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UK video game market in the 80s

 
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UK video game market in the 80s - 8/5/2013 11:13:15 PM   
Rodia


Posts: 123
Joined: 9/19/2012
Status: offline 		How much do you think it was (in pounds) at the top of the 8 bit era?

The only info I've found is recent (2010):

UK Games Market Worth £3.78 Billion

It's for a job, but I can do with an educated guess, no pressure.



< Message edited by Rodia -- 8/5/2013 11:14:22 PM >
Post #: 1
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 2:08:29 PM   
wings7


Posts: 4591
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Status: offline 		I would say 500 million pounds.

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 2
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 2:28:02 PM   
SapperAstro_MatrixForum

 

Posts: 216
Joined: 10/28/2002
From: Penrith, Australia
Status: offline 		Including the computers that ran the games? Or just the games? The UK had quite a tech manufacturing base back then, with 7 or 8 different computer companies putting out their own models.

They had quite a few software houses.

God knows how many magazines in print for games across the various platforms.

And the top of the 8 bit era had the 16 bits just starting to make a splash. Again, the UK had a big presence in the 16 bit era too. I am sure the amount would probably surprise us. God knows what happened to all that though...I think they make the raspberry pi these days...

(in reply to wings7)
Post #: 3
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 2:57:59 PM   
VPaulus

 

Posts: 3630
Joined: 6/23/2011
From: Portugal
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: SapperAstro

The UK had quite a tech manufacturing base back then, with 7 or 8 different computer companies putting out their own models.

They had quite a few software houses.

God knows how many magazines in print for games across the various platforms.

And the top of the 8 bit era had the 16 bits just starting to make a splash. Again, the UK had a big presence in the 16 bit era too.

Exactly. I have the feeling that British gaming industry ruled in whole Europe during 8-bit era, specially in what concerns computer video gaming. UK only lost its leading position when consoles begun to take a bigger share in the video gaming market and the small developer/publisher studios begun to be acquired by the larger ones.
But it's hard to guess a figure. During the 8-bit era prices were lower, you could purchase a top title for less than £10. The number of sold copies were also considerable inferior to those sold nowadays.


< Message edited by VPaulus -- 8/6/2013 4:06:21 PM >

(in reply to SapperAstro_MatrixForum)
Post #: 4
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 3:18:53 PM   
Rodia


Posts: 123
Joined: 9/19/2012
Status: offline 		Yes, including hardware: Spectrum, Amstrad, Oric, Acorn. The only non UK hardware then was Apple (not really seen in Europe) and Commodore 64, but Spectrum was first and huge.

Wikipedia says in Sinclair Research page that this company alone had a revenue of £102 million GBP in 1985. But products and brand was sold to Alan Sugar (Amstrad) for £5 million (and £11 million in incoming pays).

So... hmmm... wild guess, very wild guess,

quote:

ORIGINAL: wings7

I would say 500 million pounds.


this is right?

(in reply to wings7)
Post #: 5
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 3:27:47 PM   
SapperAstro_MatrixForum

 

Posts: 216
Joined: 10/28/2002
From: Penrith, Australia
Status: offline 		Commodore did manufacture the whole line of their computers in the UK too.


(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 6
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 3:32:14 PM   
Rodia


Posts: 123
Joined: 9/19/2012
Status: offline 		Ah, I did not know, thanks. It was a nice machine too, always wanted one when kid.

(in reply to SapperAstro_MatrixForum)
Post #: 7
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 3:32:52 PM   
catwhoorg


Posts: 686
Joined: 9/27/2012
From: Uk expat lving near Atlanta
Status: offline 		Who can forget the Firebird software (part of BT at the time).

Two pounds fifty for some very ingenious games. Some horrid, some classics.

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 8
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 3:38:14 PM   
Rodia


Posts: 123
Joined: 9/19/2012
Status: offline 		Yes, Firebird. Favorite developer ever, just because I loved Elite so much. Was the first game that truly blew my mind. That and The Way of Exploding Fist form Melbourne House.

Dad was more kind of Arnhem and Desert Fox adaptations from Amsoft if I remember right.

Amazing what the people at that era did.

(in reply to catwhoorg)
Post #: 9
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 4:03:23 PM   
wings7


Posts: 4591
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Rodia

Yes, including hardware: Spectrum, Amstrad, Oric, Acorn. The only non UK hardware then was Apple (not really seen in Europe) and Commodore 64, but Spectrum was first and huge.

Wikipedia says in Sinclair Research page that this company alone had a revenue of £102 million GBP in 1985. But products and brand was sold to Alan Sugar (Amstrad) for £5 million (and £11 million in incoming pays).

So... hmmm... wild guess, very wild guess,

quote:

ORIGINAL: wings7

I would say 500 million pounds.


this is right?



Rodia, the 500 million pounds is educated/uneducated guess.

Patrick

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 10
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 4:07:15 PM   
catwhoorg


Posts: 686
Joined: 9/27/2012
From: Uk expat lving near Atlanta
Status: offline 		They also had Rebelstar, the game that led eventually led to the XCOM franchise.

Ah Arnhem. One game that had a showstopping bug from the get go. You simply couldn't play the whole campaign, it bugged to the victory screen after one turn.

(in reply to wings7)
Post #: 11
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 4:16:35 PM   
VPaulus

 

Posts: 3630
Joined: 6/23/2011
From: Portugal
Status: offline 		The moment I saw "The Way of Exploding Fist" running in a C64 I knew that I had to sold my Atari 800XL very quickly. They sold around 200000 copies of that game, which is a considerable amount for the 80's.
Elite was also the first game that completely blew up my mind. I love tom play sandbox games when they are well conceived. And Elite was such a game.

(in reply to wings7)
Post #: 12
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/6/2013 4:18:16 PM   
kemmo

 

Posts: 65
Joined: 7/16/2012
Status: offline 		You could also get the Atari 8 bit computer in the UK,used to play SSI AND Microprose games on one,think it was an 800XL.

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 13
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/8/2013 12:12:07 PM   
Rodia


Posts: 123
Joined: 9/19/2012
Status: offline 		Wings7, do not worry, I'm not going to quote anyone here.

While looking for info about Imagine demise, I found this video from a 1984 BBC documentary, really interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt9BsZCifgU

(in reply to kemmo)
Post #: 14
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/8/2013 1:40:26 PM   
VPaulus

 

Posts: 3630
Joined: 6/23/2011
From: Portugal
Status: offline 		Retro Gamer is a good magazine for those who are interested in the 8-bit, 16-bit era and in the history of the video/computer gaming.
http://www.retrogamer.net/flashindex.html

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 15
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/8/2013 1:53:55 PM   
Neilster


Posts: 2890
Joined: 10/27/2003
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Status: offline 		My dad was unimpressed that the Amstrad CPC 6128 he bought me in 1985 couldn't have a typed conversation

"What?! I paid nine hundred dollars for this!"

I think for that sort of money he expected HAL 9000.

But he was blown away when I wrote a one line program that asked his name and then said, "Hello Brian. How are you today?"

Cheers, Neilster





Attachment (1)

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 16
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/8/2013 2:59:00 PM   
wings7


Posts: 4591
Joined: 8/11/2003
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Rodia

Wings7, do not worry, I'm not going to quote anyone here.

While looking for info about Imagine demise, I found this video from a 1984 BBC documentary, really interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt9BsZCifgU



Thanks for sharing that video, that brings back very fond and exciting memories. The computer and console game market was really exploding then (though alot of companies didn't make it). I'll never forget it...It sounds like David Frost doing the broadcast. So, how are you doing with your research question?

Patrick

(in reply to Rodia)
Post #: 17
RE: UK video game market in the 80s - 8/8/2013 3:28:56 PM   
Rodia


Posts: 123
Joined: 9/19/2012
Status: offline 		Hey, Patrick

Research is going fine, it's an ongoing thing, mostly done for hobby.

Right now I'm rewatching that Imagine video because they drop a lot of numbers here & there, but for whatever reason I can only pay attention to those looks.

Damn you, nostalgia.

(in reply to wings7)
Post #: 18
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