Spunout software was established in Cornwall, UK in 1994. They where a small independent developer of video games for the Commodore Amiga platform.
About the Development Team
The development team comprised of Moosehound/Moosie (Zeth Ward), BennyB/Acidbottle (Ben Brown) and Will.
Amiga development was undertaken by Moosie & Benny. Most PC development was handled by Will, although no PC titles where ever released. All music, graphics, programming and design where handled by the co-founders of the studio Moosie and Benny.
Development took place on computers and several titles where released between 1994 and 1997. Development platforms used where Sensible Software's Shoot'em up Construction Kit aka SEUCK, Europress's AMOS Pro and Acid Software's Blitz Basic
Although no major publishers picked up the titles they still distributed titles via local specialist retailers and the public domain markets. Several titles appeared for review in the industry stalwart of the times Amiga Format.
Titles released by the company where :-
Horace Goes E'ing - 1995
The Further Adventures of Horace (aka Horace takes a Trip) - triple pack including Horace Classic, Horace Goes E'ing and Horace in Space - 1995
Bong Brix - 1996
Blizzard's Lair - Xmas 1996
SpinBrix - 1997
Several other titles where in the R & D phase but where never released.
The company went on hiatus when the co-founders stopped development in early 1998 to pursue other career paths.
About the Games
Horace Goes E'ing
This was a surreal take on the shoot-em up genre. Borrowing the lead character from the classic Horace spectrum series you went on a vertically scrolling journey through various psychedelic lands and fought bizarre forms of medications and trippy looking aliens. This product was never fully released as it was then rolled into the package The Further Adventures of Horace aka Horace Takes a Trip. Released late 1995 this was produced using SEUCK
Horace Takes a Trip
This package contained 3 SEUCK made shooting games set in different 'worlds'. The first part was set in classic spectrum games of the 80's like Horace Goes Skiiing, Sensible Soccer, Ghostbusters and many others. The second title is as it was when in stand alone format (see above). The third title was set in space using several clichés taken from classics like Xenon Xevious, Raiden etc.
A review for this title appeared in Amiga Format - the review was not very favourable but stated that several aspects of the graphics accurately captured the games it was replicating and was a nostalgic trip.
Bong Brix
Bong Brix was an Arkanoid and Batty inspired title and was the first title to be written by the developers in AMOS Pro. The title featured the standard bat and ball fair but also a enemy "bong" floated around the screen intercepting the ball and making it more difficult to predict the pattern of the ball. This was another title reviewed by Amiga Format this time receiving a more favourable review but it was hampered by a technical glitch in the review code sent to the magazine which failed to take into account of the clock speed of the machine it was running on. So if you used an Amiga 500 it ran too slowly and if you used an accelerated Amiga 1200 or it ran far to quickly. This was addressed in the released version.
Blizzard's Lair
This title was a side scrolling shoot-em up game in the style of Team 17's Project-X. This was a wintry based scroller with parallax scrolling and frenetic shooting action. The title was produced to coincide with Xmas 1996 and was one of the better selling games the studio produced even though it never went out to magazines for review.
Spin Brix
This was to be the last title released by Spunout Software. This title took around 8 months of development time. It was a Tetris clone that ran in the highest resolution that the Amiga support and used a full colour palette of 4096 colours (Amiga's HAM mode). It introduced several new brick styles into the game and contained both single and dual player modes. It also contained a secret game revealed via the level code insertion screen. Featuring a remix of the Prodigy's "out of Space" track on the intro / title screen. Please see this external reference for the original nfo file that shipped with the title here for more information.
Notes and Facts
Both Bong Brix and Spinbrix could be purchased on the Amiga format cover CD editions
Spinbrix had a hidden game accessed by typing BONG in the level number screen
Horace Goes E'ing / Takes a Trip became a cult rarity in the Amiga Public Domain scene many years after release
The graphics from the Classic Horace level from Horace Takes a Trip can be seen in the G of the Amiga Format Readers Games Graphic in the magazine
A 3D Eye of the Beholder game was in development when the team ceased in early 1998 along with 2 other titles
Sources and Resources of further information
Amiga Format :
Issue No: 104 Month: December 1997
Release Date: Wednesday October 29th Price: £5.99 (CD-ROM), £4.50 (2 Disks)
Editor: Nick Veitch Page Count: 116
Also see This link to AF online Archive
Spin Brix was featured on the cover CD.
Issue No: 90 Month: November 1996
Release Date: ? Price: £4.50 (2 disks) £5.50 (CD-ROM)
Editor: Nick Veitch Page Count: 116
Also see This link to AF online Archive
Horace Takes a Trip is referenced in this article
Spinbrix NFO hosted online at this location
Spin Brix and Bong Brix can be found as part of the TOSEC project here
About the Development Team
The development team comprised of Moosehound/Moosie (Zeth Ward), BennyB/Acidbottle (Ben Brown) and Will.
Amiga development was undertaken by Moosie & Benny. Most PC development was handled by Will, although no PC titles where ever released. All music, graphics, programming and design where handled by the co-founders of the studio Moosie and Benny.
Development took place on computers and several titles where released between 1994 and 1997. Development platforms used where Sensible Software's Shoot'em up Construction Kit aka SEUCK, Europress's AMOS Pro and Acid Software's Blitz Basic
Although no major publishers picked up the titles they still distributed titles via local specialist retailers and the public domain markets. Several titles appeared for review in the industry stalwart of the times Amiga Format.
Titles released by the company where :-
Horace Goes E'ing - 1995
The Further Adventures of Horace (aka Horace takes a Trip) - triple pack including Horace Classic, Horace Goes E'ing and Horace in Space - 1995
Bong Brix - 1996
Blizzard's Lair - Xmas 1996
SpinBrix - 1997
Several other titles where in the R & D phase but where never released.
The company went on hiatus when the co-founders stopped development in early 1998 to pursue other career paths.
About the Games
Horace Goes E'ing
This was a surreal take on the shoot-em up genre. Borrowing the lead character from the classic Horace spectrum series you went on a vertically scrolling journey through various psychedelic lands and fought bizarre forms of medications and trippy looking aliens. This product was never fully released as it was then rolled into the package The Further Adventures of Horace aka Horace Takes a Trip. Released late 1995 this was produced using SEUCK
Horace Takes a Trip
This package contained 3 SEUCK made shooting games set in different 'worlds'. The first part was set in classic spectrum games of the 80's like Horace Goes Skiiing, Sensible Soccer, Ghostbusters and many others. The second title is as it was when in stand alone format (see above). The third title was set in space using several clichés taken from classics like Xenon Xevious, Raiden etc.
A review for this title appeared in Amiga Format - the review was not very favourable but stated that several aspects of the graphics accurately captured the games it was replicating and was a nostalgic trip.
Bong Brix
Bong Brix was an Arkanoid and Batty inspired title and was the first title to be written by the developers in AMOS Pro. The title featured the standard bat and ball fair but also a enemy "bong" floated around the screen intercepting the ball and making it more difficult to predict the pattern of the ball. This was another title reviewed by Amiga Format this time receiving a more favourable review but it was hampered by a technical glitch in the review code sent to the magazine which failed to take into account of the clock speed of the machine it was running on. So if you used an Amiga 500 it ran too slowly and if you used an accelerated Amiga 1200 or it ran far to quickly. This was addressed in the released version.
Blizzard's Lair
This title was a side scrolling shoot-em up game in the style of Team 17's Project-X. This was a wintry based scroller with parallax scrolling and frenetic shooting action. The title was produced to coincide with Xmas 1996 and was one of the better selling games the studio produced even though it never went out to magazines for review.
Spin Brix
This was to be the last title released by Spunout Software. This title took around 8 months of development time. It was a Tetris clone that ran in the highest resolution that the Amiga support and used a full colour palette of 4096 colours (Amiga's HAM mode). It introduced several new brick styles into the game and contained both single and dual player modes. It also contained a secret game revealed via the level code insertion screen. Featuring a remix of the Prodigy's "out of Space" track on the intro / title screen. Please see this external reference for the original nfo file that shipped with the title here for more information.
Notes and Facts
Both Bong Brix and Spinbrix could be purchased on the Amiga format cover CD editions
Spinbrix had a hidden game accessed by typing BONG in the level number screen
Horace Goes E'ing / Takes a Trip became a cult rarity in the Amiga Public Domain scene many years after release
The graphics from the Classic Horace level from Horace Takes a Trip can be seen in the G of the Amiga Format Readers Games Graphic in the magazine
A 3D Eye of the Beholder game was in development when the team ceased in early 1998 along with 2 other titles
Sources and Resources of further information
Amiga Format :
Issue No: 104 Month: December 1997
Release Date: Wednesday October 29th Price: £5.99 (CD-ROM), £4.50 (2 Disks)
Editor: Nick Veitch Page Count: 116
Also see This link to AF online Archive
Spin Brix was featured on the cover CD.
Issue No: 90 Month: November 1996
Release Date: ? Price: £4.50 (2 disks) £5.50 (CD-ROM)
Editor: Nick Veitch Page Count: 116
Also see This link to AF online Archive
Horace Takes a Trip is referenced in this article
Spinbrix NFO hosted online at this location
Spin Brix and Bong Brix can be found as part of the TOSEC project here
Aimee G (1978 - ), born Aimee Genter, is a multimedia artist based in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Background
Aimee G was born and raised in the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. After moving to Portland, she spent two years working with filmmaker Miranda July on her experimental lady-made movie distribution project, Joanie 4 Jackie before branching out on her own into screenwriting and short film production. Her visual art has been exhibited in a handful of galleries around Minneapolis and Portland. She works primarily in mixed media and computer-based installations.
Music projects
A renowned electronic music artist, she is half of the nerdclash band Grammar Rodeo. She releases solo music under the name 50-Foot Daria. She is a classically-trained trumpet player with a formal education in jazz composition. She is also credited with writing the lyrics to Grammar Rodeo's hit songs "Tiny Bathroom" and "Party at Yr Mom's" (in collaboration with Kid Whatever).
A change of focus
In 2007, Aimee decided to take a break from artistic projects to pursue a career in women's full-contact football. She is currently training as a guard and nose tackle with the Portland Shockwave and her rookie season debut will be April 12, 2008 in Seattle as the Shockwave takes on the Seattle Majestics.
Background
Aimee G was born and raised in the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. After moving to Portland, she spent two years working with filmmaker Miranda July on her experimental lady-made movie distribution project, Joanie 4 Jackie before branching out on her own into screenwriting and short film production. Her visual art has been exhibited in a handful of galleries around Minneapolis and Portland. She works primarily in mixed media and computer-based installations.
Music projects
A renowned electronic music artist, she is half of the nerdclash band Grammar Rodeo. She releases solo music under the name 50-Foot Daria. She is a classically-trained trumpet player with a formal education in jazz composition. She is also credited with writing the lyrics to Grammar Rodeo's hit songs "Tiny Bathroom" and "Party at Yr Mom's" (in collaboration with Kid Whatever).
A change of focus
In 2007, Aimee decided to take a break from artistic projects to pursue a career in women's full-contact football. She is currently training as a guard and nose tackle with the Portland Shockwave and her rookie season debut will be April 12, 2008 in Seattle as the Shockwave takes on the Seattle Majestics.
Leann Collins is an American photographer. Collins was born in Idaho and graduated with honors from one of the top photography programs in the country. She has been featured in many publications, including the Hong Kong Journal of Photography. Her photographic fine art covers a variety of themes and genres. . She only works in film.
Collins is best known for her work with Time Zero film, where she created large scale canvas works and pioneered a photographic technique: styled photo-impressionism for enhanced creation long after the traditional accepted time window has passed. Collins' styled photo-impressionism techniques have been used as examples in a number of national classes regarding emulsion manipulation film. Until Collins' experimentation, it was thought the time window for working emulsion shifting was mere minutes. Collins stretched this out into days, opening an entire new range of Time Zero photography while in the field.
Collins is well-known for vigorously enforcing her copyright works and bringing new copyright law violations to the court system
. She has been involved in, and won, numerous copyright cases.
Today, Collins works as both a wedding photographer and fine art photographer in Texas. A local southwestern art gallery, The Turquoise Trading Post, displays her work.
Collins is best known for her work with Time Zero film, where she created large scale canvas works and pioneered a photographic technique: styled photo-impressionism for enhanced creation long after the traditional accepted time window has passed. Collins' styled photo-impressionism techniques have been used as examples in a number of national classes regarding emulsion manipulation film. Until Collins' experimentation, it was thought the time window for working emulsion shifting was mere minutes. Collins stretched this out into days, opening an entire new range of Time Zero photography while in the field.
Collins is well-known for vigorously enforcing her copyright works and bringing new copyright law violations to the court system
. She has been involved in, and won, numerous copyright cases.
Today, Collins works as both a wedding photographer and fine art photographer in Texas. A local southwestern art gallery, The Turquoise Trading Post, displays her work.
Funeral For My Chemical Valentine (2006-2008) were an Alternative Rock band from Aberdeen,Scotland. In the space of two years the 4 piece released two full length albums and an e.p. Quentin Smith (Vocals, Guitar), Darius Taylor (Vocals,Bass), Phil McCracken (Guitar) and Richard Snork (Drums) Managed to create a fusion of Emo influences and combine it with Folk and Jazz to surprising effect.
After e.p "My Bleeding Heart With A Bullet" (independently recorded) the band was joined by fifth member Craig (Crazy Socks) Schmidt (Synth.) the band enjoyed a succesful British tour and in the summer of 2007 released album "Go And Nae Hurt Me Emotionally" on Yoohoo records. Which dissapointed fans as the production was said to be "too clean". Nevertheless the band recieved much acclaim and even entered the charts at #37 with single "Lying Is The Most Black Parade Thing An All-American Reject Can Do Without Dying Romantic"
Another tour took place but the band struggled to find supoport in America and returned home to Britain to find a surprise, their gigs were becoming less populated. There seemed to be no real reason for this and it did not bring any serious concerns until the next album "Take To The Disco Under The Cork Tree". This album recieved little attention and did not even make its way into the Billboard charts.
After an unsuccesful tour with many bust-ups between members it was agreed the band would break up. Since, Taylor and McCracken have went on to form Grindcore band "KillSlashRape". Meanwhile Richard Snork died in a bizarre trouser malnfunction incident.
After e.p "My Bleeding Heart With A Bullet" (independently recorded) the band was joined by fifth member Craig (Crazy Socks) Schmidt (Synth.) the band enjoyed a succesful British tour and in the summer of 2007 released album "Go And Nae Hurt Me Emotionally" on Yoohoo records. Which dissapointed fans as the production was said to be "too clean". Nevertheless the band recieved much acclaim and even entered the charts at #37 with single "Lying Is The Most Black Parade Thing An All-American Reject Can Do Without Dying Romantic"
Another tour took place but the band struggled to find supoport in America and returned home to Britain to find a surprise, their gigs were becoming less populated. There seemed to be no real reason for this and it did not bring any serious concerns until the next album "Take To The Disco Under The Cork Tree". This album recieved little attention and did not even make its way into the Billboard charts.
After an unsuccesful tour with many bust-ups between members it was agreed the band would break up. Since, Taylor and McCracken have went on to form Grindcore band "KillSlashRape". Meanwhile Richard Snork died in a bizarre trouser malnfunction incident.