Tag: computer gamesPage 1 of 4

Atic Atac – “Secret passages, unbeknown to the others”

In 1983, three men set up a new magazine focused on Spectrum games. Partners Roger Kean and Oli Frey had experience in publishing. They previously worked on the…

Valhalla – “You are in an icy waste in Hell”

One popular repeating story in games history is that of technical advances powering improved experiences. Being able to do more technically allows you to make better games, the…

Lunar Jetman – “8 laser hits will be required”

The selection of Ultimate games included in the 2015 compilation Rare Replay almost completely lines up with their list of UK #1 hits. This is not surprising as…

Kong – “Today’s highest”

In April 1983, UK magazines Home Computing Weekly and Personal Computer News each carried an advert for “the world’s greatest arcade games”. It was from the company Spectrum…

Flight Simulation – “Hills 1000 feet”

By the time Psion published Horace and the Spiders, they were a well-established success story. Sinclair had struck a deal with Psion to get first option on co-publishing…

Horace and the Spiders – “From thread to thread”

In 1984, Home Computing Weekly and games chart compilers ASP would split their charts into two categories: ‘arcade’ and ‘non-arcade’. Not all of the games in the arcade…

Manic Miner – “Miner Willy meets the Kong Beast”

When I was five years old, teachers would seek me out to resolve issues with the school’s BBC Micro. I didn’t have a BBC Micro at home, but…

Jetpac – “Thrust on”

Monday February 8th My mother has found a job. She collects money from Space Invader machines. She started today in response to an urgent phone call from the…

The Hobbit – “Gandalf says you are doing a great job”

Far over the misty mountains coldTo dungeons deep and caverns oldWe must away ere break of dayTo seek the pale enchanted gold Sinclair Research released the ZX Spectrum…

Donkey King – “There are four screens”

1983 was a big year in video game history. In Japan, Nintendo released the Famicom console, later known elsewhere as the NES. Nintendo would go on to sell…