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Thorn EMI Computer Software was a British video games software house set up in the early 1980s as part of the now-defunct British conglomerate Thorn EMI. They released a number of games in the early 1980s, initially for the Atari 8-bit computers, and later for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and VIC-20 computers. In 1984, the Thorn EMI name was dropped in favour of Creative Sparks as the company were reportedly unhappy with their image in the video games market.[1] A budget label, Sparklers, was created in early 1985 to publish titles at £2.50.[2] Later in 1985, Creative Sparks, Sparklers and the distribution company, Creative Sparks Distribution (CSD) gained independence from Thorn EMI after a management buyout.[3]

In July 1987, six months after buying software company Mikro-Gen for a "substantial" sum,[4] Creative Sparks went into receivership with debts estimated at up to £1.5million.[5]

The back catalogue of the company was acquired by Tynesoft, Alternative Software and Maynard International (Top Ten Software).[6] The former management at CSD went on to form Software Publishing Associates, owners of the Crysys and Pirate Software labels.[7]

Releases

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Many of the company's games listed below were issued on more than one label over the years. A typical example is River Rescue, first released under the Thorn EMI label,[8] then later sold (with updated artwork) under the Creative Sparks brand.[9] This was followed by a budget release on the company's own Sparklers label[10] then- after Creative Sparks' demise- another budget reissue by Alternative Software.[11]

'Thorn EMI' label

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'Creative Sparks' label

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  • Black Hawk
  • Computer War[20]
  • Countdown to Meltdown[21]
  • Danger Mouse In Double Trouble[22]
  • Danger Mouse In The Black Forest Chateau[23]
  • Delta Wing[24]
  • Snodgits[25]
  • Special Delivery[26]
  • Stagecoach[27]
  • Story House[28]
  • Tower of Evil
  • Danger Mouse in Making Whoopee

'Sparklers' label

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References

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  1. ^ "News". Crash. No. 4. Newsfield. May 1984. p. 101. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  2. ^ "News". Home Computing Weekly. No. 4. Argus Specialist Press. 19 March 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Management Buy-Out at Thorn EMI". Popular Computing Weekly. Vol. 4, no. 47. Sunshine Publications. 21–27 November 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  4. ^ "MikroGen is sold to distributor". Popular Computing Weekly. Vol. 5, no. 50. Sunshine Publications. 11–17 December 1986. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Receiver Called In At Creative Sparks". Popular Computing Weekly. Vol. 6, no. 29. Sunshine Publications. 24–30 July 1987. p. 6. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Equinox may see the light of day". Popular Computing Weekly. Vol. 6, no. 38. Focus Magazines. 25 September – 1 October 1987. p. 11. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  7. ^ David Lester (10–16 December 1987). "Risen from the ashes". Popular Computing Weekly. Vol. 6, no. 49. Focus Magazines. p. 32. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Atari 400 800 XL XE River Rescue : scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms [Thorn EMI version]". www.atarimania.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26.
  9. ^ a b "Atari 400 800 XL XE River Rescue [ Creative Sparks version]". www.atarimania.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-03.
  10. ^ a b "Atari 400 800 XL XE River Rescue [Sparklers version]". www.atarimania.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26.
  11. ^ a b "Atari 400 800 XL XE River Rescue [Alternative Software version]". www.atarimania.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06.
  12. ^ "World of Spectrum - Blockade Runner". World of Spectrum.
  13. ^ "Atari 400 800 XL XE Carnival Massacre : scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms". www.atarimania.com.
  14. ^ "World of Spectrum - Gold Rush". World of Spectrum.
  15. ^ "Home Financial Management - Software - Game - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk.
  16. ^ "Atari 400 800 XL XE Orc Attack : scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms". www.atarimania.com.
  17. ^ "World of Spectrum - Road Racer". World of Spectrum.
  18. ^ "Atari 400 800 XL XE Submarine Commander : scans, dump, download, screenshots, ads, videos, catalog, instructions, roms". www.atarimania.com.
  19. ^ "World of Spectrum - Volcanic Planet". World of Spectrum.
  20. ^ "Computer War - Software - Game - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk.
  21. ^ "Countdown to Meltdown - Software - Game - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk.
  22. ^ "Danger Mouse in Double Trouble at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  23. ^ "Danger Mouse in The Black Forest Chateau - Software - Game - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk.
  24. ^ "Delta Wing at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  25. ^ "Snodgits at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  26. ^ "Special Delivery at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  27. ^ "Stagecoach at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  28. ^ "Story House - Software - Game - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk.
  29. ^ "Bargain Basement!!! At Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  30. ^ "Desert Burner at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  31. ^ "Doombase at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  32. ^ "Quackshot at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.
  33. ^ "St. Crippens at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware". Spectrum Computing.


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