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Pimania
''Pimania'' is a text-and-graphics adventure game written by Mel Croucher and released by Automata UK in 1982 for the BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Dragon 32, and Sinclair ZX81. It was the first real life video game treasure hunt to be released. It was inspired by the 1979 Kit Williams book, ''Masquerade''. Automata gave a prize of a golden sundial worth £6,000 () for the first person to solve the various cryptic clues to its location that were hidden within ''Pimania''. Gameplay The player negotiates a surreal landscape with the aid of the mysterious Pi-Man, Automata's mascot. The B-side of the game cassette features a bizarre Pimania song played on a VL-Tone and vocals. The Pi-Man also starred in his own long-running, surreal, comic-strip, soap opera in the company's adverts on the back page of ''Popular Computing Weekly'' magazine and appeared in several subsequent games by the company of different kinds, such as ''Piromania'' and ''Piballed''. The sundial was eventually won ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pimania Screenshot (ZX81)
''Pimania'' is a text-and-graphics adventure game written by Mel Croucher and released by Automata UK in 1982 for the BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Dragon 32, and Sinclair ZX81. It was the first real life video game treasure hunt to be released. It was inspired by the 1979 Kit Williams book, ''Masquerade''. Automata gave a prize of a golden sundial worth £6,000 () for the first person to solve the various cryptic clues to its location that were hidden within ''Pimania''. Gameplay The player negotiates a surreal landscape with the aid of the mysterious Pi-Man, Automata's mascot. The B-side of the game cassette features a bizarre Pimania song played on a VL-Tone and vocals. The Pi-Man also starred in his own long-running, surreal, comic-strip, soap opera in the company's adverts on the back page of ''Popular Computing Weekly'' magazine and appeared in several subsequent games by the company of different kinds, such as ''Piromania'' and ''Piballed''. The sundial was eventually won ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Automata UK
Automata UK was a software house which developed and published ZX Spectrum video games between 1982 and 1985. Significant releases included ''Pimania'' (1982), '' My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar'' (1983) and ''Deus Ex Machina'' (1984). History Automata was established by Mel Croucher on November 19, 1977. In 1979 he was joined by Christian Penfold. The two had previously worked together in radio, producing a show for Independent Radio Authority, which led them to publishing travel guides and produce multimedia entertainments. Croucher had purchased a ZX-81 and, whilst the two were on location creating a guide for Sealink to the Channel Islands, began to plan out their first mainstream software releases. Automata's first commercial successes were ''Can of Worms'' and ''The Bible''. For ''Pimania'' (1982), one of Automata's first ZX Spectrum releases, Penfold was highlighted as C&VG's "Designer of the Month". Automata became known for its support of non-violent game c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mel Croucher
Mel Croucher is a British entrepreneur and video games pioneer. Originally an architect, he moved into computers and in 1977 launched one of the very earliest games companies, Automata UK, as an extension of his publishing business. He is now credited for setting up "the first games company in the U.K.", celebrated as "the father of the British videogames industry" and presented as "a pioneer in affective computing". His first broadcasts of computer game software were made over AM and FM radio. After the release of the Sinclair ZX81, his label published several games for the early home computer market, including three Computer Trade Association award-winners: ''Pimania'' (1982), ''Groucho'' (1983, a.k.a. '' My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar''), and the groundbreaking "multi-media" title ''Deus Ex Machina'' (1984). Croucher has championed immersive entertainment throughout his career as director and producer, mixing audio, video, spoken word, real-world locations and com ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Litlington, East Sussex
Litlington is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Cuckmere Valley, in the Wealden district, in the county of East Sussex, England. It is focussed ENE of Seaford on the south coast. It was in a roughly square parish of dramatic chalkland that extends down to a natural coastline of pebble beach, Cuckmere Haven. In 1961 the parish had a population of 117. On 1 April 1990 the parish was abolished and merged with Lullington and Westdean to form Cuckmere Valley. Toponymy The name is Saxon, and literally means Litl's (followers or possibly family's) homestead. It is also potentially a corruption of Littleton but there is no evidence for its missing its -ing component. Parish description The village is small and like the rest of the parish, which extends to take in much of the Seven Sisters Country Park is on the left bank of a narrow valley in the signature narrow band of the South Downs National Park. It is downriver followed only by marshes mainly to its s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Litlington White Horse
The Litlington White Horse is a chalk hill figure depicting a horse, situated on Hindover Hill (known locally as High-and-Over) in the South Downs, looking over the River Cuckmere to the west of the village of Litlington and north of East Blatchington in East Sussex, England. The current horse was cut in 1924 by John T, Ade, Mr Bovis and Eric Hobbis in a single night and stands at 93 feet long and 65 feet high. A previous horse was cut in either 1838 or 1860 on the same site. Since 1991, the horse has been owned by the National Trust, who, along with local volunteers, regularly clean and maintain the horse. The Litlington White Horse is one of two hill figures in East Sussex; the other being the Long Man of Wilmington which is situated 3 miles north-east from the White Horse. Original Litlington White Horse The origin and date of the original White Horse is debated. One view is that it was created by James Pagden of Frog Firle Farm, along with his two brothers and cousin W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Popular Computing Weekly
''Popular Computing Weekly'' was a computer magazine in the UK published from 1982 to 1990. It was sometimes referred to as ''PCW'' (although that abbreviation is more commonly associated with ''Personal Computer World'' magazine). Overview The magazine was first published on 23 April 1982. Its subject range was general, covering gaming, business, and productivity software. The founding company was Sunshine Publications based in London and the launch editor was Duncan Scot. During 1989 it incorporated '' Computer Gamesweek''. It was noteworthy for being the UK's only national weekly computer magazine of the time, and for its back page being dominated by an advertisement in the form of a comic strip, ''Piman'', by the firm Automata UK between the years 1983 and 1986. A further noteworthy feature of the early editions was the high-quality artwork on the magazine covers. These had disappeared by 1983. One other noteworthy and regular column was about adventure games, notably te ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ZX Spectrum Games
This is a sortable list of games for the ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as t ... home computer. There are currently games in this incomplete list. __NOTOC__ Original run (1982–1994) Homebrew References External linksSpectrum Computing an up-to-date database of ZX Spectrum software {{Video game lists by platform ZX Spectrum games, List of ZX Spectrum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Treasure Hunt (game)
''Scavenger Hunt'' is a 1979 American comedy film with a large ensemble cast which includes Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers, Ruth Gordon, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Richard Mulligan, Tony Randall, Dirk Benedict, Willie Aames, Stephanie Faracy, Stephen Furst and Richard Masur. The film was directed by Michael Schultz, and released by 20th Century Fox. It includes an appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and features cameos by Meat Loaf and Vincent Price. Filming took place in and around San Diego, California, incorporating local landmarks such as Balboa Park (San Diego), Balboa Park and the Medico-Dental Building, Centre City Building. Plot Milton Parker (Vincent Price), an eccentric game inventor, dies after losing a video game with his nurse (Carol Wayne). Parker's greedy and estranged relatives show up at his mansion for the reading of his will. Lawyer Charles Bernstein (Robert Morley) tells them the winner of a scavenger hunt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Source Code
In computing, source code, or simply code, is any collection of code, with or without comments, written using a human-readable programming language, usually as plain text. The source code of a program is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source code. The source code is often transformed by an assembler or compiler into binary machine code that can be executed by the computer. The machine code is then available for execution at a later time. Most application software is distributed in a form that includes only executable files. If the source code were included it would be useful to a user, programmer or a system administrator, any of whom might wish to study or modify the program. Alternatively, depending on the technology being used, source code may be interpreted and executed directly. Definitions Richard Stallman's definition, formulated in his 1989 seminal li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ZX81 Games
The ZX81 is a home computer that was produced by Sinclair Research and manufactured in Dundee, Scotland, by Timex Corporation. It was launched in the United Kingdom in March 1981 as the successor to Sinclair's ZX80 and designed to be a low-cost introduction to home computing for the general public. It was hugely successful; more than 1.5 million units were sold. In the United States it was initially sold as the ZX-81 under licence by Timex. Timex later produced its own versions of the ZX81: the Timex Sinclair 1000 and Timex Sinclair 1500. Unauthorized ZX81 clones were produced in several countries. The ZX81 was designed to be small, simple, and above all, inexpensive, with as few components as possible. Video output is to a television set rather than a dedicated monitor. Programs and data are loaded and saved onto compact audio cassettes. It uses only four silicon chips and a mere 1 KB of memory. It has no power switch or moving parts, with the exception of a VHF T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Video Games Developed In The United Kingdom
Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) systems which, in turn, were replaced by flat panel displays of several types. Video systems vary in display resolution, aspect ratio, refresh rate, color capabilities and other qualities. Analog and digital variants exist and can be carried on a variety of media, including radio broadcast, magnetic tape, optical discs, computer files, and network streaming. History Analog video Video technology was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) television systems, but several new technologies for video display devices have since been invented. Video was originally exclusively a live technology. Charles Ginsburg led an Ampex research team developing one of the first practical vide ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Puzzle Hunts
A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ( or take them apart) in a logical way, in order to arrive at the correct or fun solution of the puzzle. There are different genres of puzzles, such as crossword puzzles, word-search puzzles, number puzzles, relational puzzles, and logic puzzles. The academic study of puzzles is called enigmatology. Puzzles are often created to be a form of entertainment but they can also arise from serious mathematical or logical problems. In such cases, their solution may be a significant contribution to mathematical research. Etymology The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' dates the word ''puzzle'' (as a verb) to the end of the 16th century. Its earliest use documented in the ''OED'' was in a book titled ''The Voyage of Robert Dudley...to the West Indies, 1594–95, narrated by Capt. Wyatt, by himself, and by Abram Kendall, master'' (published circa 1595). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
