Roger Kean

Last updated

Roger Kean
Died(2023-01-03)3 January 2023
Occupation
  • Magazine publisher
Known for
Partner
  • Oliver Frey
(?–2022; his death)

Roger Kean (died 3 January 2023) was a British magazine publisher and co-founder of computer magazines CRASH, and Zzap!64 . His partner was fellow co-founder Oliver Frey, who was an illustrator for CRASH, and Zzap!64. Kean said of Frey that it was Frey's "talent that made (the magazines) possible". [1] [2]

Frey died from cancer on 21 August 2022, at the age of 74. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ghouls n Ghosts</i> 1988 video game

Ghouls 'n Ghosts, known as Dai Makaimura in Japan, is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Capcom, released as an arcade game in 1988 and subsequently ported to a number of home platforms. It is the sequel to Ghosts 'n Goblins and the second game in the Ghosts 'n Goblins series.

<i>Crash</i> (magazine) Computer magazine

Crash is a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer, primarily focused on games. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress. It was relaunched as a quarterly A5 magazine in December 2020 with the backing of the original founders.

Newsfield Publications Ltd was a British magazine publisher during the 1980s and early 1990s.

<i>Zzap!64</i> Computer games magazine

Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 (C64). It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact.

<i>Stunt Car Racer</i> 1989 video game

Stunt Car Racer is a racing video game developed by Geoff Crammond. It was published in 1989 by MicroProse, under their MicroStyle and MicroPlay labels in the United Kingdom and in the United States, respectively. The game pits two racers on an elevated track on which they race in a head-to-head competition, with ramps they must correctly drive off as the main obstacle.

<i>Game Over</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Game Over is an action video game developed by Dinamic Software and published by Imagine Software in 1987. It was released for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX, Thomson TO7, and ZX Spectrum. The game includes some adventure game elements. A prompted unrated sequel, Game Over II, was released in 1987.

<i>Underwurlde</i> 1984 video game

Underwurlde is a 1984 action-adventure platform video game in the Sabreman series by Ultimate Play the Game for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. The player controls the adventurer Sabreman as he jumps between platforms in a castle and its caverns to find an escape past the exit guardians. Underwurlde features about 600 flip screen areas. Unlike other games of its time, Sabreman is not injured when touched by enemies and is instead knocked backwards. Underwurlde is the second game in the series, between Sabre Wulf and Knight Lore, and released alongside the latter for the ZX Spectrum during Christmas in 1984. Another developer, Firebird, ported the game to the Commodore 64 the next year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Gravett</span> British journalist, curator, writer, and broadcaster in the comics industry

Paul Gravett is a London-based journalist, curator, writer, and broadcaster who has worked in comics publishing since 1981.

Oliver Frey was a Swiss artist, who was based in the United Kingdom. He was known for his book and magazine illustrations, especially for British computer magazines of the 1980s. Under the pen name Zack, he became known for his erotic illustrations and erotic comics in British gay male porn magazines of the 1970s and 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Anderson (entrepreneur)</span> British-American businessman

Chris Anderson is a British-American businessman who is the head of TED, a non-profit organization that provides idea-based talks and hosts an annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Previously he founded Future Publishing.

<i>Amtix</i> Former video game magazine

Amtix is a magazine that originally reviewed Amstrad computer software in the mid-1980s, published monthly by Newsfield Publications Ltd.

Europress was a British magazine and software publisher based in Adlington, near Macclesfield, Cheshire. Their magazine publishing business was previously known as Database Publications. The software division was renamed in 1999 to Actualize.

<i>Aliens: The Computer Game</i> (US Version) 1986 video game

Aliens: The Computer Game is a 1986 video game developed and published by Activision for the Commodore 64, Apple II based on the film of the same title. As Activision's UK subsidiary Electric Dreams Software had independently released their own version of the game with the same title, the game was renamed for European release. Initially planned to be released as Aliens: The Second Part., it was finally published under the title Aliens: US Version with ports for the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum produced by Mr Micro.

<i>Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back</i> 1985 video game

Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back is a 1985 video game for the Commodore 64, a sequel to Beach Head, developed and published by Access Software. It was designed by Bruce Carver and his brother, Roger, and was released for the Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

<i>Daley Thompsons Decathlon</i> 1984 video game

Daley Thompson's Decathlon is an Olympic-themed sports video game developed and released by Ocean Software in 1984. It was released in the wake of Daley Thompson's popularity following his gold medals in the decathlon at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games. The game is based on the gameplay format established by 1983 arcade game Track & Field.

<i>Leader Board</i> 1986 golf video game

Leader Board is a series of golf simulation video games that was developed by Bruce Carver and Roger Carver, and published by Access Software.

<i>Light Force</i> 1986 shooter game

Light Force is a 1986 vertically scrolling shooter designed by Greg Follis and Roy Carter, developed by their company Gargoyle Games, and published under their Faster Than Light imprint. It was released for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stamper brothers</span> Video game developers

Brothers Tim and Chris Stamper are British entrepreneurs who founded the video game companies Ultimate Play the Game and Rare. They first worked together on arcade conversion kits, which were licensed to companies, but later became developers for the ZX Spectrum home computer in the early 1980s. Chris programmed the games, while Tim designed the graphics. They found success as Ultimate with games including Jetpac and Knight Lore. After reverse engineering the Nintendo Entertainment System and deciding to shift their focus to console development, the brothers founded Rare in the mid-1980s. They became Nintendo's first major Western developer, for whom they developed licensed games and ports. Over the next two decades, Rare enjoyed a close relationship with Nintendo and developed multiple major titles for the company, including Donkey Kong Country and GoldenEye 007. Microsoft acquired Rare in 2002, and the brothers left the company in 2007. After spending several years out of the public eye, the brothers are currently planning new ventures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polymega</span> Home video game console

Polymega is a home video game console developed by American company Playmaji, Inc. It is a retro gaming console offering backwards compatibility with several CD-based platforms: PlayStation, TurboGrafx-CD, Neo Geo CD, Sega CD, and Sega Saturn. It also supports cartridge-based platforms, including Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and Nintendo 64. It includes a built-in CD drive, while separate add-ons known as Element Modules provide support for cartridge-based games. It was announced as the RetroBlox in 2017, and faced numerous delays before being released in September 2021.

Events from the year 2023 in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. McFerran, Damien (3 January 2023). "CRASH And Zzap!64 Co-Founder Roger Kean Has Passed Away". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. Jones, Mason (3 January 2023). "Roger Kean, co-founder of zzap!64 and CRASH magazine, died". GN24. New York City, United States. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  3. McFerran, Damien (21 August 2022). "Zzap!64 And CRASH Illustrator Oliver Frey Has Passed Away". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. Gravett, Paul (8 August 2010). "Oliver Frey". Paul Gravett (blog; interview). Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  5. McCauley, Jim (22 August 2022). "Artist and games magazine legend Oliver Frey dies aged 74". Creative Bloq. Future Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. Brew, Simon (22 August 2022). "Oliver Frey dies, aged 74". Film Stories. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  7. Whitehead, Dan (23 August 2022). "Beauty and brutality". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  8. Pugliese, Tommaso (3 January 2023). "È morto Roger Kean, co-fondatore delle riviste Zzap!64 e CRASH" [Roger Kean, co-founder of Zzap!64 and CRASH magazines, has died]. Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.