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Interview with Markus Pohlmann ("Projekt Crashsite")

done by Anton Preinsack










Please, Markus, would you firstly introduce you yourself and your game "Projekt Crashsite" in short?

I like to. My name is Markus Pohlmann. I am 21 years old and live in Langenfeld, Germany. Currently I am on training to become a specialized computer scientist for application development. Already quite early I've started programming on a C128 and later improved my skills on the Amiga by programming in Amos, today I do it (hopefully) well in C/C++. These times I'm spending most of my spare time with programming Projekt Crashsite, which is about a science fiction role game in which the player will take the part of some kind of police force in a colonialized solar system.

How did you come to the Amiga and what is your current Amiga configuration?

I switched from C128 to Amiga 500 and was excited by this machine from the very first moment. Going the never rued way round a CD32 I then arrived on my current machine being a Mikronik case with 128 MB RAM, Cyberstorm PPC - 68060 CPU + PPC 604, Cybervision PPC 8MB graphic board, running OS3.9, and it meets my needs completely, so far.

What do you like about the Amiga?

It is easy to operate, programming this machine was and is very easy to learn for me and the community is simply amazing. If my acquaintances scoff "Amiga is not a computer", I love to answer "You are right! Amiga is an attitude to life!"

Back to the game: Beside of you, who else is standing behind "Projekt Crashsite" and how long have you been developing the game?

Beside of me Daniel Hartlehnert, Denis Comtesse, and Frederike Schmitt are working on Projekt Crashsite. Daniel is rendering images, Denis is composing the soundtrack, and Frederike is drawing the in-game characters. Original development alreay started about five years ago, when I still was developing using Amos Professional. Then, one after the other Denis, Daniel, and Frederike joined the team. Since about 1.5 years I am busy converting the existing Amos code to C/C++ or to rewrite it, to let the others contribute their work to the game in full quality, at last!

What other games would "Projekt Crashsite" match best?

There would be several games to list. The main part reminds a little of "Myst", the battles are a littel like "Ufo Enemy Unknown", and the space flight let some show vistors remember Elite, though this is not a 3D engine. But I personally think Projekt Crashsite to be one of those role games of which there were masses for the Amiga, in the past, but today we are utilizing current system resources enhancing the game as for graphic, music, and game-play.

Are you in the position to tell when the game will be released, already?

Unfortunately no, and even if I would be, I would not tell you. Best planning is only good for being reversed! Seriously: Project Crashsite is being developed in our spare time which unfortunately is limited.

So you decided to make a PPC version, only. Is there a chance to have a 68k version later or would that be of any sense, at all?

There definite will be a 68k version, too. Most of the code already was 68k optimized and it would be of much too much lost work to just leave that unused. As long as at least there is a 68040 working for you, 68k users will be able to play Projekt Crashsite, too. After all, all routines on the show (except for the external MPEG player AMP) were running on 68k basis. The poll on our Internet site www.projektcrashsite.de is only to help us determining which version to develope first.

Will you go on to support the Classic-Amiga?

I like the Classic-Amiga and I will continue to develope with and for it, as long as my machine works.

Are you planning to develope for Amiga OS 4.0, Amiga DE or MorphOS, too?

I would not rule out Amiga OS 4.0, due to Amiga OS 3.9 is running on my computer. Other operating systems are a bit fishy to me. This entire discussion what system would be best is confusing the developer in me. I am not against a "stealthy" transition to a better system (one time a new processer, a faster busboard the other time....), but I cannot and I do not want to change neither the operating system nor the platform overnight, hence from my developer's point of view (this is my hobby, not my profession!) AmigaDE or MorphOS will not be my choice.

What do you think about the current (Amiga) situation and the plans of Amiga Inc.?

Virtually I do not really know what they are planning, any more. After all those hundreds of announcements during the crisis I've formed a habit of believing something only if it is available from the shop. But I am disapointed of the "Classic"-Amiga became what it is today - the old line not being further developed. While I have nothing against new hardware, and operating systems getting a few more distinguished absolutely could be of some sense. But I simply cannot estimate any more which system would succeed, neither in the hardware section nor in the software section. The "Amiga emulator on foreign platform" in my opinon is a step into the wrong direction, cause for me personally a big part of my identity as Amiga user gets lost by this.

You also had your own booth on the "Amiga 2001" in Cologne. How about ambience and feedback on the show regarding "Projekt Crashsite"?

I think there was very good ambience. Amigans are just allways intersted in discussing with each other! I was very satisfied with the feedback, too. I've collected some comments and notes to put those into the game, all in all the game's development appears to follow the proper direction. I also was able to have some interesting discussions with other programmers, who gave me some ideas....

Did you also happened to "leer" at the other booths and if, what innovations were most intersting or fascinating for you?

Virutally I only took the short power blackout on the upper floor to do some shopping. I prefer to read about innovations in the numerous show reports in the media.

What Amiga games impressed you most in recent times?

Sure: Payback! Unfortunately such quality Amiga origin developments are way too rare, nowadays.

What do you do, when you are not busy with the Amiga or programming?

Sometimes I read science fiction novels, play role games ('Das schwarze Auge', "Battletech") or wait for my machine to return from repair, at last.... .

Are there plans for the time after "Projekt Crashsite"?

I have much more ideas and plans and if I will have the time and motivation, Projekt Crashsite will not be left alone. But, allmost every thing else was completely put on hold until Projekt Crashsite was finished.

Thank you for this interview and much success for "Projekt Crashsite"!

Thank you! Also for you patience....

(Translation: Martina Jacobs, 01/09/02)