Thorn EMI Computer Software

Thorn EMI Computer Software^[1] (also known as Thorn EMI Video Programmes)^[2] 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 using the same "Thorn EMI Video" label^[3] as their home video releases. Initially these were for the Atari 8-bit computers, and later for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and VIC-20 formats.

In 1984, the Thorn EMI name was dropped in favour of Creative Sparks as the company felt its "big corporate" associations were inappropriate for the video games market.^[4] A budget label, Sparklers, was created in early 1985 to publish titles at £2.50.^[5] Later in 1985, Creative Sparks, Sparklers and the distribution company, Creative Sparks Distribution (CSD) gained independence from Thorn EMI after a management buyout.^[6]

In July 1987, six months after buying software company Mikro-Gen for a "substantial" sum,^[7] Creative Sparks went into receivership with debts estimated at up to £1.5million.^[8]

The back catalogue of the company was acquired by Tynesoft, Alternative Software and Maynard International (Top Ten Software).^[9] The former management at CSD went on to form Software Publishing Associates, owners of the Crysys and Pirate Software labels.^[10]

Releases

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,^[11] then later sold (with updated artwork) under the Creative Sparks brand.^[12] This was followed by a budget release on the company's own Sparklers label^[13] then- after Creative Sparks' demise- another budget reissue by Alternative Software.^[14]

'Thorn EMI' label

• Blockade Runner^[15]
• Carnival Massacre^[3]
• Cribbage and Dominoes
• Darts
• Gold Rush^[16]
• Home Financial Management^[17]
• Mutant Herd
• Orc Attack^[18]
• River Rescue^[11]
• Road Racer^[19]
• Submarine Commander^[2]
• Snooker and Billiards
• The VIC Music Composer
• Tower of Evil
• Volcanic Planet^[20]
• 8-Ball and Tournament Pool

'Creative Sparks' label

• Black Hawk
• Computer War^[21]
• Countdown to Meltdown^[22]
• Danger Mouse In Double Trouble^[23]
• Danger Mouse In The Black Forest Chateau^[24]
• Delta Wing^[25]
• Snodgits^[26]
• Special Delivery^[27]
• Stagecoach^[28]
• Story House^[29]
• Tower of Evil
• Danger Mouse in Making Whoopee

'Sparklers' label

• Bargain Basement^[30]
• Desert Burner^[31]
• Doombase^[32]
• Quackshot^[33]
• St Crippens^[34]