Malcolm Evans (computer programmer): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox person

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

[[File:Malcolm-Evans-NGS98.jpeg|thumb| name = Malcolm Evans]]

| image = Malcolm-Evans-NGS98.jpeg

'''Malcolm Evans''' (born 10 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.

| 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''' (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>{{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]| yeardate=1984–06June 1984}} An article about ''New Generation Software'', the firm that was started with the ''3D Monster Maze'' development.</ref>

At a Bath Classical Guitar & Lute Society meeting in 1981 Evans met [[John K. Greye]] who had set up [[J. K. Greye Software]] a year previously, and who now asked Evans to join the company. They produced several computer games for the Sinclair ZX81 [[home computer]]. In the spring of 1982, Evans split up the company and founded his own company, [[New Generation Software]] (based on an Ad Slogan by [[J.K.Greye]]), which continued to produce games for the ZX Spectrum and pioneer the 3D gaming industry.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Hit Squad &mdash; Not just a load of old rubbish| |journal=Sinclair User| year=1984–09|date=September 1984 |author=Chris Bourne | issue=[30 |url=http://www.sincuser. f9.co.uk/030/indexhtsquad.htm 30]| 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 ==

{{reflist}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Evans, Malcolm

| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =

| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British computer programmer

| DATE OF BIRTH = 10 April 1944

| PLACE OF BIRTH =

| DATE OF DEATH =

| PLACE OF DEATH =

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Malcolm}}

[[Category:British video game designers]]

[[Category:British computer programmers]]

[[Category:1944 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Alumni of the University of Portsmouth]]

[[Category:British computer programmers]]

[[Category:British video game designers]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:People from Romford]]

[[Category:Technicians]]

[[Category:British twins]]