B.C / Anticopyright Association, The Explorers
Added on January 3rd, 2007 (7245 views)
www.c64.com?type=3&id=188



Tell us something about yourself.
Bernt Mathiasson, born in February 1972. I have my own business in the real estate market in Gothenburg. Me and my wife lives in a house in Kungsbacka, 25 km south of Gothenburg. I also got a son called Leo, born in August 2004. Intrested in sports, computers, etc.

What handle(s) did you use and how did you come up with it/them?
B.C (from the cool guy in the magazine).

What group(s) were you in?
From the beginning our group was called Anticopyright Association (ASA), but later with some new members, we called ourselves The Explorers.

What roles have you fulfilled?
I would call myself the main swapper in the group, and also the one without the most computer knowledge. Copying, copying, sending mail, sending mail...

How long were you active for?
Hmm... I'm not sure, but I think between 1985-87, then my mom forced me out, far away from the computer...

Tell us about those years and how you got into the scene in the first place.
I was about 13 years old when I got my C64. It was heaven for a guy like me! A neighbour already had his C64, and I got some games and demos from him. Later I began to contact people that was involved in the demos, and it just got bigger and bigger... Every Monday I had to end my school day already at lunch, because I knew new diskettes had arrived. Every monday the same thing... I think I'm right when I say that the teachers didn't exactly love me. ;--)

Describe a typical day for you in front of the computer.
You've already read about my Mondays. The rest of the week went by a little slower. Some letters with games and demos arrived, I copied them, and sent them on. I tried the new games, and read all the scrolltexts... Had the groups mentioned us in their scrollers or not?

Did you personally invent any special techniques or tools to make things easier for you?
I'm not sure if I invented it, but the criminal thing with stamps that many of us used. You know, glue over the stamp, you got them back, and then took away the glue with some water, and the stamp was ready to be used again.

When you look at what you did back then, what are you most proud of?
Helping so many poor guys with games. ;-)

Who were your heroes on the scene and why?
Dynamic Duo for cool demos, and WCC for becoming so famous very fast.

What, for you, was the coolest thing ever invented on the C64?
The diskdrive maybe...

Did you go to any copy-parties, meetings or tradeshows?
Sure. I joined a couple of parties, but only here in Sweden.

In your opinion, what was the scene all about?
Checking out all the people working with the same things as you, make new buddies.

What were the particular highlights for you?
Hmm... I can't remember where it was, a computer shop in Helsingborg, I think. We borrowed all the software that we needed from that shop. ;-)

Any cool stories to share with us?
About the stamps: Mr Pinge (WCC) was forced to open a letter from me (which was full of disks) down at the post office so they could see who sent it. The mailman recognised my name, and called by parents to talk about what I had done (cheated the stamps). He talked about that it was illegal, and also mentioned jail in a sentence... Hehehe...

Are you still in contact with any old C64 people today?
Just two of my closest friends that also were members of ACA and Explorers.

When did you get your C64 and do you still have it lying around somewhere?
I think I got it 1984 when I was 12. Nope, I gave it to someone.

Was the C64 really as special as we like to think it was?
In some way I agree...

When can we expect to see some new C64 output from you? :)
Hahaha! Maybe in another life.

Do you have a message for your old contacts and/or anyone reading this?
To all you people out there: we have this secret, and it's just we that understand this whole thing...

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