Argus Press Software is clipping Quicksilva's wings prior to spreading its own. The group plans new titles, new styles and ultimately a rebirth of the Game Lords - this time on its own terms.

Quicksilva - Game Lords disarmed.

Against a background of bickering, Argus is moving the Quicksilva operation from Southampton to London. It may be that as few as three or four Quicksilva people will move with it, but Argus' aim is to set up a fresh marketing team and rejuvenate the Game Lords with its own hand on the joystick.

Peter Holme, as of this week in charge of Quicksilva marketing, said from Argus: "We're just picking up the pieces. But it's a marketing man's delight - we've got severall products coming along that are real humdingers."

The view at Argus is that it left Quicksilva to its own devices for too long. "The reality is that sales just haven't been there," said Holme. "Quicksilva ought to be number one and it hasn't been. But it will be the best again. We're working with the Quicksilva people who are staying on and we'll relaunch the Game Lords. I want to see Game Lord conventions, competitions within games to become Game Lords, all the sorts of things that people get off on."

Quicksilva itself has been incommunicado for days, and rumours that Rod Cousens will not move to London haven't been confirmed. Holme said: "I hope Rod stays with it because he's a terrific personality."

He denied point blank that Argus had any plans to contract Quicksilva, and on all other fronts the group is expanding. Its tie-ups with Lothlorien and Starcade are both bearing fruit and it is moving ahead in other directions, principally useful home software.

At the end of April it plans to launch its Home Activity Centre, two integrated programs for the Commodore 64. For £19.95, there will be a word processor/database/spreadsheet package, and for £14.95 a word processor/animator/composer suite. There may also be converted for Atari systems.

From Lothlorien, around the same time, it will release a simulation of the Battle of Arnhem, complete with elements of arcade action and a war-gaming handbook.

There is also a range of educational software under development.

But Argus is still looking to Quicksilva to provide 50 per cent of its turnover in the software business, and it is looking for home-grown talent to provide the raw material.