CRL Group

Last updated
CRL Group PLC
FormerlyComputer Rentals Limited
Company type Private
Industry Video games
FoundedApril 29, 1982;41 years ago (1982-04-29)
FounderClement Chambers
Defunct1989 (1989)
FateDissolved
Headquarters9 King's Yard, Carpenters Road,
London E15 2HD
,
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Ian Ellery
Products Tau Ceti, Academy

CRL Group plc was a British video game development and publishing company. Originally CRL stood for "Computer Rentals Limited". [1] It was based in King's Yard, London and run by Clem Chambers. [2]

Contents

They released a number of notable adventure games based on horror stories. Dracula and Frankenstein were rated 15 certificate by the British Board of Film Censors for their graphics depicting bloody scenes; Dracula was the first game to be rated by the BBFC. [3] Jack the Ripper was the first game to receive an 18 certificate, Wolfman also gained an 18 certificate. [4]

CRL-published games that achieved critical success include Tau Ceti and Academy .

The 1984 game of the series Terrahawks was one of the first video games based on a TV show. [5]

Games

1982

  • Rescue

1983

  • 3D Desert Patrol
  • Alien Maze
  • Bomber
  • Caveman
  • Crawler
  • Derby Day
  • Draughts
  • Escape from Manhattan
  • Galactic Patrol
  • Grand National
  • Jackpot
  • Lunar Rescue
  • One Day Cricket
  • Pandemonia
  • Test Match
  • The Omega Run
  • The Orb
  • Space Mission
  • Zaraks

1984

  • £.s.d.
  • Ahhh!!
  • Cricket 64
  • Glug Glug
  • Handicap Golf
  • Handy Andy
  • Incredible Adventure
  • Olympics
  • Orpheus in the Underworld
  • Show Jumping
  • Terrahawks [6]
  • The Great Detective
  • The Magic Roundabout
  • Tritz
  • Whirlybird
  • The War of the Worlds
  • The Warlock's Treasure
  • The Woods of Winter

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

  • Hellhole


Unreleased

  • Enchantress [8]
  • Spearhead [9]
  • The Blues Brothers [10]
  • The Malinsay Massacre [11]

Software

Platforms

Notes

1Hercules was originally released in 1984 by Interdisc
2Bored of the Rings and Robin of Sherlock were originally released in 1985 by Delta 4
3Federation was originally released as Quann Tulla in 1985 by 8th Day Software
4International Soccer was originally only released on cartridge in 1983 by Commodore International [14] [15]

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<i>Academy</i> (video game) 1986 video game

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<i>Dracula</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

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<i>Frankenstein</i> (video game) 1987 video game

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<i>Jack the Ripper</i> (1987 video game) 1987 video game

Jack the Ripper is a text adventure computer game designed by St. Bride's School and released by CRL in 1987 for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum home computers. The game is based on the notorious "Jack the Ripper" murders in 1880s London.

<i>Wolfman</i> (video game) 1988 video game

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<i>The Rats</i> (video game) 1985 video game

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<i>The Rocky Horror Show</i> (video game) 1985 video game

The Rocky Horror Show is a video game, based on the musical of the same name, it was developed and published by CRL Group. It was released for Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC created by the CRL Group PLC.

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References

  1. "CRASH 9 - News".
  2. "From cavemen to rocky horrors". Amstrad Action (19): 30. August 1985. at World of Spectrum
  3. "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Eurogamer . 26 October 2007.
  4. "Dracula unbound: The story behind the first 18 certificated video game". Eurogamer . March 2015.
  5. "Your Sinclair".
  6. "Your Spectrum 09 - Joystick Jury".
  7. "Doctor What! At Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  8. "World of Spectrum - Enchantress".
  9. "World of Spectrum - Spearhead".
  10. "The Blues Brothers (C64) - 1987 CRL - GTW64".
  11. "World of Spectrum - the Malinsay Massacre".
  12. Taylor, Richard. "Fifth User's Manual". World Of Spectrum. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021.
  13. "Highway Code at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  14. "Funny Old Game Innit Cecil?". Computer and Video Games. No. 86. EMAP. December 1988. p. 99. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  15. "Zzap Test: International Soccer". Zzap. No. 76. Newsfield. 9 June 1988. p. 75. Retrieved 19 December 2022.

Further reading