In the latest hard copy issue of PCZone Benelux Mr.Mouse wrote an article about “cracking” the different game archive formats. In the column he addresses the subject of usage of Hex editors to open game archives, and common features of game archives, the way they are usually build and how we can figure out these things ourselves. Suffice it to say it was an “How-to” to crack the formats of game archives. The column is entitled “Ken je format” in Dutch (“Know your format”) and part of the monthly “No N00bies” column!

We have opened a totally cool and nifty forum for you! There are two forums available at this time. The prime forum is the MultiEx Commander Discussion forum. In this forum you can discuss all things MultiEx Commander. Problems, Suggestions, Experiences, Questions, Thanks, whatever you wish to post on the subject of MultiEx Commander. We invite all users or potential users to post stuff regarding MultiEx Commander in this forum. Registration is possible, with Avatar support and so on, but not necessary.
Another forum is the NWP forum, which is basically a private forum for members of the NetWorkParty. Here everything will be discussed, that is of interest for the NWP members. Don’t hesitate, visit the forums!

8 months ago XeNTaX was reported dead. Now it seems this is only partly true. Yes, the MUSIC/Demo group XeNTaX has gone. But the MultiEx Department is still alive. Based on the number of downloads of this tool, Mr.Mouse (Michael Zuurman) and Captain Corny are continuing the website, and are currently considering other XeNTaX activities. So, XeNTaX is still the home of MultiEx Commander and future projects will be notified here.

Mr.Mouse (Michael Zuurman) quits all computer activities, he leaves XeNTaX and any IT stuff still running. Together with Mr.Ammo (Rolf Greven) he set up XeNTaX in 1989 as a Commodore 64 music group. Writing for the c64 diskmagazine Addybook from Blaze, composing tunes for XeNTaX and Blaze, later composing on Amiga and PC, and programming stuff in assembly and C++, just some of his accomplishments. His last work was MultiEx Commander v3.4b, which you can still find here. He even composed some c64 music at the beginning of this year. But after 12 years, it’s time to quit the computer nonsense and turn to other more rewarding things. Thus, with him gone, XeNTaX will die. You can still find some stuff at this website, but by the end of the period that we payed for at webhost, the site will go down. Forever. Here ends the last news item.

CerroR (Roel Heerspink), a chiptune/sidtune musician from Meppel (The Netherlands) has strengthened the team of musicians! You can check out his very merry chiptunes (in xm format) and Commodore 64 sid tunes (using sidplay, see music links) at his download section or flip to the memberpage for more info about him!

Dries Brouwer, a cool musician from the city of Groningen, has joined the ranks of XeNTaX musicians! His nick is 3s/XeNTaX, and he has a long history in music. He plays guitar (he graduated from music conservatory) , keys, bass, percussion and he does his own vocals. He plays in a number of bands for a living, does some producing, works in an African musicinstrument store and composes music like a mad man. 😉 He is one of the closest friends of Mr.Mouse, by the way, who plays drums on some of his songs that are available in MP3 format on this site. Get to the downloading to hear some brilliant stuff.

After Necrose, Sav, Captain Corny and Mr.Mouse had a meeting, it was decided that the server could not be maintained. Limited speed and dependance on a single individual for server maintenance turned out to be least favourable. Thus, it was decided that a new host would be hired, to ensure speed and continuity of the XeNTaX website. In essence, we’re back to hiring a host. This is completed as you read these words. Captain Corny has claimed the job of Webmaster and Pagebuilder. HURRAY!

Ah yes! Mister Serverman Necrose went through a lot of trouble fixing the server and updating it with the latest in serverware, but he did it and the XeNTaX site is back up! A big round of applause for Necrose people! 😉 You can expect future updates here again, and we are working on a completely new websitedesign, graphics courtesy of xeNusion/XeNTaX!

After a very nice first time encounter with SAV during X2001 we wanted him among our crewas a coder! He accepted on one condition: payment of a ham-cheese sandwich. LOL. Anyway, you can check him out at our membersection. He’ll be busy working on the C64 as well as PC demostuff together with Pulse9. For your information, SAV beat the hell out of his competition at the International Karate + tournament held at X2001, and only came a bit short of First place. Still, SAV/XeNTaX got a glorious second place! Excellent job!

On saturday the 24th 5 XeNTaX members went to X2001, which is the number 1 international Commodore 64 sceneparty in Hengelo (GLD) in The Netherlands. Those who went were : Pulse9, The Gee, Captain Corny, our new coder SAV and Mr.Mouse. Just for the heck of it we participated in the musiccompo with three tunes, but we made no illusions as for the results. We had a damn great time, loads of booze, laughter and great stuff shown by ace-coders as well. Check out our pictures of the event here, or visit the x2001 website there.