Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Fields was a British video-game development company founded in February 1982. It began under the name Mr Chip Software and was associated most closely with programmers and designers Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris. The company emerged during the formative period of the British home-computer game industry, when small independent teams commonly wrote, published, and distributed software for systems such as the Commodore VIC-20 and Commodore 64. During its first phase, from 1982 to 1984, the business released games itself under the Mr Chip Software label. This period produced a mixture of arcade-style and sports-oriented titles, with racing and vehicle-based games becoming an especially important part of its identity. Trailblazer, released in 1986 after the company had moved toward external publishing arrangements, became one of the studio's best-known early properties and generated follow-up titles and conversions. Other early work included Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator and its sequel, as well as less commercially prominent games such as Proof of Destruction. In 1984, the company stopped generally publishing its own games and concentrated on development for outside publishers. Its publishing relationships included Mastertronic, Alternative Software, Gremlin Graphics, and other companies active in the British and European computer-game market. This change allowed Magnetic Fields to reach a broader audience while continuing to work across multiple platforms. Although its earliest output centered on the VIC-20 and Commodore 64, the studio expanded into the Commodore 16 and other 8-bit computers before moving decisively toward 16-bit home systems. The name Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd., usually shortened to Magnetic Fields, was adopted in 1988. The rebrand coincided with a strategic transition away from primarily 8-bit development. The company had already demonstrated technical competence in racing software with Formula 1 Simulator, released in 1985, and subsequently made racing its principal commercial specialization. Its games were designed for the major home-computer platforms of the period, particularly the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST, while also appearing on compatible systems and later on MS-DOS and consoles. Magnetic Fields reached its highest profile around 1990 and 1991 through Super Cars and Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge, followed by Super Cars II and the Lotus sequels. The Lotus games combined fast scrolling, accessible handling, competitive multiplayer-oriented design, and licensed automotive presentation. Their strong performance on the Amiga 500 and Atari ST helped establish Magnetic Fields as a notable British racing-game developer. Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge also received television exposure through the UK program GamesMaster, where it was played by Formula One driver Johnny Herbert. Several games contained hidden or bonus content, a characteristic that contributed to their retrospective appeal. In the mid-1990s, the studio moved from arcade-style racing toward more detailed rally simulation. Network Q RAC Rally Championship, released for MS-DOS in 1996, received favorable reviews and led to related products including Rally Championship: The X-Miles and International Rally Championship. The final listed Magnetic Fields release was Mobil 1 Rally Championship for Windows and PlayStation in 1999. This late work reflected the industry's shift toward larger, more technically demanding racing products and a broader range of platforms. After Magnetic Fields' final release, Southern and Morris established Eugenicy in 2000 with the intention of creating further racing games. That venture closed before releasing a commercial title. Magnetic Fields therefore did not develop into a continuing modern studio, but its catalog remained visible through emulation, retrospective coverage, and fan activity. The company permitted non-commercial distribution of some of its 8-bit software, helping preserve i…

Magnetic Fields began in February 1982 as Mr Chip Software, a small British developer working during the rapid expansion of the home-computer market. The company initially wrote and published its own software, primarily for the Commodore VIC-20 and Commodore 64. Its early catalog included Pacmania, AD Infinitum, Duck Shoot, Kwazy Kwaks, Olympic Skier, and other compact titles typical of the period's independent computer-game scene. By 1984, Mr Chip Software had largely stopped acting as its own publisher and instead developed games for established publishers. Mastertronic was among its early publishing partners, followed later by Alternative Software, Gremlin Graphics, and other companies. This arrangement gave the studio access to wider distribution while allowing it to concentrate on design and programming. Racing was already a recurring theme: Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator and Kikstart 2 emphasized motorcycle competition and physics-based play, while other projects explored arcade, action, and sports concepts. The studio broadened its technical base in the mid-1980s. In addition to the VIC-20 and Commodore 64, it worked on Commodore 16 software, including a conversion of Trailblazer, a rewritten version of Kikstart, and titles created specifically for that platform such as Arthur Noid and Bandits at Zero. Trailblazer became the most durable property from the early period. Its fast-moving track design was followed by Cosmic Causeway: Trailblazer II and conversions for several systems. Formula 1 Simulator, released in 1985, demonstrated a more ambitious approach to racing design. The title was considered technically competitive with contemporary racing games and helped point the company toward a more focused specialization. The final 8-bit release associated with the transition was Super Scramble Simulator. In 1988, the company formally adopted the name Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd., generally presented to the public simply as Magnetic Fields. The change accompanied a move toward 16-bit computers and a reduction in emphasis on older 8-bit platforms. The company's commercial profile rose sharply in 1990. Super Cars and Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge were released for leading home-computer systems, including the Amiga and Atari ST. Their emphasis on speed, accessible controls, scrolling presentation, and competitive play made them particularly successful on the Amiga 500 and Atari ST. Sequels followed in 1991 and 1992: Super Cars II, Lotus Turbo Challenge 2, and Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge. The Lotus games also became known for hidden games and other concealed content. Lotus III received exposure on GamesMaster, a British television program, in an episode featuring Formula One driver Johnny Herbert. Magnetic Fields continued to produce non-racing work, including the Amiga platform game Kid Chaos, released in 1994. The game had a difficult development history. Early concept work reportedly centered on a character called Cosmic Kitten, or Claws, conceived as a possible rival to Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog. The protagonist was redesigned as a caveboy known as Kid, avoiding a more direct resemblance to Sega's protected character identity. The game later became the subject of retrospective analysis within the Amiga community. The company returned to racing simulation with Network Q RAC Rally Championship in 1996. Developed for MS-DOS, it received favorable reviews and became the basis for further releases, including Rally Championship: The X-Miles and International Rally Championship in 1997. These games reflected the industry's movement toward more detailed rally environments, larger courses, and simulation-oriented driving models. The company's final listed release was Mobil 1 Rally Championship, issued for Windows and PlayStation in 1999. In 2000, Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris founded Eugenicy to pursue additional racing projects. Eugenicy closed before releasing a game, and Magnetic Fields did not continue as an active commercial studio. Its legacy has been maintained through reissues, emulator communities, non-commercial fan distribution of some 8-bit software, and later documentaries and retrospectives. The surviving catalog illustrates the transition from small Commodore-era productions to internationally distributed Amiga, PC, and console racing games.

1. 2018Kid Chaos receives retrospective coverage

   A video documentary and review revisits the game's development history and its long-term significance to the Amiga community.

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2. 2000Eugenicy is founded

   Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris establish Eugenicy to pursue further racing games, but the venture closes before releasing a title.

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3. 1999Mobil 1 Rally Championship becomes the final listed release

   The Windows and PlayStation rally game marks the end of Magnetic Fields' documented commercial release history.

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4. 1996Network Q RAC Rally Championship is released

   The MS-DOS rally title receives favorable reviews and leads to additional Rally Championship products.

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5. 1990Super Cars and Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge launch

   The two racing releases establish Magnetic Fields as a prominent developer for the Amiga, Atari ST, and other contemporary home computers.

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6. 1988Mr Chip Software becomes Magnetic Fields

   The business adopts the legal name Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd. and shifts its attention toward 16-bit systems.

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7. 1986Trailblazer is released

   Trailblazer becomes one of the company's best-known early games and later receives a sequel and multiple conversions.

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8. 1985Formula 1 Simulator advances the racing focus

   Formula 1 Simulator demonstrates the company's growing technical capabilities in racing software.

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9. 1984The company moves toward external publishing

   After an initial period of self-publishing, the studio begins developing primarily for outside publishers such as Mastertronic and later Alternative Software and Gremlin Graphics.

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10. 1982Mr Chip Software is founded

    The British game development business begins operations under the name Mr Chip Software.

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A British independent game developer whose identity evolved from broad 8-bit home-computer software into commercially focused racing and rally games for the Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Windows, PlayStation, and related platforms.

• TrailblazerArcade racing game1986

  Trailblazer is a fast-paced track game associated with the company's early Mr Chip Software period. Its emphasis on rapid movement across changing surfaces made it one of the studio's most recognizable early properties. It was followed by Cosmic Causeway: Trailblazer II and appeared in versions for several home-computer platforms.

• Kikstart: Off-Road SimulatorMotorcycle racing game1985

  Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator and Kikstart 2 are motorcycle racing games built around obstacle courses, jumps, and vehicle control. They became representative of Magnetic Fields' early interest in racing mechanics and were later preserved through emulator-based releases.

• Lotus seriesLicensed arcade racing game1990

  The Lotus games comprise Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge, Lotus Turbo Challenge 2, and Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge. Produced for popular home computers, the series combined licensed Lotus branding with quick arcade racing, scrolling tracks, and competitive play. The games were especially associated with the Amiga and Atari ST and included hidden bonus content.

• Super Cars seriesTop-down racing game1990

  Super Cars and Super Cars II are top-down racing games that helped raise Magnetic Fields' profile around 1990 and 1991. Their vehicle-focused arcade structure, upgrade elements, and support for contemporary home-computer platforms made them part of the studio's strongest commercial period.

• Kid ChaosPlatform game1994

  Kid Chaos is an Amiga platform game released in 1994. Its production involved an earlier character concept known as Cosmic Kitten or Claws before the protagonist was redesigned as a caveboy. Later retrospectives have focused on the game's troubled development and its place in the Amiga software catalog.

• Rally Championship seriesRally simulation game1996

  The Rally Championship line began with Network Q RAC Rally Championship in 1996 and continued with Rally Championship: The X-Miles and International Rally Championship. These later games moved beyond the studio's earlier arcade style toward more detailed rally presentation and simulation-oriented driving on MS-DOS and related platforms.

• Mobil 1 Rally ChampionshipLicensed rally simulation game1999

  Mobil 1 Rally Championship was the company's final listed release. Developed for Windows and PlayStation, it continued Magnetic Fields' late focus on rally driving and used Mobil 1 branding within a more modern PC and console racing format.

• 2000Formation of EugenicyStrategy

  Following Magnetic Fields' final listed release, its leading developers sought to continue making racing games.

  What changed. Shaun Southern and Andrew Morris founded Eugenicy as a new development company.

  Aftermath. Eugenicy closed before releasing a commercial game.

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• 1988Rebrand and transition to 16-bit developmentStrategy

  The home-computer market was moving from 8-bit machines toward newer 16-bit platforms.

  What changed. Mr Chip Software adopted the Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd. name and redirected its main development effort toward 16-bit systems.

  Aftermath. The transition preceded the company's best-known Amiga and Atari ST racing releases.

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• 1984Shift from self-publishing to commissioned developmentStrategy

  The company had achieved limited success publishing its own games during its first years.

  What changed. It began developing games for external publishers, initially including Mastertronic and later other British software companies.

  Aftermath. The change broadened distribution and allowed the studio to concentrate on development while expanding its platform range.

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• 2018Kid Chaos retrospective documentary is published

  Everything Amiga published a retrospective video examining Kid Chaos, its troubled development, and its place in the Amiga scene. Andrew Morris contributed scans of original concept artwork.

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• 2010Kikstart games become available through an iPhone Commodore 64 emulator

  Kikstart I and Kikstart II were released for a Commodore 64 emulator on iPhone, giving a later audience access to the company's early racing software.

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• 1988Magnetic Fields changes from 8-bit development to 16-bit home computers

  The company adopted the Magnetic Fields name and shifted its principal development focus toward newer 16-bit systems.

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1. Magnetic Fields (video game developer)
2. Magnetic Fields official website