The interview with Arrakis of Brainwave was done by Majestic of Brainstom. 
 
1) Please introduce yourself. 
I bought an amiga in dec.87.I'm now 19 (today, 3-29-90!).i'm studying law in the European University of Strasbourg (Faculte de Droit et de Sciences politiques). I'm the co-founder and organizer of BRAIN WAVE.Arrakis (with two r) is the name of the spice planet in the great DUNE... Also i programmed a french pd game tested in COMMODORE REVUE and in A-NEWS (MAY 90 ISSUE...).I'm now working on BLACK FLAG, a cool game with great graphics by Van Gogh ! Ok, over to Brain Wave itself.It was founded in november 1989 with ex-members of overgrowth and phoenix. Right now we are: A.Ch (coder), Arakis (organizer, swapper), Bytefox (gfx), lecolos (coding and music),tik (graphist),  van gogh (graphist)...This is the french memberlist ! Note that we busted out a lamer called Raistlin. He is now telling that he left by himself, but everybody knows the truth! Good luck with him,  Northstar, you gonna need it ! Also we have a swapper in Denmark (Krueger), a swapper in Great-Britain, Spellcaster and a modem trader in the United States of America called Sergent Pepper. As you can see we are only a few, that's why we are looking for new members ! We have even a spreader in South Africa:Fire Wulf. We would like some cool chaps to join us:Swappers, Coders, Musicians and graphists are welcome in BRAIN WAVE ! For more informations about us, french, belgian, canadian and swiss guys should buy a-news (april issue).You will find an article about us ! 
 
2) How strict are the copyright laws in France? 
Very strict...France was one of the first country with copyright law restrictions. Especially on the software.Copying a software means very high fine and/or prison.You can easily destroy your future life. 
 
3) I heard you had the cops in your house, tell us the story. 
Ok....well, to be exact, a.ch was visited by the cops but since he was coder, they found quite nothing.So they phoned me to come to the Police station...there we had some explanations.There was even one of that guy understanding the piracy...But i don't like to speak about this story because lot of people could read it...you see what i want to say! But anyway, i have my conscience clear. 
 
4) Ackerlight was probably one of France's Legends, rumours passed in late 1989 that Ackerlight would be back, tell us what you know. 
Rumours? did you say rumours?! you know most of the time rumours=bullshit ! hehe... Well, I know those guyz well because they are living at about 50km from me...So i already met  kebra (the ex-leader), mp67, overloader , h.syl, dagon....You can be sure they stopped all activities.And they are 100% out of the amiga scene.No more swapping...(except with XXXXX). Some members are working on games...but they are working very, very, very slowly (zzzzz...zzzz).Ackerlight software exists for one year and right now, they released..nothing ! But you know these guys still think they are the best...when I wanted to give ZINE to one of their ex swapper, guess what he told me?...he said:"pffff...I don't mid about this diskmag, ACKERLIGHT NEWS is the best"...that's just to illustrate the fact that they are not interested in the scene anymore.I'm not attacking you kebra! 
 
5) How many Copy Parties take place in France. 
Since the zigag party, it's quite impossible to make a big copyparty. It has become too dangerous. Therefore, there were only three noticeable parties in France (since that event) 
*The amnesia party (with two amigas and 60 personns...very lame!)  
*the Phoenix party (with all phoenix members and guyz laming around but without ANY other KNOWN groups..arghhh...fuckin' lame party again!) 
* the transcom party but it was mostly c64 oriented... 
Maybe you can organize some legal party with only demos...but most of the freaks are most interested by games...  
6) Do Copy Parties in France get disturbed by the police? 
The ZIGAG party was interrupted by cops.It was the first time in France. It was the day of bicentenary of the french revolution.Cops came and arrested everybody...It was the second time for me and i was not afraid like other guyz...I had a long talk with some APP responsable.Very interesting ...They confiscated all hardwares and disks.Everybody has been heard by the cops.And they will probably pay something...... Well, to sum up, I would say this party has an astonishing impact in France...They talked about it in a lot of newspapers, on the radio and on television. See the answer above ! 
 
7) Where do you classify France in the Amiga Ranckings? I must admit that the French groups are not very good at all. But we are trying to change that fact ! The reason why the french groups are not very present in the elite world scene is because of...cops...it's always the same problem ! 
 
8) Are there any new crews in France that we should look out for? 
MAD is a quite new group which can reach the top (if french cops don't stop them before...).Also of course, watch out for Brain Wave, the coolest crew ever...hehehe...  
 
9) Is modem trading possible in France? 
Yes, of course ! But there is no good BBS in France certainly because of the french minitel. But modem trading is not developed in France. I know only one group using the modem .For sure, it will be more and more necessary:Speed is ruling... 
 
10) Why did you buy an Amiga? 
A friend of mine bought one of the first amiga (1000) in France...It was still NTSC...But i falled in love with it when I saw games like SINBAD, Defender of the crown and some TLC,Star Frontiers demos !!! I had a C64, Amstrad6128 and even an Atari ST (beurk...i sold it immediatly when I discovered the amiga!) I love the amiga music (especially with internal sounds...!) 
 
11) Why did you enter the "Amiga Scene Life"? 
I entered the scene because I was always interested in competition, in demos ...I was always dreaming to write a scrolltext !!...I thought it was very exciting to get in touch with guys from others countries like Australia, or even Finland, Norway...Well, I already think it! but i regret that there is only a few guy taking the time to discuss with you in the sendings.Most of the time you read:"Thanx for the stuff.Send soon back.Greet us..." But never mind, I love spreading our demos in all the world !! 

12) How long do you think that the Amiga will stay "IN"? 
The Amiga is now reaching a very good level, but I'm sure programmers will keep on doing more and more great things with this machine ! Moreover, most of the (dead) 8bits owners will buy an Amiga.So you can be sure the Amiga will stay in for 3 or 4 years at least.Amiga is not threaten by STE or ARCHIMEDES...The new Amstrad will be a piece of shit and the 16bits consoles are for childrens...(Or if you buy one, you don't sell your computer).But I'm not a prophet !... 
 
13) Give us a France Crew Chart. 
That would be quite easy...but let's play a game... Number one can be MAD. For the number 2, 3 and so on...I will give you some groupname of french crew...and if you have already heard them then you can try to rank them by yourself...Iris, Spider,Dragons, Impact inc., TGS, Dmacon,  Brain Wave (ah! this one sounds familiar!?), Drifters, Silverhawks, Demons, Sun Connection, USA. 
 
14) What will happen in France in the future (who will drop & who will rise)? 
MAD will rise if they don't get caught.They are making a lot of cracks and trainers, also they gonna release a megademo.Also groups like demons can rise because they have  good graphists and they are doing cool work. They just need some more contacts ! Also if Spider keep on the work and take some contacts, they will perhaps rise a bit! Brain Wave could rise a lot if we had more members !! That's a fact ! It's a long time  since Iris did something..We are still waiting for their megademo !!!  Sun connection is about to die because four members left the group... Fusion is dead. Dragons are dropping because MAD is faster than them. Apology (France) is finally dead ! The guy joined Alcatraz France. 
15) What do you eat for breakfast? 
Most of the time, I take nothing for the breakfast, because I'm  always late!...But when I have the time, I take some kind of Kellogs with milk... 
 
16) Is there a Saturday Night life in you town, if so what? 
I'm living in a little village, so you have to go to other town like Strasbourg if you want real saturday night life...Well, as everywhere there is night club with lotostrip or other special night.. Coolest thing is to be invited to some nice girls for barbecue (summer) (with the parents looking after you arrgghh).Then when it's about 0.00, to go in a night-club...and after that...Ok. Also there is night organized by the university...Easy way to f...k some girls...hehe... 
 
17) Is the TV in France really as dirty as everybody says (Channel +)? 
Ahahahahaha ! No, it the complete opposite.Censuring is very frequent. There is only CANAL+ (channel+) which is showing some x-rated films late in the night! But it is a private channel and you must pay to see it...Of course, I have it...and it's a good channel...Also the French Television Network is very good (Really...).we have 9 channels (with the 3 germans channels...very bad at all).French channels are sometimes showing magazines about sex : super sexy, desirs, l'amour en France... 

18) Which groups do you think are/were Legends on the Amiga? 
Of course there was Ackerlight.But I know this guys and that's why  there are not so much legend for me...Real legends for me are groups like Bamiga Sector One (A magic name!), RSI (Irata), TLC, Fairlight, TJC, Sodan, GCS (remember the ciciolina slideshow!), Star Frontiers.It was good old time...Did you see one of the first Spreadpoint demo? A ball bouncing on the scroll with stereo effects and a sampled loop for music... Quartex, VF, Oracle are perhaps the new legends.But the magical dimension vanished because nowadays it is only business which is important... I like crews like Subway, Tarkus Team, SCX, Mayhem, Kefrens or BRS (ofcourse) releasing good stuffs...They could be the future legends! 
 
19) Are you for the legalisation of Drugs (Soft Drugs). 
No..Drug even soft drug is shit...I don't need them! And it makes a lot of money for bad guys.If you start legalising soft drugs then you'll keep on with the hard one...That would be great for the Swiss Bank ! hehehe... 
 
20) Do you smoke, if yes what? 
No, i don't smoke...only when we are kidding, then I take 4 cigarets at the same time in my mouth...Cigars are awful!!! 
 
21) Do you agree with the saying "Best doesn't exist"? 
 Arghhh...I hate philosophy... I won't answer this question !!! 
 
22) Tell us some good slogans you know (from Amiga Crews)? 
OK...Quartex (the fucking best), Vision (born to be cool), Brainstorm (swapping is a life style(?!)), Trilogy "We are the guys, those in power!", Northstar had very good slogans, but i just can't remember then and i'm too lazy to load their old megademos...    Sorry can't just remember some good one...Just one to finish... "Success is our Business and Business our Success" (this one is from me...) 
 
23) Any last words to the world of Amiga Freaks? 
Yep, of course, I gonna send some greetings to all  Brain Wave members Worldwide and to all my contacts ! To all amiga freaks worldwide:Swappers, coders, musicians, graphists: JOIN US ! WE NEED YOU ! AND MAYBE YOU NEED A COOL GROUP ! If you aren't yet in contact with Brain Wave, just get in touch with us, you won't regret it !  Also good luck to Viro (ex-Brain Wave)for his professional career in the Amiga software development. 
 
We thank you Arrakis, signed MAJESTIC of BRAINSTORM.