In the Spectrum's heyday, we had plenty of TV shows 'converted' to the platform, cashing in on their fame. A lot from America, a few deals with the BBC. Now, I've been wondering if all 14 ITV franchises of the time (1982-1992) had some kind of representation on the ZX Spectrum...
Anglia: Knightmare by Activision
The show was already a hit with the type of games players who prefer dungeon-based action, this was a no-brainer to bring to the home computer. The show's producer had a tough time trying to get the fusty Norwich-based broadcaster to commit to making this show. Anglia's most famous hit with ITV audiences was the cheapo game show Sale Of The Century, which made them a bit of a laughing stock. They seriously put it right with this effort...
Central: Blockbusters by TV Games
Your 5:15pm teenage quiz, hosted for Spectrum users, by a very jerky Bob Holness.
HTV: Robin Of Sherwood : The Touchstones of Rhiannon by Adventure International
Superb low budget Sunday night drama from the Wales and west-of-England broadcaster. I've yet to play this text adventure.
Thames: Benny Hill's Madcap Chase by DK'Tronics
Clearly, it was a different time. One of Don Priestley's games I'd rather not play again, in which you're the beret-adorned nemesis of Two Ton Ted from Teddington.
LWT: Play Your Cards Right by Britannia Software
Let's do his catchphrase - a-biv-a-viv-a-viv-viv-viv-a-viv-a-viv-viv-a-viv!
Yorkshire: Round The Bend! by Impulze
A conversion of a conversion? Round The Bend was pretty much Oink comic (a very anarchic publication aimed at 8-12 year olds, like a junior Viz) on the telly, minus all the Oink characters but still with the same writers and toilet humour. I've not played it, but it can only be better than the actual Oink game, which is completely abysmal.
Granada: The Krypton Factor by TV Games
No Corrie conversion here, but ITV's north west behemoth gets represented in the form of the physical/mental aptitude test, fronted by Gordon Burns.
Tyne Tees: Supergran by Tynesoft
A fitting software house for this one, but you'll be very disappointed if you play the actual game. It depicts the antics of the Scottish super hero pensioner from the kid's comedy series, much of which was shot in Whitley Bay.
That's pretty much it for what I've found. And yes, I know there are more than one game for some of these franchises. Could have given Thames an easier ride with Minder, for example.
This leaves us with six franchises that appear to have no representation on the Speccy, unless you know different...
- TSW
- TVS
- Channel
- Border
- Grampian
- Ulster
- Scottish
Somewhere in a parallel universe, we're able to cite the excellent Domark conversion of Border TV's hit Mr & Mrs; CRL's take on TVS's Ultra Quiz; Alternative Software's tribute to Grampian's James The Cat; reviews of how Incentive tackled TSW's Knightmare-but-on-a-fraction-of-the-budget Treasures Of The Mindlord; Spinnaker's educational representation of Channel's Dodo Club; Mullet-tastic fun from Hi-Tec's interpretation of Fun House from Scottish and a take on Audiogenic's attempt of Ulster Television's Password quiz.