Mel Croucher

Mel Croucher is a British writer and video games pioneer. Originally an architect, he moved into computers and set up Automata UK after the release of the Sinclair ZX81.^[1] This label published several games for the early home computer market, including three Computer Trade Association award-winners: Pimania (1982), Groucho (1983, aka My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar), and the groundbreaking "multi-media" title Deus Ex Machina (1984).

He has also written text books, computer manuals and comedy, and worked as a journalist, writing regular columns like Without Prejudice, The Rubber Room, and a sci-fi humorous serial called Tamara Knight for the ZX Spectrum magazine CRASH in the 1980s,^[2] as well as columns for various computer magazines since.

He is currently CEO of MelCroucher.com, an internet creative and marketing company; Editor In Chief of CollectValue.com, a social network for collectors; Founder of WritersDirect.net, a promotions company for authors.

He is the author of Zygote in Computer Shopper every month since 1987, the Rants And Raves column and the Great Moments In Computing cartoon strip in the same magazine.

In 2010 Feeding Tube Records, a small label in the United States, released "Pimania: The Music of Mel Croucher", a deluxe vinyl LP album of the music to the Pimania games, as well as tracks from other Automata releases. The album came with extensive liner notes by Croucher and Caroline Bren, as well as a large poster featuring selections from the original Automata print campaigns.

Mel Croucher is currently producing a remake of his game starring Sir Christopher Lee, to be released as Deus Ex Machina 2 in Q4 of 2011, together with Portuguese games publisher Quirkafleeg.

Video games

• ID
• Can Of Worms
• Love And Death
• Pimania
• My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar
• Deus Ex Machina
• Castle Master story and book of the game

Books and journalism

• Namesakes, with Jon Pertwee Sphere Books
• Easy AMOS, Europress
• AMOS Professional, Europress
• Email Direct Marketing, Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
• European Computer Trade Yearbook (as Editor)

External links

• Official site of melcroucher.com
• Official site of DeusExMachina2.com
• The Automata Songs World Of Spectrum archive of music by Mel Croucher.
• Interview with Mel Croucher from May 2001, ZX Golden Years.
• Transmedia stories Interview with Mel Croucher and others from January 2011, on Transmedia storytelling

References

1. ^ http://zxgoldenyears.net/interview4.html
2. ^ "Tamara Knight Issue 1". CRASH Online. Newsfield. http://www.crashonline.org.uk/36/tknight1.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-23. 

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Name	Croucher, Mel
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Date of birth	1948
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