Some of the best-known American Commodore software is about to arrive in the UK - with a price cut and a change of name along the way.
Titles such as Zaxxon, Fort Apocalypse and Blue Max from Synapse Software of California have been available here in a limited way for some time at £25. But the formation of US Gold (021-520 7591) will put them into the shops for £9.95 and square things with British law at the same time.
After 18 months' negotiations and wrangling Synapse Computer Services of Chesham, Bucks, has won a high court injunction to stop the US software company using its name in this country. Distributors such as Softsel have been unable to bring in Synapse products as a result. But US Gold will market the game under licence from Synsoft, a name registered here by Synapse Software to comply with the terms of the injunction.
US Gold will also manufacture the games here, which according to the company's Jeff Brown is where the potential to cut prices has come from.
Commodore versions are due to be launched on September 17 1984, followed by Atari. Five weeks later, US Gold expects to have Spectrum versions ready.
Synapse Software has been enormously successful in the US but not easily available here. Mr. Brown commented: "Everybody wanted it but nobody could get it unless it came in through the back door."
1st September 1984
