Retro Video Gamer

Welcome to Retro Video Gamer => RVG Interviews => Topic started by: zapiy on February 25, 2013, 12:22:10 PM

Title: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on February 25, 2013, 12:22:10 PM
[align=center:3nqvobnx](http://www.alternativesoft.co.uk/images/Header_03.jpg)

[size=140]http://www.alternativesoftware.com/[/size]

[size=100]Roger Hulley of Alternative Software has agree to an Interview with RVG.
First established in 1985, Alternative Software is now celebrating its 26th Anniversary and is considered one of the major companies in the UK computer industry. The company already has over 300 titles to its name and is still a growing global success.

Alternative Software originally created games for the then major computer platforms; Atari, Spectrum, Commodore and Amstrad in the mid to late 80's, with titles including Soccer Boss, Skool Daze, and BMX Ninja. Other successful titles released included the children's character games, Thomas The Tank Engine, Sooty and Sweep, Trapdoor, Yogi Bear, Popeye, Fireman Sam, Count Duckula and the best-selling award winner Postman Pat.[/size]

(http://www.alternativesoft.co.uk/images/Older-Alternative-Titles-1.jpg)
[size=100]
The company has also returned to original territory and released several "Top Forty" video games on Playstation 2, Playstation 3, XBox, XBox 360, Sony PSP as well as on PC. In association with Australian company, HES (Home Entertainment Supplies) Alternative has recently launched Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge to tremendous consumer and critical reception.

Post your questions here.

Cheers[/size][/align:3nqvobnx]
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: Rogue Trooper on February 25, 2013, 15:03:10 PM
1)Looking back at your 8-Bit releases, you really seemed to have ALL the bases covered in terms of genres, from licensed games, to re-releases from other companies, to your own original games, which were the best sellers, in terms of genres? (i only ask as very surprised to see a number of text adventures in your history, likes of: For Gold Or Glory, Football Frenzy, Life-Term, and Loogaroo:werewolf Simulator etc, i can't think of another budget house to release quite so many off the top of my head).

2)Talking o the Licensed games (which also included The Munsters, The Wombles and Huxley Pig), how 'easy' were these to aquire, in terms of cost and once you had the license, what was the process of getting a game created around it?.For example, did you have a pool of coders or freelancers who you prefered to use or had someone designed a game, submitted to you and you then asked for visual changes etc to be made to fit a newly gotten license? or indeed mix of both?.

3)I know you re-released games from other publishers (River Rescue from Creative Sparks for example), but again, was this an easy process in terms of getting the games and how did you choose which to go after? (as something like Leapster on A8 was originally going to be a full price release by Red Rat, which never appeared).

4)You were a decent supporter of the Atari 8 Bit range at a time many others had given up on it, did you have a wide range of Atari coders/A8 games being submitted? and how did they sell compared to other versions?.
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on February 27, 2013, 18:21:48 PM
Nice start fella.

Cheers
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: TL on February 27, 2013, 19:44:14 PM
1. Why do you think you never had the same success on the 16-bit computers as you did on the 8-bits?

2. Do you think you should have moved into the console market earlier?

3. What system did you sell the most games for?
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on March 10, 2013, 15:31:36 PM
How was Alternative Software started and how did the name come about?
Alternative Software is still going strong today, what do you put this down to?
Tell us a little about yourself and how you personally got involved and Alternative Software.

Keep um coming guys.
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on March 22, 2013, 12:53:45 PM
Last call for questions guys.. Going to send these over the weekend.

Cheers
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: jdanddiet on March 25, 2013, 12:31:19 PM
You know I did this for RG recently right?

Roger's a nice guy, hope it went ok!

Cheers
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on March 25, 2013, 18:01:58 PM
No which issue? I was given his des told on LinkedIn so followed it up.
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: jdanddiet on March 25, 2013, 18:12:37 PM
Issue 107 from Sept last year.
Nothing to stop you of course but just thought you might be interested :-)
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: TL on March 30, 2013, 14:01:26 PM
Hopefully you haven't sent this yet as I thought of a few more:

Q. Did your licensed games such as Postman Pat and Thomas The Tank Engine sell better than your other games? Were they worth the cost of the license?

Q. What was your best selling game from your home computer years?

Q. Was the move into publishing full price titles under the label Again & Again a mistake?
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on April 09, 2013, 18:14:03 PM
Questions sent.

1)Tell us a little about yourself and how you personally got involved and Alternative Software.

2)Looking back at your 8-Bit releases, you really seemed to have ALL the bases covered in terms of genres, from licensed games, to re-releases from other companies, to your own original games, which were the best sellers, in terms of genres? (i only ask as very surprised to see a number of text adventures in your history, likes of: For Gold Or Glory, Football Frenzy, Life-Term, and Loogaroo:werewolf Simulator etc., i can't think of another budget house to release quite so many off the top of my head).

3)Talking o the Licensed games (which also included The Munsters, The Wombles and Huxley Pig), how 'easy' were these to acquire, in terms of cost and once you had the license, what was the process of getting a game created around it?.For example, did you have a pool of coders or freelancers who you preferred to use or had someone designed a game, submitted to you and you then asked for visual changes etc to be made to fit a newly gotten license? or indeed mix of both?.

4)I know you re-released games from other publishers (River Rescue from Creative Sparks for example), but again, was this an easy process in terms of getting the games and how did you choose which to go after? (as something like Leapster on A8 was originally going to be a full price release by Red Rat, which never appeared).

5)You were a decent supporter of the Atari 8 Bit range at a time many others had given up on it, did you have a wide range of Atari coders/A8 games being submitted? and how did they sell compared to other versions?.

6) Why do you think you never had the same success on the 16-bit computers as you did on the 8-bits?

7) Do you think you should have moved into the console market earlier?

8) What system did you sell the most games on?

9) How was Alternative Software started and how did the name come about?

10) Alternative Software is still going strong today, what do you put this down to?

11) Did your licensed games such as Postman Pat and Thomas The Tank Engine sell better than your other games? Were they worth the cost of the license?

12) What was your best selling game from your home computer years?
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on May 14, 2013, 12:36:50 PM
Interview chased up..

Sorry for the delay all.
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: jdanddiet on May 14, 2013, 12:44:30 PM
Busy man Roger what with running alternative still!
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: zapiy on May 14, 2013, 19:24:52 PM
I bet, I never get pushy fella. These people are kind enough to agree to take part in the first place so we can wait.
Title: Re: Alternative Software Interview Questions Needed.
Post by: jdanddiet on May 14, 2013, 19:32:11 PM
I interviewed him over the phone between 7.30 and ten. I was at home, he was still in the office!