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Thorn EMI Computer Software
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<p>Thorn EMI Computer Software was a British <a href="/facts/Video_game/vmTdNASJ">video games</a> <a href="/facts/Software_house/q5keu43g">software house</a> set up in the early 1980s as part of the now-defunct British <a href="/facts/Conglomerate_(company)/YBbUVg1d">conglomerate</a> <a href="/facts/Thorn_EMI/pbXFNA5k">Thorn EMI</a>. They released a number of games in the early 1980s, initially for the <a href="/facts/Atari_8-bit_computers/aT04N5zR">Atari 8-bit computers</a>, and later for the <a href="/facts/ZX_Spectrum/JVbaDHrU">ZX Spectrum</a>, <a href="/facts/Commodore_64/3TPcKDbb">Commodore 64</a> and <a href="/facts/VIC-20/bLE8KkRE">VIC-20</a> computers. In 1984, the Thorn EMI name was dropped in favour of Creative Sparks as the company were reportedly unhappy with their image in the video games market. A budget label, Sparklers, was created in early 1985 to publish titles at £2.50. Later in 1985, Creative Sparks, Sparklers and the distribution company, Creative Sparks Distribution (CSD) gained independence from Thorn EMI after a <a href="/facts/Management_buyout/57Bve1re">management buyout</a>. </p><p>In July 1987, six months after buying software company <a href="/facts/Mikro-Gen/PrArP7Q1">Mikro-Gen</a> for a "substantial" sum, Creative Sparks went into <a href="/facts/Receivership/cMYoNlDu">receivership</a> with debts estimated at up to £1.5million. </p><p>The back catalogue of the company was acquired by <a href="/facts/Tynesoft/BKDLTSaP">Tynesoft</a>, <a href="/facts/Alternative_Software/BEBBdRk9">Alternative Software</a> and Maynard International (Top Ten Software). The former management at CSD went on to form Software Publishing Associates, owners of the Crysys and Pirate Software labels. </p>