B.J.?

[Mark Jones Junior]

Anyone help ? Was that James Higgins's nickname?

"Hi Mark,

I'm trying to correct the Total Recall credits in the WoS database; it listed the original Active Minds team earlier, with your name added to the list. Now that more details are available, I added a remark about a team change (and why) and want to correct the list. On the opening screen, apart from Andy Deakin, it lists a 'B.J.' for the coding. I can't seem to match this name to any of the various in-house people at Ocean... do you Recall (pun intended) who wrote the game?

Kind regards,

Martijn."

[Paulie]

I think it was Simon that came up with the BJ moniker - as in "Big Jim". BJ or Jamie used interchangably!

So yes BJ was James.

- Paulie.

[JamesHiggins]

Correct on both counts... BJ was me and Simon did indeed come up with it. There was a spell when Martin (McDonald) and some others (Bill) were into body-building (or at least collecting the - ahem - magazines). I jokingly suggested that maybe I should go and work out so I could become massive too *primarily to kick Martins ass - as he was much bigger than me* Simon - mockingly -suggested they'd have to start calling me Big Jim or BJ. It stuck...

[mheide]

Okay, so it looks like I *really* messed up the credits now ;D
If James was involved in the released version, then who were in the first team that weren't there as the game was ultimately released?

Edit: it might help if I actually provided a link to the page in question:
www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=Total+Recall&pub=Ocean+Software+Ltd

[Simon Butler]

If you care to wade through various posts that I have put on this site...you can actually find the name of the original coder...but he really is so bloody useless that he does not deserve any credit anywhere.

so I would prefer it if he got no mention at all where Total Recall is concerned. But if you find his name and post it then it's up to you.

[mheide]

Ah, so it was him then. I'll ponder about the update - will probably just go ahead, as WoS aims to be a museum site and can't alter or ignore the past for that reason.
Mind, his name will then be added to the comment rather than the game credits (producer/authors), so the game won't turn up when searching for his name.

Incidently, how does one spell his name? In some games, I see a 'u' after the 'o' (so as third letter) in opening screens, which your (or Mark's) posts do not have.

Thanks for all responses so far!

[Mark Jones Junior]

I think I spelt it wrong. There is a 'u' in there.

[judasEZT]

Hi Martijn,

According WoS, Paul Houbart is the coder of Breakthru (with graphics of SimonButler and DawnDrake)

Must to be that guy.

And graphist of that TotalRecall demo, Simon mentioned Paul Salmon.

[Mark Jones Junior]

judasEZT said:

And graphist of that TotalRecall demo, Simon mentioned Paul Salmon.

It was me, I was the 'graphist'. Unfortunately! (If the programmer tells me I've only got so many blocks per line on screen at any one time and that I can't use colour what AM I to do?!)

[judasEZT]

ah.. but the scroll seems character based, or am I in an error??

Breakthru has also an horrible scroll, and has plenty of colour.

[Mark Jones Junior]

The scroll does look character based. But how the game scrolled was out my hands. Gawd he was crap!

[Paulie]

there's a lot to be said for a pre-shift scroll (when done properly eh Mark )

[Mark Jones Junior]

Well, yes, Just a shame I never worked with anyone who KNEW how to do one properly!