CRL Group plc was a British video game development and publishing company. Originally CRL stood for "Computer Rentals Limited".[1] It was based in King's Yard, London and run by Clem Chambers.[2]

CRL Group PLC
FormerlyComputer Rentals Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 29, 1982; 42 years ago (1982-04-29)
FounderClement Chambers
Defunct1989 (1989)
FateDissolved
Headquarters9 King's Yard, Carpenters Road,
London E15 2HD
,
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Ian Ellery
ProductsTau Ceti, Academy

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.[3] Jack the Ripper was the first game to receive an 18 certificate, Wolfman also gained an 18 certificate.[4]

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.[5]

Games

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1982

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  • Rescue

1983

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  • 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

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  • £.s.d.
  • Ahhh!!
  • Cricket 64
  • Glug Glug
  • Handicap Golf
  • Handy Andy
  • Incredible Adventure
  • Olympics
  • Orpheus in the Underworld
  • Show Jumping
  • Terrahawks[6]
  • The Great Detective
  • The Magic Roundabout
  • Tritz
  • Whirlybird
  • The War of the Worlds
  • The Warlock's Treasure
  • The Woods of Winter

1985

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1986

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1987

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1988

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1989

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1990

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  • Hellhole


Unreleased

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  • Enchantress[8]
  • Spearhead[9]
  • The Blues Brothers[10]
  • The Malinsay Massacre[11]

Software

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  • Fifth (1983)[12]
  • Stargazer Secrets (1983)
  • Highway Code (1984)[13]
  • 3D Game Maker (1987)
  • 2D Game Maker (1988)
  • Hi-Rise Scaffold Construction Set (Unreleased)

Platforms

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Notes

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1 Hercules was originally released in 1984 by Interdisc
2 Bored of the Rings and Robin of Sherlock were originally released in 1985 by Delta 4
3 Federation was originally released as Quann Tulla in 1985 by 8th Day Software
4 International Soccer was originally only released on cartridge in 1983 by Commodore International[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "CRASH 9 - News".
  2. ^ "From cavemen to rocky horrors". Amstrad Action (19): 30. August 1985. at World of Spectrum
  3. ^ "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Eurogamer. 26 October 2007.
  4. ^ "Dracula unbound: The story behind the first 18 certificated video game". Eurogamer. March 2015.
  5. ^ "Your Sinclair".
  6. ^ "Your Spectrum 09 - Joystick Jury".
  7. ^ "Doctor What! At Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  8. ^ "World of Spectrum - Enchantress".
  9. ^ "World of Spectrum - Spearhead".
  10. ^ "The Blues Brothers (C64) - 1987 CRL - GTW64".
  11. ^ "World of Spectrum - the Malinsay Massacre".
  12. ^ Taylor, Richard. "Fifth User's Manual". World Of Spectrum. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Highway Code at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  14. ^ "Funny Old Game Innit Cecil?". Computer and Video Games. No. 86. EMAP. December 1988. p. 99. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Zzap Test: International Soccer". Zzap. No. 76. Newsfield. 9 June 1988. p. 75. Retrieved 19 December 2022.

Further reading

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