View source for Interceptor Micros

{{Short description|Software companies of the United Kingdom}}
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{{notability|Companies|date=February 2019}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
'''Interceptor Micros''', also known as '''Interceptor Software''' and later as '''Interceptor Group''', was a British [[video game developer|developer]]/[[video game publisher|publisher]] of video games for various 8-bit and 16-bit computer systems popular in [[Western Europe]] during the eighties and early nineties.

In addition to publishing games and utilities under the Interceptor label the company ran a tape and later disc duplication business, a print shop and associated graphic design studio, manufactured dual size cassette tape cases under the '''Compact Case Company''' brand and published budget software under the '''Players''' and '''Players Premier''' labels, and a few full-price titles under the premium '''Pandora''' label.

The company was owned and operated by father-and-son team Julian and Richard Jones, out of various locations in and around the small town of [[Tadley]], near [[Basingstoke]] in [[Hampshire, England]]. At the height of its success the company employed around thirty people, but it fell victim to the 1990s video game decline and went out of business in the early nineties.

== Early days ==
Richard and Julian's first foray into the computer games business is documented on the official [[Llamasoft]] web site, with the Joneses and [[Jeff Minter]] forming a partnership in 1982. Although the Llamasoft account of the parties' short relationship and the events surrounding the dissolution of the partnership reflect Jeff Minter and his family's opinions, the key facts and dates do not seem to be in dispute. The Jones' and Minters' short-lived partnership ended in September 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=001&page=010&magazine=pcg|title=Redirecting|website=www.zzap64.co.uk|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref> History has shown that neither party's interest in the business suffered from the split, with Jeff retaining the Llamasoft name and the Joneses forming Interceptor. The company released several clones of arcade games but decided to focus on developing more original titles, as stricter copyright laws meant the clones could not be sold in the USA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=001&page=012&magazine=pcg|title=Redirecting|website=www.zzap64.co.uk|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>

== The Interceptor Label ==
The following titles were published under the Interceptor label:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/74144-interceptor-micros | title=Game Companies: Interceptor Micros }}</ref>

* ''[[After Shock (video game)|After Shock]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.everygamegoing.com/egg/landingMagArticle/index/mag_folder/your_sinclair/mag_issue_id/1654/mag_section/reviews/filename/After-Shock-000/ |title=Your Sinclair's Review Of After Shock (Interceptor Micros) for the Spectrum 48K/128K - Everygamegoing |website=www.everygamegoing.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011014011/http://www.everygamegoing.com/egg/landingMagArticle/index/mag_folder/your_sinclair/mag_issue_id/1654/mag_section/reviews/filename/After-Shock-000/ |archive-date=2018-10-11}}</ref>
* ''Aquanaut''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/aquanaut-interceptor-software|title=Aquanaut|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Asiento (computer game)|Asiento]]''
* ''[[Assembler 64]]''<ref>http://retrocollector.org/index.php?page=1&system=39&media=123456789AZ&publisher=-1&title=&box=-1&region=-1&type=012&release=1628&gameid=139 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Azimuth 3000]]''
* ''[[Bandana City]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/games/no-frame.php?showid=1881&searchfor=Interceptor&searchfor_special=5&from=0&range=37|title=C64.COM - For the best in C64 nostalgia|website=www.c64.com|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref> 
* ''Big Ben''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=264|title = Lemon64 - Big Ben}}</ref>
* ''Bigtop Barney''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=274|title = Lemon64 - Bigtop Barney}}</ref>
* ''[[Break Fever]]'' (C64)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17293/Break-Fever/|title=Break Fever - Software - Game - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[BurgerTime]]'' (C64)
* ''[[Caverns of Sillahc]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-001/ZZap_64_Issue_001_1985_May#page/n55/mode/2up|title = ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 001|date = May 1985}}</ref>
* ''[[China Miner]]''<ref name="wizwords.net">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wizwords.net/from-the-archives-interceptor|title=From The Archives: Interceptor|website=Wizwords|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''Crazy Kong 64''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=557|title = Lemon64 - Crazy Kong 64}}</ref>
* ''[[Crystals of Carus]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/crystals-of-carus|title=Crystals of Carus, The|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''Cuddly Cuburt''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/cuddly-cuburt|title=Cuddly Cuburt|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Defender 64]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=https%3A//www.lemon64.com/games/details.php%3FID%3D691 | title=Lemon64 - Commodore 64 Games - C64 Reviews & Music }}</ref>
* ''[[Forest at the World's End]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0006321|title = World of Spectrum - Forest at World's End}}</ref>
* ''[[Frogger 64]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/frogger-64|title=Frogger 64|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Front Line (arcade game)|Front Line]]''
* ''Get Off My Garden!''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/get-off-my-garden|title=Get Off My Garden!|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Guzzler]]'' <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/games/details.php%3FID%3D1126 | title=Lemon64 - Commodore 64 Games - C64 Reviews & Music }}</ref>
* ''[[The Heroes Of Karn]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/heroes-of-karn|title=Heroes of Karn, The|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[The Empire of Karn]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=829|title = Lemon64 - Empire of Karn}}</ref>
* ''[[Jewels of Babylon]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-037/SinclairUser_037_Apr_1985#page/n23/mode/1up|title = Sinclair User Magazine Issue 037|date = April 1985}}</ref>
* ''[[LA Police Dept.]]''
* ''[[Melonmania]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/games/1898|title = Melonmania by Interceptor Software}}</ref>
* ''[[Message from Andromeda]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0006676|title = World of Spectrum - Message from Andromeda}}</ref>
* ''[[Micro Rescue]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/games/no-frame.php?showid=1899&searchfor=Interceptor&searchfor_special=5&from=0&range=37|title=C64.COM - For the best in C64 nostalgia|website=www.c64.com|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Missile Command]]''{{cn|date=November 2024}}
* ''[[Panic 64]]''
* ''[[Quango (computer game)|Quango]]''
* ''[[Scramble 64]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/12737/Scramble-64/|title=Scramble 64 - Software - Game - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Siren City]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games//details.php?ID=2317|title = Lemon64 - Siren City}}</ref>
* ''Spider and the Fly''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gb64.com/game.php?id=7202&d=36&h=0|title=GB64.COM - C64 Games, Database, Music, Emulation, Frontends, Reviews and Articles|website=gb64.com|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Spriteman 64]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/51792/Sprite%20Man/|title = Sprite Man - Software - Game - Computing History}}</ref>
* ''[[Star Trek (computer game)|Star Trek]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/11588/Star-Trek/|title = Star Trek - Software - Game - Computing History}}</ref>
* ''[[Sword of Kings]]''
* ''[[Tales of the Arabian Nights (computer game)|Tales of the Arabian Nights]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/profs/electron/cats/im.html|title = Interceptor Micros - Acorn Electron Professional Releases - Acorn Electron World DVD}}</ref>
* ''[[The Zacaron Mystery]]''
* ''[[Token of Ghall]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/token-of-ghall|title=Token of Ghall, The|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Trollie Wallie]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/trollie-wallie|title=Trollie Wallie|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Vortex Raider]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17491/Vortex-Raider/|title = Vortex Raider - Software - Game - Computing History}}</ref>
* ''[[Wallie Goes To Rhymeland]]'' (C64)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/wallie-goes-to-rhymeland|title=Wallie goes to Rhymeland|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Warlord (computer game)|Warlord]]''
* ''[[Where's my Bones?]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/wheres-my-bones|title=Where's My Bones?|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''[[Wheelin' Wallie]]'' (C64)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/game/wheelin-wallie|title=Wheelin' Wallie|website=Lemon64|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref>
* ''Wild Ride'' (C64)
* ''[[Wunda Walter]]'' (Vic 20)<ref name="wizwords.net"/>

== The Players and Players Premier labels ==
From 1986<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php?issue_id=1593&page=29|title = Spectrum Computing - ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware}}</ref> to 1991 Players issued budget-priced {{GBP|1.99|long=no}} tape-based games for various 8-bit platforms. The Players Premier label games were priced at {{GBP|2.99|long=no}}. In addition some titles were released for the Atari ST and Amiga platforms on disc at {{GBP|4.99|long=no}} under the Smash 16 and Players Gold labels. The titles competed against budget software pioneer [[Mastertronic]], and later [[Codemasters]] and others in an increasingly crowded budget software marketplace.

Players packaging was bright and colourful. The original concept was designed by Michael Wood, an artist and designer and the then Studio Manager at Interceptor. Most of the packaging artwork at the time was designed by Michael Wood who had several artists working with him. The designs were worked up as finished pieces by air brush artists such as Peter Austin.

The label's most successful and best-known{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} releases were the ''Joe Blade'' series of games (1987–1989), but Players and Players Premier released over 100 titles across various platforms.

Players original titles included ''Anfractuos'', ''Auriga'', ''Auto Zone'', ''Big Top Barney'', ''Bubble Trouble'', ''Cagara'', ''Cerberus'', ''The Claws of Despair'', ''Clean Up Time'', ''Crime Busters'', ''Cybernation'', ''[[Denizen (video game)|Denizen]]'', ''Desert Hawk'', ''Deviants'', ''Dizzy Dice'', ''Doodlebug'', ''Elektrix'', ''[[European Soccer Challenge]]'', ''[[Fungus (video game)|Fungus]]'', ''Fruity'', ''Joe Blade'', ''Joe Blade II'', ''Journey to the Centre of Eddie Smith's Head'', ''Killapede'', ''LA Drugs Bust'', ''Lop Ears'', ''Matt Lucas'',<ref name='crash40_review' /> ''Metal Army'', ''Miami Cobra GT'', ''Nuclear Heist'', ''Psycho City'', ''Radius'', ''Reflex'', ''Riding the Rapids'', ''Ronald Rubberduck'', ''The Serf's Tale'', ''Shanghai Karate'', ''Shanghai Warriors'', ''Shrewsbury Key'', ''Skateboard Construction System'', ''Street Gang'', ''Super Nova'', ''Swamp Fever'', ''Sword Slayer'', ''Tanium'', ''Thing!'', ''Toadforce'',{{cn|date=November 2024}} ''Tomcat'', ''Turbo Kart Racer'', ''Varmit'', ''Xanthius'', and ''The Zacaron Mystery''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0007210|title = World of Spectrum - the Zacaron Mystery}}</ref>

Players Premier original titles included ''Assault Course'', ''Cobra Force'', ''Deadly Evil'', ''Elven Warrior'', ''Havoc'', ''Hawk Storm'', ''Iron Soldier'', ''Joe Blade III'', ''Lost Caves'', ''Mig Busters'', ''Moving Target'', ''Mutant Fortress'', ''Operation Hanoi'', ''Outlaw'', ''Prison Riot'', ''The Race'', ''Roadburner'', ''Saigon Combat Unit'', ''Shark'', ''3D Snooker'', ''Solar Empire'', ''Spooked'', ''Steel Eagle'', ''Street Cred Boxing'', ''Street Cred Football'', ''Subway Vigilante'', ''Super League'', ''Task Force'', ''Turbo Master'', ''Velocipede'', V''elocipede II'', ''War Machine'', and ''World Cup Challenge''.

In addition, both labels re-released various full price titles and various games and demos for magazine cover-mounted tapes, which Interceptor duplicated for various computer magazines.

== The Pandora label ==
In 1987 Interceptor launched Pandora, a new premium-priced label. Pandora released several games for 8- and 16-bit computers. Its first and most successful title was ''[[Into the Eagle's Nest]]'', a ''[[Gauntlet (arcade game)|Gauntlet]]'' style burst-scroller set in a Nazi occupied castle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=025&page=026&magazine=zzap|title = Redirecting}}</ref> Other titles included ''[[Galdregon's Domain]]'' (1988),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=1264|title=Galdregon's Domain|website=Lemon Amiga|accessdate=29 January 2024}}</ref> ''[[Xenomorph (video game)|Xenomorph]]'' (1990), ''Outlands'' (1989) and ''Debut'' (1990). It is believed{{By whom|date=May 2020}} ''Debut'' (a complex planet simulator coupled with a side-scroller action element) was one of the last titles to be published under the Pandora label, in December 1990.

== The Fun Factory label ==
In 1991 and 1992, during the waning days of the company several Atari ST and Amiga titles were released under the Fun Factory Brand. Titles included ''Twin Turbos'' (1991), ''Rebellion'' (1992), ''Slackskin and Flint'' (1992).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hol.abime.net/hol_search.php?N_ref_publisher=%20233|title = Hall of Light - the database of Amiga games}}</ref>

== People ==
Richard Jones was the public face of the company,<ref name="wizwords.net"/> and all published titles credited him as producer. Due to his youth, ambition and love of fast cars he often appeared on local television and in the papers during the early years. However, Julian was the company mainstay, working long hours, often on the factory floor, building the company.

Interceptor worked with various programmers, artists, and musicians over the years, relying mostly on freelance talent but also employing a number of up and coming in-house coders.

Foremost amongst the in-house programmers were Andrew Challis<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http%3A//www.lemon64.com/games//list.php%3Fcoder%3DAndrew+Challis | title=Lemon64 - Commodore 64 Games - C64 Reviews & Music }}</ref> and Kevin Parker.<ref name="wizwords.net"/> Apart from developing original titles and porting existing games to other platforms they also developed custom "loaders" and produced the tape masters for the duplication of Interceptor and other companies titles. Interceptor pioneered "loada-games" across multiple platforms, not just the C64 (see the Spectrum version of ''Joe Blade 2''). These were a series of mini games that you could play while the main game continued to load from tape. While technically clever, this occasionally resulted in customers returning product mistaking the loada-game for the advertised content.

Other in-house developers included Andrew Severn<ref name="wizwords.net"/> (last spotted as producer of ''Gun'' for Nethersoft), Martin (Jabba) Severn (last spotted working for Pumpkin Studios), Gary Biasillo,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/gt_display_interview.php?interview=19|title=C64.COM - For the best in C64 nostalgia|website=www.c64.com|access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref> Steve Briggs,<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebriggsinfo Steve Briggs Info] LinkedIn {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}</ref> Chris Johnson (who later worked for SEGA in San Francisco and as a Lead Producer at Zynga),<ref name="wizwords.net"/> Mike Brown, Paul Griffiths, Robin Chapman and Colin Swinbourne<ref name="wizwords.net"/> (last spotted at Nice Tech). Brian Leake and Mark Davidson, who briefly worked on-site during the development of ''Debut'', followed their careers in the USA; Brian was last spotted at The Walt Disney Company in California, and Mark at Destineer in North Carolina.

Prolific freelance Interceptor programmers Richard Robinson & Keith Harvey (AKA 'Howlin' Mad', also known as 'Mirai') went on to form the multimedia futurist band "Intelligentsia" in Tokyo, and Earth Academy Records in London, both working in TV Media and the progressive arts.

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name='crash40_review'>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-40/Crash_40_May_1987#page/n51/mode/2up|magazine=Crash|issue=40|date=May 1987|pages=52–53|title=Derek Brewster's Adventure Trail ("Matt Lucas" review)}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Software companies of the United Kingdom]]