This article is about the British video game publisher. For the technology pertaining to generating, storing or using extremely small amounts of power, see Micropower.
Micro Power was a British company established in the early 1980s by former accountant Bob Simpson. The company was best known as a video game publisher, originally under the name Program Power. It also sold many types of computer hardware and software (both its own and third-party) through its Leeds 'showroom' or via mail order.
From 1980 to 1987 the company published a number of video games and other software for various home computers. The earliest programs were released for the Acorn Atom but Micro Power is best remembered for its games for that machine's successor, Acorn's BBC Micro (with all but two of its post-Atom games running on that machine). A large selection of games that could be (and weren't considered 'too old') were ported to the Acorn Electron after its release in 1983 and most new games were now released for these 2 machines in 1984. A few were also ported to other 8-bit platforms including Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum but these never achieved the success of the Acorn originals.
Most of these were basic single screen games, typically arcade clones (see the list of notable games below). While mostly well received and popular at the time (especially on the Acorn platforms), by the mid 1980s, video games were becoming increasingly complex. While simple early arcade-style games still sold well, it was usually at a budget price. Micro Power themselves released Micro Power Magic compilations in 1986, each featuring ten of their games that had previously sold at up to £7.95 each (some only two years earlier), for £7.95.[1]
From 1985 onwards, Micro Power began to produce a few advanced games as opposed to a high quantity of simpler games. The first of these was the arcade adventureCastle Quest (BBC only) by Tony Sothcott,[2] billed as "Probably the most challenging game ever devised for the BBC Micro". This game was successful and a sequel was started which became Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror (BBC, C64, CPC), a huge arcade adventure that required its own ROM chip to run on the BBC Micro. Another later release was puzzle/platform gameImogen (BBC only, later ported to Electron by Superior Software and more recently remade for PC[3]) by Michael St. Aubyn which was noted for its witty, original puzzles and cute high-resolution monochrome graphics.
Typical cover image. The majority of Program Power / Micro Power software was released in uniform covers. This is the Electron version of Cybertron Mission
Adventure – a text adventure (Atom, BBC, Electron)
As well as games, Micro Power released a number of educational programs (covering subjects such as science and geography) as well as utility software such as the Draw art package (BBC, Electron), Basic Extensions[5] and Constellationastronomy program (Atom, BBC, later ported to Electron by Superior Software).
Hardwareedit
Micro Power also released hardware such as the 'Micro Power Add-On' for the ZX Spectrum which added 2 joystick ports and 3-channel sound capability.[6]
Leeds Storeedit
Micro Power had a store on the corner of North Street and Meanwood Road in Leeds. They primarily sold Acorn hardware and software. Also they sold software for other computers including C64, ZX Spectrum, and QL. In the 1990s Micro Power downsized and moved further up Meanwood Road to reduce outgoings.
There is still the original Micro Power sign at the back of their first premises.[7]
Referencesedit
^. Electron User (issue 4.03, Dec 1986). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
^Skinner, Bryan (23 February 1985). "Gameplay". Personal Computer News. p. 35. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
^ . Ovine by Design. Archived from the original on 2006-08-11. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
^"New 3D Chess Game From Micro Power". Acorn User. No. 105. Redwood Publishing. April 1991. p. 10. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
^Alan Webster (May 1985). "Basic Extensions review (in "More ROMS For Your Beeb")". Beebug. 4 (1): 20.
^ "Micro Power Add-On". World Of Spectrum. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
^ "Google Street View - North Street, Leeds". Retrieved 2020-07-22.
Working at Micro Power / Program Power
January 01, 1970
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This article is about the British video game publisher For the technology pertaining to generating storing or using extremely small amounts of power see Micropower Micro Power was a British company established in the early 1980s by former accountant Bob Simpson The company was best known as a video game publisher originally under the name Program Power It also sold many types of computer hardware and software both its own and third party through its Leeds showroom or via mail order Micro PowerCompany typeComputer software Video game developer publisher and retailerIndustryComputer software video gamesHeadquartersLeeds United KingdomProductsKiller Gorilla Felix in the Factory Cybertron Mission Castle Quest Imogen Contents 1 Games 2 Educational Utility Software 3 Hardware 4 Leeds Store 5 ReferencesGames editFrom 1980 to 1987 the company published a number of video games and other software for various home computers The earliest programs were released for the Acorn Atom but Micro Power is best remembered for its games for that machine s successor Acorn s BBC Micro with all but two of its post Atom games running on that machine A large selection of games that could be and weren t considered too old were ported to the Acorn Electron after its release in 1983 and most new games were now released for these 2 machines in 1984 A few were also ported to other 8 bit platforms including Commodore 64 Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum but these never achieved the success of the Acorn originals Most of these were basic single screen games typically arcade clones see the list of notable games below While mostly well received and popular at the time especially on the Acorn platforms by the mid 1980s video games were becoming increasingly complex While simple early arcade style games still sold well it was usually at a budget price Micro Power themselves released Micro Power Magic compilations in 1986 each featuring ten of their games that had previously sold at up to 7 95 each some only two years earlier for 7 95 1 From 1985 onwards Micro Power began to produce a few advanced games as opposed to a high quantity of simpler games The first of these was the arcade adventure Castle Quest BBC only by Tony Sothcott 2 billed as Probably the most challenging game ever devised for the BBC Micro This game was successful and a sequel was started which became Doctor Who and the Mines of Terror BBC C64 CPC a huge arcade adventure that required its own ROM chip to run on the BBC Micro Another later release was puzzle platform game Imogen BBC only later ported to Electron by Superior Software and more recently remade for PC 3 by Michael St Aubyn which was noted for its witty original puzzles and cute high resolution monochrome graphics There were also two 32 bit games Chess 3D 4 and Zelanites the Onslaught a Space Invaders clone for the Acorn Archimedes released in 1991 Notable earlier games include nbsp Typical cover image The majority of Program Power Micro Power software was released in uniform covers This is the Electron version of Cybertron Mission Adventure a text adventure Atom BBC Electron Alien Destroyers a Space Invaders clone BBC only Bandits at 3 O Clock a 2 player World War II dogfight BBC Electron Block Buster a Q bert clone BBC only Bumble Bee a Lady Bug clone BBC Electron C64 Cabman an overhead view taxi driving game Spectrum only Cowboy Shootout a Boot Hill clone Atom BBC Spectrum Croaker a Frogger clone BBC Electron Cybertron Mission a Berzerk clone BBC Electron C64 Danger UXB a Check Man clone BBC Electron Dune Rider a Moon Patrol clone BBC only Electron Invaders a Space Invaders clone Electron only Escape from Moonbase Alpha a graphic adventure BBC Electron Felix and the Fruit Monsters a Pac Man style overhead maze game BBC Electron Felix in the Factory a platform game BBC Electron C64 Memotech MTX Felix Meets the Evil Weevils a platform game BBC Electron Frenzy a Qix clone BBC Electron C64 Galactic Commander a Lunar Lander clone BBC Electron Gauntlet a Defender clone BBC Electron CPC Ghouls a platform game with Pac Man like characters BBC Electron C64 CPC Hell Driver an overhead view driving game BBC only Intergalactic Trader a text based space trading game BBC Electron Invasion Force a Space Invaders clone Atom only Jet Power Jack a platform game BBC Electron C64 Killer Gorilla a Donkey Kong clone BBC Electron CPC Laser Command a Missile Command clone BBC only The Mine a Dig Dug clone BBC Electron Mr Ee a Mr Do clone BBC only Moon Raider a Scramble clone BBC Electron Nemesis a Centipede clone BBC only Plutonium Plunder a Pengo style overhead maze game BBC only Positron a fast paced Space Invaders style shoot em up BBC Electron Rubble Trouble a Pengo style overhead maze game BBC Electron Starfleet Encounter a text based strategy game for 2 8 players BBC only Stock Car an overhead view racing game BBC Electron C64 Swag a 2 player arcade game involving bank robbery BBC Electron Swoop a Galaxian clone BBC Electron C64 Zarm a Lunar Rescue clone BBC only Educational Utility Software editAs well as games Micro Power released a number of educational programs covering subjects such as science and geography as well as utility software such as the Draw art package BBC Electron Basic Extensions 5 and Constellation astronomy program Atom BBC later ported to Electron by Superior Software Hardware editMicro Power also released hardware such as the Micro Power Add On for the ZX Spectrum which added 2 joystick ports and 3 channel sound capability 6 Leeds Store editMicro Power had a store on the corner of North Street and Meanwood Road in Leeds They primarily sold Acorn hardware and software Also they sold software for other computers including C64 ZX Spectrum and QL In the 1990s Micro Power downsized and moved further up Meanwood Road to reduce outgoings There is still the original Micro Power sign at the back of their first premises 7 References edit Micro Power Magic review Electron User issue 4 03 Dec 1986 Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2007 08 03 Skinner Bryan 23 February 1985 Gameplay Personal Computer News p 35 Retrieved 18 April 2023 Imogen 2004 credits Ovine by Design Archived from the original on 2006 08 11 Retrieved 2006 07 11 New 3D Chess Game From Micro Power Acorn User No 105 Redwood Publishing April 1991 p 10 Retrieved 17 April 2023 Alan Webster May 1985 Basic Extensions review in More ROMS For Your Beeb Beebug 4 1 20 Micro Power Add On World Of Spectrum Retrieved 2007 08 01 Google Street View North Street Leeds Retrieved 2020 07 22 Working at Micro Power Program Power Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Micro Power amp oldid 1151728327, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
