AN INSIGHT INTO PETER HAGUE,
           AUTHOR OF `THE OBSCURE NATURALIST'
             A STAC GAME FOR THE ATARI ST.

              Interviewed by Jean Childs

(JC) First of all, perhaps you could tell the readers a bit about
yourself?

(PH) Well, I'm a freelance graphic designer, I work from home, I'm
a recluse and I don't do interviews.

(JC) Well, it's nice to know that my personality and charm
persuaded you to do one for SynTax. What led to your interest in
computers?

(PH) I was first drawn to the Atari ST because I was into writing
music at the time, and the ST was the only computer with built in
midi sockets. However, I was so struck by its potential, and that
of computing in general, that I have since done just about
everything on them there is to do - except music!

(JC) Why did you decide to write your own adventure game?

(PH) I have always been interested in writing and it seemed a very
natural thing to do. Programming was new to me then, but with a
lot of hard work, STAC soon became second nature. In fact, I wrote
the whole game on paper first and was going to submit the idea to
some publishing house or another. Then I decided I would have a go
with STAC - even if I only produced a demo I thought it would be
worthwhile. However, as you can see, my confidence grew and so did
the game. Of course, it became an obsession really and by the time
I'd finished indulging myself, adventure games had gone out of
style with the mass market. Still, anyone who buys it gets a
really good deal for a fiver and I'm just happy people are playing
it at last.

(JC) Do you believe adventure games ever had a `mass market'? I've
always felt that we adventurers were in the minority.

(PH) I see your point, but it depends on how far you go back. When
I first started buying ST magazines, adventures were very strong.
Every magazine had an adventure section at that time (around
1987/88) and you could find quite a few adventure games in the
shops, notably Infocom.

(JC) Which games do you feel are the best you have played?

(PH) My favourite games are very diverse - `Dungeon Master' stands
out as a favourite, but there are others such as `Archipelagos',
`Waterloo', `Backlash', `Guild of Thieves' and `Populus'. You can
probably conclude from this that I prefer strategy style games. As
a child I also used to like hide-and-seek and hopscotch but was
not especially drawn to football. Cricket was a favourite because
I quite liked the beauty of the stumps and bails.

(JC) Adventuring apart, have you ever programmed any other type of
strategy game?

(PH) Yes, I have a few unfinished strategy games which might see
the light of day if I get support. Also I have one board-style
game completed called `Lord of the Isle', which has very strong
graphics with limited animation.

(JC) Oh yes, `Lord of the Isle'. That had a good review by James
Judge in the last issue of SynTax (and he's not too easy to
please). How can the readers obtain this game?

(PH) It's free to people who register for `Insecticide', an
amusing shoot-em-up which I now put on the same disk as Part Two
of `The Obscure Naturalist' when people register. Or both
`Insecticide' and `Lord of the Isle' can be obtained direct from
me for a fiver.

(JC) Now, which games do you consider are the worst?

(PH) The worst games of all are the ones that come in giant boxes,
cost around thirty pounds and are worth twopence.

(JC) Basically, what you're saying is that many commercially
produced games are a rip-off. Is that correct?

(PH) Some games are certainly a rip-off, but then it's all a
question of taste. What I might not want to spend thirty pounds on
could be someone else's dream game. Then again, some people think
John Major is a great Prime Minister.

(JC) Well, the reason there has always been so much piracy is due
to these expensive giant-boxed games. Don't you agree?

(PH) Ah! piracy! You know, I can never understand why expensive
software always gets the blame for leading people into taking up
robbery on the high seas hundreds of years ago. Still, it's a
funny old world. Seriously though, I think expensive software is
the excuse for some people being quite happy to rip-off just about
anything.  There are people out there who would photocopy their
brother's underwear if they thought it was popular.


(JC) Which authors, if any, have influenced your style of writing?

(PH) Everyone is influenced by other authors. That's what progress
is all about, but influences do not necessarily come from within
one sphere. In the game world I suppose Magnetic Scrolls sparked
something off in me a very long time ago but I do like Jeff
Minter. Beyond that I have mainly been influenced, at various
times, by the Beatles, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Beethoven,
Napoleon, James Hunt, Ernest Hemmingway, Jean-Paul Satre, Joseph
Conrad and probably many others.  Incidentally, speaking of
Conrad, `The Obscure Naturalist' is very (very) loosely based on
his novel `Heart of Darkness' - but probably without the darkness.
You can find quite a few references to it if you know the book.

(JC) So, is that where the idea for `The Obscure Naturalist' came
from?

(PH) Partly, but it's not really hung up on it. The main influence
for the game comes from the place in which it is set. I have never
revealed this before, but every main location in the game is a
real place in their exact relationship to each other. It is an
area where I used to spend many hours in my childhood and often go
to now. If anyone knows the area and plays the game it is bound to
dawn on them.  In fact, I was waiting for someone to write in and
mention it.

(JC) Well, I must admit that, as I was playing the game, I felt
that there was some kind of unusual `linking' between locations. I
couldn't put my finger on it at the time but it's obviously
because it is based on reality. Are you a bit of an obscure
naturalist yourself?

(PH) No, I'm obscure and I'm a bit of a naturalist. But not an
obscure naturalist - I am also enigmatic.

(JC) The graphics in the game are excellent. As you began each
picture, did you have in your mind a clear idea as to how you
wanted it to look? Or did the graphics govern the text?


(PH) The whole game, text and graphics, were governed by the real
locations. Beyond that I've added a great deal of myth, artistic
licence and pure fantasy to it. I'm glad you like the graphics, I
get a lot of positive comments about them and I spent a lot of
time on that aspect because STAC games can look pretty dismal.
Even so, I still think the star of the game is the text.

(JC) I know Part One of `The Obscure Naturalist' appeared on the
cover disk of a magazine recently. How did this come about?

(PH) I had already had a game on the cover disk of ST Action. They
had discovered `Insecticide' in the PD libraries and used it.
Feeling there was quite a bit of action in `The Obscure
Naturalist' I decided to send it up to them - they used it without
hesitation.

(JC) Do you enjoy working with STAC? Have you any criticisms?

(PH) As mentioned earlier, when I first started programming `The
Obscure Naturalist' in STAC I had never programmed anything
before. On a couple of occasions I had to seek the help of Sean
Ellis (the author of STAC) who was very helpful indeed. STAC is a
great program, very solid. If I have any criticisms these would
only be in the form of suggested improvements, such as a word
search and possibly a spell checking system for the messages. An
improved art department would be useful too - even though I do all
my graphics in Degas Elite, I still find I have to fiddle about a
bit to get them in the program neatly.  Another niggle is the way
you have to put up with the mouse appearing on the loading screen.
You can get rid of it, but then it doesn't appear for file saving.

(JC) You mentioned earlier about your interest in music. How do
you find the ability to use music in STAC?

(PH) Like the art section, the music capability of STAC is limited
and probably not worth spending a lot of time on. However, I have
used it in `The Obscure Naturalist' here and there. For instance,
try pressing the doorbell at the Bony Cottage, or the bell on the
Estate Office counter. You also get a hoot from a tractor when you

first cross the Wentworth Road at the Green Gate - unless you look
right and left.

(JC) Have you ever used any other adventure writing utility?

(PH) No. But Sue gave me a copy of TADS recently and I will have a
look at it when I get the chance.

(JC) Do you have any other games in the pipeline?

(PH) My pipeline is so full of games and programs it tends to get
blocked now and then. I probably have about ten unfinished games.
I am always ambitious in what I do, and most of these games were
left ages ago because I reached a point where my programming
skills could not cope with them sensibly. However, I could
probably finish them all now if I get the time. Future projects
certainly include a follow up to `The Obscure Naturalist', which
is well on its way. But I really do need to see a lot of support
before I finish it. It will take months and I have so many other
things on at the moment - including trying to make a living from
my design business. I ignored it a bit really when I started
programming and used a lot of business time doing so, particularly
with `The Obscure Naturalist'. This is where healthy support would
come in handy to help me recoup my losses. The good news is that I
have recently released a fully updated version of my astronomy
program called `The Northern and Equatorial Star Atlas', together
with a second program called `The Illustrated Solar System' and
there is a third one to come shortly. These are aimed at amateur
astronomers and are useful for reference and educational use.

(JC) Astronomy! Your interests are certainly diverse. `The Obscure
Naturalist' is (if you'll pardon the pun) very down-to-earth. With
an interest in astronomy, have you ever considered writing an
adventure game based on space travel?

(PH) Every waking moment and one day (or night) I probably will.
Having said that, if you think `The Obscure Naturalist' is so
down-to-earth, you have obviously not solved the Pepper Pot bit
yet?

(JC) No, I haven't. (Was that a clue I ask myself?) Now let's get
back down-to-earth with this interview. What are your views on
Shareware?  Do you think it works?

(PH) I don't think I will ever use the word `shareware' again. I
don't think it has a great deal of support and in many cases it
might just as well be called `freeware'. Another problem with it
is that too many people are putting out rubbish and asking for
money. In the end the public will only say "Oh, not another one".
This is not to suggest all shareware is rubbish by any means,
there are many good programs released this way, but of course,
most football supporters are well behaved but look at what a few
bad ones can do for the reputation of all. As far as I'm concerned
I'm just selling my programs as cheaply as possible, giving people
a good deal and an efficient service. This, although it's still
only the beginning, has reflected in a reasonably good response. I
also get quite a bit of repeat custom when people see the quality
of my stuff and fast turn around. I have recently started to put
my programs out on a label which has been formed as a subsidiary
of my design business. The name reflects how I intend to keep my
products as cheap as possible and without the excess baggage of
full packing. The label is called `LOOK, NO PACKAGING!' - software
as nature intended.

(JC) Advertising can be expensive. To what extent do you intend to
advertise under this new label?

(PH) I will be advertising as cheaply as possible in order to keep
costs down, but also as frequently as I can. Advertising in the
glossy mags can cost a lot, but I might lash out for the astronomy
stuff and advertise in an astronomy magazine. Anyway, must go now.
My socks are on fire.

(JC) Talking of socks, I must just ask you the `SynTax Special'
question. What colour socks do you wear?

- Oh! Too late, he's gone! They must have been a sort of warm red.

@~Peter Hague can be contacted at 32 Chancet Wood Drive,
@~Sheffield, S8 7TR