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]

  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.