''Wriggler'' is a
Spectrum
A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors i ...
and
Amstrad
Amstrad was a British electronics company, founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21. The name is a contraction of Alan Michael Sugar Trading. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in April 1980. During the late 1980s, Amstrad ...
maze game published in 1985 by
Romantic Robot
Romantic Robot is a small independent British company that publishes classical music recordings. In the 1980s it designed and produced peripherals and software for home computers.
History
Romantic Robot was founded in London in 1983 by Czech-bor ...
. The original release of ''Wriggler'' contained an
instrumental
An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...
track on the B-side titled "Moons of Jupiter," composed by
Alexander Goldscheider
Alexander Goldscheider (born June 22, 1950) is a Czech-born British composer, music producer, writer and computer specialist.
Life and career
He read music at Charles University in Prague, and received a PhD for his analysis of the music of ''The ...
.
Gameplay
Wriggler is based around maggot racing other maggots. The player controls a maggot and has to escape a maze consisting of 256 screens. The maze is divided into sections: garden, underground, hell, planet surface, the dungeon.
Development
The graphics, animation and cassette inlay artwork were created by
Allin Kempthorne
Allin Kempthorne (born 1972) is a British actor, magician and entertainer. As a magician he works under three distinct identities as Alan Thorn, Professor Strange (with which he appeared on the television show Britain's Got Talent) and Gizmo. He ...
while still at school. He went on to become a writer and cartoonist for ''
The Sun'' newspaper. He later became an actor and comedian, most noted for writing and starring in the comedy feature film ''
The Vampires of Bloody Island
''The Vampires of Bloody Island'' is a 2009 British comedy horror film directed by Allin Kempthorne and starring Pamela Kempthorne. The film also include stars Oliver Gray, John Snelling, and Leon Hamilton. The film had a theatrical release in the ...
''. The Spectrum version was programmed by his twin brother Matthew Kempthorne, and the
Amstrad
Amstrad was a British electronics company, founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21. The name is a contraction of Alan Michael Sugar Trading. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in April 1980. During the late 1980s, Amstrad ...
version was programmed by Matthew Kempthorne and David Vivian.
A version of Wriggler was developed for the
Enterprise
Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to:
Business and economics
Brands and enterprises
* Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company
* Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company
* Enterprise ...
(ported directly from the
Amstrad
Amstrad was a British electronics company, founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21. The name is a contraction of Alan Michael Sugar Trading. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in April 1980. During the late 1980s, Amstrad ...
version), but not released.
An article on ''The Making of Wriggler'' appeared in issue 114 of ''
Retro Gamer Magazine''. Written by Graeme Mason, it contains interviews with both Matthew and
Allin Kempthorne
Allin Kempthorne (born 1972) is a British actor, magician and entertainer. As a magician he works under three distinct identities as Alan Thorn, Professor Strange (with which he appeared on the television show Britain's Got Talent) and Gizmo. He ...
.
Reception
''Wriggler'' became the Star Game in ''
Personal Computer News
''Personal Computer News'' (''PCN'') was a magazine publication which reviewed software and hardware for computers. It was published initially fortnightly, and during the boom period of home computing within the United Kingdom. It was published ...
''
[Personal Computer News, Issue 107, April 20, 1985. http://www.personalcomputernews.co.uk/pcnb/html/107/personal_computer_news_107_gameplay_spectrum_the_wriggler.html] and the Game of the Month in ''
CRASH
Crash or CRASH may refer to:
Common meanings
* Collision, an impact between two or more objects
* Crash (computing), a condition where a program ceases to respond
* Cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating
* Couch su ...
'' magazine.
References
External links
*
*
*
Amstrad CPC games
Maze games
ZX Spectrum games
1985 video games
Video games about insects
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Single-player video games
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