Publishers
System
8'th Day
Aackosoft
ABC Soft
Activision
Activision (LucasArts Classics)
Ad Astra
Addictive Games
Advanced Computer Entertainment [ACE]
Adventure Soft (Adventure International UK)
Alligata
Alternative Software
Alternative Software (199 Range)
Alternative Software (299 Range)
Alternative Software (Summit)
American Action (PowerSoft)
Anirog
Applications Software Specialities
Arcade Software LTD
Argus Press Software [APS]
Argus Specialist Publications (ASP Software)
Argus Specialist Publications (Your Commodore)
Ariolasoft
Arrow Publications
Artic Computing
Atlantis Software
Automata UK
Aztec Software
Bellflower Software
Beyond
Bubble Bus Software
Bug-Byte
C Tech
Cactus
Caris Software
Cascade Games (Gamebusters)
Cases Computer Simulations [CCS]
Chalksoft
Challenge Software
Channel 8 Software
CheetahSoft
Christopher James Software Ltd.
Codemasters
Collins Software / Collins Soft
Compass Software
Computasolve LTD
Computer & Video Games (C&VG)(EMAP)
Computer Gamer (Argus Specialist Publications)
Computer Records
Crash
Creative Sparks
Creative Sparks (Sparklers)
CRL
CRL (The Power House)
Crystal Dynamics
Currys
D & H Games
D & H Games (Cult Games)
Dee-Kay Systems
Design Design Software
Digital Integration
Dinamic / Microdigital Soft
Dixons
dk'tronics
Domark
Double H Software
Durell
E&J Software
Edizioni Hobby (Viking (Adventures in Italiano))
Edusystems (Stenvert Apeldoorn)
Electronic Distribution of Software [EDOS]
Elfin Software
Elite Systems
ERBE Software
Euro-Byte
Express Programmes Company
Fantasy Software
Filosoft
Firebird
Firebird (Gold Edition)
Firebird (Silver 199 Range)
Firebird (Super Silver)
Foglia / International Education (Linguaggio Macchina)
Forward Software
Future Publishing (Your Sinclair)
Games Machine
Gemtime
Generalitat de Catalunya
Gilsoft
Global Software
Goliath Games
Gremlin Graphics
Griffin Software
Grupo Editorial SYGRAN S.A
GTi Software
Haresoft
Hewson Consultants
Hill MacGibbon
Hobby Software
IBER Software
IBSA (The Hit Squad)
IBSA (Leyenda Series)
Image Systems
Imagine
Incentive Software
Indescomp
Interceptor Software (Micros / Group)
J&L Randall Ltd.
Joe the Lion
John Price Software
Kayde Software
Kenwoods.s.p.
Krypton Force
Kryptronic
Lerm
Llamasoft Software
Longman (Longman Software)
Lyversoft
M.C. Lothlorien
Martech / Software Communications
Mastertronic
Mastertronic (199 Range)
Mastertronic (Bulldog Software)
Mastertronic (M.A.D.)
Mastertronic (Ricochet)
MCM Software
Melbourne House
Merlin Software
Microbyte (Indescomp)
Microcomputer Club Nederland [MCN]
Micromania
Micromega
Microparadise
MicroProse
Microsphere
Mikro-Gen
Mirrorsoft
Mogul
Mosaic Publishing
Mr. Chip Software
New Concepts
New Generation Software (UK)
Newsfield Publications/Europress (Zzap! 64)
Ocean
Ocean (The Hit Squad)
Omega Software
Omen Software
Palace Software
Paxman Promotions
Personal Software Services [PSS]
Planeta DeAgostini
Poly.Play
Power Software (ES)
Power Software (UK)
Precision Games
Probe Software
Procom Software
Professional Software
Protek
Psion
Pubblirome
Quicksilva
Rabbit Software
RamJam Corporation
RecycleMe
Red Shift
Richard Shepherd Software
Richard Wilcox Software
Salamander Software
Scorpio Gamesworld
Severn Software
Shards Software
Showtime
Silverbird (Telecomsoft)
Silversoft LTD
Sinclair
Sinclair User
SIPE (Hit Parade)
SIPE (New Special PlayGames)
Software Center
Software Projects
Software Supersavers
Spectrum Games
Stack Computer Services
Sulis Software
Terminal Software
TOPO Soft
Triple Six (666)
Turtle Software
Tynesoft
U.S. Gold
U.S. Gold (Americana)
U.S. Gold (Kixx)
Unique Computer Products
Unknown
Video Vault
Virgin Games
Vortex Software
Widgit Software
Wintersoft Software
Zafiro Software Division
ZedXtra Software
Zeppelin Games (Impulze)
Zigurat Software
Publisher Information and Releases
In the early 1980s, Artic Software, also known as Artic Computing, was a software development company based in Brandesburton.
The company's first games were for the Sinclair ZX81 home computer, but they expanded and were also responsible for various ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron and Amstrad CPC computer games. The company was set up by Richard Turner and Chris Thornton.
Charles Cecil, who later founded Revolution Software, joined the company shortly after it was founded, writing Adventures B through D. Developer Jon Ritman produced many of their games.

Initially packaging and distributing games themselves, some titles were picked up by Sinclair, who repackaged them under the Sinclair brand.

Adventures A through D were written for the ZX81 but were quickly ported to the ZX Spectrum platform on its release.
By comparison with later Spectrum adventure games such as The Hobbit, they are basic and short.
However they are considered by many to be the start of the adventure game genre on the Spectrum in particular and thus were an important step in the growth of adventure games.

Known Games:

Sword of peace (1980)
1K ZX Chess (1981)
ZX Chess (1981)

Adventure A: Planet of Death (1981)
Adventure B: Inca Curse (1981)
Adventure C: Ship of Doom (1982)
Adventure D: Espionage Island (1982)
Adventure E: The Golden Apple (1983)
Adventure F: The Eye of Bain (1984)
Adventure G: Ground Zero (1984)
Adventure H: Robin Hood (1985)
Bear Bovver (1983)
Mutant Monty (1984)
The Great Wall (1986)
Paws (1985)
Web War (1985)
Woks (1986)
World Cup Football (1986)

Adventure Games Development

The parser in their adventures is of a basic 2-word design, such as "Use Axe".
Other developers later produced multiple word parsers, as featured in games by Infocom and Magnetic Scrolls. However the programs from adventures A-F were built using a custom built design. Adventure G (Ground Zero) and later were built using The Quill, an Adventure Game Creator produced by Gilsoft.

Programming

Artic Forth (1982)




Arctic Computing Limited

54 The Avenue, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 4HA

396 James Reckitt Avenue, Hull HU8 0JA, England

Dissolved 1987
Video
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