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DK'Tronics Games
DK'Tronics Ltd (stylised as dk'tronics) was a British software and hardware company active during the 1980s. It primarily made peripherals for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC but also released video games for the ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, VIC-20, BBC Micro, Memotech MTX, MSX and Amstrad platforms. History The company's first product was a 16Kb expansion pack for the ZX80, released just prior to the launch of the ZX81. At this time the company consisted only of David Heelas, working part-time through his interest in electronics. When the ZX81 was launched, he went full-time manufacturing, packaging and posting from his home – and by the end of 1981 he had four employees. Hardware production expanded to include new keyboards for the ZX81 and for the newly released ZX Spectrum. By 1984, DK'Tronics had around 50 personnel, with Heelas as managing director. He was also looking into the possibility of becoming a computer manufacturer, specifically with a low-cost processor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth ( ), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside resort, seaside town which gives its name to the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. Its fishing industry, mainly for herring, shrank after the mid-20th century and has all but ended. North Sea oil from the 1960s supplied an oil rig industry that services offshore natural gas rigs; more recently, offshore wind power and other renewable energy industries have ensued. Yarmouth has been a resort since 1760 and a gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the North Sea. Holidaymaking rose when a railway opened in 1844, bringing easier, cheaper access and some new settlement. Wellington Pier opened in 1854 and Britannia Pier in 1858. Through the 20th century, Yarmouth boomed as a resort, with a promenade, pubs, trams, fish-and-chip shops, theatres, the Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Pleasure Beach, the Sea Life Centres, Sea Life Centre, the Great Yarmouth Hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Memotech MTX
The Memotech MTX500 and MTX512 are a range of 8-bit Zilog Z80A based home computers released by the British company Memotech in 1983 and sold mainly in the UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia. Originally a manufacturer of memory add-ons for Sinclair machines, Memotech developed their own competing computer when it was perceived the expansion pack business would no longer be viable. The Memotech machines were technically similar to, although not compatible with, the MSX standard, making use of the same CPU and video chip. The machines were particularly distinguished from other microcomputers available at the time by the generous maximum memory ceiling. The 500 and 512 models could be expanded internally up to 512K, an unusually large amount of RAM in 1983 for a computer aimed at home use. The MTX range saw the addition of the RS128 in 1984 which was a similar machine but with more memory. The machines achieved only modest sales, not assisted by the unfortunate timing of being ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benny Hill's Madcap Chase
''Benny Hill's Madcap Chase'' is a ZX Spectrum videogame featuring Benny Hill and loosely based on his Thames TV show. It was programmed by Don Priestley and published by DK'Tronics in 1985. The plot involves Benny deciding to help his neighbours by completing a number of tasks for them. Reception ''Crash'', a ZX Spectrum gaming magazine, gave ''Benny Hill's Madcap Chase'' a positive review and awarded it 78%. Amongst the features the reviewers liked were the large graphics which avoided attribute clash Attribute clash (also known as colour clash or bleeding) is a display Visual artifact, artifact caused by limits in the graphics circuitry of some colour 8-bit home computers, most notably the ZX Spectrum, where it meant that only two colours ..., and the sense of humour with one reviewer stating that they " ovedit when Benny hit something or the lady chasing him had a fit". The game was described as "playable" and "addictive" although there were concerns about its long-te ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minder (TV Series)
''Minder'' is a British comedy-drama series about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television, and shown on ITV for ten series between 29 October 1979 and 10 March 1994. The series was revived by Channel 5 in 2009 but was discontinued after only six episodes. It was nominated three times for Best Drama Series or Serial at the British Academy Television Awards. Plot The first seven series starred Dennis Waterman as Terry McCann, an honest and likeable former boxer turned bodyguard (''minder'' in Cockney parlance), and George Cole as Arthur Daley, an ageing chancer and petty schemer, importer/exporter, wholesaler, used-car salesman and purveyor of anything else from which there was money to be made, legally or not. The series is principally set in working class west London (specifically Shepherd's Bush, Ladbroke Grove, Fulham and Acton), and was largely responsible for introduc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zig Zag (1984 Video Game)
''Zig Zag'' is a first-person maze video game written by Ed Hickman and published by DK'Tronics in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. .... Gameplay In ''Zig Zag'', the player must explore a maze from first-person perspective searching for Scarabaqs, the creatures that hold sector entry data that the player needs to continue to the next level. Scarabaqs flee from the player, who must exploit their behaviour to chase them into dead ends. Adversity comes in the form of Hoverbots, whose attacks drain the player's energy. ''Zig Zag'' also supports the Currah MicroSpeech peripheral. Development The first-person 3D effect was achieved by using a series of vertical black lines to form the perspective of the walls, and to give the impression of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maziacs
''Maziacs'' is an action adventure maze game published by DK'Tronics in 1983 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and MSX. History ''Maziacs'', written by Don Priestley, was based on his earlier ZX81 game '' Mazogs''"The YS Official Top 100 Part 1" at The Your Sinclair Rock 'n' Roll Years which was published by in 1982. ''Mazogs'' was one of the most successful ZX81 games so Don Priestley adapted it for the higher-resolution, colour-screen ZX Spectrum and MSX. The Commodore 64 port was written by Andy French. Gameplay ''Maziacs'' takes place in a randomly generated, scrolling, overhead-view maze, in which the player-controlled pro ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
3D Tanx
''3D Tanx'' is a shoot 'em up video game written by Don Priestley and published by DK'Tronics in 1982 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and BBC Micro. Gameplay The aim of the game is to shoot tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...s moving across a bridge, shown in the distance into the screen. The player aims a gun turret by adjusting its rotation and elevation, this being the '3D' aspect of the game. Skill and timing is required to strike the tanks. Reception '' Crash'' magazine wrote, "The graphics are very good and so is the sound," and concluded,"...and at the price, excellent value." References 1982 video games BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games Commodore 64 games DK'Tronics games Shoot 'em ups Single-player video games Video games developed i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don Priestley
Don Priestley (1940–2024) was a British school teacher and former video game programmer who wrote over 20 commercial games for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum home computers between 1982 and 1989. Despite successful releases for DK'Tronics, such as '' 3D Tanx'' and '' Maziacs'', Priestley returned to teaching in the late 1980s, claiming changes in the video game industry did not suit his style of work. He died after a short illness in the autumn of 2024. Games development Until 1979, Don Priestley was a teacher. In 1981 both he and his son enrolled in a Pascal course at night school. Although his son dropped out, he carried on. One of his early programs was an adaptation of Conway's Game of Life which was converted to a newly purchased Sinclair ZX81. His first commercial game was ''The Damsel and the Beast'', inspired by a program called ''Mugwump'' and published by Bug-Byte. Further ZX81 games written freelance were ''Dictator'' (a successful strategy game later ported to the Spectr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Your Spectrum
''Your Sinclair'', originally ''Your Spectrum'' or ''YS'', is a discontinued British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was commercially published between 1984 and 1993. History The magazine was launched in January 1984 as ''Your Spectrum'' by Sportscene Specialist Press. (Sportscene would later be renamed to Dennis Publishing in April 1987.) Initially, it was published bimonthly, changing to monthly in June 1984. With the January 1986 issue, the title was relaunched as ''Your Sinclair'', with the intention of expanding coverage of the QL into the main magazine (previously, ''QL User'' had been a pull-out section within the magazine), and any future computers produced by Sinclair. However, the magazine remained focused almost entirely on the ZX Spectrum games scene. In 1990, the magazine was sold to Bath-based Future plc, and the April 1990 issue was the first to be published by the new company. That issue's news section containe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ZX80
The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer launched on 29 January 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. (later to be better known as Sinclair Research). It is notable for being one of the first computers available in the United Kingdom for less than a hundred pounds. It was available in kit form for £79.95, where purchasers had to assemble and solder it together, and as a ready-built version at £99.95. The ZX80 was advertised as the first personal computer for under £100 and received praise for its value and documentation. However, it faced criticism for screen blanking during program execution, small RAM size, and the keyboard design. It was very popular straight away, and for some time there was a waiting list of several months for either version of the machine. Name The ZX80 was named after the Z80 processor with the 'X' meaning "the mystery ingredient". Hardware Internally, the machine was designed by Jim Westwood around a Z80 central processing unit with a clock speed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crash (magazine)
''Crash'', stylized as ''CRASH'', is a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer, primarily focused on games. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress. It was relaunched as a quarterly A5 magazine in December 2020 with the backing of the original founders. The magazine was launched to cater for the booming Spectrum games market. It was immediately popular owing to its quality of writing and distinctive, though occasionally controversial, artwork created by Oliver Frey. By 1986 it had become the biggest-selling British computer magazine with over 100,000 copies sold monthly, but struggled towards the end of the decade after other magazines put cassettes of games on the front cover. In the 2010s, a number of retrospective issues were created via a kickstarter campaign leading to the new publication by Fusion Retro. History ''Crash'' was launched in 1983 in Ludlow, Shropshire by Roger ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, is a family of microcomputers developed and manufactured by Acorn Computers in the early 1980s as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. Launched in December 1981, it was showcased across several educational BBC television programmes, such as ''The Computer Programme'' (1982), ''Making the Most of the Micro'' and ''Computers in Control'' (both 1983), and ''Micro Live'' (1985). Created in response to the BBC's call for bids for a microcomputer to complement its broadcasts and printed material, Acorn secured the contract with its rapidly prototyped “Proton” system, which was subsequently renamed the BBC Micro. Although it was announced towards the end of 1981, production issues initially delayed the fulfilment of many orders, causing deliveries to spill over into 1982. Nicknamed the “Beeb”, it soon became a fixture in British schools, advancing the BBC’s goal of improving computer literacy. Renowned for its strong build q ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
