Back to the Future - Memories

Electric Dreams was a small publishing outfit owned by Activision and run by Rod Cousens to source local (UK) programming talent for the new Activision (UK) Ltd. Electric Dreams was also just one of a number of other publishing labels used by Activision, including Gamestar Sports and System 3.

Back to the Future was designed by Mark Eyles, with additional input from the game's producer, Paul Cooper, and Dave Cummins (who also play-tested the game). It was based on the hit Universal movie that starred Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

The lead version was on the C64, and was written in just nine weeks by Martin Walker. The design team were invited to a preview screening of the movie in Wardour Street, central London. They were also given a copy of the script to work from.

The game design focused on the photograph that Marty McFly carried in his pocket, where people in his family started to fade away if Marty messed up the past. Key locations from the film were inserted as different levels in the game.

A handful of titles published via the Electric Dreams label were included in the deal signed between Activision in the UK and Telecomsoft to re-release some of their games on the Silverbird budget label.