17 Bit Software was a famous freeware, shareware and public domain distributor in the UK, when founder Rico Holmes and a couple of his friends thought they could create commercial computer games better than the rest. This was the starting signal for one of the most famous software houses in the history of the Commodore Amiga computer. The core team of Team 7, how they called themselves first, consisted of: Rico Holmes (graphics), Andreas Tadic (programming), Peter Tuleby (programming), Stefan Boberg (programming), Allister Brimble (music), Jimmy Fredriksson (music) and manager Martyn Brown.
The first project was done in 1990 in order of Codemasters. Miami Chase reached stores as a low budget title, which impressed gamers with its full commercial quality. This piece of software was some kind of early GTA clone. The player had to hunt gangsters with his car. High speed races through a living town and cool extra weapons for the vehicle made Miami Chase to a shiny sofware pearl, which was awarded by print mags like Germany's Amiga Joker magazine. One year later Full Contact saw the light of day. This beat'em up game was their first own published game and was another big hit, especially in the UK.
1992 was the time for their world wide break-through. Meanwhile they were known as Team 17 when the thrilling action packed game Alien Breed was released. This title perfectly showed the power of the possibilities of the Amiga computer with its colorful and detailed graphics, perfect music and sound effects and cool gameplay for trigger artists. It was very successfull, therefore sequels and special editions were supplied later. During the following years Team 17 stormed the charts with Project - X (shoot 'em up), Superfrog (jump 'n run), Assassin (action) or Overdrive (racing). They also supported less famous game categories like billard with Arcade Pool or bowling (Kingpin).
The next step in increasing their popularity was signing a publishing contract with Ocean (meanwhile part of the giant Atari empire). That was in 1995, when the first game of the best selling series in the history of Team 17 has been released: Worms. The game design was well known, because it was nothing else than a simple "Tanx" clone. What made it to such an outstanding title were the cool and funny features, which the boys and girls from Team 17 put inside. At first, you don't control a tank. Your army is built of little, funny looking worms! All units have access to tons of normal weapons like guns or rocket launchers or really silly stuff like the sheep cannon! The cute comic graphics, the fascinating and funny gameplay as well as the brilliant soundtrack composed by Bjorn Lynne, who was meanwhile the main composer for their games since Allister Brimble left, were another reason why so many people of all ages and gender like this series so much. Especially the multiplayer mode promise a lot of fun, when you blast your worms away together with some friends.
Meanwhile, seven differents Worms games are available. From various sequels which offer slightly improved play modes and more weapons, to "Worms Pinball" or "Worms Blast". The title mentioned last is a nice "Puzzle Bobble" clone which is available for PC, Mac, PS2, Gamecube and even the Gameboy Advance! An eight part is currently in development and will bring the classic 2D gameplay into a 3D world. Worms 3D is settled for release shortly before X-mas 2003 and will be published by Sega. It really looks great, shows colorful comic worlds and funny animated worms. Team 17 will pay attention to retain the classic gameplay even in three dimensions. We can expect many crazy weapons, huge maps and a whole bunch of fun, fun, fun! For sure!
Team 17 brought the Amiga to its limits. All their games are unforgettable milestones in the history of this 16-bit computer legend, thanks to the fabulous graphics, music, programming and designing skills of people, who really were die hard Amiga lovers. They had to move on to support PCs and video gaming consoles, or they wouldn't have been able to survive in a business, where money rules everything. Well, that's just normal. After releasing the second part of their Doom inspired 3D shooter Alien Breed 3D they stopped producing Amiga software.
Nevertheless the Amiga community could play another Team 17 game a few years later. The science fiction adventure Nightlong was brought to high end Amiga systems by Click Boom in 2000. Inspired by Blade Runner and with the voice of Bruce Willis for main character Joshua Reeve, adventurers can explore a more adult world with thrilling story and competing puzzles. Nightlong comes on 3 CDs and is the biggest Amiga game so far!
You can find more information about the past and current projects on the website of Team 17.
Bobic, August 2003 | 
Full Contact
Alien Breed Tower Assault
Project - X
Superfrog
Body Blows Galactic
Worms
Worms Blast
Worms 3D
Worms 3D
Nightlong |