Level 9 Computing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:33, 29 November 2023

Revision as of 23:03, 14 May 2024

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[[File:Return to Eden cover (original release).jpg|thumb|right|This version of [[Return to Eden (game)|Return to Eden]] illustrates the general cover design used for most of Level 9's self-published releases. The "L9" logo is used as a background motif.]]

'''Level 9''' was a British developer of computer software, active between 1981 and 1991. Founded by Mike, Nicholas and Pete Austin, the company produced software for the [[BBC Micro]], [[Nascom]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Oric Atmos|Oric]], [[Atari 8-bit family|Ataricomputers]], [[Camputers Lynx|Lynx 48k]], [[Research Machines 380Z|RML 380Z]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[MSX]], [[Amiga]], [[Apple II series|Apple II]], [[Memotech MTX]], and [[Enterprise (computer)|Enterprise]] platforms<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mocagh.org/rainbird/level9-history.pdf|title=Level 9 Computing History|website=mocagh.org|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref> and is best known for its successful [[interactive fiction|text adventure games]] until a general decline in the text adventure market forced their closure in June 1991.

Level 9's first release was an extension to Nascom [[BASIC]] called ''Extension Basic''.<ref name=plan6_34>{{cite journal | url=https://archive.org/stream/Page_6_Issue_34_1988-07_ABACUS_GB#page/n11/mode/2up | title=Level 9 - Masters of Adventure (and nice people too!) | journal=[[Page 6]] | date=July 1988 | issue=34 | pages=12–18 }}</ref> The first game, also for the Nascom, was called ''Fantasy'' and was similar to ''[[Valhalla (video game)|Valhalla]]'', but with no graphics.<ref name=SUser>{{Cite journal |title=On the level|newspaper=[[Sinclair User]]|date=May 1985|issue=38|pages=60|url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-038/SinclairUser_038_May_1985#page/n59/mode/2up}}</ref> Other products from that era were ''Missile Defence'', ''Bomber'' and ''Space Invasion'' — all for the Nascom.<ref>{{ cite journal | url=https://mocagh.org/redherring/redherring7.pdf | title= Level 9 - Past Masters of the Adventure Game | journal=Red Herring |date= Oct 1992 | pages=41–50 }}</ref> The tapes were duplicated and sent out by mail order by the brothers based on orders generated by the [[Classified advertising|classified advertisements]] they ran in the ''[[Computing Today]]'' magazine. They were originally based in [[High Wycombe]], [[Buckinghamshire|Bucks]]<ref name=pcg04/> before moving to the [[West Country]].<ref name=cvg43>{{ citation | url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_043_1985-05_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_043_1985-05_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n105/mode/2up | journal=[[C+VG]] | title = Level 9 On the Move | date=May 1985 | issue=43 | pages=106 | publisher=[[Future Publishing]] }}</ref>