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Level 9 Computing
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<p>Level 9 was a British developer of computer software, active between 1981 and 1991. Founded by Mike, Nicholas and Pete Austin, the company produced software for the <a href="/facts/BBC_Micro/YJxxPlIl">BBC Micro</a>, <a href="/facts/Nascom/LFRkFQSr">Nascom</a>, <a href="/facts/ZX_Spectrum/JVbaDHrU">ZX Spectrum</a>, <a href="/facts/Commodore_64/3TPcKDbb">Commodore 64</a>, <a href="/facts/Oric_Atmos/FDBJwRcj">Oric</a>, <a href="/facts/Atari_8-bit_computers/aT04N5zR">Atari 8-bit computers</a>, <a href="/facts/Camputers_Lynx/8dAEb4UU">Camputers Lynx</a>, <a href="/facts/Research_Machines_380Z/Y1oUbyJl">RML 380Z</a>, <a href="/facts/Amstrad_CPC/U2F6jDXY">Amstrad CPC</a>, <a href="/facts/MSX/mthwra8a">MSX</a>, <a href="/facts/Amiga/60B3A9of">Amiga</a>, <a href="/facts/Apple_II/se82CNvK">Apple II</a>, <a href="/facts/Memotech_MTX/fMk1wpj0">Memotech MTX</a>, and <a href="/facts/Enterprise_(computer)/ukF35Vrb">Enterprise</a> platforms and is best known for its successful <a href="/facts/Interactive_fiction/1gG7AC6k">text adventure games</a> until a general decline in the text adventure market forced their closure in June 1991. </p><p>Level 9's first release was an extension to Nascom <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a> called <i>Extension Basic</i>. The first game, also for the Nascom, was called <i>Fantasy</i> and was similar to <i><a href="/facts/Valhalla_(video_game)/Q8jHrTBu">Valhalla</a></i>, but with no graphics. Other products from that era were <i>Missile Defence</i>, <i>Bomber</i> and <i>Space Invasion</i> — all for the Nascom. The tapes were duplicated and sent out by mail order by the brothers based on orders generated by the <a href="/facts/Classified_advertising/5vso74oJ">classified advertisements</a> they ran in the <i><a href="/facts/Computing_Today/5JojrjsD">Computing Today</a></i> magazine. They were originally based in <a href="/facts/High_Wycombe/TzyKzueb">High Wycombe</a>, <a href="/facts/Buckinghamshire/WMRE3NJp">Bucks</a> before moving to the <a href="/facts/West_Country/6tILf1Lq">West Country</a>. </p>