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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 8:01 pm
by Rorthron
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It is Roger Pearse!

I have found a clear signature on a scan of Annals of Rome for the Amiga:

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https://www.hobbydb.com/marketplaces/ho ... 1f4a22fc33

I am confident it is the same signature as that in the PSS games Battle for Midway, Battle of Britain, Bismarck, Swords & Sorcery and Tobruk. So we can add Roger Pearse as cover artist for these titles.

It is not clear if it is the same signature as that in Panic and Les Flics (both by PSS). It could be, and I strongly suspect it is, but the scans aren't clear enough to say for certain, so I don't think we can add a cover art credit for them.
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:26 pm
by StooB
Rorthron wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 8:01 pm
I am confident it is the same signature as that in the PSS games Battle for Midway, Battle of Britain, Bismarck, Swords & Sorcery and Tobruk. So we can add Roger Pearse as cover artist for these titles.

It is not clear if it is the same signature as that in Panic and Les Flics (both by PSS). It could be, and I strongly suspect it is, but the scans aren't clear enough to say for certain, so I don't think we can add a cover art credit for them.
Mobygames think Les Flics too.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:40 pm
by Rorthron
I could have just looked at Mobygames and avoided all that sleuthing! :lol:

So per Mobygames Roger Pearse did the covers of:

Annals of Rome
Bismarck
Tobruk: The Clash of Armour
Battle for Midway
Les Flics
Pool

Based on the signature we can also add:

Battle of Britain
Swords & Sorcery

All by PSS
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 11:45 pm
by Rorthron
I'm not sure we can follow Mobygames' credit for Annals of Rome. The inlay in the archive does not have a signature, and is different from the later Amiga/DOS version, which is signed by Roger Pearse. It is possible that the Spectrum inlay is also by Roger Pearse, but I don't think we can be sure. The Mobygames credit may only refer to the Amiga/DOS cover.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 11:52 pm
by Rorthron
Rorthron wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:40 pm All by PSS
Except Pool, which was by CDS.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:02 pm
by Rorthron

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 4:51 pm
by Rorthron
1351|Derby Day
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... /Derby_Day

This has no credits in SC/ZXDB.
Per the Spectrum instructions the game is by P Curtis.
Per Mobygames this is Peter G Curtis. However, Mobygames only credits the C64 version to him. I think this is an error, as the Spectrum instructions credit Curtis, and his other titles are Spectrum games.

Per Mobygames the inlay is by Phil Gascoine, but to me it looks like a photo, so I suspect Mobygames is wrong again.
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:21 pm
by StooB
Seems like there's two covers for Derby Day - the black border version for the c64 at Mobygames is the Phil Gascoine one.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 4:02 am
by Rorthron
836|Castle Master
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/8 ... tle_Master
Cover Artwork by: David Wyatt
Per inlay

The inlay has several other credits, not all recorded in SC/ZXDB:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Concept and Design by: Ian Andrew
Programmed by: Chris Andrew, Paul Gregory and Sean Ellis
Graphics by: Mike Salmon and Team 7
Story & Cryptic Clues by: Mel Croucher
Music by: Teque Software Development
Cover Artwork by: David Wyatt
Typography by: Starlight Graphics
Additional contributions by: Andy Tait, Helen Andrew, Mary Moy, Anita
Bradley, Ursula Taylor, Kev, André and Paul
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 5:05 pm
by PeterJ
Rorthron wrote: Sun Aug 02, 2020 4:02 am 836|Castle Master
Hi [mention]Rorthron[/mention]. [mention]StooB[/mention] pointed out that this is already covered here. We are working through updates as quickly as possible and as time allows.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 5:15 pm
by StooB
Time and Magik

According to this page about Mandarin the artwork is by Mike Ellis. I think Godfrey Dowson and Neil Strudwick, currently listed as inlay/poster artists, are actually the in-game graphic artists.

The same article says Mike Ellis also created the artwork for Lancelot.
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 8:58 pm
by Rorthron
PeterJ wrote: Sun Aug 02, 2020 5:05 pm
Rorthron wrote: Sun Aug 02, 2020 4:02 am 836|Castle Master
Hi @Rorthron. @StooB pointed out that this is already covered here. We are working through updates as quickly as possible and as time allows.
No problem. It hadn't been mentioned in these threads, and I was unaware it had been discussed somewhere else in the forum.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:50 pm
by StooB
Missing Bob Wakelin art credits:

N.O.M.A.D.
Operation Thunderbolt
Terra Cresta
World Series Basketball
World Series Baseball
Konami's Tennis
Roland's Rat Race
Sly Spy Secret Agent
Batman
Hunchback
Phantom Club
Daley Thompson's Supertest
Kong Strikes Back
Nightmare Rally


Source: Bob Wakelin Etsy Shop


Also Road Frog is credited to Bob Wakelin. The "original artwork" in the file downloads is the for the later Oric release by Ocean, not the Spectrum Games release. This version is the one in shown the Crash article, and in the History of Ocean Book.

This article says Bob's first work was Moon Alert and Gilligan's Gold for Ocean.
Working alongside Steve in those early days was artist, Bob Wakelin. Hired by Ocean in 1983 together with illustrator, Blair, Bob and Blair would be responsible for Ocean's debuting games, Moon Alert and Gilligan’s Gold.
- but this is wrong - Moon Alert and Gilligan’s Gold were definitely not "Ocean's debuting games"

Bob is quoted in the History of Ocean book:
Ocean’s founders, keenly aware of the importance of marketing and the quality of artwork they required, signed up Blair-Wakelin on the spot, although the partnership fell apart rapidly. ‘Moon Alert [1984] was the first thing I did in conjunction with Blair and then Gilligan’s Gold."
- this seems to be wrong too, as he did the art for Royal Birkdale in 1983.

the book then contradicts this by saying:
"But Bob kept his hand in with the odd illustration job and after two years started working with Blair, through whom he became involved with Ocean – or, as it was then, Spectrum Games."
The evidence isn't conclusive, but it doesn't look to me that these were produced by the same artist:

Image Image
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 8:45 am
by Rorthron
They're not all missing credits. Hunchback, for example, is already credited to Bob Wakelin.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 1:22 pm
by StooB
Rorthron wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2020 8:45 am They're not all missing credits. Hunchback, for example, is already credited to Bob Wakelin.
It should say Hunchback The Adventure - that's where the link goes.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:10 am
by sho

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:13 am
by Rorthron
It came up in the first Cover Artists thread, but we don't have an answer:
StooB wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2020 6:12 pm
Rorthron wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2020 1:07 pm BTW this is the signature:

Image

It might be something like B. H. Hayes, but is still difficult to make out.
I don't think this is a signature, but initials "G. M." or "M. M." followed by "MAY88". The game was released in June 1988.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:07 am
by druellan
I did some investigation on that one, including reverse image search, but nothing concrete found. That baffles me is the Star Wars context and quality of the work, makes you think is going to be easy to find the author.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:44 am
by Rorthron
Some Automata credits....

Olimpimania: Robert Grenville Evans
Per inlay

Other credits:
Andrew Stagg program
Mel Croucher music
Mek Croucher, Christian Penfold, Andrew Stagg concept

Deus ex Machina
Per instructions:
"Cover photograph of Nina von Palisanderholz. Additional artwork by Robin Grenville Evans."
I guess Evans modified the photo for the cover. I think he should get an "additional art" credit only.

Other credits:
"Screenplay, lyrics and music written by MEL CROUCHER.
ZX Spectrum computer program written by ANDREW STAGG."

Go to Jail: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature

Morris Meets the Bikers: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature

My name is Uncle Groucho, etc: Robert Grenville Evans
Per instructions

Pi-Balled: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature and instructions

Other credits (with additional role information):
Jason Austin program
Colin Tuck graphics

Pi-Eyed: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature and instructions

Pi-in-'Ere: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature

Other credits (with additional role information):
Jason Austin program
Colin Tuck graphics
Jason Austin and Colin Tuck concept
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 7:59 am
by toot_toot
Talking of Bob Wakelin

Digger Dan : https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... Digger_Dan is also missing a Bob Wakelin credit. Although it's missing his name, it's clearly one of his.

There's also a chance that he did Caterpilla: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/8 ... Caterpilla as again it's very much a Bob Wakelin styled cover, although it's for Spectrum Games and does go against the story of him working only for Ocean.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:54 am
by Stefan
Rorthron wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:44 am Some Automata credits....

Olimpimania: Robert Grenville Evans
Per inlay

Other credits:
Andrew Stagg program
Mel Croucher music
Mek Croucher, Christian Penfold, Andrew Stagg concept

Deus ex Machina
Per instructions:
"Cover photograph of Nina von Palisanderholz. Additional artwork by Robin Grenville Evans."
I guess Evans modified the photo for the cover. I think he should get an "additional art" credit only.

Other credits:
"Screenplay, lyrics and music written by MEL CROUCHER.
ZX Spectrum computer program written by ANDREW STAGG."

Go to Jail: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature

Morris Meets the Bikers: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature

My name is Uncle Groucho, etc: Robert Grenville Evans
Per instructions

Pi-Balled: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature and instructions

Other credits (with additional role information):
Jason Austin program
Colin Tuck graphics

Pi-Eyed: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature and instructions

Pi-in-'Ere: Robert Grenville Evans
Per signature

Other credits (with additional role information):
Jason Austin program
Colin Tuck graphics
Jason Austin and Colin Tuck concept
Shouldn't all those Robert Evans be Robin Evans?
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Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:08 am
by 8BitAG
Stefan wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:54 am Shouldn't all those Robert Evans be Robin Evans?
Yes, Robin Grenville Evans.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:09 am
by Rorthron
Stefan wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:54 am Shouldn't all those Robert Evans be Robin Evans?
Yes! :lol:

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:10 am
by Rorthron
Rorthron wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:44 am Deus ex Machina
Per instructions:
"Cover photograph of Nina von Palisanderholz. Additional artwork by Robin Grenville Evans."
I guess Evans modified the photo for the cover. I think he should get an "additional art" credit only.
This appears to be what happened. Mel Croucher tells the story here (p 46):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... eQLppVrTeP

Comparing the original photo and cover, I think Evans should perhaps get a cover art credit.

Re: Cover Artists 2

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 1:01 pm
by Stefan
Rorthron wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:10 am This appears to be what happened. Mel Croucher tells the story here (p 46):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... eQLppVrTeP

Comparing the original photo and cover, I think Evans should perhaps get a cover art credit.
Fantastic read, thanks!