ZX Spectrum Classics #10: ALL the Games by -=ODIN COMPUTER GRAPHICS=-

Series with focus on releases from the 80s software houses. Playlist with all videos here: Odin Computer Graphics () was a spin off label from Thor in order to develop games in-house. Later when Thor was revived as Thor Computer Software to publish budget games, the two were run in parallel as sister companies. Odin consisted of Managing Director Paul McKenna; programmers Steve Wetherill, Robbie Tinman, Marc Dawson (now Wilding), Keith Robinson, George Barnes, Tommy Laningan, Derrick Rowson, and Stefan Walker; artists Paul Salmon, Stuart Fotheringham, and Colin Grunes; and musician Keith Tinman. Bernie Duggs and musician Fred Gray are also credited. Fotheringham and Dawson had previously worked for Software Projects. Some other staff members had previously worked for Imagine Software. Prior to the release of their debut title, Nodes of Yesod, in 1985, Odin had previously released a number of games under the name Thor. Although they developed a couple of in-house titles as Thor, they mainly acquired the publishing rights to homegrown titles from anonymous bedroom programmers. These early titles were mostly regarded as critical disappointments but not commercial failures. When Thor decided to switch to in-house development, Paul McKenna (managing director & owner) thought it appropriate to form a new company, hence Odin Computer Graphics was born. Nodes of Yesod became an instant critical and commercial success, prompting Telecomsoft (the software division of British Telecom) to offer them a six-figure contract to develop ten games within a 12-month period. While Odin’s later games (including Robin of the Wood and Heartland) were very well received, some later titles failed to live up to expected BT standards. During this period, the warehouse area attached to the Odin studio was used by Telecomsoft as a distribution warehouse and to store thousands of copies of games on their Firebird, Rainbird and Beyond labels. Odin closed in 1987. Several of their staff went on to work for Denton Designs. List of releases for the ZX Spectrum: 0:05 1985 Nodes of Yesod 0:35 1985 Robin of the Wood 1:05 1986 Hypaball 1:35 1986 Heartland 2:05 1987 Sidewize (Published by Firebird Software) 2:35 1988 The Plot (Published by Firebird Software)