Mel Croucher

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image Mel Croucher (born 1948) is a British entrepreneur and video games pioneer. Originally an architect, he moved into computers and in 1977 launched one of the very earliest games companies,[1] Automata UK, as an extension of his publishing business. He is now credited for setting up "the first games company in the U.K.",[2] celebrated as "the father of the British videogames industry"[3] and presented as "a pioneer in affective computing".[4] His first broadcasts of computer game software were made over AM and FM radio.[1] After the release of the Sinclair ZX81,[5] his label published several games for the early home computer market, including three Computer Trade Association award-winners: Pimania (1982), Groucho (1983, a.k.a. My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar), and the groundbreakingTemplate:R "multi-media" title Deus Ex Machina (1984).

Croucher has championed immersive entertainment throughout his career as director and producer, mixing audio, video, spoken word, real-world locations and computer-generated effects. He is currently Executive Chairman of the Jeeni streamed entertainment channel.[6]

In 2025 his biography was published as Digital Pioneer Spirit by Thomas A. Christie [1] Extremis Publishing, Template:ISBN whose cover states that Croucher "redefined the digital age" and "blazed a trail as Britain's first multimedia personality."

Career

Croucher has written text books, computer manuals and comedy, and worked as a journalist, writing regular columns like Without Prejudice, The Rubber Room, and the comedy sci-fi serial Tamara Knight for the ZX Spectrum magazine CRASH in the 1980s,[7] as well as columns for various computer magazines since.Template:Fact

Mel Croucher was the author of Zygote in Computer Shopper every month from Issue 1 in 1988 to the final edition in 2021[8] and the Mel's World column and the Great Moments In Computing cartoon strip in the same magazine.

In 2010, Feeding Tube Records in the United States released "Pimania: The Music of Mel Croucher", a deluxe vinyl LP album of the music to his games, as well as tracks from other Automata releases. The album came with extensive liner notes by Croucher and Caroline Bren, as well as a large poster featuring selections from the original Automata print campaigns. A six-album retrospective of his music complete works was released in 2017 by The Games Collector.Template:Fact

In 2012, Mel Croucher reformed Automata as Automata Source Ltd. He produced a reimagination of Deus Ex Machina, starring Sir Christopher Lee, released in 2015 as Deus Ex Machina 2,[9] alongside a 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition of the original game including new graphics and a director's commentary. He collaborated with Christopher Lee on several other titles, and their game for children was released as Eggbird in the same year.Template:Fact

Mel Croucher is Executive Chairman of Jeeni, the global streamed music service and artist development platform, which he co-founded with Dr Shena Mitchell in 2017.[10]

Video games

  • The Pathfinder Quests (1977-1980)
  • Whitbread Quiz Time and the Computer Treasure Hunt (1979)
  • The Adventures of Willi Nilli (1981)
  • The Portsmouth Tapes (1981)
  • In The Best Possible Taste (1981)
  • Can Of Worms (1981)
  • Love And Death (1982)
  • The Bible (1982)
  • Pimania (1982)
  • Dragon Doodles & Demos (1983)
  • Spectrum Spectacular (1983)
  • Bunny/ETA (1983) - Croucher wrote the ETA portion of the game.
  • Yakzee (1983)
  • My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar (1983)
  • Pi-Eyed (1984)
  • Olympimania (1984)
  • Deus Ex Machina (1984)
  • iD (1986)
  • Castle Master (1990) story and book of the game
  • Deus Ex Machina 2 (2015)
  • Deus Ex Machina 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2015)
  • Eggbird (2015)

Books and journalism

External links

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Colin Campbell, The one-hour life of a 1980s video game auteur, Polygon, 25 September 2013
  3. ↑ Dan Wood, The Father of The British Videogames Industry, Mel Croucher – The Retro Hour, episode 50, 16 December 2016
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ "Anniversary Update" Computer Shopper Magazine, issue 360, page 8, February 2018, Template:Catalog lookup linkScript error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn".Script error: No such module "check isxn"., accessed 7 February 2022
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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