anyone know what he is doing now and where I can contact him?
Programmer of such Speccy classics as 3D Deathchase, Luna Crabs, Full Throttle and Speed King?(but I didnt need to tell you that)
I've wondered this myself, and it appears he has disappeared into the abyss of anonymity. There is nothing about him on the internet, so god knows where he is now. He didn't do that much on the Spectrum, but what he did do was mostly brilliant. I mean, Deathchase is the best game of it's type ever on the machine - you don't do things like that through luck.
As my signature saysm, 3D Death Chase is a real favourite of mine - as a 16K game only Jetpac is in the same league. It'd be interesting to track him down, maybe someone can help.
I've always wondered what became of Raf Cecco of Cybernoid fame as well - I know he moved onto the Amiga, doing the Samurai games, but no idea about the last decade.
On 2004-05-10 16:11, MartinUK wrote:
Rainbow Islands, Chase HQ, R-Type, 3D Death Chase, Commando, Bombjack, Alien 8, Rastan, Klax, Smash TV - perhaps the greatest games of all
And not even a strategy game or a text adventure among them :( Oh, well. Tastes.
I never really got into text adventures - perhaps that's a style I need to pursue.
As for strategy games, Lords of Midnight would certainly be in my Top 20, Sim City likewise. As a whole though, I don't think the Spectrum was powerful enough to do much in that area - on the Amiga I loved Civilization, The Settlers and Premier Manager 2 amongst others.
I would then suggest you to try, if you haven't done it yet, Laser Squad - my favourite Spectrum game ever, by the way -, Nether Earth - real time strategy five years before Dune II -, any title by Ken Wright (Overlord, Blitzkrieg, Stalingrad, Wellington at Waterloo...), any title by Astros Productions (Samurai, Solar Fire, Tank Assault), or other great games such as Annals of Rome, Pegasus Bridge, Arnhem, Desert Rats, Theatre Europe, Guadalcanal, Avalanche, War in Middle Earth, Armageddon Man etc.
On 2004-04-28 16:46, PeeknPoke wrote:
anyone know what he is doing now and where I can contact him?
Programmer of such Speccy classics as 3D Deathchase, Luna Crabs, Full Throttle and Speed King?(but I didnt need to tell you that)
Lee
You weren't owt to do with the Peek and Poke computer games shop in Bolton were you? It was a great little shop that, rent speccy games for a quid for a week.
On 2005-03-24 02:12, chaosmongers wrote:
Is it possible that MERVYN J ESTCOURT could in fact be a pseudonym?
The name just sounds quite odd... if you add some letters, and then take some away, you could end up with MATTHEW SMITH... :cool:
Hmmm ... When I input MERVYN J ESTCOURT into my patented "Skarpo's Highly Incredible Text Editor/Word Discombobulator" I get this output: FUZZY POPPET.
No, Mervyn is the real thing, he aint no pseudonym. There's a photo of him in an early issue of Crash, issue 2 I think. He was a relatively old programmer - in his thirties when he did the Spectrum games Deathchase, Luna Crabs and Full Throttle.
Small output, but all three games are worth playing, two are great and one is arguably the best game ever on the Spectrum. Not bad going Merv!
On 2005-03-24 22:33, Spector wrote:
There's a photo of him in an early issue of Crash, issue 2 I think.
so find the publisher or the writer of the thread from Crash... ?! they could know.
but maybe you find out he lived poorly, died unknown and was buried in a massgrave like Mozart and became famous just after his death... it?s right now that we talk about those "heavenly" 3D Deathchase...
(I love it too...)
I can find him in Cornwall, but am not a member of 192 to get further info (ie exact address). I'd be really grateful (and the speccy scene would benefit too) if you could drop me an email with the address so I can contact him for Retro Gamer
Edit: Ok, job done. Let's see if it is THE MJ Estcourt...
[ This Message was edited by: cately999 on 2005-03-27 22:21 ]
It would be brilliant if we could find this guy. He probably doesn't have any idea that people would be interested in his games nowadays. He put a lot of effort into them though: apparently for "Full Throttle" he got a mate's motorbike and rode around on it at high speeds on country roads to get the feeling of speed and dynamics. A truly dedicated programmer if ever there was one. :)
*large bump*
Did anybody ever get in touch with Mervyn J Estcourt?
Sort of. Ish. I have an address and further to this thread managed to locate his niece. After a pleasant conservation or three, she kindly forwarded my details onto him. Unfortunately I didn't hear anything and respectfully didn't push it any further.
... Unfortunately I didn't hear anything and respectfully didn't push it any further.
Maybe a gentle reminder is in order, if it's been quite some time and perhaps include an acknowledgment therein that you do respect their privacy and that this would be the final intrusion (if we can call it that) ... (or something to that effect).
Maybe a gentle reminder is in order, if it's been quite some time and perhaps include an acknowledgment therein that you do respect their privacy and that this would be the final intrusion (if we can call it that) ... (or something to that effect).
Gave all what info. I had to Darran@retrogamer in 2009, thought I did to Gerard as well? Personally not for me and jdandddiet seems to have it covered.
Comments
https://discordapp.com/invite/cZt59EQ
Puts 'CHEQUERED FLAG' to shame anyway
I've always wondered what became of Raf Cecco of Cybernoid fame as well - I know he moved onto the Amiga, doing the Samurai games, but no idea about the last decade.
And not even a strategy game or a text adventure among them :( Oh, well. Tastes.
As for strategy games, Lords of Midnight would certainly be in my Top 20, Sim City likewise. As a whole though, I don't think the Spectrum was powerful enough to do much in that area - on the Amiga I loved Civilization, The Settlers and Premier Manager 2 amongst others.
Now, now... don't be sad. We forgive you :)
I'm still looking for Mervyn J Estcourt for a Retro Gamer feature...
Can anyone help the Speccy community by tracking him down?
I can start with: "Last heard of 'down south somewhere' "
You weren't owt to do with the Peek and Poke computer games shop in Bolton were you? It was a great little shop that, rent speccy games for a quid for a week.
Daren
The name just sounds quite odd... if you add some letters, and then take some away, you could end up with MATTHEW SMITH... :cool:
Hmmm ... When I input MERVYN J ESTCOURT into my patented "Skarpo's Highly Incredible Text Editor/Word Discombobulator" I get this output: FUZZY POPPET.
Skarpo
:)
Small output, but all three games are worth playing, two are great and one is arguably the best game ever on the Spectrum. Not bad going Merv!
https://discordapp.com/invite/cZt59EQ
Mervyn Estcourt cannot be a common name surely.
Having been a Local Council employee at one time it is not too difficult to trace someone if you know their last known address.
Just a thought!!!
misteaksmistrakesmisyaleserrurs— oh, sod it.so find the publisher or the writer of the thread from Crash... ?! they could know.
but maybe you find out he lived poorly, died unknown and was buried in a massgrave like Mozart and became famous just after his death... it?s right now that we talk about those "heavenly" 3D Deathchase...
(I love it too...)
I can find him in Cornwall, but am not a member of 192 to get further info (ie exact address). I'd be really grateful (and the speccy scene would benefit too) if you could drop me an email with the address so I can contact him for Retro Gamer
Edit: Ok, job done. Let's see if it is THE MJ Estcourt...
[ This Message was edited by: cately999 on 2005-03-27 22:21 ]
You will let us know how you get on won't you?
Incidentally, 192.com is scarily full of information.
https://discordapp.com/invite/cZt59EQ
Did anybody ever get in touch with Mervyn J Estcourt?
Sort of. Ish. I have an address and further to this thread managed to locate his niece. After a pleasant conservation or three, she kindly forwarded my details onto him. Unfortunately I didn't hear anything and respectfully didn't push it any further.
Maybe a gentle reminder is in order, if it's been quite some time and perhaps include an acknowledgment therein that you do respect their privacy and that this would be the final intrusion (if we can call it that) ... (or something to that effect).
Gave all what info. I had to Darran@retrogamer in 2009, thought I did to Gerard as well? Personally not for me and jdandddiet seems to have it covered.