My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar
Encyclopedia
My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar is a computer game
developed and published by Automata UK
for the ZX Spectrum
in 1983. Groucho was designed by Mel Croucher
who was perhaps better known for his later works Deus Ex Machina
and ID
.
The game takes the form of a text (augmented by primitive "graphics") adventure where the player seeks out Groucho (based on Groucho Marx
), who gives the player a series of clues as to the identity of a famous film star. If the player guesses correctly another clue to a further star is provided. The name of this additional star could be mailed to Automata UK
for entry in to a prize draw to take place on the 1st of June 1984. First prize was a trip to Hollywood on Concorde
to meet the actor identified, with a return trip on the QE2
.
The competition was won by Phil Daley, who correctly identified Mickey Mouse
and provided the winning slogan "There's no blood in our games, it's all tomata sauce".
Computer and video games
A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device, but following popularization of the term "video game", it now implies any type of...
developed and published by Automata UK
Automata UK
Automata UK was a software house which developed and published ZX Spectrum video games between 1982 and 1985. Significant releases included My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar and Deus Ex Machina .-History:...
for 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...
in 1983. Groucho was designed by Mel Croucher
Mel Croucher
Mel Croucher is a British writer and video games pioneer. Originally an architect, he moved into computers and set up Automata UK after the release of the Sinclair ZX81...
who was perhaps better known for his later works Deus Ex Machina
Deus Ex Machina (video game)
Deus Ex Machina was a computer game designed and created by Mel Croucher and published by Automata UK for the ZX Spectrum in October 1984.The game was the first to be accompanied by a fully synchronised audio cassette tape which contained a voice and music track. The cast included Ian Dury, Jon...
and ID
ID (video game)
iD is a computer game developed by Mel Croucher and Colin Jones and published by CRL in 1986. The game is text based and takes the form of a conversation with an entity that has entered your computer. Your task as the player is to gain the entity's trust and find out what other inanimate objects...
.
The game takes the form of a text (augmented by primitive "graphics") adventure where the player seeks out Groucho (based on Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
), who gives the player a series of clues as to the identity of a famous film star. If the player guesses correctly another clue to a further star is provided. The name of this additional star could be mailed to Automata UK
Automata UK
Automata UK was a software house which developed and published ZX Spectrum video games between 1982 and 1985. Significant releases included My Name Is Uncle Groucho, You Win A Fat Cigar and Deus Ex Machina .-History:...
for entry in to a prize draw to take place on the 1st of June 1984. First prize was a trip to Hollywood on Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
to meet the actor identified, with a return trip on the QE2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
.
The competition was won by Phil Daley, who correctly identified Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
and provided the winning slogan "There's no blood in our games, it's all tomata sauce".