Pete Cooke
Encyclopedia
Pete Cooke is a famous British
computer games programmer, best known for his work published in the 1980s for the 8-bit
home computers, especially the ZX Spectrum
.
His software is often instantly-recognisable thanks to his use of his own point and click GUI
in many of his games. This is manipulated by keyboard
or joystick
since it was rare for Spectrum owners to use a mouse
.
Cooke's games were notable for being extremely innovative and ahead of their time. Tau Ceti
(released 1985), for example, featured not only a form of solid 3D graphics
but was also set on a planet with night and day cycles and shadows. Micronaut One (released 1987) was imaginatively set inside futuristic biocomputers with the player controlling a microscopic craft and attempting to clear the tunnels of the biocomputers of an insect-like life form called Scrim. This game also used fast-moving 3D graphics as well as featuring an enemy that went through a realistic (if speeded-up) life-cycle, beginning each level as eggs
and progressing to larva
e and eventually adult skrim which would then lay more eggs. Even Cooke's more straightforward games, like the 1988 shoot 'em up Earthlight
, featured their own complexities and technical gimmicks.
As well as these games, Cooke programmed the ZX Spectrum and CPC versions of Stunt Car Racer
and also released a game for the 16-bit Amiga
and Atari ST
in 1990 called Tower of Babel
.
He now works for Leicester college as a computer lecturer.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
computer games programmer, best known for his work published in the 1980s for the 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
home computers, especially the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
.
His software is often instantly-recognisable thanks to his use of his own point and click GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
in many of his games. This is manipulated by keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
or joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
since it was rare for Spectrum owners to use a mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
.
Cooke's games were notable for being extremely innovative and ahead of their time. Tau Ceti
Tau Ceti (computer game)
Tau Ceti is a science fiction themed computer game first published in 1985 by CRL for the ZX Spectrum and later converted to several other platforms. It was designed and programmed by Pete Cooke. It was groundbreaking at the time for its extensive use of 3D graphics, shadow effects and its large...
(released 1985), for example, featured not only a form of solid 3D graphics
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
but was also set on a planet with night and day cycles and shadows. Micronaut One (released 1987) was imaginatively set inside futuristic biocomputers with the player controlling a microscopic craft and attempting to clear the tunnels of the biocomputers of an insect-like life form called Scrim. This game also used fast-moving 3D graphics as well as featuring an enemy that went through a realistic (if speeded-up) life-cycle, beginning each level as eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
and progressing to larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e and eventually adult skrim which would then lay more eggs. Even Cooke's more straightforward games, like the 1988 shoot 'em up Earthlight
Earthlight (computer game)
Earthlight is a computer game published for the ZX Spectrum in 1988 by Firebird Software. It was written by Pete Cooke.The player takes the role of an alien explorer from the star-system of Arcturus, called Slaatn, who has been drawn off-course by a beam of energy from Earth and has had to make a...
, featured their own complexities and technical gimmicks.
As well as these games, Cooke programmed the ZX Spectrum and CPC versions of Stunt Car Racer
Stunt Car Racer
Stunt Car Racer is a racing video game developed by Geoff Crammond and was published by MicroStyle in 1989...
and also released a game for the 16-bit Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
in 1990 called Tower of Babel
Tower Of Babel (computer game)
Tower Of Babel is a computer game for the Amiga, Atari ST and Acorn Archimedes systems programmed by Pete Cooke, developed by Rainbird Software and released by Microprose Software in 1990...
.
He now works for Leicester college as a computer lecturer.
Notable games
- Urban Upstart (1983)
- Ski Star 2000 (1985)
- Tau CetiTau Ceti (computer game)Tau Ceti is a science fiction themed computer game first published in 1985 by CRL for the ZX Spectrum and later converted to several other platforms. It was designed and programmed by Pete Cooke. It was groundbreaking at the time for its extensive use of 3D graphics, shadow effects and its large...
(1985) - Juggernaut (1985)
- Micronaut One (1987)
- Brainstorm (1987)
- Academy (1987)
- EarthlightEarthlight (computer game)Earthlight is a computer game published for the ZX Spectrum in 1988 by Firebird Software. It was written by Pete Cooke.The player takes the role of an alien explorer from the star-system of Arcturus, called Slaatn, who has been drawn off-course by a beam of energy from Earth and has had to make a...
(1988) - Zolyx (1988)
- A Whole New Ball Game (1989)
- Stunt Car RacerStunt Car RacerStunt Car Racer is a racing video game developed by Geoff Crammond and was published by MicroStyle in 1989...
– ZX Spectrum conversion of Geoff CrammondGeoff CrammondGeoff Crammond is a computer game designer and programmer who specialises in motor racing games. A former defense industry systems engineer, he claims to have had little interest in motor racing before programming his first racing game back in 1984, but he holds a physics degree, which may explain...
's game (1989) - Tower Of BabelTower Of Babel (computer game)Tower Of Babel is a computer game for the Amiga, Atari ST and Acorn Archimedes systems programmed by Pete Cooke, developed by Rainbird Software and released by Microprose Software in 1990...
(1990)
External links
- Feature on Pete Cooke from a 1987 issue of Crash magazine.