Imagine Software

:"For the American company, see Imagine Software (US)"

Imagine Software was a British video games developer based in Liverpool which existed briefly in the early 1980s, initially producing software for the ZX Spectrum and VIC-20.

It was founded in 1982 by former members of Bug-Byte including Mark Butler, David Lawson and Eugene Evans. Mark and Eugene had previously worked at Microdigital, one of the first computer stores in the UK. Imagine Software produced several very successful games, including Arcadia for the Vic 20 and ZX- Spectrum, before running into financial trouble in late 1983. The company achieved nationwide notoriety when it was filmed by a BBC documentary crew while in the process of going spectacularly bust early the following year.

Former programmers went on to establish Psygnosis and Denton Designs. The company's back catalogue was bought by Beau Jolly, while rights to the Imagine label were acquired by Ocean Software, which then used it to publish home computer conversions of popular arcade games under the name of 'Imagine Studios'. The final games released under the Imagine name appeared in 1989.

Notable games

*Arcadia, 1982
*Wacky Waiters, 1982
*Catcha Snatcha, 1983
*Ah Diddums, 1983
*Stonkers, 1983
*Zip Zap, 1983
*Zzoom, 1983
*Alchemist, 1983
*Schizoids, 1983
*Molar Maul, 1983
*Jumping Jack, 1983
*Bewitched, 1983
*BC Bill, 1984
*Pedro, 1984
*Cosmic Cruiser, 1984
*Wizadore, 1984
*Bandersnatch (unreleased but later renamed and released by Psygnosis as "Brataccas")
*Hyper Sports, 1985
*Mikie, 1985
*World Series Baseball, 1985
*Yie Ar Kung-Fu, 1985
*Green Beret, 1986
*Psycho Soldier, 1987
*Renegade, 1987
*Arkanoid, 1987
*, 1988
*Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja, 1988

External links

* [http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/industry/publishers/imagine_crash0185.htm The Bubble Bursts] - article from "CRASH" documenting the fall of Imagine Software
* [http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/05/14/how-i-ended-up-in-the-games-industry/ Article on the people who came together at the beginning of Imagine software]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/imagine Imagine Software] profile on MobyGames
* [http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/03/25/piracy-imagine-software-and-the-megagames/ The Megagames and piracy] -article and debate on Bruceongames.
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