Alligata
{{short description|Computer games developer and publisher}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2017}}
Alligata Software Ltd. was a computer games developer and publisher based in Sheffield in the UK in the 1980s.{{Cite web |url=https://companycheck.co.uk/company/01742202/ALLIGATA-SOFTWARE-LIMITED/companies-house-data |title=ALLIGATA SOFTWARE LIMITED. Free business summary taken from official companies house information. Free alerts. Registered as 01742202 |access-date=2018-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085606/https://companycheck.co.uk/company/01742202/ALLIGATA-SOFTWARE-LIMITED/companies-house-data |archive-date=2018-05-07 |url-status=dead}}
The company was founded by brothers Mike and Tim Mahony and their father J.R. Mahony in 1983. They produced games for a number of home computers including the Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, ZX Spectrum and Dragon 32. The company published many of Tony Crowther's early Commodore 64 games, including Aztec Tomb, Blagger and Loco.{{cite web|url=http://www.beebgames.com/games.php?company=13|title=The BBC Games Archive - Welcome|website=Beebgames.com|access-date=13 March 2019}} Chris Butler was another programmer whose earlier games were released by Alligata.{{Cite web|url=https://codetapper.com/c64/zzap/the-butler-did-it/|title = The Butler did it! » Codetapper's C64 Site|website=Codetapper.com}} The company also published budget priced software under the Budgie label.
Tim Mahony took over the day-to-day running of the company in 1987 and closed the company nine months later. The name and back catalogue were sold to Superior Software.{{cite magazine |title=News|magazine=Acorn User|issue=76|publisher=Redwood Publishing|date=November 1988|page=11|url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser076-Nov88/page/n11|access-date=10 July 2024}} Two titles were released under the joint Superior/Alligata label for ports of Superior's BBC/Electron games to other systems. Superior also included some old Alligata games on their Play It Again Sam compilations.
Games
- 1983 Aztec Tomb (C64){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=186|title=Aztec Tomb - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1983 Here Comes The Sun (ZX Spectrum){{Cite web |url=http://www.zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/Review.aspx?rid=5049&gid=2492 |title=Sinclair ZX Spectrum Reviews |access-date=2016-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810100724/http://zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/Review.aspx?rid=5049&gid=2492 |archive-date=2016-08-10 |url-status=dead}}
- 1983 Bug Blaster (C64, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=3715|title=Bug Blaster - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1983 Lunar Rescue (BBC Micro, Acorn Electron)
- 1983 Blagger (C64, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, MSX, Commodore 16) A version was also released through Amsoft for the Amstrad CPC{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/amtix-9YY4/20210801/281981790692498|title=Blagger Amsoft/Alligata|via=PressReader|access-date=30 May 2022}}
- 1984 Loco (C64, ZX Spectrum, Atari 8-bit){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=1532|title=Loco - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1984 Son of Blagger (C64, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2374|title=Son of Blagger - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1985 Who Dares Wins (C64){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2848|title=Who Dares Wins - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1985 Jack Charlton's Match Fishing (C64, ZX Spectrum){{cite web|url=http://www.stadium64.com/gameinfos/jackcharltonsmatchfishing/jackcharltonsmatchfishing.htm|title=STADIUM 64 - Game Infos: Jack Charlton's Match Fishing|website=Stadium64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=1344|title=Jack Charlton's Match Fishing - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1985 Blagger Goes to Hollywood (C64){{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=002&page=104&thumbstart=0&magazine=zzap&check=1|title=Impossible to Display Scan|website=Zzap64.co.uk|access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=295|title=Blagger goes to Hollywood - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1986 Who Dares Wins II (C64, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, MSX, Amstrad CPC){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2849|title=Who Dares Wins II - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0005673|title=Who Dares Wins II - World of Spectrum|website=Worldofspectrum.org|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1986 Night World (BBC Micro, Acorn Electron)
- 1987 Kettle (C64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=1425|title=Kettle - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1987 Livingstone, I Presume? (C64, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=1531|title=Livingstone, I Presume? - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}} UK release of Spanish Opera Soft game Livingstone, Supongo
- 1987 Addicta Ball (C64, MSX, Amiga, Atari ST){{cite web|url=https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=57|title=Addicta Ball - Commodore 64 Game / C64 Games, C64 reviews, downloads & SID tunes|website=Lemon64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}}
- 1988 By Fair Means or Foul (C64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC){{cite web|url=http://www.stadium64.com/gameinfos/byfairmeansorfoul/byfairmeansorfoul.htm|title=STADIUM 64 - Game Infos: By Fair Means Or Foul|website=Stadium64.com|access-date=13 March 2019}} A Superior/Alligata release
- 1989 Repton Mania (ZX Spectrum) Ports of the first 2 Repton games - A Superior/Alligata release{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-085/SinclairUser_085_Apr_1989#page/n87/mode/1up|title = Sinclair User Magazine Issue 085|website=Archive.org|date = April 1989}}
Budgie label
Alligata published budget games under the Budgie label{{Cite web |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/tzers0287.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410120117/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/tzers0287.htm |archive-date=2016-04-10 |url-status=dead}} from 1985. When a typical Alligata game would cost around £6.95, Budgie games sold for only £1.99 in order to compete with the likes of budget software pioneer Mastertronic, already selling games at that level. Almost all titles were original rather than re-issues of Alligata games. Probably the most well known game is space shoot 'em up Video's Revenge (BBC Micro, Acorn Electron) with others including Convoy (ZX Spectrum), Super Sam (ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC), Raskel (C64) and Shuffle (BBC Micro, Acorn Electron).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekpub.cgi?regexp=^Alligata+Software+Ltd$&loadpics=on Alligata at World of Spectrum]
- [http://www.beebgames.com/games.php?company=13&start=1 Alligata at the BBC Games Archive]
- [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekpub.cgi?regexp=^Budgie+Budget+Software$&loadpics=on Budgie at World of Spectrum]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD7Mjfs6ld8 Who Dares Wins game ending by Alligata Software]
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom