Malcolm Evans (computer programmer): Difference between revisions

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{{BLP sources|date=June 2020}}

::''See [[Malcolm Evans]] for other individuals with the same name.''

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

[[Image:Malcolm-Evans-NGS98.jpeg|thumb|Malcolm Evans]]

{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}

'''Malcolm Evans''' (b. April [[1944]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[game programmer|computer game programmer]], best known for his games ''[[3D Monster Maze]]'' for the [[Sinclair ZX81]] and ''[[Trashman (computer game)|Trashman]]'' for the [[ZX Spectrum]], released in [[1982 in video gaming|1982]] and [[1984 in video gaming|1984]] respectively.

{{Infobox person

| name = Malcolm Evans

[[Image:| image = Malcolm-Evans-NGS98.jpeg|thumb|Malcolm Evans]]

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|4|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = [[Romford]], [[London]]

| alma_mater = [[University of Portsmouth|Portsmouth Polytechnic]]

| occupation = Computer game programmer

| years_active = 1981–1984

| notable_works = ''[[3D Monster Maze]]''<br/>''[[Trashman (video game)|Trashman]]''}}

'''Malcolm Evans''' (b.born 10 April [[1944]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] former [[Video game programmer|computer game programmer]] and [[electronics technician]], best known for his games ''[[3D Monster Maze]]'' for the [[Sinclair ZX81]] and ''[[Trashman (computer game)|Trashman]]'' for the [[ZX Spectrum]], released in [[1982 in video gaming|1982]] and [[1984 in video gaming|1984]] respectively.

He and his twin brother, Rod, were born in [[Romford]], but his family soon moved to [[Portsmouth]]. He has a [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc.]] in [[electronics]] from [[University of Portsmouth|Portsmouth Polytechnic]] and joined [[Marconi Electronic Systems|Marconi]], where he worked on high-powered projects, such as satellite technology. Then in the mid-70s1970s he moved to work for [[Smiths Aviation]], where he designed hardware to implement computer control systems for [[jet engine]]s.

In 1979 he moved again, to [[Sperry Corporation|Sperry Gyroscope]] in [[Bristol]], where he joined its micro-processor applications group. There he found himself using [[Zilog Z80]] and [[Intel 8088]] [[machine code]] language for small applications of a classified nature for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. The Bristol factory was closed in 1981 but by then Malcolm had received a ZX81 from his wife, Linda, for his thirty-seventh birthday in April 1981. Malcolm developed ''3D Monster Maze'' to test what the computer was capable of, and completed it by November. <ref>{{refcite harvardjournal|CRASH05 url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/05/newgen.htm| author=''CRASH'' 1984staff| title=''New Generation'' Ingredients of a winning team| journal=[[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]] | issue=5| date=June 1984}} An article about ''New Generation Software'', the firm that was started with the ''3D Monster Maze'' development.</ref>

At a classical guitar club in Bristol in 1981 Evans met [[John K. Greye]] and together they set up [[J.K. Greye Software]]. They produced several computer games for the Sinclair ZX81 [[home computer]]. In the spring of 1982, Greye and Evans split up and Evans founded his own company, [[New Generation Software]], which continued to produce games for the ZX Spectrum and pioneer the 3D gaming industry. <ref>{{refcite harvardjournal|SU30title=Hit Squad &mdash; Not just a load of old rubbish |Bournejournal=Sinclair User |date=September 1984 |aauthor=Chris Bourne |issue=30 |url=http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/030/htsquad.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010309055803/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/030/htsquad.htm |archivedate=9 March 2001 }} Featuring Malcolm Evans following the ''Trashman'' hit game.</ref>

As of 2016 Evans was no longer writing games, but he is the author of a travelogue about New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrogamer.net/blog_post/malcolm-evans-writes-charity-book/|title = Malcolm Evans Writes Charity Book &#124; Retro Gamer}}</ref>

== References ==

*{{note label|SU30|Bourne 1984|a}}{{cite journal

| title=Hit Squad &mdash; Not just a load of old rubbish

| journal=Sinclair User

| year=1984-09

| author=Chris Bourne

| issue=[http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/030/index.htm 30]

| url=http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/030/htsquad.htm}} Featuring Malcolm Evans following the ''Trashman'' hit game.

*{{note label|CRASH05|CRASH 1984|a}}{{cite journal

| url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/05/newgen.htm

| author=''CRASH'' staff

| title=''New Generation'' Ingredients of a winning team

| journal=[[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]]

| issue=[http://www.crashonline.org.uk/05/index.htm 5]

| year=1984-06}} An article about ''New Generation Software'', the firm that was started with the ''3D Monster Maze'' development.

== References ==

[[Category:Video game designers|Evans, Malcolm]]

{{reflist}}

[[Category:British computer programmers|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:1944 births|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:Living people|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:ZX Spectrum programmers|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:Alumni of the University of Portsmouth|Evans, Malcolm]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Malcolm}}

[[eo:Malcolm Evans (programisto)]]

[[Category:1944 births|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:Alumni of the University of Portsmouth|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:British computer programmers|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:VideoBritish video game designers|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:Living people|Evans, Malcolm]]

[[Category:People from Romford]]

[[Category:Technicians]]

[[Category:British twins]]