CRL Group

CRL Group PLC
FormerlyComputer Rentals Limited
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 29, 1982; 44 years ago (1982-04-29)
FounderClement Chambers
Defunct1991 (1991)
Headquarters9 King's Yard, Carpenters Road,
London E15 2HD
,
England
Area served
United Kingdom
Key peopleIan Ellery
ProductsTau Ceti, Academy

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

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

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.

Games

1983

  • Rescue
  • 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

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

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

  • Hellhole


Unreleased

  • Enchantress
  • Spearhead
  • The Blues Brothers
  • The Malinsay Massacre

Software

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "On-Line Time". The One for ST Games. No. 32. EMAP Images. May 1991. p. 21. CRL, the veteran London-based publisher finally closed up shop last month
  2. ↑ "CRASH 9 - News".
  3. ↑ "From Cavemen to Rocky Horrors". Crash. No. 19. Newsfield. 25 July 1985. p. 30. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Bram Stoker's Dracula". Eurogamer. 26 October 2007.
  5. ↑ "Dracula unbound: The story behind the first 18 certificated video game". Eurogamer. March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Your Sinclair".
  7. ↑ "Your Spectrum 09 - Joystick Jury".
  8. ↑ "Doctor What! At Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  9. ↑ "The Traveller's Times". ACE. No. 3. Future Publishing. December 1987. p. 100. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Under Raps!". Sinclair User. No. 63. EMAP. June 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "The Blues Brothers (C64) - 1987 CRL - GTW64".
  12. ↑ "Wheatley Mystery from CRL". Sinclair User. No. 56. EMAP. 18 October 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Taylor, Richard. "Fifth User's Manual". World Of Spectrum. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "Highway Code at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware".
  15. ↑ "Funny Old Game Innit Cecil?". Computer and Video Games. No. 86. EMAP. December 1988. p. 99. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Zzap Test: International Soccer". Zzap. No. 76. Newsfield. 9 June 1988. p. 75. Retrieved 19 December 2022.

Further reading