Thorn EMI Computer Software

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

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

• Blockade Runner^[12]
• Carnival Massacre^[13]
• Cribbage and Dominoes
• Darts
• Gold Rush^[14]
• Home Financial Management^[15]
• Mutant Herd
• Orc Attack^[16]
• River Rescue^[8]
• Road Racer^[17]
• Submarine Commander^[18]
• Snooker and Billiards
• The VIC Music Composer
• Tower of Evil
• Volcanic Planet^[19]
• 8-Ball and Tournament Pool

'Creative Sparks' label

• 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

• Bargain Basement^[29]
• Desert Burner^[30]
• Doombase^[31]
• Quackshot^[32]
• St Crippens^[33]