you in?
Danish Duo, The Danish Circle, The Goonies, Illusion 2016 and 2000 A.D.
What roles have you fulfilled?
I have coded a couple of demos. Actually, I wouldn't call them demos, more like a scroll line with music and rasters. My main function was as a music ripper, cracker and trainer maker.
How long were you active for?
I don't remember the exact dates, but certainly from the mid-1980s until I left for the States in 1989.
Tell us about those years and how you got into the scene in the first place.
Michael (Purple Brain) and I went to school together in Copenhagen. Purple Brain got in contact with a guy named Kim (I forget his handle), and he joined Danish Duo, which then obviously ceased to be a duo. At some point, we got in contact with Droid and Blitz who also then joined us, so by then there were five of us in Danish Duo and we decided to change our name to The Danish Circle.
Describe a typical day for you in front of the computer.
As soon as I got home from school, I would check my mail box (the snail mail box, that is) to see if any of my contacts had mailed me any new goodies. I would then call my Danish contacts, to see if they had received the latest games and/or demos, and then call the original supplier to check if any new games had arrived. If they had, I would then start cracking the games that I could handle, otherwise Softtech would step in. I never got around to breaking the Cyberload protection myself. Once a game had been cracked, The Network Crew's Time Cruncher came in handy. It really could crunch games down to sizes that could compete with Triad. Crunching a cracked game would take most of the night. In the morning, before going to school, I would add an intro and get the cracked game ready for release. After school, I would mail it to my contacts and hurry over to Purple Brain's house so he could disseminate it as well. Remember: speed is everything! :)
Did you personally invent any special techniques or tools to make things easier for you?
Inspired by Softtech, I coded a couple of generic unpackers for some game protections. My final one was for the Ocean loader used in Shadow Warrior. It was very simple, it basically loaded each part of the game and saved it to disk. All that was then left to do was join the parts together and crunch them.
When you look at what you did back then, what are you most proud of?
I'm proud of having been a member of 2000 A.D., and for being part of something as unique as the C64 scene. We were pioneers, and the scene is still going after 25+ years. I had a lot of good times that I wouldn't swap for all the gold in the world!
Who were your heroes on the scene and why?
In the demo scene, there was in my opinion no-one better than 1001 Crew. They absolutely ruled the demo scene back then. Being a cracker myself, my first idols were Danish Crackers (PMK), Ace Crackings and Dynamic Duo, followed later by Triad. My favourite cracking group was Dynamic Duo. On a more personal level, Softtech/2000 A.D. is for me one of the greatest crackers ever. Besides being way ahead of his time (cf. generic unpacking), he was also willing to share the trades, something people had, and today still have, issues with. :)
What, for you, was the coolest thing ever invented on the C64?
Sideborder scrolls, which made my jaw drop. And, of course, The Final Cartridge. :)
Did you go to any copy-parties, meetings or tradeshows?
I don't remember the exact number of parties I went to. I went to between five and ten in Denmark and two or three in Sweden. I believe my last C64 party was the one held in Alvesta, Sweden, though I don't remember what year that was. I attended a couple of scene parties later on, but they were for the Amiga.
In your opinion, what was the scene all about?
Friendships, demos and cracking. I was obsessed with achieving the shortest crack. For ages, Triad ruled that discipline, until The Network Crew gave us (2000 A.D.) their Time Cruncher.
What were the particular highlights for you?
I must admit that time has taken such a toll on my memory, I can't immediately recall any specific highlight, but that whole period for me was just a blast!
Any cool stories to share with us?
There are so many, usually involving Apollon, Blitz and Droid doing something crazy to some lamer at a copy-party. 2000 A.D. had a reputation for manhandling lamers and newbies at parties. Being a grown-up now, I feel things might have gone a bit too far at times. Things like putting coke in another guy's computer, turning off the power or simply screaming at some poor guy asleep after going 36 to 48 hours straight. There were many pranks, though I bet the other members can tell you a whole lot more about that.
Are you still in contact with any old C64 people today?
I still have some contact with the guys from 2000 A.D., but other than that, no. A shame, really... I had some really good friends, especially from Norway (The Network Crew from Molde).
When did you get your C64 and do you still have it lying around somewhere?
I bought my first C64 in 1984 along with my first game. I still have it up in the attic, but it has unfortunately long since passed on to the eternal chip fields. My Amiga still works, though!
Was the C64 really as special as we like to think it was?
For me, it was and still is a very special thing. I still find it crazy, the kind of code, graphics and music you could jam-pack into 64 kB, when you think that nowadays, a single photo taken on your mobile is easily between 300 kB and 2 MB. So, hell yeah, it was (is!) special!
When can we expect to see some new C64 output from you? :)
I would love that, but so much time has passed... If any of the old 2000 A.D. guys want to meet up again and do something, count me in!
Do you have a message for your old contacts and/or anyone reading this?
Well, to the old scene people I just want to say thank you for giving me a fantastic childhood. I learnt a lot of cool things, both bad and good, and met a lot of really amazing people who taught me a lot. I wouldn't trade it for the world!
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