Topologika / Acornsoft games
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- Gunness
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Topologika / Acornsoft games
Assisted by Richard Bos, I've been going through the various T/SAL / Acornsoft / Topologika games.
From what I know, the Acornsoft ones are mostly cutdown versions of the T/SAL originals, whereas Topologika's releases replicate the complete games more fully.
Do all the Acornsoft versions differ enough to warrant their own, separate entries? And where do the Archimedes versions fit into the picture?
From what I know, the Acornsoft ones are mostly cutdown versions of the T/SAL originals, whereas Topologika's releases replicate the complete games more fully.
Do all the Acornsoft versions differ enough to warrant their own, separate entries? And where do the Archimedes versions fit into the picture?
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Furthermore, were all three Doom games created on the Phoenix?
And... according to Richard's Phoenix info in the IF archive, "There are also a few games which were only ever published by Topologika for the BBC B, such as Castle of Riddles". But AFAIK, Acornsoft published it, not Topologika. Or am I wrong?
And... according to Richard's Phoenix info in the IF archive, "There are also a few games which were only ever published by Topologika for the BBC B, such as Castle of Riddles". But AFAIK, Acornsoft published it, not Topologika. Or am I wrong?
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
No, AFAIK none of them were; they were Topologika originals. However, they were written by one of the Phoenix implementors, Peter Killworth, who also co-wrote BrandX and later ported that to MS-DOS; he also cut it down for Acornsoft on the BBC B and wrote Castle of Riddles. And he did at least some of the other ports; maybe all, but I don't know that. Archives for the BBC aren't as thorough as World of Spectrum.Gunness wrote:Furthermore, were all three Doom games created on the Phoenix?
No, you're probably right.Gunness wrote:And... according to Richard's Phoenix info in the IF archive, "There are also a few games which were only ever published by Topologika for the BBC B, such as Castle of Riddles". But AFAIK, Acornsoft published it, not Topologika. Or am I wrong?
If you want to be sure, Adam Atkinson is probably the man with all the answers. He has been part of this whole "porting Phoenix" project from the start (I only got into it after it had been stalled for a few years, thanks to my Acheton walkthrough), and unlike me, he was actually there when Phoenix ran. He's even written one of the games, Nidus.
Richard
Richard Bos
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Spectrum nut and T/SAL "expert". And very amateur chess player.
The Netherlands
Spectrum nut and T/SAL "expert". And very amateur chess player.
- Richard Bos
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Acheton is identical to the MS-DOS version except for cosmetic details; it was only published on disc. Kingdom of Hamil is somewhat cut down, but enough to require only some adaptations to my walkthrough. Countdown to Doom and Philosopher's Quest received major alterations. AFAICT the other two Doom games were never even published for the Beeb.Gunness wrote:Do all the Acornsoft versions differ enough to warrant their own, separate entries? And where do the Archimedes versions fit into the picture?
I haven't played any other BBC versions of these games, except for Quondam; and about that I can say nothing because, alas, its original doesn't survive to compare the Acornsoft game with. I don't even know if, say, Monsters of Murdac (which was about the size of Hamil and had a maze that could easily have been removed and improved the game in doing so) was ever ported, let alone any of the others.
About the Archimedes ports I know nothing (yet, and probably for some months yet). Sorry.
I do know ZX Spectrum +3 disc versions of several of the games were published - they were reviewed in Spectrum mags of the time. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have kept any of these; in any case, there are no images of the discs on World of Spectrum or the IF Archive. Pity; I would've loved to play these versions most of all, being an old Uncle Clive adherent.
Richard Bos
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Spectrum nut and T/SAL "expert". And very amateur chess player.
The Netherlands
Spectrum nut and T/SAL "expert". And very amateur chess player.
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Thanks for the clarifications, Richard.
And this would also imply that the trilogy wasn't written in T/SAL but some other language?
I'll try to get hold of Adam Atkinson and see if he can help.
This leads to a question of chronology, which you may or may not be able to answer. When was Topologika set up? Countdown was released by Acornsoft in 1982, whereas Topologika's expanded version seems to be from 1987 (I haven't been able to find anything earlier from them).Richard Bos wrote:No, AFAIK none of them were; they were Topologika originals.Gunness wrote:Furthermore, were all three Doom games created on the Phoenix?
And this would also imply that the trilogy wasn't written in T/SAL but some other language?
I'll try to get hold of Adam Atkinson and see if he can help.
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Wikipedia claims 1983, and in this case I trust it.Gunness wrote:This leads to a question of chronology, which you may or may not be able to answer. When was Topologika set up? Countdown was released by Acornsoft in 1982, whereas Topologika's expanded version seems to be from 1987 (I haven't been able to find anything earlier from them).
AFAIK, yes.Gunness wrote:And this would also imply that the trilogy wasn't written in T/SAL but some other language?
Richard
Richard Bos
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Spectrum nut and T/SAL "expert". And very amateur chess player.
The Netherlands
Spectrum nut and T/SAL "expert". And very amateur chess player.
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Okay. I can see that their official site says:
"Topologika was established by teachers Brian and Maddy Kerslake in 1987", but maybe they're referring to a later incarnation of the company. Let's see what Adam says.
"Topologika was established by teachers Brian and Maddy Kerslake in 1987", but maybe they're referring to a later incarnation of the company. Let's see what Adam says.
Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
I suspect the +3 versions would've been the same as the MSDOS ones, with just some cosmetic changes in formatting to suit the different display. (The Amstrad PCW versions were definitely the same but with the screen formatted to take advantage of its massive 90x32 display.)Richard Bos wrote: About the Archimedes ports I know nothing (yet, and probably for some months yet). Sorry.
I do know ZX Spectrum +3 disc versions of several of the games were published - they were reviewed in Spectrum mags of the time. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have kept any of these; in any case, there are no images of the discs on World of Spectrum or the IF Archive. Pity; I would've loved to play these versions most of all, being an old Uncle Clive adherent.
Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
https://web.archive.org/web/20020207175 ... /about.htm gives:
and https://web.archive.org/web/20020207042 ... dvlink.htm gives:We've been designing and publishing quality educational software since the early eighties. In 1983 our homespun BBC punctuation tape game Puncman found its way into W.H.Smith stores nationwide. Peter Killworth's classic maths adventure GiantKiller was our first release as Topologika (1987). 'Grown-up' classic adventure games like 'Countdown to Doom' and 'Acheton' (click here for news of these [see below - Alastair]) and early learning packs like the Freddy Teddy series followed.
Back in the eighties when Acornsoft gave up producing software, we took publication rights for a range of well-respected classic text adventures, including Countdown to Doom, Philosophers Quest, Kingdom of Hamil and Acheton. We went on to convert these to run on ZX Spectrums, Amstrads and even Ataris, and released new games like Return to Doom, Last Days of Doom, Hezarin, Avon, Murdac and SpySnatcher. Although we no longer produce these 'cult' adventures, people often email for details and solutions to them. So here's a list of sites where you can find out more about them, and even download free PC versions!
Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Of possible tangential interest are these comments by Brian Kerslake, former MD of Topologika:
http://jackthegiantkiller.wordpress.com ... /#comments
http://jackthegiantkiller.wordpress.com ... /#comments
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Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
Oh, very, very interesting - did you or anyone else you know contact him?
Re: Topologika / Acornsoft games
No, but it was me who posted the original comment on that page, as "Ant", but I only just found out that Brian had replied to it -- although, in my defence, it did take him two years! Is there anything you want me to say or ask in reply to his reply?Gunness wrote:Oh, very, very interesting - did you or anyone else you know contact him?