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CRL Group

{{Infobox company

| name = CRL Group PLC

| logo = CRL Group plc logo.png

| type = Private

| genre =

| fate = Dissolved

| former_name = Computer Rentals Limited

| founded = {{Start date and age|1982|04|29}}

| founder = Clement Chambers

| defunct = {{End date|1989}}

| hq_location = 9 King's Yard, Carpenters Road

| hq_location_city = London E15 2HD

| hq_location_country = England

| area_served = United Kingdom

| key_people = Ian Ellery

| industry = Video games

| products = Tau Ceti, Academy

}}

CRL Group plc was a British video game development and publishing company. Originally CRL stood for "Computer Rentals Limited".{{Cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/09/news.htm|title = CRASH 9 - News}} It was based in King's Yard, London and run by Clem Chambers.{{cite journal |title=From cavemen to rocky horrors |journal=Amstrad Action |issue=19 |date=August 1985 |page=30}} at World of Spectrum

They released a number of notable adventure games based on horror stories. Dracula and Frankenstein were rated 15 certificate by the British Board of Film Censors for their graphics depicting bloody scenes; Dracula was the first game to be rated by the BBFC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/bram-stokers-dracula-review|title = Bram Stoker's Dracula|website = Eurogamer|date = 26 October 2007}} Jack the Ripper was the first game to receive an 18 certificate, Wolfman also gained an 18 certificate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-03-01-dracula-unbound-the-story-behind-the-first-18-certificated-video-game|title=Dracula unbound: The story behind the first 18 certificated video game|website=Eurogamer|date=March 2015}}

CRL-published games that achieved critical success include Tau Ceti and Academy.

The 1984 game of the series Terrahawks was one of the first video games based on a TV show.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourSinclair/Issue60/Pages/YourSinclair6000058.jpg|title = Your Sinclair}}

Games

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

= 1982 =

  • Rescue

= 1983 =

  • 3D Desert Patrol
  • Alien Maze
  • Bomber
  • Caveman
  • Crawler
  • Derby Day
  • Draughts
  • Escape from Manhattan
  • Galactic Patrol
  • Grand National
  • Jackpot
  • Lunar Rescue
  • One Day Cricket
  • Pandemonia
  • Test Match
  • The Omega Run
  • The Orb
  • Space Mission
  • Zaraks

= 1984 =

  • £.s.d.
  • Ahhh!!
  • Cricket 64
  • Glug Glug
  • Handicap Golf
  • Handy Andy
  • Incredible Adventure
  • Olympics
  • Orpheus in the Underworld
  • Show Jumping
  • Terrahawks{{Cite web|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr09/yr09_59.htm|title = Your Spectrum 09 - Joystick Jury}}
  • The Great Detective
  • The Magic Roundabout
  • Tritz
  • Whirlybird
  • The War of the Worlds
  • The Warlock's Treasure
  • The Woods of Winter

= 1985 =

=1986=

  • Academy
  • Bugsy
  • Doctor What!{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=1416|title = Doctor What! At Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware}}
  • Dracula
  • Hercules{{smallsup|1}}
  • Pilgrim
  • Robin of Sherlock{{smallsup|2}}
  • Room Ten
  • Samurai
  • The Boggit
  • The Very Big Cave Adventure

=1987=

=1988=

=1989=

=1990=

  • Hellhole

=Unreleased=

  • Enchantress{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0011680|title = World of Spectrum - Enchantress}}
  • Spearhead{{Cite web|url=https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/software/games/spearhead-crl-group-plc|title = World of Spectrum - Spearhead}}
  • The Blues Brothers{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/the-blues-brothers/|title=The Blues Brothers (C64) - 1987 CRL - GTW64}}
  • The Malinsay Massacre{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0011871|title = World of Spectrum - the Malinsay Massacre}}

{{div col end}}

Software

  • Fifth (1983){{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Richard |title=Fifth User's Manual |url=https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-info/f/Fifth.txt |website=World Of Spectrum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031235112/https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-info/f/Fifth.txt |archive-date=31 October 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • Stargazer Secrets (1983)
  • Highway Code (1984){{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=9110|title = Highway Code at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware}}
  • 3D Game Maker (1987)
  • 2D Game Maker (1988)
  • Hi-Rise Scaffold Construction Set (Unreleased)

Platforms

Notes

{{lower|0.2em|{{smallsup|1}}}} Hercules was originally released in 1984 by Interdisc

{{lower|0.2em|{{smallsup|2}}}} Bored of the Rings and Robin of Sherlock were originally released in 1985 by Delta 4

{{lower|0.2em|{{smallsup|3}}}} Federation was originally released as Quann Tulla in 1985 by 8th Day Software

{{lower|0.2em|{{smallsup|4}}}} International Soccer was originally only released on cartridge in 1983 by Commodore International{{cite magazine |title=Funny Old Game Innit Cecil?|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=86|publisher=EMAP|date=December 1988|page=99|url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-086/page/n97/mode/2up|access-date=19 December 2022}}{{cite magazine |title=Zzap Test: International Soccer|magazine=Zzap|issue=76|publisher=Newsfield|date=9 June 1988|page=75|url=https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-039/page/n75/mode/2up|access-date=19 December 2022}}

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

External links

  • {{MobyGames company|company=crl-group-plc}}
  • [https://www.eurogamer.net/the-story-behind-the-worst-game-ever-made The story behind the worst game ever made]

{{CRL Group}}

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game publishers