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{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd.
| name = Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd.
| logo = [[File:MFlogo.png|200px|Magnetic Fields Logo. Various Logos have been used by the company.]]
| logo = [[File:Magnetic Fields (computer game developer) (logo).png|200px|Magnetic Fields Logo. Various Logos have been used by the company.]]
| caption =
| caption =
| type = [[Video game developer]]
| type = [[Video game developer]]
| foundation = 1988
| foundation = 1982
| location_city = [[Chester]], [[Cheshire]]
| location_city = [[Chester]], [[Cheshire]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| key_people = [[Shaun Southern]] ([[Programming director]])<br/>[[Andrew Morris (video game designer)|Andrew Morris]]
| key_people = [[Shaun Southern]] ([[Programming director]])<br/>[[Andrew Morris (video game designer)|Andrew Morris]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Computer and video games]]<br/>[[Interactive entertainment]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products = ''[[Lotus (series)|Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge]]''<br />''[[Super Cars]]''<br />''[[Trailblazer (video game)|Trailblazer]]''<br />''[[Rally Championship (series)|Rally Championship]]''
| products = ''[[Lotus (series)|Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge]]''<br />''[[Super Cars]]''<br />''[[Trailblazer (video game)|Trailblazer]]''<br />''[[Rally Championship (series)|Rally Championship]]''
| homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071211160321/http://www.magneticfields.co.uk/ Wayback Archive]
| homepage = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211160321/http://www.magneticfields.co.uk/ |title=magneticfields.co.uk |date=11 December 2007}}
}}
}}


'''Magnetic Fields (computer game developer)''' was a British game development company founded by Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris in February 1982.<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/company/magnetic-fields-software-design-ltd MobyGames Company Description: Magnetic Fields], [[MobyGames]]</ref> The company was originally named "Mr Chip Software" but renamed "Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd." usually simply referred to as "Magnetic Fields", in 1988.
'''Magnetic Fields''' was a British game development company founded in February 1982 and best known for developers Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Retro Gamer |date=December 2005 |issue=19}}</ref> The company was originally named "Mr Chip Software" but renamed "Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd." usually simply referred to as "Magnetic Fields", in 1988.


== History ==
== History ==


Between 1982 and 1984 they released the developed games themselves with limited success. In 1984 they ceased publishing games themselves and instead developed for Publishers Mastertronic and then later for Alternative Software, Gremlin Graphics and other publishers. Probably the best known game released under the Mr. Chip Software company name was [[Trailblazer (video game)|Trailblazer]] which led to several sequels and ports to other systems. Most of the other games released under the Mr. Chip Software label were already focused on racing like [[Kikstart 2]], but also some non-racing games found a fanbase like [[Proof Of Destruction|P.O.D.]]. Although early development was focused on the [[Commodore 64]] and [[Commodore VIC-20]] platforms the company widened the number of target platforms for their games in the mid 1980s. One of the other platforms included the [[Commodore 16]], which featured a few conversions (including an impressive conversion of Trailblazer), but also a number of unique titles including Arthur Noid and Bandits and Zero. Shaun also wrote a completely different version of Kikstart for the machine to what was produced for the C64.
Between 1982 and 1984, Magnetic Fields released their games themselves with limited success. In 1984 they ceased publishing games themselves and instead developed for Publishers Mastertronic and then later for Alternative Software, Gremlin Graphics and other publishers. Probably the best known game released under the Mr. Chip Software company name was ''[[Trailblazer (video game)|Trailblazer]]'' which led to several sequels and ports to other systems. Most of the other games released under the Mr. Chip Software label were already focused on racing like ''[[Kikstart 2]]'', but also some non-racing games such as ''[[Proof Of Destruction]]'' also found a fanbase. Although early development was focused on the [[Commodore 64]] and [[VIC-20]], the company widened the number of target platforms for their games in the mid 1980s. One of the other platforms included the [[Commodore 16]], which featured a few conversions written by Sauthern, like a port of ''Trailblazer'' and a rewrite of ''Kikstart'', but also a number of unique titles, including ''Arthur Noid'' and ''Bandits at Zero''.


With the switch to the "Magnetic Fields" name the company also switched from 8-Bit systems to the rather new 16-Bit systems, with their last 8-bit release being Super Scramble Simulator (a sort of silent 3rd game in the Kikstart series). While developing games belonging to many different genres, Magnetic Fields soon focussed on racing games. The 1985 release of "Formula 1 Simulator" was already technically on par with the competing racing games of that time.
With the switch to the "Magnetic Fields" name the company also switched from 8-bit systems to the rather new 16-Bit systems, with their last 8-bit release being ''Super Scramble Simulator'' (a sort of silent third game in the ''Kikstart series''). After developing games in a variety of different genres, Magnetic Fields soon focused on racing games. The 1985 release of ''Formula 1 Simulator'' was already technically on par with the competing racing games of that time.


The company became well known in 1990 for their releases of [[Super Cars]] and [[Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge]] on most common home computer systems of the time. Especially the strong sales on the [[Amiga 500]] and [[Atari ST]] platforms led to sequels in 1991. All three Lotus titles had the nice additional touch of including hidden games in them, with the sequel containing Shaun's classic Duck Shoot game from the Vic 20. [[Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge]] featured on the TV series GamesMaster (S2/E11) where it was played by Formula One driver, [[Johnny Herbert]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8tOMw_8HY YouTube - Gamesmaster S02-E11 - Johnny Herbert], [[YouTube]]</ref>
In 1990, the company became well known for their releases ''[[Super Cars]]'' and ''[[Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge]]'', ported to the most popular home computer systems of the time. Especially the strong sales on the [[Amiga 500]] and [[Atari ST]] platforms led to sequels in 1991. All three Lotus titles had the nice additional touch of including hidden games in them, with the sequel containing Shaun Sauthern's classic Duck Shoot game from the Vic 20. ''[[Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge]]'' got TV recognition when it was featured on the TV series ''GamesMaster'' (S2/E11) where it was played by Formula One driver, [[Johnny Herbert]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Eugenicy (Magnetic Fields) Promotional Video (2000) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8tOMw_8HY |access-date=2023-06-30 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Siegfrieds funeral march, excerpt.flac|thumb|Motif from ''Siegfried's Funeral March'']]
The Magnetic Fields logo in the Amiga versions of ''Super Cars'' I and II is accompanied by a sound sample from ''Siegfried's Funeral March'' from Act 3 of [[Wagner]]'s ''[[Götterdämmerung]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World of Longplays |title=Amiga 500 Longplay [116] Super Cars II |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3gvfxHBiWc |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=YouTube}}</ref>


In 1996 the company released [[Network Q RAC Rally Championship (1996)|Network Q RAC Rally Championship]] for the MS-DOS platform which received many favourable reviews<ref>[http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/games/3868/network-q-rac-rally-championship expert Reviews: Network Q RAC Rally Championship], expert Reviews</ref><ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/rallychampionship/review.html Gamespot Review: Network Q RAC Rally Championship], [[GameSpot]]</ref> and led to several expansions and sequels, including the X-Miles and International Rally Championship. The last release of the company was [[Mobil 1 Rally Championship]] for Windows and PlayStation platforms in 1999.
In 1996 the company released ''[[Network Q RAC Rally Championship (1996)|Network Q RAC Rally Championship]]'' for the MS-DOS platform which received many favourable reviews<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-18 |title=Network Q RAC Rally Championship review {{!}} Expert Reviews |url=http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/games/3868/network-q-rac-rally-championship |access-date=2023-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518032746/http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/games/3868/network-q-rac-rally-championship |archive-date=2011-05-18 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rally Championship Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rally-championship-review/1900-6073209/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref> and led to several expansions and sequels, including the X-Miles and International Rally Championship. The last release of the company was [[Mobil 1 Rally Championship]] for Windows and PlayStation platforms in 1999.


In 2000 Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris founded a new company called "Eugenicy" to develop more racing games but the company was closed down before anything was ever released.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030623034108/http://www.eugenicy.com/ Internet Archive - Snapshot of Eugenicy Website], [[Internet Archive]]</ref>
In 2000 Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris founded a new company called "Eugenicy" to develop more racing games but the company was closed down before anything was ever released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-06-23 |title=Wayback Machine |url=http://www.eugenicy.com/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623034108/http://www.eugenicy.com/ |archive-date=2003-06-23 }}</ref>
Andrew Morris released the original promotional trailer for Eugenicy on his YouTube channel in 2009.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8tOMw_8HY YouTube - Eugenicy Promotional Trailer], [[YouTube]]</ref>
Andrew Morris released the original promotional trailer for Eugenicy on his YouTube channel in 2009.<ref>{{Citation |title=Eugenicy (Magnetic Fields) Promotional Video (2000) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8tOMw_8HY |access-date=2023-06-30 |language=en}}</ref>


The company has agreed to let fans distribute their 8-Bit system software as long as no profit is made from these.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110814042804/http://www.c64gg.com/Mr_Chip_MF_DL.html Mr_Chip_MF_DL C64 Game Guide - Available MCS/MF 8-Bit releases], C64 Game Guide (archived)</ref><ref>[http://www.lemon64.com/games/permissions.php Permissions] on lemon64.com</ref> This has led to additional interest {{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} in the company among users of emulators for such older hardware.
The company has agreed to let fans distribute their 8-bit system software as long as no profit is made from these.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-14 |title=Mr. Chip/Magnetic Fields |url=http://www.c64gg.com/Mr_Chip_MF_DL.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814042804/http://www.c64gg.com/Mr_Chip_MF_DL.html |archive-date=2011-08-14 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-06 |title=Lemon - Commodore 64, C64 Games, Reviews & Music! |url=http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http://www.lemon64.com/games/permissions.php |access-date=2023-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606045521/http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http://www.lemon64.com/games/permissions.php |archive-date=2011-06-06 }}</ref> This has led to additional interest {{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} in the company among users of emulators for such older hardware.


Kikstart I and II were released in 2010 for the Commodore 64 emulator on the [[iPhone]].
Kikstart I and II were released in 2010 for the Commodore 64 emulator on the [[iPhone]].

On 5 May 2018 a retrospective video documentary/review produced by Everything Amiga was published on the subject of Kid Chaos.<ref>{{Citation|last=Amigos Retro Gaming|title=A vicious circle - from Cosmic Kitten to Kid Chaos|date=2020-01-10|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOg8Ik2jBQM|accessdate=2020-01-10}}</ref> It tells the story of the games' troubled development history, and assesses its impact on the Amiga scene at the time, and long after.

Former Magnetic Fields artist, Andrew Morris, agreed for a scan of his original protagonist concept artwork to be included. This was the first time it had been revealed to the public. 'Cosmic Kitten' (alternatively 'Claws') as he was then known was to be the Amiga's answers to Sonic the Hedgehog. However, before publication the character was re-designed as a caveboy known simply as 'Kid' to avoid any legal conflict with SEGA who have always been very protective of their intellectual property.


== Games developed ==
== Games developed ==
Line 41: Line 47:
* ''Caves of Doom'' (1985)
* ''Caves of Doom'' (1985)
* ''Hero of the Golden Talisman'' (1985)
* ''Hero of the Golden Talisman'' (1985)
* ''Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator'' (1985)
* ''[[Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator]]'' (1985)
* ''Tutti Frutti'' (1985)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myabandonware.com/game/tutti-frutti-8pd|title=Tutti Frutti (Commodore 16, Plus/4)}}</ref>
* ''[[Trailblazer (video game)|Trailblazer]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Trailblazer (video game)|Trailblazer]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Cosmic Causeway: Trailblazer II]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Cosmic Causeway: Trailblazer II]]'' (1987)
Line 51: Line 58:
* ''[[Kid Chaos (video game)|Kid Chaos]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Kid Chaos (video game)|Kid Chaos]]'' (1994)
* ''Supercars International'' (1996)
* ''Supercars International'' (1996)
* ''Network Q RAC Rally Championship (1996)'' (1996)
* ''[[Network Q RAC Rally Championship]]'' (1996)
** ''Rally Championship: The X-Miles add-on'' expansion pack (1997)
** ''[[Network Q RAC Rally Championship|Rally Championship: The X-Miles]]'' (1997)
* ''[[International Rally Championship]]'' (1997)
* ''[[International Rally Championship]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Mobil 1 Rally Championship]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Mobil 1 Rally Championship]]'' (1999)
Line 71: Line 78:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/magnetic-fields-software-design-ltd Company description] at [[MobyGames]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/magnetic-fields-software-design-ltd Company description] at [[MobyGames]]
* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20071211160321/http://www.magneticfields.co.uk/}} (archived version)
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211160321/http://www.magneticfields.co.uk/ |title=Official website |date=11 December 2007}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030104210242/http://www.eugenicy.com/ Official Eugenicy website] (archived version)
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030104210242/http://www.eugenicy.com/ |title=Eugenicy website |date=4 January 2003}}


<!--- Categories --->
<!--- Categories --->

[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2010]]

Latest revision as of 12:29, 22 May 2024

Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd.
Company typeVideo game developer
IndustryVideo games
Founded1982
Headquarters
Chester, Cheshire
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Shaun Southern (Programming director)
Andrew Morris
ProductsLotus Esprit Turbo Challenge
Super Cars
Trailblazer
Rally Championship
Websitemagneticfields.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 December 2007)

Magnetic Fields was a British game development company founded in February 1982 and best known for developers Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris.[1] The company was originally named "Mr Chip Software" but renamed "Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd." usually simply referred to as "Magnetic Fields", in 1988.

History

[edit]

Between 1982 and 1984, Magnetic Fields released their games themselves with limited success. In 1984 they ceased publishing games themselves and instead developed for Publishers Mastertronic and then later for Alternative Software, Gremlin Graphics and other publishers. Probably the best known game released under the Mr. Chip Software company name was Trailblazer which led to several sequels and ports to other systems. Most of the other games released under the Mr. Chip Software label were already focused on racing like Kikstart 2, but also some non-racing games such as Proof Of Destruction also found a fanbase. Although early development was focused on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20, the company widened the number of target platforms for their games in the mid 1980s. One of the other platforms included the Commodore 16, which featured a few conversions written by Sauthern, like a port of Trailblazer and a rewrite of Kikstart, but also a number of unique titles, including Arthur Noid and Bandits at Zero.

With the switch to the "Magnetic Fields" name the company also switched from 8-bit systems to the rather new 16-Bit systems, with their last 8-bit release being Super Scramble Simulator (a sort of silent third game in the Kikstart series). After developing games in a variety of different genres, Magnetic Fields soon focused on racing games. The 1985 release of Formula 1 Simulator was already technically on par with the competing racing games of that time.

In 1990, the company became well known for their releases Super Cars and Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge, ported to the most popular home computer systems of the time. Especially the strong sales on the Amiga 500 and Atari ST platforms led to sequels in 1991. All three Lotus titles had the nice additional touch of including hidden games in them, with the sequel containing Shaun Sauthern's classic Duck Shoot game from the Vic 20. Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge got TV recognition when it was featured on the TV series GamesMaster (S2/E11) where it was played by Formula One driver, Johnny Herbert.[2]

Motif from Siegfried's Funeral March

The Magnetic Fields logo in the Amiga versions of Super Cars I and II is accompanied by a sound sample from Siegfried's Funeral March from Act 3 of Wagner's Götterdämmerung.[3]

In 1996 the company released Network Q RAC Rally Championship for the MS-DOS platform which received many favourable reviews[4][5] and led to several expansions and sequels, including the X-Miles and International Rally Championship. The last release of the company was Mobil 1 Rally Championship for Windows and PlayStation platforms in 1999.

In 2000 Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris founded a new company called "Eugenicy" to develop more racing games but the company was closed down before anything was ever released.[6] Andrew Morris released the original promotional trailer for Eugenicy on his YouTube channel in 2009.[7]

The company has agreed to let fans distribute their 8-bit system software as long as no profit is made from these.[8][9] This has led to additional interest [citation needed] in the company among users of emulators for such older hardware.

Kikstart I and II were released in 2010 for the Commodore 64 emulator on the iPhone.

On 5 May 2018 a retrospective video documentary/review produced by Everything Amiga was published on the subject of Kid Chaos.[10] It tells the story of the games' troubled development history, and assesses its impact on the Amiga scene at the time, and long after.

Former Magnetic Fields artist, Andrew Morris, agreed for a scan of his original protagonist concept artwork to be included. This was the first time it had been revealed to the public. 'Cosmic Kitten' (alternatively 'Claws') as he was then known was to be the Amiga's answers to Sonic the Hedgehog. However, before publication the character was re-designed as a caveboy known simply as 'Kid' to avoid any legal conflict with SEGA who have always been very protective of their intellectual property.

Games developed

[edit]

Games published

[edit]

All of these games were published under the older company name Mr Chip Software.

  • Pacmania (1983)
  • AD Infinitum (1984)
  • Kwazy Kwaks (1984)
  • Olympic Skier (1984)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Retro Gamer. December 2005.
  2. ^ Eugenicy (Magnetic Fields) Promotional Video (2000), retrieved 2023-06-30
  3. ^ World of Longplays. "Amiga 500 Longplay [116] Super Cars II". YouTube. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  4. ^ "Network Q RAC Rally Championship review | Expert Reviews". 2011-05-18. Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  5. ^ "Rally Championship Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  6. ^ "Wayback Machine". 2003-06-23. Archived from the original on 2003-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  7. ^ Eugenicy (Magnetic Fields) Promotional Video (2000), retrieved 2023-06-30
  8. ^ "Mr. Chip/Magnetic Fields". 2011-08-14. Archived from the original on 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  9. ^ "Lemon - Commodore 64, C64 Games, Reviews & Music!". 2011-06-06. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  10. ^ Amigos Retro Gaming (2020-01-10), A vicious circle - from Cosmic Kitten to Kid Chaos, retrieved 2020-01-10
  11. ^ "Tutti Frutti (Commodore 16, Plus/4)".
[edit]
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