SOURCES: Missing BBC Games Help Required!

[leenew]

Notes regarding WORLD WAR 1 by GRANDSLAM.
We have a game called World War 1 by Argus Press Software: http://www.bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=2259
According to Wikipedia, Argus Press Software were bought by managing director Stephen Hall and renamed GRANDSLAM ENTERTAINMENT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_Pre ... s_Software
Do we think the GrandSlam and the Argus Press World War 1 will be the same game?

Lee.

[leenew]

Does anyone know anything about UP UP AND AWAY by STARCADE?

This ad is from A&B Computing issue 13. (vol. 2 issue 2). *This full page ad ran for at least 11 months!*
According to "games that weren't" the game had a turbulent release history, but WAS released at least on ATARI and C64. https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/up-up-and-away/
In the notes section, "Tom Jones" mentions the authors of the BBC version being Gwyll Jones and Peter Judd.

Lee.

[leenew]

Another adventure to add to the MIA list!
CRAZY CAVES by SILVERSOFT reviewed in A&B Computing in March 1985 (vol. 2 issue 3)

[leenew]

And another for the MIA list...
SHANGHAI from SOFTWARE EXPRESS, reviewed in A&B Computing October 1985

[fuzzel]

I'm just working my way through the list of games without adverts, starting with The Micro User magazine. I haven't found an advert as such for Connect 4 by Database but have found the following (the address for Database is: 27 City Road, Stoke, Staffs).
Review in TMU April 1983:

Connect 4 Database Review Apr83 MU.jpg (98.83 KiB) Viewed 7926 times

Game listed in TMU's Guide to Software for the BBC Micro:

[fuzzel]

Is Cells and Serpents from Hexagon the same game as ASP's Cells and Serpents?

[fuzzel]

Galaxians by Software for All: Review only (A&B Computing-March/April 1984):

[fuzzel]

Diplomacy by Microlink - Acorn User, March 1988 - this was in the Comms News column. I'm not sure a micro game actually existed as such, it would appear Microlink was used as a vehicle to take turns with each player having a game board at home.

Diplomacy1 Games News AU Mar88.jpg (31.94 KiB) Viewed 7862 times

Diplomacy2 Games News AU Mar88.jpg (30.77 KiB) Viewed 7862 times

[leenew]

I agree, this should be removed.

Lee.

[fuzzel]

Showjumper by Bryants - Acorn User, December 1986 (small ads):

Bryants Showjumper Ad AU Dec86.jpg (41 KiB) Viewed 7843 times

[leenew]

Have you ever wondered why some copies of WOLFPACK by DOCTOR SOFT were called WOLFPACK and some were called WOLFPACK 3 even though it is the same game? and what happened to WOLFPACK 2?
Things like this keep me awake
Anyway, have a look at this early advert from DOCTOR SOFT:

"MUNCHER 2 ghosts, 20 mazes" etc.
"WOLFPACK 3 starships, 1 space station" etc.
It seems to me that someone attached the "3" to the title WOLFPACK by mistake!!!

Lee.

[leenew]

more for the MIA list
BRIDGE CHALLENGE by LIVEWIRE and WHIST CHALLENGE by LIVEWIRE reviewed in A&B Computing December 1985

EDIT: BRIDGE CHALLENGE IS ALREADY ARCHIVED. WHIST CHALLENGE IS STILL MISSING.

[leenew]

and another...
The original BRIDGE MENTOR from MINIC A&B Computing Nov. 84
**I HAVE ALERTED ARCADIAN TO A COPY OF THIS ON EBAY SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF WHILE WE WIN IT - THANK YOU

[leenew]

Yep, and another... BRIDGE MASTER FROM SERIN SOFTWARE A&B Computing July/August 1984

[leenew]

Can anyone shed any light on this? GALACTIC PATROL from WARLOCK SOFTWARE A&B Computing JAN 85

The description sounds very much like GALACTIC PATROL from MASTERTRONIC.
Which came first? Are they the same?

[leenew]

and a couple of cross-over educational / games:
RETURN FROM PARIS, TREASURE HUNT, and TANK TRACKS from SUMMERFIELD SOFTWARE A&B April 1985

[leenew]

more cross-over educational / games
TOM THUMB ADVENTURE, FAIRYLAND ADVENTURE, IN THE GRIP OF ICE, RIVER WORLD ADVENTURE, THE HALLS OF TIME, and INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL AGENT from OK PRODUCTS A&B Computing May/June 1984

[leenew]

I think I have solved CURSE OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM by MERLIN.
It is not MIA. It is the same game as CURSE OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM by PRO SOFTWARE.
Firstly, This ad from Your computer December 1983 shows MERLIN COMPUTER PRODUCTS also being known as BUCON LTD
Note middle kingdom is not mentioned.

Next, this review of CURSE OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM from Laserbug issue 6 in November 1982, reviews the game that is clearly the PRO SOFTWARE game, and states it is by BUCON LTD. The Swansea address is also the same.

This advert, from Your computer December 1982 for Pro Software lists MIDDLE KINGDOM.

note the Welsh address, but not the same as the BUCON address from the same time as the Laserbug review.

The only conclusion is that BUCON aka MERLIN sold the game to PRO SOFTWARE.
I will remove it from the MIA list.

[leenew]

As a follow-on to the MERLIN-BUCON-42 SOFTWARE-PRO SOFTWARE story, this early ad from Popular Computing Weekly August 1982 shows BUCON AKA 42 Software selling SPACE INVADERS, CURSE OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, GOMOKU and OTHELLO (also known as reversi).
These ALL ended up at PRO SOFTWARE...

EDIT: It appears that BUCON is the dealer. A computer shop in Swansea.
So should it be '42' Software AKA Merlin Software sold games to PRO software?

Lee.

EDIT 2: everygamegoing had this cassette inlay from '42' software for KINGDOM which we all now know is CURSE OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM.

[leenew]

and... another one for the MIA list that we have no chance of finding
programs by A. HOLMES : MUTANT ATTACK, WILD WEST, EARTH DEFENCE, AUTO DODGE, and SUPER BREAKOUT.
All for £4.50!

PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1982-08-26_0006.jpg (31.47 KiB) Viewed 7793 times

[leenew]

Last one for now... my eyes are burning
early ad from Popular Computing Weekly 1st July 1982
Games from B CRIDLAND : INVADERS, BREAKOUT, and DODGEMS, PACMAN, and 3D MAZE

PopularComputing_Weekly_Issue_1982-07-01_0003 CRIDLAND.jpg (27.5 KiB) Viewed 7784 times

I believe B Cridland, along with PB Cridland became IJK Software.
EDIT: I managed to contact B. Cridland. He is also P.B. Cridland, he just prefers to be known as Barrie.
Just trying to jog his grey matter now...

Can we attribute IJK Mutant Invaders, Beebmunch, and Breakout to B Cridland?

[fuzzel]

Games Workshop's Key of Hope and Tower of Despair in A&B Magazine (July 1985 - Newsround). Both games I believe were released for the C64 and Spectrum. The item claims that Tower of Despair is a previous release with Key of Hope being their new game.

Games Workshop games AandB.jpg (47.38 KiB) Viewed 7770 times

[leenew]

TRIVIA TIME from PREMIER SOFTWARE Popular Computing Weekly vol.6 issue 22 (June 5th to 11th 1987)

[leenew]

MAGIC CUBE PUZZLE from MOSAIC SOFTWARE from Acorn User September 1987

[leenew]

Another MIA...
THE HEIST from MRJ Acorn User January 1986

AcornUser042-Jan86_0224 MRJ .jpg (29.75 KiB) Viewed 7705 times

This also confirms INU as being commercial, and gives it a 1986 date.

[leenew]

and another
GLIDER PILOT 2 from APEX SOFTWARE Micro User March 1988 (vol.6 no. 1)

**EDIT** Earliest advert found is ACORN USER December 1986, so attributing 1986 as release date.

[Arcadian]

and another
GLIDER PILOT 2 from APEX SOFTWARE Micro User March 1988 (vol.6 no. 1)
The Micro User 061 Vol 6 No 1 Mar 88_0149 APEX.jpg

I have this along with Notebook (on 3.5" DFS floppy, unusually):

I've just looked at the disc and it has a big groove on the surface (but only on side 2 apparently) and tried to image Drive 0 but it failed about a quarter of the way through (I guess this explains why I didn't upload an image several years back when I acquired it).

However I've just tried manually copying the files off onto a new floppy using my Master and both programs appear to run - so evidently there's bad track(s) in the unused portion of the disc, as opposed to it being some form of copy protection.

Anyway I've just read the copy in on my Shuttle PC so I'll whip the ssd off at some point today and upload it to archive submissions ...

[leenew]

and another
GLIDER PILOT 2 from APEX SOFTWARE Micro User March 1988 (vol.6 no. 1)
The Micro User 061 Vol 6 No 1 Mar 88_0149 APEX.jpg

I have this along with Notebook (on 3.5" DFS floppy, unusually):
20210318_124026.jpg

I've just looked at the disc and it has a big groove on the surface (but only on side 2 apparently) and tried to image Drive 0 but it failed about a quarter of the way through (I guess this explains why I didn't upload an image several years back when I acquired it).

However I've just tried manually copying the files off onto a new floppy using my Master and both programs appear to run - so evidently there's bad track(s) in the unused portion of the disc, as opposed to it being some form of copy protection.

Anyway I've just read the copy in on my Shuttle PC so I'll whip the ssd off at some point today and upload it to archive submissions ...

Cracking!

[leenew]

Another MIA...
SUPER HANGMAN from SRL SOFTWARE Laserbug issue 7 - December 1982

Laserbug_07_Dec_1982_0009 SRL.jpg (41.33 KiB) Viewed 7657 times

[Arcadian]

Glider Pilot 2 (+Notebook) now added to archive submissions.