Archer Maclean

Archer Maclean (28 January 1962 – 17 December 2022) was a British video game programmer. He was the author of Dropzone which he developed for the Atari 8-bit family and was ported to other systems. Maclean also developed the Commodore 64 version of International Karate[1] and the sequel, IK+[2] which was developed for the Commodore 64 and ported to other systems. He was also known for his series of snooker and pool games, which commenced with Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker in 1991 (that was originally called 147).[3]

Maclean left Awesome Studios—the studio he helped found and establish—in July 2005[4] and ran Awesome Play.

Maclean died on 17 December 2022, at the age of 60.[5][6][7][8]

Early life

Maclean showed interest in electronics from an early age, being self taught by way of dismantling electronic devices. In 1972, he dismantled a television.[9] In 1975, he commenced working part time in a television repair shop in Brentwood, Essex.

After a chance meeting with its owner in 1976, Maclean started part-time work at electronics company Ambit International. This work allowed Maclean to start spending "unfeasibly large amounts of money on computer hardware, as a school kid".[9]

Works

Maclean's first game, Dropzone, was heavily influenced by Stargate and Defender.[9]

Maclean's final title for Awesome Studios was Archer Maclean's Mercury completed in 2005. The follow-up versions were Mercury Meltdown for the PlayStation Portable, Mercury Meltdown Remix for the PlayStation 2, and Mercury Meltdown Revolution for the Wii. Maclean then developed a futuristic racing game, WheelSpin, for the Wii.[10]

Maclean also wrote a monthly column for Retro Gamer magazine.

Notable works[11]
Release Title Role(s)
1984 Dropzone Writing
1986 International Karate Design, graphics
1987 International Karate + Design, writing, graphics, sound FX
1991 Jimmy White's 'Whirlwind' Snooker Game design, programming, graphics, sound FX
1992 Archer Maclean's Pool Original design, programming, sound FX
1998 Jimmy White's 2: Cueball Direction, design, original code, music, sound FX
2001 Jimmy White's Cueball World Design
2004 Archer Maclean Presents Pool Paradise Creative director
2005 Archer Maclean's Mercury Original concept
2009 Wheelspin Direction, production, design


References
  1. "The Making of: International Karate, IK+." In: Retro Gamer, Issue 26, pp. 42-47.
  2. "Archer Maclean | Retro Gamer".
  3. "In the chair with ... Archer Maclean", Retro Gamer (63), April 2009
  4. "Archer Maclean resigns from Awesome Studios". games-industry.biz.
  5. Extension, Time (25 December 2022). "Dropzone And IK+ Creator Archer Maclean Has Passed Away". Time Extension. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  6. "Archer Maclean has left us". Fusion R Gamer. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  7. Smith, Graham (27 December 2022). "Archer Maclean has passed away, aged 60". Rock Paper Shotgun.
  8. Stanton, Rich (3 January 2023). "Dropzone creator Archer MacLean dies aged 60". PC Gamer.
  9. House, © Future Publishing Limited Quay; Ambury, The; Engl, Bath BA1 1UA All rights reserved; number 2008885, Wales company registration. "Archer Maclean | Retro Gamer". www.retrogamer.net. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  10. "Archer Maclean's interview about WheelSpin on C&VG Online". Computerandvideogames.com. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  11. "Archer Maclean Video Game Credits and Biography". MobyGames. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
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