AZ ISSUE 10 QUESTIONAIRE REQUEST GRANTED [This is in response to Chris Evans and his comprehensive interogation] [he sent to me one cold day in 1995. It took me a while, but I have] [managed to complete it without loss of dignity and alittle wiser am I] FROM: Lee Bamber TO: Chris Evans (and lord knows who else) Hi, Gosh! Someones wants to know about little me. Poor little Lee has accidently got a little job. Isn't that cute, aaawwww! Yes, it is true. And for all those who are also interested in what life is like after programming. Well I can tell you, more bloody programming, that's what! I'm not going to copy out the questions, just supply the answers in chunks, cos I feel like it. You can read the actual questions in the only issue of AZ that eluded my influence, that dreaded Issue 10! The reasons why I missed Issue 10 may, indeed, become clear... Questions Answered When I was imbedded firmly in the academic life of a student, my study extended only to the qualification of Higher National Diploma. I had intended for a Degree, but decided to trade what was easily becoming the BSc-MSc-PhD ladder for some solid work experience (and of course, life experience). I completed my HND, as I did my National Diploma in Computer Studies with due distinction. When it comes to programming, I'm very good. My team members probably have Degrees, and work experience. But there are one or two that look to have been plucked straight from their bed- rooms and thrown in the deep end. But at the end of the day, they're very good at what they do, and that's why they've got the job. I did not need to mention my qualifications once to get the job. They seemed more interested in the games I had written and my general attitude to software creation. My position is perminant. If we where to part company, it would be by my own hand, or a horrible meteor crushing the building. My CV got me the job, no doubt. I used top quality parchment, used my inkjets highest quality setting, designed a unique layout and style to portray the information. Layed out the info in easy to follow and clear sections. And the icing on the cake was the section dedicated to my achievements. I included screenshots of some of my better games and quotes from magazine reviews in reference to the quality and originality of the work. The CV is your only weapon to finding work. When you have found it, you have to take it. And to take it, you have to show them you are someone they want to have. The interview may prove imposing to some people, but I am fortunate to view the world from an unusual angle and do not fear most things. The interview consisted of four people. Me and three of them! If both sides are honest and open, the interview is seldom tough. I was employed as a programmer, but from the start it was understood my initial task was to help create software for the soon to be released Klik & Create for the PC. As most of us know, Klik & Play was the next language created after AMOSPro, and as such, I already had a good idea what the language would have to do to make it as a games creator. Other than one week previous to starting work, I had only seen Klik & Play once and it wasn't much. I'm glad to say Klik & Create restored my faith in the guys responsible for AMOS, and I intend to make their new baby as impressive as possible. I can't reveal project operations, in case they infringe upon some obscure legal trap somewhere in my contract, but they are professional enough to get results, and informal enough to allow both creativity and enjoyment to flow freely. As a team, we're impressive. All the bases are covered! I have spoken to Francios once or twice over the phone, but I seldom need to do so. His English is very good! As far as I know, the rights to AMOSPro have been leased by some very nice charity bods. I don't know much about this end of it. I don't want to express too much of an opinion about the Amiga while I am there. The majority are PC maniacs! Klik & Play is something that I've had little use of. I'm sure that it is possible to produce half decent software with it given the same hard work us veteran AMOS programmers are very much aware of. Easier than an language, but you must discover the hidden tricks to make your stuff unique. K&C is K&P with nobs on. And big nobs at that! The interface allows very fast creation of sofware. K&C is HUGE! The PC will not know what hit it! I doubt PC owners will know what to do with it. Hehehe. I don't know whether any Amiga software is being done. Lets see what happens when the Power Amiga hits the shelves! I don't own a PC. Nor do I have any intension of owning one. They're great for games, and with loads of money they do a good job of scanning and printing. But they become crap after a few years, and upgrading is an expensive hobby. Having used various types of PC's, I really could not use anything less than a Pentium-100. Smooth running on most 486 machines seem to be a luxury with the current range of PC software. I do not intend to shell out £2000 for a bog-standard Pentium. I'm just waiting and saving for a 200Mhz Power Amiga! I currently own an A1200 with 10Mb FAST, 120Mb Hard Drive, Zappo CD-ROM SCSI Zip Drive, HP DeskJet 540 and still no monitor, gasp! My career goals are simple. Work, learn and save. When the time, and the market is right, I shall spring board into the world of dreams and setup my own company doing something profitable. Whether that is making games, designing hardware or freelancing for the industry I don't yet know. Bottom line, escape the rat-race as soon as possible and make the kind of money that buys cars, holidays, houses and islands. I use no assembly when writing AMOS programs. Write the right code and demand the right things from the language and your compiled software runs as fast as any game on the Amiga! They key is recognising your limitations. A cruel truth, but a nessesary one I'm afraid. If you have enough ideas, one will work well enough for you, and Mr. AMOS. I have little vanity. My hair is a kept mess. It's cheaper, less of a hassle and is just as remarkable as a pony-tail! The girlie-blouse is none of your business, dear. I would like to add that I found this questionaire intrusive and is a blatant exercise in self-magnificence. I wish to thank Chris for the opportunity to reveal more of my life in the hope that enough people will gather together and form a religion that worships me. I'm sure you sick people enjoyed this, so you can all sod off now and get back to whatever it was you where doing before you started poking your nose into my affairs. Be happy and stay Amiga, dudes!