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Acornsoft

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Acornsoft
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustrySoftware publishing
Founded1980
FounderHermann Hauser, Chris Curry, David Johnson-Davies
FateCeased independent operations in 1986; brand revived in 1997
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsGames, educational software, programming languages, business software (VIEW, ViewSheet)
ParentAcorn Computers

Acornsoft functioned as the software arm of Acorn Computers and stood out as a prominent publisher for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron platforms. Its catalog encompassed a variety of genres, including games, educational software, supplementary programming languages, and business utilities such as the word processor VIEW and the spreadsheet ViewSheet. These programs were delivered via ROM and cartridge formats for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron, while also being standard features on the BBC Master and Acorn Business Computer models.

History

Founded in late 1980 by Acorn Computers executives Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry along with David Johnson-Davies, who authored the UK’s first personal computer game and the official manual for the Acorn Atom, Acornsoft quickly established itself in the software market. Johnson-Davies took on the role of managing director, with programmer Tim Dobson and publications editor Chris Jordan joining early in 1981.

Although some releases were inspired by popular arcade games—such as Hopper, modeled after Frogger, Snapper reflecting Pac-Man, and Arcadians drawing from Galaxian—Acornsoft also produced original successes including Aviator, Elite, and Revs. The company published text-based adventures by writers like Peter Killworth, featuring titles such as Philosopher's Quest and Countdown to Doom.

After a method to circumvent Acornsoft’s copy protection was revealed, a High Court injunction compelled Computing Publications—the publisher of Personal Computer World—to withdraw their January 1984 issue. This injunction was later lifted following an out-of-court agreement where Acorn received £65,000 plus costs to fund new copy protection development. This incident underscored the difficulties faced in combating software piracy, which had significant implications for Acornsoft’s operations.

Operating as a subsidiary distinct from Acorn Computers’ hardware division within the Acorn Computer Group, Acornsoft ceased independent operations when Johnson-Davies departed in January 1986. Thereafter, Acorn Computers continued to utilize the Acornsoft brand for office applications like VIEW on the BBC Master. In 1986, Superior Software acquired licenses to re-release certain Acornsoft games through compilations such as Play It Again Sam and Acornsoft Hits. However, Superior did not obtain rights to the text adventures, which were subsequently revised and reissued by Topologika, along with their sequels.

The Acornsoft brand was revived in 1997 by Acorn to introduce new software offerings including RISC OS upgrades, programming utilities, a web browser, multitasking video playback through Acorn Replay, and Java compatibility for RISC OS. This initiative aimed to deliver innovative software at competitive prices for RISC OS users while supporting third-party developers via marketing efforts such as advertising campaigns and press sample distribution.

Branding

Acornsoft consistently reinforced its product identity through distinctive loading screen designs featured in its software titles.

Select titles

  • Acheton – Interactive fiction text adventure
  • Arcadians – Clone of Galaxian
  • Aviator – Flight simulator featuring a Spitfire with extraterrestrial encounters
  • Black Box & Gambit – Board game genres; winners of ITV's The Saturday Show contest. Black Box, a licensed Waddingtons title developed by Ben Finn (later co-creator of Sibelius), while Gambit marked the first commercial release by the Oliver Twins
  • Bouncer – Inspired by Q*Bert
  • Business Games – Educational software suite
  • Carousel – Adaptation of Carnival
  • Castle of Riddles – Text-based adventure
  • Countdown to Doom – Text adventure; initial installment in a trilogy with sequels published elsewhere
  • Crazy Tracer – Based on the arcade game Amidar
  • Creative Graphics – Showcases BBC Micro’s graphical capabilities with user-editable code
  • Drogna – Strategy game inspired by BBC TV’s The Adventure Game
  • Elite – 3D space combat and trading simulation
  • Firebug – Platformer involving ladders
  • Free Fall – Survival-themed game set aboard a deteriorating space station
  • Gateway to Karos – Text adventure title
  • Graphs and Charts – Tool for graphical mathematical modeling
  • Hopper – Modeled after arcade classic Frogger
  • JCB Digger – Side-scrolling digging game in 2D
  • Kingdom of Hamil – Text adventure experience
  • Labyrinth – Two-dimensional maze shooter
  • Magic Mushrooms – Platformer with ladders including a level editor feature
  • Meteor Mission – Clone of arcade game Lunar Rescue
  • Meteors – Inspired by classic arcade title Asteroids
  • Missile Base – Based on the gameplay of Missile Command
  • Monsters – Clone of platformer-style arcade game Space Panic
  • Philosopher's Quest – Text adventure narrative
  • Planetoid – Originally launched as “Defender,” replicating gameplay from the arcade hit Defender
  • Revs – Formula Three racing simulation game
  • Rocket Raid – Inspired by the scrolling shooter arcade classic ‘‘Scramble’’
  • Snapper – Classic clone of ‘‘Pac-Man’’
  • Sphinx Adventure – Text-based adventure game
  • Starship Command – Two-dimensional space combat title
  • Super Invaders – Popular clone of ‘‘Space Invaders’’ arcade game
  • Volcano – Helicopter rescue mission near an active volcano setting

Acornsoft Games collection

This collection consisted of arcade, text-based adventure, and board games designed for the BBC Micro Model B. Games labeled Model A & B were compatible with both versions of the BBC Micro, while those designated Electron were also available for the Acorn Electron. The list below is organized by catalogue number, generally reflecting the sequence of BBC releases.

  • G01 Philosopher's Quest (BBC 1982, Electron 1984)
  • G02 Defender (BBC 1982) withdrawn due to legal issues; later reissued as Planetoid
  • G02 Aviator (BBC 1983) assigned the catalogue number previously used by the removed Defender
  • G03 Monsters (BBC 1982, Electron 1983)
  • G04 Snapper (BBC 1982, Electron 1983)
  • G05 Rocket Raid (BBC 1982)
  • G06 Arcade Action (compatible with BBC Model A & B, 1982) featuring games such as Invaders, Breakout, Dodgems, and Snake
  • G07 Sphinx Adventure (BBC 1982, Electron 1984)
  • G08 Cube Master (BBC 1982)
  • G09 JCB Digger (BBC 1983)
  • G10 Chess (BBC 1982, Electron 1983)
  • G11 Maze (BBC 1982, Electron 1984)
  • G12 Sliding-Block Puzzles (BBC 1982)
  • G13 Meteors (BBC 1982, Electron 1983)
  • G14 Arcadians (BBC 1982, Electron 1984)
  • G15 Planetoid (BBC 1982, Electron 1984)
  • G16 Super Invaders (BBC 1982)
  • G17 Castle of Riddles (BBC 1982, Electron 1984)
  • G18 Missile Base (BBC 1982)
  • G19 Countdown to Doom (available on BBC, and as a ROM Cartridge for the Electron, 1984)
  • G20 Draughts & Reversi (compatible with BBC Model A & B, and Electron in 1983)
  • G21 Snooker (released for BBC, and Electron in 1984)
  • G22 Starship Command (available on both platforms in 1983)
  • G23 Hopper (released for BBC and Electron in 1984)
  • G24 Carousel (only on BBC, 1983)
  • G25 Kingdom of Hamil (only BBC, 1983)
  • G26 Crazy Tracer (available on BBC and Electron in 1984)
  • G27 Drogna (only BBC, 1983)
  • G28 Free Fall (released on BBC and Electron in 1984)
  • G29 Meteor Mission (exclusively for BBC, 1984)
  • G30 Gateway to Karos (only BBC, 1983)
  • G31 Boxer (for both BBC and Electron in 1984)
  • G32 Tetrapod (only BBC, released in 1984)
  • G33 Volcano (exclusive to BBC, released in 1984)
  • G34 Black Box & Gambit (for BBC only, released in 1984)
  • G35 Bouncer (available on BBC in 1984)
  • G36 The Seventh Star (released for BBC in 1984)
  • G37 Acheton (only BBC, released in 1984)
  • G38 Elite original version for BBC Micro 6502 Second Processor
  • G39 Firebug (compatible with both platforms, released in 1984)
  • G40 Quondam (same platforms and year as above)
  • G41 Labyrinth ("")
  • G42 Go ("")
  • G43 Revs ("", exclusive to BBC, released in 1985)
  • G44 Revs 4 Tracks ("", additional tracks for main game, BBC only, released in 1985)
  • G45 Elite original version for 6502 Second Processor
  • G46 Magic Mushrooms ("", available on both platforms, released in 1985)
  • G47 Enhanced Elite versions for 6502 Second Processor and Master 128 models ("", exclusive to BBC, released in 1986)

A number of unreleased titles such as Crazy Balloon, Hellforce, and Bandit, originating around the year 1983, have since become part of the public domain.

Acornsoft Education collection

Acornsoft provided an extensive range of educational software aimed at diverse age groups.

Highlighted titles comprised:

  • E01 Algebraic Manipulation
  • E02 Peeko-Computer
  • E03 Business Games: featuring Stokmark’’ and ‘’Telemark’’
  • E04 Tree of Knowledge
  • E05 Word Hunt
  • E06 Word Sequencing
  • E07 Sentence Sequencing
  • E08 Number Balance
  • E09 Missing Signs
  • E12 Chemical Analysis
  • E13 Chemical Simulations
  • E14 Chemical Structures
  • E15 Jars
  • E16 Temperature Control Simulation
  • E22 Talkback
  • E23 Workshop
  • E24 ABC

Additionally, Acornsoft published educational programs developed by ASK (Applied Systems Knowledge), which gained widespread use within schools employing BBC Micro computers. Prominent ASK releases included the strategic game Podd, along with titles such as Squeeze’’ and the mathematics-focused Cranky’’. These products utilized a unique XBE?? coding system distinct from Acornsoft’s typical SBE?? educational code.

The Ivan Berg Software series featured quizzes and relationship tools under the code XBX??. This lineup incorporated the six-part "Grandmaster Quiz" collection alongside revision materials tailored for GCE/CSE examinations.

Acornsoft also distributed educational software from external providers like ICL and Good Housekeeping; however, these offerings were not part of their official catalogue.

Acornsoft Business Software Collection

Acornsoft produced office applications designed specifically for both domestic and commercial users.

The primary offerings comprised:

  • B01 Desk Diary
  • B02 Forecast
  • B03 VIEW word processor, also available as a ROM cartridge for the Electron model
  • B04 VIEW Printer Drivers
  • C05 Personal Money Management
  • C06 Database Management System
  • C07 ViewSheet spreadsheet, with an Electron ROM cartridge edition
  • C08 Invoicing
  • C09 Mailing
  • C10 Accounts Receivable
  • C11 Stock Control
  • C12 Order Processing
  • C13 Accounts Payable
  • C14 Purchasing
  • C15 Hi-View

This lineup was later enhanced with supplementary VIEW extensions like ViewIndex and ViewSpell.

In 1987, Acornsoft introduced View Professional, an integrated suite combining word processing, spreadsheet, and database functions, serving as a counterpart to PipeDream on the Z88.

The P-System offering incorporated UCSD Pascal and Fortran compilers aimed at professional programmers. Created by TDI for Acornsoft, this solution required an investment of £299 for hardware components including an additional processor and disk drive. Certain development utilities were marketed separately under the Advanced Development Toolkit label.

Acornsoft Programming Languages Portfolio

While BBC BASIC was the default language on Acorn platforms, Acornsoft provided an extensive selection of supplementary programming languages accessible via cassette, disk, or ROM cartridge.

Prominent languages included:

  • L01 FORTH
  • L02 LISP with a ROM cartridge version for the Electron
  • L03 BCPL
  • L04 Microtext
  • L05 6502 Development System
  • L06 Logo featuring an Electron ROM cartridge variant
  • L07 Turtle Graphics
  • L08 S-Pascal

L09 LISP Demonstrations L12 BCPL Stand Alone Generator L13 FORTH in ROM format L14 LISP ROM edition L17 PROLOG Micro L18 ISO-Pascal with Electron ROM cartridge release L19 COMAL

Additional titles addressed BASIC code editing and terminal emulation functionalities.

Performance evaluations conducted by ex-managing director David Johnson-Davies using the Tak function revealed notable disparities in execution speed and code compactness among these languages. Comparative analyses also encompassed languages such as Oxford Pascal and Turbo Pascal.

Acornsoft Graphics Software and Other Titles

Acornsoft demonstrated graphical software capabilities through a focused but limited collection of graphics-related programs:

Highlighted titles included:

  • X01 Creative Graphics

X02 Graphs & Charts X03 Picture Maker X04 Shirley Conran's Magic Garden X05 Collector's Catalogue X06 Membership Manager X07 One To Nine X08 Hooked on Numbers X10 Complete Cocktail Maker X11 Paul Daniels' Magic Show X12 100 Programs for the BBC Micro X13–X16 Linkword language learning series covering French, Italian, Spanish, and German X17 Watch Your Weight X18 Me & My Micro

The X?? coding scheme was subsequently broadened to encompass other software categories including themed collections like Creative Sound.

External links

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