| The Years |
|
1962-1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 |
| The Games |
Adventure Arcade Arc. adventure Beat 'em up Platform Shoot 'em up Simulation Space Sport Strategy |
| Other |
Home Pioneers Interviews Goodies Credits About Sign guestbook View guestbook |
Since the late Seventies Roger had been involved in book packaging, graphic design and free-lance writing with his partner Oliver Frey, a talented artist. In 1983 Franco Frey came up with the idea of starting a software mail order business, aware that games were difficult to find in the shops. The three of them set up Crash Micro Games Action. A brochure was produced to advertise the games, with Roger writing reviews and Oliver illustrating it. At an early trade fair, they were encouraged to expand the simple brochure into a full-blown magazine. The idea made sense too. Around this time, the computer press was in the hands of serious-minded folk concerned with schematics and programming, who thought that games were a childish waste of such technology or just an amusing sideline. Those magazines who did make some room for reviews were generally bad at it. And yet the computers themselves were falling into the hands of kids who wanted to know about the new games being released.
Crash was written for the kids, but never patronised them, was always honest and generally reliable. Although many younger readers probably only read the playing tips and reviews, there was plenty of serious editorial from Roger Kean that exposed the background manoeuverings within the industry. He also served as a 'voice of the people', fighting for the welfare of the kids who were putting their pocket money into the coffers of companies who didn't always appear to have their best interests at heart. Furthermore, he championed the industry as a whole, often defending it at a time when the mainstream press were trying to bury it as a dying fad. Most importantly though, Crash demystified the computer scene, ensuring that every reader knew just how good or bad the games in the shops were, as well as making them feel a part of the brave new world of technology. This latter aspect was a crucial role of the early computer magazines. Before the likes of Crash, games tended to be bought on the recommendation of friends or more likely on the basis of cassette cover blurb. Now here was a magazine that reached out to Spectrum owners across the country, unifying them with a common passion and putting some order into what was an otherwise baffling new medium. Crash became like a friend to its readers too, by personalising the writers - even if its most well-known contributor, Lloyd Mangram, was imaginary. His work was actually that of a number of different writers. Some of its competitors dismissed Crash as rubbish - a childish comic - but this was sour grapes. After two years of belittling Crash, both Sinclair User and Your Spectrum relaunched themselves as games review magazines, following the lead of the publication they had accused of dumbing down computing. The resentment didn't end there though. Software companies tended to favour Crash because they knew that they were genuinely passionate about home computing, enabling them to publish details of new games without recourse to the sort of botched exclusives that blighted the reputations of other magazines. Indeed, a Crash 'Smash', came to be the most sought after accolade for any new game. Their lofty status did produce a holier-than-thou attitude however, which riled their competitors. This spilt over into petty digs such as the headline, 'Sports Scene - Last Gasp of a Dying Genre', slyly refering to Your Spectrum's owner Sportscene Publications, followed by the outrageous lampooning of Sinclair User as Unclear User.
Towards the end of the decade a series of new titles were launched by Newsfield - LM, Movie, Prepress, CCEG, GMI, Frighteners - although none of them captured the success of their earlier publications. Overstretched and with their computer mags struggling, Newsfield's financial situation hit crisis point. Up to the end they still possessed a frantic optimism, continuing to plan new titles and even take on new staff just weeks before the inevitable collapse. Some late examples of bad judgement sealed their fate and in September 1991 Newsfield folded. What was left was bought by Europress. Crash was merged with Sinclair User for one final copy before both titles were discontinued. Today Roger works for Prima Publishing along with several of his old Newsfield staff. Associated links Home |
