Cover artists

[druellan]

Monty on the Run is signed DB.



Sam Stoat Safebreaker also has the same DB signature.

And also, Monty is Innocent https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... s_Innocent

No idea who DB might be, I'm going to research a little more, but so far seems tricky to figure out.

[druellan]

Death Wish 3
According to the following site, "Steve Kerry and Marco Druoe provided the artwork"
https://www.gremlinarchive.com/index.ph ... -spectrum/

I believe "artwork" means the ingame graphics (and perhaps the loading screen), looking at the game credits inside the code:

Code: Select all

Deathwish III By Shaun Hollingworth and Peter Harrap - also Chris,Colin helped - Graphics By Marcos Duroe and Steven Kerry

Chris is Chris Kerry (already credited) and Colin, Colin Dooley, so now we can credit them all

Edit: Marcos Duroe is the same person as Marco Duroe. Also, Steven Kerry is listed as Steve Kerry on the database.

[Audionautas]

I believe "artwork" means the ingame graphics (and perhaps the loading screen), looking at the game credits inside the code:

Code: Select all

Deathwish III By Shaun Hollingworth and Peter Harrap - also Chris,Colin helped - Graphics By Marcos Duroe and Steven Kerry

Chris is Chris Kerry (already credited) and Colin, Colin Dooley, so now we can credit them all

Edit: Marcos Duroe is the same person as Marco Duroe. Also, Steven Kerry is listed as Steve Kerry on the database.

According to this website (http://www.impawards.com/1985/death_wish_three.html), the original poster illustration for Death Wish 3 is by Stan Watts. Since the Gremlin cover art is taken from the film poster with some minor changes in the lettering, I think Stan Watts should be credited as the original artist.

✓ Reviewed

[Rorthron]

Flip Flap: Roger Tissyman
Fred's Fan Factory: Roger Tissyman

https://mobile.twitter.com/MarkRJones19 ... 2138338304

Freex, Loony Lander, Moonlighter, Shuttle Shock, Super Chopper and Ziggurat all also seem to be by the same artist. They have the same distinctive style, and Tissyman did all the other art for Software Projects/Software Super Savers at this time.

Roger Tissyman's daughter confirmed all the Software Super Savers covers were his work:

http://www.dasse.se/interview(s)-10763411

[Rorthron]

Terry Greer

This page on his website shows he also did the artwork for:
The Illustrator
Savage Pond
Forest at World's End
Tales of the Arabian Nights

Also:
Pool (Omega) - ZXDB ID 2400
Cover by Terry Greer
Per the same page: https://www.terrygreer.com/artwork.html

✓ Reviewed

[druellan]

As always, just looking at the inlays and the info available we can fix some colateral bugs

The Curse

On the inlay the game is credited to P.A.T.H., but in-game Tom Davies is mentioned.


Games Tape 1 (Cover #2)
And cover #1 by S. Harbron

Madcap Manor
There are more credits and roles on the inlay

Forest at World's End - https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6321
Roles can be extracted from the instructions. Also J A. Banner = Jean Banner, so we can rename the author as Jean A. Banner

Tales of the Arabian Nights - https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=5120
We can add Ian Gray as designer, he is credited as such.

Looking at the loading screen:

Seems that "Tel." is the author of the loading screen (and also, is missing the last dot on the DB).

Heroes of Karn - https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6431
Ian Gray is also credited as the origina C64 author, so, we can mention him as the designer.

✓ Reviewed

[Rorthron]

Liverpool (Grandslam): Martin ... [illegible]
Per signature

It might say Martin Buchan, but I am really not sure.

I really think it is Martin Buchan. See the image:

[druellan]

* Four Smash Hits (Hewson Consultants, 1987). (Link: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=11179). In this case we don't know who did the layout of the cover, but all the four games in this compilation have covers credited (and confirmed) to Steve Weston. So I think his name should be included as contributor.

Interesting to see full credits on the instructions, now we can complete the credits on the games!



On Uridium Plus, Steve Turner is mentioned as the music author and programmer, but I'm not sure if this is related to the Spectrum or the C64 version, since Stephen Crow was also involved on the project.

Edit: in fact, I can see a lot of names on the proper ZX Spectrum instructions, for example: https://ia600604.us.archive.org/view_ar ... Zynaps.txt

[mention]Audionautas[/mention] can you take a look? I don't want to credit authors that worked on other versions by mistake.

✓ Reviewed

[Audionautas]

Interesting to see full credits on the instructions, now we can complete the credits on the games!



On Uridium Plus, Steve Turner is mentioned as the music author and programmer, but I'm not sure if this is related to the Spectrum or the C64 version, since Stephen Crow was also involved on the project.

Edit: in fact, I can see a lot of names on the proper ZX Spectrum instructions, for example: https://ia600604.us.archive.org/view_ar ... Zynaps.txt

@Audionautas can you take a look? I don't want to credit authors that worked on other versions by mistake.

Hi

Beware here [mention]druellan[/mention]. There's a lot of people credited but you have to think that this instruction booklet was exactly the same for the Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad CPC, so they credited everyone who took part in the different versions of those games. In my opinion we must be cautious when we credit people based on multi-system compilation instructions.

* Exolon. It's essentially correct, Cecco did the Z80 based versions and Nick Jones the MOS 6510 based version, but it's not really specific, because Nick Jones composed the music for the 128K Spectrum version and Nigel Brownjohn designed the Vitorc character (Exolon), and we know that thanks to Cecco's Log, several interviews and coverages over the years, etc. So it's way better what we have on ZXDB.

* Uridium Plus. In my opinion these credits are quite simple and not very accurate, not crediting everything. I think what is credited on the game itself prevails because that's what wrote the people that programmed the game but sometimes important information is missing. On the other hand the instructions manual was written normally by the marketing or administrative team, so it can add new and interesting information but must be always double checked.

We know that Andrew Braybrook is the designer and programmer of the C64 original version, Dominic Robinson was de coder and graphic artist of the ZX Spectrum version, Steve Crow did the loading screen on the ZX Spectrum and CPC (S.C or SJC was his signature) and Steve Turner composed the music (not credited on the game and not credited on ZXDB, both on Uridium and Uridium Plus entries). One thing is the music composition and another one the music creation on a specific version of the game. Although is not credited on the game itself, we know Steve Tuner composed the music on C64 because he said so in several interviews over the years. But I haven't found if he exactly did the Spectrum 'beeper' version, so I just asked him on Twitter if he also composed the Spectrum tune or was adapted from the C64 version by someone else. I hope he answers soon. Stay in tune. On the other hand, when they say "music composed and programmed by Steve Turner" I think they are referring that Steve programmed the music to be included on the game itself on C64, not that he programmed other parts of the game.

* Zynaps. These are the credits for the 8 bit versions. Game Design. Dominic Robinson/John Cumming. Code. Dominic Robinson (ZX Spectrum), John Cumming (C64), Michael Croucher / Dominic Robinson (CPC). Graphics. Dominic Robinson / Steve Crow (ZX Spectrum), John Cumming / Steve Crow (C64), Mark A. Jones / Steve Crow (CPC). Music. Steve Turner (ZX Spectrum), Nigel Grieve (not Greave. Also Kevin "Greave" cited but not in the game itself) (C64). J. Dave Rogers (CPC). Cover art. Steve Weston.

I strongly believe that the game design was done by Dominic Robinson only. The Spectrum version is the original version of the game and in the game Dominic credits himself as "Zynaps by Dominic Robinson" not citing Cumming at all. On the C64 version the credit is "Design by John Cumming & Dominic Robinson", but that's simply because Dominic did the original version and John added that. Well, Dominic and John were the tiny Hewson in-house development team in 1987. They worked together in a portacabin in a carpark, just outside Hewson HQ in Abingdon, so it's evident they interchanged ideas about any development, but Andrew Hewson himself comissioned Zynaps to Dominic Robinson (according to Retro Gamer magazine issue 77) and some interviews from back in the day.

* Rana Rama. Just to mention that I have an original copy of this Four Smash Hits compilation and the box included two sets of booklets. In one hand a booklet including instructions for Exolon, Uridium Plus and Zynaps in English, French and German. Because the Rana Rama instructions were quite long in three languages, it seems that Hewson decided to include it separately. I also have a Rana Rama original, so I can confirm that both are exactly the same instruction manual.

[Rorthron]

The Empire Strikes Back

There is a signature in the bottom right. It is hard to read, but might be Josh Hayes, or perhaps Jim Hayes.

BTW this is the signature:



It might be something like B. H. Hayes, but is still difficult to make out.

[druellan]

Beware here @druellan. There's a lot of people credited but you have to think that this instruction booklet was exactly the same for the Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad CPC, so they credited everyone who took part in the different versions of those games. In my opinion we must be cautious when we credit people based on multi-system compilation instructions.

Excellent, and yes I quickly realized credits are messy on those instructions, that's why I called the expert Many, many thanks!
[mention]PeterJ[/mention] can we move this discussion to the little bugs thread? (*)

But I haven't found if he exactly did the Spectrum 'beeper' version, so I just asked him on Twitter if he also composed the Spectrum tune or was adapted from the C64 version by someone else. I hope he answers soon. Stay in tune.

Excellent! (x2)

I strongly believe that the game design was done by Dominic Robinson only. The Spectrum version is the original version of the game and in the game Dominic credits himself as "Zynaps by Dominic Robinson" not citing Cumming at all. On the C64 version the credit is "Design by John Cumming & Dominic Robinson", but that's simply because Dominic did the original version and John added that. Well, Dominic and John were the tiny Hewson in-house development team in 1987. They worked together in a portacabin in a carpark, just outside Hewson HQ in Abingdon, so it's evident they interchanged ideas about any development, but Andrew Hewson himself comissioned Zynaps to Dominic Robinson (according to Retro Gamer magazine issue 77) and some interviews from back in the day.

I think we can leave Cumming there just to honor the original content and add the following comment: "John Cumming is credited as game designer among Dominic Robinson, but since Hewson himself commissioned Zynaps to Dominic, he probably worked on the game design alone, and later John Cumming ported the game to the Commodore 64, adding his own concepts."

Also, John M. Philips is the author of the loading screen as signature JMP.


(*) The "little" on the name makes me smile thinking on how "little" this reports are. Everyone is doing a fantastic job!

✓ Reviewed

[Audionautas]

I think we can leave Cumming there just to honor the original content and add the following comment: "John Cumming is credited as game designer among Dominic Robinson, but since Hewson himself commissioned Zynaps to Dominic, he probably worked on the game design alone, and later John Cumming ported the game to the Commodore 64, adding his own concepts."

Also, John M. Philips is the author of the loading screen as signature JMP.

(*) The "little" on the name makes me smile thinking on how "little" this reports are. Everyone is doing a fantastic job!

Thank you [mention]druellan[/mention]. Yes, your comment is correct. And yes, John Phillips did some awful loading screens for Hewson: Cybernoid, Zynaps and Evening Star (also not credited to him on the ZXDB; you can clearly see his JMP signature on the loading screen). I hate what he did on Zynaps and Cybernoid, simply horrendous. Yes, loading screens, one of Hewson's weak points. Thank God Steve Crow appeared to do an excellent job on Uridium, Firelord, Eliminator and Netherworld, as well as some other freelance graphic artists like Hugh Binns or Rory Green on Stormlord and Marauder respectively.

[StooB]

The Empire Strikes Back

There is a signature in the bottom right. It is hard to read, but might be Josh Hayes, or perhaps Jim Hayes.

BTW this is the signature:



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.

[Rorthron]

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.

You might be right.

[Audionautas]

Hi [mention]druellan[/mention]

Steve Turner respond me on Twitter a couple of hours ago. This is the brief conversation we had about Uridium/Uridium Plus.



We can now confirm that Steve Turner is responsible of the Spectrum music, both on Uridium and Uridium Plus. And also it's very interesting what Steve comments about John Cumming's involvement. I think in this case he refers to Uridium Plus not Uridium for two reasons. Retro Gamer magazine published a few months ago The Making of Uridium and in that reportage Steve talks about "Dominic's graphics". Also in that Making of Uridium that you can read for free here (https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-ga ... 6652662821), he confirms that John Cumming took part on Uridium Plus as Steve Tuner told me on Twitter.

All the best!

P.S. As a side note, when Dominic Robinson was programming Uridium, John Cumming was porting Firelord to the C64 from scratch, so I don't think he had too much time to make level design and graphics for Uridium.

✓ Reviewed

[druellan]

Great work!!! Thanks to Steve

P.S. As a side note, when Dominic Robinson was programming Uridium, John Cumming was porting Firelord to the C64 from scratch, so I don't think he had too much time to make level design and graphics for Uridium.

Reading the article, it says that John helped Dominic on creating the last hidden levels "over a weekend", so he was probably not invested in the project in the beginning, but helped near the end.

[Audionautas]

Reading the article, it says that John helped Dominic on creating the last hidden levels "over a weekend", so he was probably not invested in the project in the beginning, but helped near the end.

Yes, it was probably that way, but I think graphics were already done. Firstly, it's quite odd doing an article about Spectrum Uridium using Steve Turner as the main and essentially only source of information based on Steve's recollections (that as we all know, he didn't work in-house at Hewson), instead of Dominic's recollections. But that aside, as Steve comments in the article, Dominic had some memory to spare after completing Uridium and they did a new set of levels, but the graphics were already done, so I think John Cumming didn't do new graphics, just level design on Uridium Plus. The "over a weekend" claim is symptomatic that they did that as a little mischief, outside working hours and in little time, so if John did something, were little twickings on existing graphics.

[druellan]

Yeah, I think it is fair to have him mentioned for level design. This is what I'm going to submit



And the same for Uridium Plus.

I wish to have a "history" or "description" section on the DB to document all this. I'm going to add some on the comments.

✓ Reviewed

[Audionautas]

Yeah, I think it is fair to have him mentioned for level design. This is what I'm going to submit



And the same for Uridium Plus.

I wish to have a "history" or "description" section on the DB to document all this. I'm going to add some on the comments.

Excellent!

[druellan]

Freex, Loony Lander, Moonlighter, Shuttle Shock, Super Chopper and Ziggurat all also seem to be by the same artist. They have the same distinctive style, and Tissyman did all the other art for Software Projects/Software Super Savers at this time.

Yeah, looking at them side by side it is really obvious, I think we are safe to conclude it is the same author.



Also:
Frexx: B.M.R. Kitchen helped with the graphics
Ziggurat: John Pickford - code and design, Paul Ranson - code and design, Ste Pickford - loading screen
Super Chopper: Kurt Goodwin did the music; the loading screen has a hidden signature "Ocean." But not sure what that means.

[Rorthron]

Freex, Loony Lander, Moonlighter, Shuttle Shock, Super Chopper and Ziggurat all also seem to be by the same artist. They have the same distinctive style, and Tissyman did all the other art for Software Projects/Software Super Savers at this time.

Yeah, looking at them side by side it is really obvious, I think we are safe to conclude it is the same author.

See also my follow-up post, above (page 43): Tissyman's daughter confirmed this.

[StooB]

Gunship by Microprose.

Artwork confirmed by Steinard Lund himself in his IG account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4KC_xBy4Z ... zfoejgp376

✓ Reviewed

This isn't the artwork for any of the Spectrum versions of Gunship:



from the manual:

Cover Painting: Ed Valigursky, David Phillips

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[Juan F. Ramirez]

Good spot!

I think I posted too fast!

[StooB]

MANTRONIX

Per inlay:
"Artwork by Bax Studio of Croydon"

There is also a signature (under the planet), but I can't decipher it.

Kenneth Baxendale (Bax Studio of Croydon) - from this page about Probe's Basildon Bond on the Amstrad.

✓ Reviewed

[druellan]

Ahhh! Laser Malfunction: Phil Gascoine
Per Mobygames
There is no inlay scan in the archive, but images on Google look as though there might be a signature in the bottom left.

Found the same inlay for the Amstrad version and yep, Gascoine: https://cpcrulez.fr/GamesCovers/Ahhh__( ... NGLISH.jpg

Also, [mention]pavero[/mention] in case those are not on your radar:

Alien Rain & Outrider (CRL): http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/AlienRain
Ten 1K Games: http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/Ten1KGames
J. D. Arcades: http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/JDArcades

And also! on Ten 1K Games



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