Beamrider - Memories

Beamrider was the first of a handful of games written for Activision by the newly created Cheshire Engineering. This company had been created by the former senior programmers of APh Technology Consulting Ltd – the same company that was hired by Mattel in 1976 to help design the actual Intellivision console hardware.

Tom Loughry came up with the original basic concept behind Beamrider, and then David Rolfe expanded the idea and wrote the code. His previous Intellivision titles had to fit into 4k, so 8k for Beamrider was an absolute luxury.

Part of the inspiration for the playing field in the game allegedly came from David Rolfe leaning back in his chair and looking at the ceiling tiles and how they receded into the distance.

Activision UK had Software Conversions write the Spectrum version in 1983, who also converted River Raid, Zenji, H.E.R.O. and Pitfall II. Beamrider was one of the games that Firebird re-released as part of the multi-title budget deal with Activision in 1987.